Initially, this project started off rather small. New ownership was looking for a few rooms to hold meetings in off the showroom. They needed interior office space framing that ran below the HVAC system. The original plan was to install drop ceilings. But we decided it made more sense to run the walls up to the ceiling.
Finalizing the Interior Office Designs
Leading up to the start date, there were quite a few revisions. They decided to add another 36 foot wall to enclose the back working area. I ended up being pretty accurate with my material estimates. But the overall labor did take a bit more time.
As you can see, there were plenty of angles and anchor points to consider. Once the job was underway, I discovered how difficult it is to find reliable help. The team I organized all of a sudden was busy, So, I had to improvise to get it done!
Goal 1: Squarely Framed Walls.
The first thing I needed to do was mark the floor and ceiling. I used a drop weight for each corner, and a chalk line for the rest. After measuring everything, I started cutting the top and bottom plates. The center beam was my anchor.
For the bottom section (8ft), I could simply duplicate the wall plates. But, for the top section, I’d have to custom cut the top plate. The roof was angled (at about 5 degrees). There were also a few obstructions at the ceiling.
With the door frames strong, I could move on to the second phase of the interior office space framing. This is what was hard to estimate. I was lucky to be able to spend some time with my boy as we figured it out together. Every stud was unique.
Goal 2: Quality Duct Framing.
To anchor to the floor, I used 4 1/2″ anchor bolts. To anchor to the ceiling beams, I used 3 1/2″ self drilling wood to steel screws. In some of the pictures, you can see how I used 2×4’s in between the beams to strengthen the main wall. I later painted them black. With everything secure, I could focus on wrapping the ductwork.
This was difficult to incorporate in the design because the ducts were a little crooked. So I did my best to custom frame studs that didn’t mess up my drywall spacing. I knew some areas would require a little custom work.
Goal 3: Frame the Long Wall.
Framing the two interior offices was a lot more complex than the long wall. So this was a nice mental break. At this point, I understood the rise of a 5 degree angle every 16 inches. This made it easy to cut the studs (to the ceiling) as I went along.
Goal 4: Sheetrock the Walls.
It was finally time to drywall the dang thing! This is where the real work started. Thankfully I was able to find someone willing and able to hang 12 foot sheets. We hung them vertically around the outside and horizontally inside the office spaces.
I tried some new mesh-like tape on some of the seams and really liked it. It’s called FibaFuse paperless drywall joint tape. The paper is still a solid option, but it uses a lot of joint compound. This stuff is mold resistant and absorbed well.
Lots of Custom Drywall Cuts.
As you can imagine, it took some time to piece these walls together. Some areas needed to be floated a little more than others. Corner beads helped smooth out the edges. As we waited for the mudded layers to dry, I painted the trim work.
Goal 5: A Smooth Finish.
During the entire construction prioress, I was concerned about the affect the building would have on the interior office framing. There were some inconsistencies in the walls and flooring. The beams weren’t perfectly square. But I was very happy with the way everything turned out.
I was even more exctatic when I found a painter. I hate painting. After a few coats, I was ready to install the doors and rubber baseboard molding. The doors went in perfectly. The baseboards were a sticky bundle of joy. Merry Christmas!
