Project Townhouse: 1st Time Buyers

[.RJ]

I think the Hammershot scares me more than the nail gun though. You put a .22 in that thing and hit it with a hammer!

do not want dot gif

[Kaan]

Hammershots keep your hands out of the way at least. on hand on the shot and one on the hammer... just keep your toes out of it.

I've seen some crazy stuff with a nail gun. like a guy running around trying to use a claw hammer to remove a nail from his femur... I had to tackle him and my boss called 911.

[CaptainHenreh]

I think the Hammershot scares me more than the nail gun though. You put a .22 in that thing and hit it with a hammer!

do not want dot gif

Relax, it's a blank.

[ScottyB]

Scotty if you can do that trailer, you can do 90 degree angle basic shit, too.

Scott I've seen your woodworking. 

that's after years of screwing up.  you've seen my brake fluid flush story, and supposedly I've even done that job successfully a couple times .  i've learned to go into everything assuming i know nothing (john snow) so i love to see how people do jobs like this and take a lot of mental notes.

BJ sorry about your hand dude. that...is not pleasant. glad you're OK. i've seen framers use those nail guns with the safety wired open so they don't even need to trigger pull, just bump it along and i have no idea how they have all their fingers/toes.

i didn't know what a Hammershot was (well, except the Nerf version) and now i want one because, like, use explosives to build your house!

[JPolen01]

This thing has two settings - 1 nail at a time or freakin 8 nails per second. I have no idea how that is even possible or why you need that (thinking roofing guys here) or how to even set it to shoot that fast. I have no intention of finding out either.

[Apoc]

I think the Hammershot scares me more than the nail gun though. You put a .22 in that thing and hit it with a hammer!

do not want dot gif

Relax, it's a blank.

This was the first thing that came to mind.

[CaptainHenreh]

I think the Hammershot scares me more than the nail gun though. You put a .22 in that thing and hit it with a hammer!

do not want dot gif

Relax, it's a blank.

This was the first thing that came to mind.

A 22lr cartridge won't even fit, was my point. I mean sure don't put it at your head, and blanks are still dangerous but .22blank nailguns aren't MORE dangerous than a pneumatic nailgun... Maybe even safer since they are special purpose.

(And brandon lee was murdered by the chinese mafia, everyone knows that. #insidejob #turningthefrickinfrogsgay #whatdidheknowabouthillarysemails)

[JPolen01]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Beej]

Hey I've got some advice/critique.

Both the window sill (ya got) and header (ya don't got) should have their own supports, and then outside of that, the studs go to the ceiling.  It looks like it may not be a supporting wall, but you still want those to be strong.  You also want vertically-oriented wood on the headers (two 2x's with plywood between them).

They have all sorts of names like cripple studs and king studs and stuff I don't know, but I know they're important.

It's also super convenient to have your studs spaced evenly (like 16") so you know where to nail your sheetrock to. Yours seem a little inconsistent.  Overlapping those top plates wouldn't be a bad idea either, to tie it all together instead of butting it.

Edit: if your flipper buddy didn’t know they made stud-length 2x4’s, reconsider. Not trying to be a dick but you learn that after one project.

Like so:

[JPolen01]

Critiques welcome! All studs are 16" apart -measure twice, nail once! I think the camera angle might be throwing that off. I'm not following what you mean about the window sills. We have those supported with 2x4s right next to the stud? You are correct it is not a load bearing wall.

Edit:
I do see what you are saying about the header needing its own support. I see comparing your photo to mine that yours have a vertical support coming down to the window sill while mine is only connected at the top. That should be an easy fix. Although since the window is not actually being secured to this framing is it really necessary? There will be no weight on the header.

[Beej]

I'm definitely not experienced or knowledgeable enough to say whether there will be any issues, I just know the "right" way to do it.  I'd be a little concerned that the headers are "hanging" from the ceiling rather than being supported from the floor (even if there are nails in from the side).

My header supports don't go down to the windowsill, they go down to the floor - both header and sill have studs that do that (I looked it up, king stud, jack stud, cripples).  Definitely keep it in mind for the future and especially for doors.

It'd be a pretty big project to add those in (along with a double 2x header), so...I dunno?

[WRXtranceformed]

I took a look at it again and I'm not a building engineer but did build houses for a few years. If that was an external or load bearing wall you would definitely want to frame those headers the right way, but since it's really just a frame that will be holding drywall you are probably fine. If it was me, I would probably try to reframe those headers or at the very least try to reinforce them so the weight of the drywall doesn't cause it to sag over the years.

---

I took a look at it again and I'm not a building engineer but did build houses for a few years.  If that was an external or load bearing wall you would definitely want to frame those headers the right way, but since it's really just a frame that will be holding drywall you are probably fine.  If it was me, I would probably try to reframe those headers or at the very least try to reinforce them so the weight of the drywall doesn't cause it to sag over the years.

[Apoc]

Are the windows going to move or are they going to stay recessed? I think it would think they need to be reframed.

[JPolen01]

Windows are staying put. Original plans had us framing only on top of the cinder block and we were going to use the existing framing. But it was easier to build the entire wall against the cinder block straight up to the ceiling to hide the fios box and all the wiring. As Lee said this is not load bearing.

[JPolen01]

Plugging right along with this. For whatever reason (I am assuming since this was left unfinished by the builder) there are no HVAC vents in this room. Good to know people in all trades - got a family friend coming to run a duct and vent for $125 including materials. When he told me $125 I was so shocked, I said "Are you sure?". Can't beat that. Then Saturday morning while we finish framing I have another friend coming to install a couple outlets and drop 4 recessed cans. He does all my electrical for me and is very OCD about his work. He isn't the cheapest, but it's done right and he even vacuums when he's done!

[.RJ]

He isn't the cheapest, but it's done right and he even vacuums when he's done!

Same with the electrical guy I use.  Its so wonderful.  Shows up on time, works the job until its done, cleans up afterwards.  I  feel like he's part of some contractor alternate universe.

[Steve85]

Might need to hire him. My wife complains about her electrical guy putting stuff off, leaving drywall dust and wood chips behind, and tools on the kitchen island for a week.

[JPolen01]

So we are moving right along full steam ahead. Took the last weekend off as I was at a sales conference in Phoenix. We got back to work this past weekend and hung almost all of the remaining drywall. I have a few smaller pieces around the closets to hang this week.

Didn't take any photos as we were honestly in the zone and throwing sheets up left and right. I believe we hung about 16 sheets over the weekend including the ceiling. And man, was doing the ceiling an absolute bitch. 3/4 of the recessed lights ended up spanning 2 sheets of drywall so cutting them out was quite the project. This is the first ceiling my buddy and I have done and it came out pretty well except for a couple of the lights. I think it will be fine and I'll have the drywall finisher just pack the excess area with mud and then the light trim kit should hide it all.

We learned plenty of lessons for the next project!

[ScottyB]

i've heard drywalling is a major pain the ass, so good call getting a guy in to finish that/do the mudding for you. looking forward to seeing the finished shots!

[JPolen01]

Hanging sheets for the walls isn't terribly difficult. I will not do a ceiling again. The finishing takes time and patience. My time is well worth the money I am going to pay this guy to do in 2 days what would take me weeks.