Week 9: November 16 - 22

Starting week 9 off with a plumb bob exercise! As part of our continual comp testing, we are moving on from squaring exercises on the horizontal plane, to plumbing exercises in the vertical. In this plumb bob exercise, we were asked to run a string line across the top plate, over two 3/4" blocks (screwed in on each end of the top plate). Using the string line as our guide, we were able to take measurements from the 5 studs located along the 'wall'. Taking the difference in variation from location 1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc, we were left with how much the top plate would have to shift (either forward, back, left, or right, depending on what was needed to bring the wall into alignment.)

Two plumb bobs were strung from the top wall above stud 1 and stud 5. We then took measurements from the stud to the plumb line at the top and bottom. That difference told us if the wall needed to move in or out. We then took measurements from the left of the stud to the plumb line at the top and bottom. This indicated to us whether the wall needed to move left or right.

In the above picture we have the sheathing back on the wall, after we had to remove it to bring it back to true square. Before the sheathing was put in place, we braced it with a 12' 2x4, to prevent it from slipping back out of place. The 2x4 was anchored at the top into the top plates, and at the bottom into the sole plate / subfloor. We used screws to make it easier to assemble and disassemble the brace.

With our windows and door frame laid out, we were able to start working on our opposing wall layout. We screwed the top and bottom plate to the subfloor to keep it in place. This made it possible for us to mark both plates simultaneously, without any fear of movement or displacement.

A better view of the plate layout.

Putting the window and door frames in place, with the top and bottom plate. I'm using a small block to twist the cripples above the window headers into place. On the cripples under the window opening, we used bar clamps to give us better leverage. 

With all of our wall members in place, it was ready for sheathing. I'm ripping a sheet to size with a skilsaw, covering everything except for the door RO.

Here I am putting the sheathing in place. 8d nails every 6" along the outside of the sheathing. 8d every 8" along the studs.