If your current closets are limited in space, adding a built-in closet to your home is the answer. Built-in closets give you the additional space you need to relieve a storage space crunch. Plus, constructing a built-in closet is a project that you can enjoy completing.
Instructions
1. Go to a home improvement store such as Lowe's, and purchase two-by-fours to begin framing the closet walls. Buy enough two-by-fours to give your closet a minimum depth of 27 inches.
2. Clear a space in the room to lie the two-by-fours on the floor to assemble the closet frame. It's easier to nail the framing pieces together while on the floor and then raise the connected pieces into place once assembled.
3. Indicate where the top plate of the closet should be positioned by marking the two ends of the built-in closet's wall on the ceiling. Then measure approximately 1 ? inches in on both sides of each mark and draw a chalk line between marks to show where the top plate will be positioned.
4. Hang a plumb bob from the end of the ceiling lines and mark the points on the floor equal to the points on the ceiling. Use a chalk line to connect the points on the floor; this is where the sole plate of the closet goes. The sole plate is the bottom horizontal piece of the closet. Use the marks on the floor to measure the size of the closet wall and cut two two-by-fours to this distance. The cut boards make up the top and sole plates.
5. Mark the stud positions on the top and sole plates by first arranging the top plate's edges next to the sole plate's edges to ensure that both ends are even. Begin with one of the ends to be secured to a wall. Use a measuring tape to measure 15 ? inches down the length of the plates and draw a line across the plates at that distance. This is the location of the first stud.
6. Measure 16 inches down the length of the plates from your first marked line and a draw line to indicate the location of the next stud. Continue measuring and marking 16 inches down the plates to indicate stud locations until you reach the end of the plates.
7. Cut the studs to the appropriate length by measuring the distance between the floor and ceiling and subtracting 3 inches. Cut your studs to this length. Install studs at each of the locations marked between the top and sole plates.
8. Raise the framing unit upright once each wall is framed. Fasten the framing unit to the floor by driving nails through the sole plate into the floor below. However, don't nail the framing unit to the subfloor in the span of the intended doorway. Instead, cut out the sole plate where it spans the closet door opening and add a king stud at each side of the opening, attaching to the sole and top plates.
9. Place a header, a horizontal two-by-four that spans an opening, at the top of the closet door opening between the king studs. Add cripple studs between the header and the top plate. Install a two-by-four to the inside of each king stud spanning between the header and the floor. These are the trimmer or jack studs. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for each wall of the closet.
10. Attach gypsum wall board to each side of your stud wall. Finish the wallboard with drywall tape and drywall mud. Protect any exterior corners with metal corner bead. Paint the walls and install a pre-hung door in your built-in closet door opening.
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