BuildaFullHeight Wall
Description
Standard wall sections are animportantfeature inresidentialhouse construction, andtheircomponentsmust conform tobuilding code specifications.Inthislesson,studentswillbuild awall section thatmeets code requirements.
Wallsectionscreatedinthis Activity Plan could also be usedlaterforwiringandplumbing.
LessonOutcomes
The student willbeableto:
•Identify thepartsof a wall
•Extractinformationfromdrawings
•Layout a wallaccordingto specifications
•Placeand fastenwall components in thecorrectlocation
•Demonstratesafe useofhandand power tools
Assumptions
Studentsarefamiliar with:
•Extractinginformationfromdrawings
•Theuseofbasic measurementand layouttools
•Thesafe useofthe compoundmitre sawand portable circular sawStudentswillhave completed:
•Builda Wall Mockup (mini-wall) activity plan
•Lay Out aFullHeight Wall activity plan
Terminology
Baseplate(alsocalledfloorplate,soleplate,orbottomplate):ahorizontalstructuralmembertowhichthewallstudsarethroughnailedandwhichformsthebaseofthewallwhenassembled.
Exteriorwall:aframedwallusedontheoutsideofastructurethatcontainsinsulationandistypicallyframedwith2×6"material.
Flush:atermusedinconstructiontoindicatethattwomeetingsurfacesarealignedonthesameplane.
Interiorwall:aframedwallusedontheinsideofastructurethatdoesnotcontaininsulationandistypicallyframedwith2×4"material.
Level:atermusedinconstructionto refer toahorizontalsurface.
Oncentre(OC):Thistermimpliesthatthemeasurementfromthecentreofonestudorjoisttothecentreofthenextidenticalcomponentwillbe exactly thedistancespecified.
Plumb:atermusedinconstructiontorefer toaverticalsurface.
Square:atermusedinconstructionto refertoa90°angle.
Topplate:ahorizontalstructuralmembertowhichthewallstudsarethroughnailedandwhichformsthetopofthewallwhenassembled.
Wallstud:averticalmemberinlightframewallconstructionusuallyspacedat16" or24"centretocentre.
EstimatedTime
2–4 hours
Thetimeforthis activity will dependon thefamiliarity ofstudents withtoolsandthe scopeofthe project (e.g.,sizeofwall, access to tools—number ofsawsavailable,etc.—andnumbersofstudents).
RecommendedNumberofStudents
20, basedonthe BritishColumbia Technology Educators’Best Practice Guide.The ideal is 16.Groups of3–4 studentsfor each wallsectionare recommended, butthis would depend ontheproject beingbuilt.
Facilities
Technologyeducationshopfacilityrequired.Securespaceto work outsideisadvantageous.
Tools
•Tapemeasures
•Hammers
•Combinationor speed squares
•Level
•Nail bar(nailpuller)
•Aprons
•Hardhats, eyeprotection,andhearingprotection
•Mitresaw
•Portablecircular saw
•Extensioncord(if necessary)
Materials
•2×4"sor 2×6"s forwall plates and studs
•Sheathing(optional):OSB,plywood
•3"common nails –fornailing studs
•2"common nails – fornailingsheathing if required(ifreusing materials, itis recommendedtouse screwsfor ease ofremoval)
Resources
Graphic/photooffinishedexteriorwall, crosssection offinishedexteriorwall
Drawingsofwallshould be provided(e.g.,Figure1).Wallto be builtwilldepend on project andspaceavailable.
16"
ococ
16"
oc
16"oc
Figure1—Typicalwallsectionshowingplatesandstudplacement
Activity
1.Reviewterminologyandsafepractices.
2.Determinethelengthofthewallplatesandstudspacingtomatchthe project materiallist.(Usethematerial list generatedinActivity Plan: LayOuta FullHeightWall.)
3.Cut thetop andbottom platestolengthand tack together in order tofacilitate the layoutofstudlocations.
4.Lay outthetop and base platesby marking the correctlocation ofstuds using atapemeasureandcombinationsquare(orspeedsquare). Mark the location ofeachstudbymarkingan X on the correct sideof a measuredpencilline.Notethatthe second studmust be located16" from theoutsideofthefirststudtothecentreofthe second stud. Allremainingstudswill be located16"OC.
Whenlayingoutwalls a tape measureishooked on theendofplates(or on floors, or therim joists).Layoutofboth16" OC or 24" OC is started byrunningthe tape measurealongthe plate.Marksarethenmade3⁄4"shortofthe 16"marks onthe tape(151⁄4",311⁄4",471⁄4",etc.).An X isthenplacedtotherightofeach mark indicating on which sidethestud or joistisplaced.Theendresultwill be studs on thejoistbeing16"OC.Thissame process isusedfor 24" OC (i.e.,231⁄4",471⁄4",711⁄4").
Copyright © 2006 The Family Handyman magazine. All Rights Reserved.
Figure2—Typicallayoutofstudlocationontopandbottomplates
Double26"topplate(atexteriorwall)
26"cornerstuds(three-studcorner)
26"bottomplate
Figure3—Atypicalthree-studcornerforawall;
thiscornerarrangementallowsforplacementofinsulationtothecornerandalsoallowsforproperinstallationofdrywallmaterialtothecorner.Thisconstructionfeaturemaybeutilizeddependingontheprojectthatstudentsareworkingon.
5.Cutallstudstolengthusing a mitresaw or portable circularsaw.
6.Fastenthestudstothe wall platesby nailing 3"commonnailsthroughthe topand bottomplates.
Copyright © 2006 The Family Handyman magazine. All Rights Reserved.
Figure4—Typicalpositioningandnailingofplatesandstuds
7.Squarethewallbymeasuringdiagonallyandapplysheathing.Thewallisonlycheckedforsquare if sheathingisto be appliedbeforebeing lifted intoplace.
Figure5—Methodofcheckingforsquarewithdiagonalmeasurements;AandBmustbeequaltobesquare.
8.Standthe wall upright, check the wall for plumb and square,andbrace it with extramaterial.
Figure6—Typicaltemporarybracingofawallsectionaftercheckingforsquareandforplumb
EvaluationGuidelines
•Layoutis correct (e.g.,studspacing,openingpositioning).
•Componentsarecutto correct length.
•All framingcomponentsareflush.
•Thewall section isbracedplumbandstraight(ifpositioned on floor).
•Safe work practices arefollowed.
•A tidyworkplaceismaintained. Scrap materialsareremovedandtoolsandmaterialsarestoredproperly.