How to build a half wall between living room and dining room?
Question:I want a simple wall like 3ft high and 4ft long. I was told I may have to bust out the wall if there is no stud? Is this common, I just wanted to do it myself.
Answers:
You are building a free standing wall? Or one that will be attached to the floor and an existing wall? You will need 2 by 4's for top, sides and bottom. You'll need one for the middle which will have to be cut to fit. Put it all together outside and bring in to screw to the floor and wall. Then cover with drywall or panelling. Finish edges with trim.
Your question isn't quite clear.
If the new wall is going where there is no wall, just bolt a base plate to the floor, put up 2/4 studs at 16" on center, top it off with a top plate, and clad the whole thing in drywall, using metal corner beads at the edges. Your building department should have a simple descriptive sheet on how to do this properly, what sizes and spaces of nails, etc. Very important to stabilize it to the floor and the original wall so it doesn't wobble.
If you are proposing to tear down a wall to make the new configuration, someone who understands needs to determine if the wall you propose to cut is structural or not. If it is holding up the building structure, DO NOT CUT IT! So you need someone knowledgable to check this out for you. Then, depending on what they find, they can advise how to modify the studs you find inside and patch it up. Also, consider if there is electrical or even some plumbing in this wall before you cut.
Consider 42" height, which is more usual and makes a good visual divider.
I'm with Carlisle. You're not very clear. As long as you build the wall and stand it where you want it to go, there shouldn't be a problem that i can see from the details you've provided. I personnaly like to build 48" dividing walls so that sheeting/sheetrock will fit without having to be cut. It makes for a quicker job. But if you could give us some more details we might be able to help you out a little bit more =)
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