How Long Does It Take to Put Up a Partition Wall?

If you’re considering a new home or a remodeling project that involves putting up a partition wall, you’ve likely wondered how long it will take. The answer depends on the type of wall you’re building. There are two types of walls: load-bearing and non-load-bearing, as well as whether or not you’ll need to add plumbing and HVAC ducting, among other things.

Load-Bearing Wall: Typically found outside a house, this type of wall supports the structure’s weight. You can spot them by observing the rafters and joists that run parallel to the wall.

The first step in framing a load-bearing wall is to mark the top and bottom plates of each stud bay. The top plate should extend the full height of the wall, while the bottom plate should be cut to about 48 inches, but it can be spliced together longer if necessary.

Use a 4-foot level to mark the edges and faces of each stud, making sure they’re plumb (vertically straight). If you’re not plumb, you can use a small wood dowel, such as a dummy dowel or a dowel rod, to make adjustments. Once you’re happy with the studs’ positions, nail in the drywall and set up the wall.

Once the drywall is in place, you can install trim moldings. These can include baseboard and shoe moldings, case moldings for doors, and crown or other ornamental moldings, depending on your specific needs.

Drywall installation usually involves hanging sheets of 1/2-inch-thick drywall to the studs using drywall screws. The studs are covered with joint tape, and all joints and screw heads are finished with taping compound (mud).

To prevent the drywall from warping over time, you can cover it with a thin layer of moisture-resistant foam insulation, which is available at home centers and at most hardware stores. The insulation is also an effective sound barrier, especially if you’re trying to enclose a room in an office or other commercial building.

After the drywall is in, you can paint it. Walls are typically painted before doors and other trim are installed, but you can also stain or paint them after they’re in, if you want to avoid painting over the insulation.

A good rule of thumb is that you’ll need about a day to frame and install a typical interior partition wall. However, it might take longer or shorter if you need to add plumbing and HVAC ducting, if you have a lot of walls to frame, or if the room is particularly tall or narrow.

Alternatively, you can hire a professional to build and install the partition. Getting at least three quotes can help you find a good contractor for the job.

How to Frame a Partition Wall

To create a partition wall, you need to frame the walls with a wooden ‘ceiling’ or ‘head’ plate that’s nailed to ceiling joists and a ‘floor’ or’sole’ plate that’s nailed to the floor. You should then fit studs that are equally spaced and secured with nails between these plates, as well as a series of noggings – short, horizontal pieces of timber fixed between the studs for extra strength.