Plan Wall Layout
2-3 hoursTransfer floor plan dimensions to the slab or subfloor, mark wall locations, door and window openings, and identify load-bearing vs. partition walls.
Field context
This workflow is part of 3 niche fields
Structural wall framing workflow with lumber calculations, stud spacing standards, header sizing, and layout tips for load-bearing and partition walls.
Transfer floor plan dimensions to the slab or subfloor, mark wall locations, door and window openings, and identify load-bearing vs. partition walls.
Determine stud count at 400 mm (16") or 600 mm (24") on-center spacing, calculate top and bottom plate lengths, and list corner and T-intersection assemblies.
Size headers for each opening based on span and load, calculate jack and king stud counts, and determine cripple stud lengths above and below openings.
Cut studs to standard wall height (2,440 mm / 8 ft minus 2× plate thickness), pre-cut headers and cripples, and organize material by wall section.
Assemble walls flat on the floor, nail studs to plates (two nails per connection), lift into place, and secure to floor and adjacent walls.
Check each wall for plumb within 3 mm over 2.4 m, verify level top plate, install temporary diagonal bracing, and nail double top plate laps.
Calculate total wall surface area for sheathing and insulation estimates. · Verify opening sizes against rough opening requirements. · Calculate sheathing panel count after framing is complete.
Convert plan dimensions between imperial and metric framing standards. · Convert cut lengths when mixing metric and imperial lumber.
Calculate stud count based on wall length and on-center spacing. · Determine jack and king stud placement for each opening. · Verify on-center spacing during wall assembly.
Estimate lumber board feet for material ordering and cost. · Calculate header lumber size and board feet for each span. · Track lumber usage against initial material order.
On-center stud spacing by wall type and finish material.
| Wall Type | Spacing (OC) | Stud Size | Drywall Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load-bearing exterior | 400 mm (16") | 2×4 or 2×6 | 12.7 mm (1/2") |
| Interior partition | 400 mm (16") | 2×4 | 12.7 mm (1/2") |
| Non-bearing partition | 600 mm (24") | 2×4 | 9.5 mm (3/8") |
| Exterior 2×6 (insulated) | 400 mm (16") | 2×6 | 12.7 mm (1/2") |
Assemble each wall lying flat on the subfloor — it is faster, safer, and produces tighter nail connections than stick-building in place. Use a crew to tilt up walls over 3.6 m (12 ft) long.
Every piece of lumber has a slight bow (crown). Orient all crowns upward when framing walls — the top plate weight straightens them. Mixed crown direction creates wavy walls visible after drywall.
Mark and pre-drill 32 mm (1-1/4") holes in the center third of studs for plumbing runs before sheathing goes on. This saves hours of notching and maintains stud integrity.
Waste from cuts, crowns rejected as too severe, and mis-cuts happen on every job. Ten percent overage prevents a supply-run delay mid-framing.