Now That You Got Your Shed Floor System Done Or Slab Is Cured your Ready To Get Started On Standing Your Shed Walls.

The most common construction materials for shed wall framing is 2"x4" stud and plate material. Depending on your shed dimensions you are going to need a 2"x4" stud for every 16" of wall, 2 top plates also 2"x4" and a green (pressure treated) bottom plate 2"x4". Depending on your shed wall length you will need enough top plate and bottom plate material for the walls entire length.

1. At this point I am assuming your shed floor was built square and level. You're are going to need a tape measure, pencil and chalk line. Start at one of the shed's floor sides in a corner and with your tape measure and pencil measure out and mark on the floor 3.5" by hooking the outside of the floor and pulling in with your tape. Repeat this at the other side of this floor's edge. Now with your chalk line snap a line between the two 3.5" marks you've made. This mark is the inside of your wall and will help you keep your wall strait. Now do this for every side of the floor. Make sure to run your chalk line marks all the way out to the end of each wall.

2. Now that you've got your floor laid out its time to frame your shed walls. Start by taking an actual measurement of your walls from your snapped chalk lines. Two opposite shed wall's will be the full length of the shed floor. The other two walls will be 7" shorter allowing them to fit between the other two walls. Now that you have your actual wall length go ahead and cut these out. If your shed walls are longer than your plate material you are going to have to use more than one piece of lumber to make each plate. Cut out enough plate material for a top plate and a pressure treated bottom plate. Now that you have the plates cut out stand them on end on the shed floor where they are to go. Make sure and check that the two plates are exactly the same length.

3. Now its time to lay the two plates out. Hook your tape measure on one end of the plates and pull it all the way across to the opposite end locking it down. Go back to the other end where your tape is hooked and make an x mark on both plates standing edge. From there make your way down the plates making a mark every 16" with a line on both plates and an x towards the right or left depending on which way you are advancing down the plates. Once you get to the end of the plates make another x on the end of both plates. Each x mark represents where each stud will go. The line is the edge of the stud.If this particular wall has windows or doors now is the time to lay them out as well. Only you will know where you want your window and door to go. Here is the basics for laying out your window and door. Find the center of where the window or door will be. If its a 2.0 / 2.0 window and you plan on centering it on the shed wall divide your wall length in half (ex. 8' wall: 96"/2=48") hook the end of the plates and pull and mark the center. Now that you've found the center of your window make a mark using half your actual window's width plus 1/4" for play (2' / 2 + 1/4"= 1' 1/4"). Measure both ways from your center mark and make a mark. Make two x marks on both sides this mark, one for your window liner and one for the window jack. For a door layout find the center of the opening and make a mark. From this center mark pull and mark both ways the door size plus 1/4" for play between the door an frame. Here's where the door layout and window layout is a tad different. From the right side mark hook, pull and measure 3 consecutive marks every 1.5" away from the center of the door. this is for 2 jacks and 1 liner.The jacks will support the window sill or door header...

Here is a Window or Door Header Detail.

4. Now that you have your bottom and top plates laid out its time to frame the walls. Lets get our studs in place now. Start by separating the two plates and putting a stud in place between the top and bottom plates for every x you've made except for the window or door jacks. We will add those in a bit. Depending on your shed's wall height you might need to cut each stud to length. (For example if your shed walls are 8' high you will need studs 91.5" long allowing for the two top plates and bottom plates widths. Since this is not a standard size you will need to cut them to size). I recommend sticking with a standard wall size. Now that all your studs and liners are in place nail them off with 2-3 16d framing nails on both top and bottom plates. Now lets cut and instill our window and door jacks. Your door jack lengths are what you want your door height to be. Make two for each side. Get your window jack height from measuring between the top side of your bottom plate and 1.5" below where your window sill height will be. Install all your Jacks. Now is a good time to make your door or window headers. Headers are made by cutting two 2"x4"s or 2"x6" for each window or door opening depending on how much opening span and strength you need. You will also need 1/2" plywood as filler to go between the 2 header boards. The header will sit up right on edge on top of the jacks between the liners. Build the headers and install them into the wall. Your window sill should be the actual window frame size plus 1/2" for play. Install all these parts and double check everything before standing the wall.

Home