How to build a stud wall
Whether you're looking to create a new room or divide up an existing space, building a stud wall is a simple way to alter the layout and functionality of your home.
How to build a stud wall:
1. Plan the wall
Start by deciding where you want to put your wall. Use a detector to locate any joists, cables and pipes in the walls, ceiling and floor.
If your new wall is going to run at right angles to the floor and ceiling joists, you can fix it at any point. If the wall is going to run parallel with the joists, it needs to stand directly over one of them. If you need to install your partition wall between joists, lift the floorboards below and above and secure 100mm x 50mm timbers at right angles between two joists at 1m intervals to support your new wall.
2. Mark the position of the wall
The floor plate is the stud that’s secured to the floor. Mark the point where the outside edge of your floor plate will meet the existing wall on the floor. Hang a plumb line from the top of the wall to the mark you've made on the floor. Following the plumb line, draw a line up the wall to the ceiling.
At the top of the line you’ve just drawn, insert a nail into the ceiling close to where it meets the wall.
Repeat this process on the other side of the wall, then run a chalk line between the two points to mark where the ceiling plate will go.
With your ceiling plate marked, use a detector to find where the joists or timbers are located and mark them. These are the points where you’ll secure your ceiling plate.
3. Fit the ceiling plate
Measure and cut a length of timber for the ceiling plate, ensuring it’s cut to fit exactly between the walls at the ceiling.
Hold the plate in place and mark the fixing points along its length. If your wall runs directly underneath a parallel joist, these should be at 400mm intervals. Take the ceiling plate off the ceiling and drill clearance holes for screws at the points you’ve marked.
Next, fix the plate to the ceiling along the edge of the chalk line. We recommend having someone to help you with this task.
4. Fit the floor plate
With the ceiling plate fixed, you can now fit the floor plate. Remember to take into account the position of a door frame if your new wall will have one.
Mark and cut the timber for the floor plate to the correct size. You can then line it up with marks you made on the floor earlier and secure it to the floor.
If the joists run at right angles to your new wall, secure your wall to these joists. If the floor is solid, you'll need to drill holes with a masonry bit and use plugs and screws.
5. Fit the vertical studs
Measure the distance between the ceiling and floor plates at each end of the wall and cut two studs to fit.
Place the vertical studs between the ceiling and floor plate. Make sure they’re level and plumb, then secure them to the existing walls.
Mark on the floor plate where you’re going to fit the vertical studs in the middle of your wall. Check your local building regulations to find out how far apart you should space the vertical studs.
Cut your vertical studs to size and fit them in place inside the frame. You may need to tap them with a mallet to get them level and plumb. To secure them to the ceiling and floor plates, drive screws in at an angle on both sides.
6. Fit the noggings
Noggings are short pieces of timber that will help reinforce your vertical studs. Noggings are fitted halfway down the wall and should be staggered slightly.
Measure the gaps between the studs and cut down noggings to these sizes. You can then insert the noggings between the vertical studs, check they’re level and plumb, then secure them with screws horizontally through the studs on either side.
Noggings can support items like TVs or basins, so consider adding extras where you might want to hang items from the wall.
7. Fit the plasterboard
Once you’ve finished constructing the timber frame, you can finish the wall with plasterboard.
You can fix plasterboard sheets horizontally or vertically. If you're fixing your sheets vertically, position each board so that the joins align at the centre of a stud. If you’re fixing boards horizontally, secure the bottom row of boards to the frame and stagger the vertical joints. A small gap should also be left between the wall and the floor.
Cut the plasterboard
Start by measuring the sheets to 12mm less than the floor-to-ceiling height. Mark the line where you’re going to cut on the ivory side of the plasterboard, then cut along it using a craft knife and straightedge. Snap the board along the line you've cut, then cut through the backing paper. For more help cutting plasterboard, take a look at our guide.
Fit the plasterboard sheets
Secure the plasterboard sheets to the studs with drywall screws at 150mm intervals, 15mm away from the edges. Screws should be driven past the surface of the plasterboard paper, but not too far, as this will crack the plasterboard.
Once you’ve fitted plasterboard sheets on one side of the wall, you can fit insulation inside the wall and then board the other side.
Building regulations and stud walls
Before constructing your stud wall, check with your local authority to make sure the work involved conforms to the current building regulations relating to fire resistance, light, and ventilation.
Can I build a stud wall by myself?
Building a stud wall is a relatively simple job that can be completed by one person. However, having someone to help will be useful when attaching the ceiling plate and fitting plasterboard sheets.
Finishing a stud wall
Once you’ve finished your stud wall, all that’s left to do is give it a fresh coat of plaster before painting. If you want to plaster your new wall yourself, our comprehensive guide to plastering a wall will show you everything you need to know.
