FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Framing

Guide Home
  • Introduction to Framing
  • Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Framing Floors
  • Framing Walls
  • Framing Stairs
  • Framing Roofs
  • Efficient Framing Methods
  • Timber Framing
Tips & Techniques

Framing Walls with 8-ft. Studs

When precut studs aren't available, frame a taller wall and reduce drywall waste in the process.

By Mike Guertin Issue 176
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Wall framing is a fundamental skill and necessary understanding for a home builder or remodeler. The builder has to know how to layout and raise walls. Remodelers, who may not build new walls, at least need to understand how a stud wall works, so they can modify them without compromising the structure. These days, it’s not enough to know traditional stick framing methods with solid wood lumber. Builders need to know about advanced framing techniques and engineered lumber. Even simple precut studs cause a lot of confusion for new framers. There are good reasons to use precut studs. Though they are not always available.

I usually use precut studs to frame 8-ft.- and 9-ft.-tall walls. Precut studs are shorter than the finished height of the wall to allow for the thickness of the bottom and top plates (the precut stud for an 8-ft. wall is actually 92-5/8 in.).

A couple of years ago, precut studs were scarce locally, so I ordered a unit of ordinary 8-ft. studs. While pondering cutting 3-3/8 in. off each one, it occurred to me just to use full uncut 8-footers. The main drawback would be for the drywall installers. The walls would be 8 ft. 4-1/2 in. tall, requiring a 4-in.-wide strip to fill the resulting gap. But after thinking about it a while, I figured the strip could be inserted at the bottom of the wall rather than in the middle, as is usually the case when boarding. The more I thought about it, I realized there would be no need to tape the joint; the 5-1/4-in. baseboard I ordinarily install would cover the seam. In fact, when we boarded the walls, we just used scraps of drywall from door and window openings to fill the gap — and discovered an unforeseen benefit of the taller walls: Less drywall ends up in the trash container. Plus, the client gets a taller ceiling with no appreciable extra cost.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Speed Square

When it comes to framing, it doesn’t get much more fundamental than a speed square — and with its sturdy metal build, Swanson’s will not let you down. Some of our team members have had theirs for 20 years.
Buy at Amazon

Stabila Extendable Plate to Plate Level

This level raises the bar for accuracy and quality. The extensions are designed to contact and plumb from bottom to top plates, avoiding studs that may be bowed.
Buy at Amazon

Magoog Tall Stair Gauges

These are a must-have when laying out stairs with a framing square. They attach easily and save time, especially on long or multiple stringers.
Buy at Amazon
Previous: Protected: Framing Walls with Larry Haun Next: Tips for Setting Up a Cutting Station for Wall Framing

Guide

Framing

Chapter

Framing Walls

Sign up for the Fine Homebuilding Tip of the Day and get daily tips and special offers delivered to your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

View Comments

  1. user-6314355 | Nov 14, 2016 08:29am | #1

    My only question is , did you " true up" the length of the 8' 2" x 4" s ? In this part of NJ our 8' studs come in slightly longer than the 8' dimension. This would force the framing crew to cut all the studs to a uniform dimension .

  2. rjhome | Jan 22, 2019 04:30pm | #2

    Why not just buy 48 and 54 inch sheetrock.

  3. curtisjohnson | Jan 22, 2019 07:21pm | #3

    Another possibility, if a taller baseboard will/can be used is to attach a 1/2" plywood strip at the bottom for a baseboard nailer or backing. Or, if a deep crown moulding is planned for the ceiling/wall corners, maybe the plywood backing strip could work there too. We use this trick for ICF construction to avoid having the installer have to cut the forms to attain a certain wall/ceiling height.

  4. Kurt99 | Jan 29, 2019 08:21pm | #4

    Not taping a joint is a real problem on exterior walls if the drywall is part of the air barrier and probably a code violation if it is on a fire wall.

  5. BobboMax | Jan 19, 2021 04:35pm | #5

    The tapered bottom edge of horizontal drywall can make installing base difficult- miters and coped corners open up. A 4" rip of drywall at the bottom would help keep the base perpendicular to the floor.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Framing

Framing

Trusted, in-depth guidance from the pros for framing a durable, code-compliant house

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Framing Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Introduction to Framing
  • House Framing Concepts, Tips, and More
Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Tools
  • Techniques
  • Framing Lumber
  • Steel
Framing Floors
  • Floor Framing
  • Engineered Floors
  • Floor Sheathing
Framing Walls
  • Wall Framing Basics
  • Layout
  • Wall Assembly
  • Raising and Straightening Walls
  • Framing Rough Openings
  • Blocking
Framing Stairs
  • Stair Layout
  • Building Stairs
Framing Roofs
  • Roof-Framing Basics
  • Roof Design
  • Laying Out and Cutting Rafters
  • Framing Valleys
  • Working with Trusses
  • Dormers
  • Special Situations
Efficient Framing Methods
  • Advanced Framing
  • Double-Stud Walls
Timber Framing
  • Timber-Frame Construction
  • Timber-Frame Design

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data