I would like to replace a door with a wall (in the frame) to make one of the rooms in my house 100% independent. I've never tried anything related to carpentry (or woodworking) and have many questions that need answering.
Can anyone suggest a good book with step by step instructions?
Also, what are the best ways to save money on materials? (I have more home projects in mind).
- Nehmo - You have to make sure it has a job, a car, a bank account, and a driver's license. You can't just put them out on the street unequipped!
- Ron in Houston TX -
- Nehmo - You'll find it rewarding. Do you have any tools at all yet?
- Ron in Houston TX -
- Nehmo - For the door, demolition it out, including the moldings. Then build the wall. Place a 2x4, called a plate, horizontally across the bottom and another across the top of the opening. Naturally, you'll have to measure and cut these pieces of wood. Don't worry about this operation too much; in this particular job, accuracy isn't critical because everything is going to be covered. Use screws and a screw gun, forget about nails. Now place three studs vertically between these plates, one on each side and one in the center. To secure the studs, the screws can be driven at an angle, toe-screwing (Here's an interesting pic on toe-nailing.
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You won't be doing that, but it's an interesting pic :-) ) But if you don't feel comfortable toe-screwing, buy some small right-angle nailing brackets. Lots of examples on the Simpson site
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you want to learn a little more about framing.
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you have your framing in place, cover it with the same wall covering material that's already on the rest of the room, probably drywall. Somebody else can take you through that.
- Ron in Houston TX -
- Nehmo - This little project isn't going to cost much, so its economics aren't worth discussing. But I will make a caveat regarding materials: It's very important to get _straight_ studs. When you do the buying, sight along the long end of a piece of wood to check for warp.
[news:misc.invest.real-estate isn't relevant. I deleted it. And your subject line should be more specific.]
The room has an independent entrance at the side of the house and it's very spacious so my plan is to turn it into a studio apartment (somehow) and rent it.
Ron - I missed your original post - are you trying to remove a door between two interior rooms and seal it up so it looks like the existing wall? If so, is it sheetrock? If so, it would be an easy fix with the exception of matching the base molding. Do you have a miter box or table, radial arm or miter saw? If not, I may know a contractor but I'll have to get his number for you.
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