How to Install 2x4 Spacers Between Studs
Proper framing is essential for sound wall construction. Close studs used to frame doors, windows and corners need added support from 2-by-4 spacers. These small spacers, once cut to fit, must be securely installed. The studs and spacers you install today will support your wall for the rest of its life. Measure and work carefully and you'll pull off a professional-grade job in a minimum amount of time.
Step 1
Measure and mark three equidistant points along the length of the inner edge of the stud. These marks indicate where each 2-by-4 spacer will go.
Step 2
Have a partner hold the first spacer in place over the topmost mark. If you do not have a partner, secure the 2-by-4 in place with a thin layer of wood glue applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. Proceed to the next step once the glue dries.
Step 3
Toenail the spacer in place. Drill a pilot hole on the bottom face of the spacer at a point roughly 1 inch in from the spacer's outer edge and 1 inch in from the stud, angled toward the stud at 45 degrees. Drill a 3-inch screw in the hole at the same angle with your drill and bit. Install a second screw into the other side of the spacer, through the opposite stud following the same method.
Step 4
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to install the lower two spacers on the marks made in Step 1.
References
- The Family Handyman: Toenailing Basics
- Carpentry; Gaspar J. Lewis and Floyd Vogt
- Home Repairs & Improvements; Albert Jackson and David Day
Tips
- Cut your 2-by-4 spacers to fit. Measure the space between the spacers -- twice to avoid costly mistakes -- then cut them to correspond with your measurements. The space between standard wall studs is always 16 inches.
- Make your pilot hole as wide as the screw's diameter, excluding the threads.
- Rub bar soap over your screws' threads before installing them. They'll go in smoothly and be much less likely to split the wood.
Writer Bio
Based in Houston, Texas, Meg Butler is a professional farmer, house flipper and landscaper. When not busy learning about homes and appliances she's sharing that knowledge. Butler began blogging, editing and writing in 2000. Her work has appered in the "Houston Press" and several other publications. She has an A.A. in journalism and a B.A. in history from New York University.
Photo Credits
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