Replies

1. 
   PedroTheMule | Jul 06, 2009 08:59pm | #1

   Hi phixit10,

   I have a wall framing question. What direction does one begin. For example from the left or right. Is there a rule of thumb?

   Personally I start at the bottom as framing the top floor first is a real pain getting it to stay up there.

   Now concerning your actual question......it all depends.....what is going to use the least lumber?......pullin' the tape from one direction or the other may require differing amounts of stud work depending upon window, door, intersecting walls etc.

   Other times when it involves outside corners, I like to make sure a full sheet of sheathing will break on the studs when plans allow for wind shear strength.

   Pedro the Mule - Answer: It Depends

2. 
   jimAKAblue | Jul 06, 2009 09:42pm | #2

   I'm assuming you mean the actual framing.

   When I hand pounded, I started from the left and moved right. I'm a righty and there were benefits to that system. It's been decades since I hand framed so I can't remember them. I do remember insisting that all the rookies follow that pattern though.

   When I started gunning everything, I found that I preferred to move the opposite direction.

1. 
   phixit10 | Jul 06, 2009 10:26pm | #4

   Hello everyoneIt sounds like I should establish the corners(or ends), and go from right to left 16 OC. ThanksDrake

3. 
   CapnMac | Jul 06, 2009 10:22pm | #3

   Well, I'm right handed, so I probably laid out with the tape measure hooked to my left, and pulling measurements to the right, so I could scribe them with my writing hand.

   Having laid it out that way, I'm likely to nail it the same way just for having an image of it that way.  Partition walls would be similar, starting from the intersection and foint to my right.

   Now, in some fairness, this is Texas, where things are stick-built (one stud at a time) rather than box-built (one stretch of wall at a time), too.  this can affect layout and method.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
4. 
   Framer | Jul 06, 2009 10:34pm | #5

   I have a wall framing question. What direction does one begin. For example from the left or right. Is there a rule of thumb?

   There's no rule of thumb going from left to right. You can pull from either way depending if your lefty or righty.

   Are you talking about exterior or interior on a new house or addition? Are you talking about basement walls or existing bedroom or another room walls?

    

    

   Joe Carola
1. 
   phixit10 | Jul 06, 2009 10:45pm | #6

   HelloI'm building a small shed, and I noticed that if I went 14 oc that one end would be off -- no big deal. Yet, it got me thinking is there a best practice?ThanksDT

5. 
   hammer102 | Jul 06, 2009 10:48pm | #7

   It doesn't matter.  16" on center is what counts.  Layout the way that is most practical.  You don't even need to start from one end or the other.  You can start from the middle if it is the most sensible.  For example, say you are framing a non load bearing wall in an existing structure.  There is some duct work running perpendicular to your layout lines.  Its passing rite through the wall, and is 10"  wide.  What you want to do here is start layout so that the studs will layout with the duct being inbetween 2 of the studs.  That way, you won't need to header around it to keep your studs on layout.  You can layout in other increments of course, depending on what exactly you are framing for.

6. 
   Dreamcatcher | Jul 06, 2009 10:54pm | #8

   If you are asking which direction to pull stud layout from then the answer is whichever way uses the least framing; taking into account studs and sheathing usage. I pull layout on both edges of the bottom plate first; pulling once from each direction per side, counting framing members as I go. Then I roll to the side with least framing and transfer to the top plate.

   When it doesn't matter, I pull from right to left because I am right handed and that's the quickest/easiest way for me to mark points.

   If you are asking which direction to start end nailing studs then the answer from me is always from right to left nailing to the bottom plate and left to right nailing the top plate so I am always holding the nail gun in my right hand and a stud in my left and walking forward as move from one stud to the next.

   DC