- 1). Layout the standard 16-inch on center stud locations on the top and sill plates of the wall section.
- 2). Mark the location of the pocket door's rough opening width on both the top and sill plates, following the door manufacturer's specifications. Typically, the opening width will be twice the width of the door plus 1-inch.
- 3). Measure and mark the placement of two wall stud thicknesses, on both sides, beside the door's rough opening width marked in Step 2 and extend the marks onto both plates. Mark the inner stud, called the "trimmer," with a "T". This stud will support the header across the opening. The second is a full length wall stud installed beside the trimmer, referred to as a "king stud." Mark this stud's layout with an "X" as a standard stud location.
- 4). Assemble the wall framing, securing the sill and top plates to all of the standard 92¼-inch wall studs and omitting the studs at the door opening.
- 5). Install a standard 92¼-inch king stud at both of the "X"-marked layout lines placed at both sides of the opening in Step 3 and secure to the sill and top plate with 16d nails as usual.
- 6). Mark the height of the door's rough opening on the king studs installed in step 5, according to the door manufacturer's specifications, measuring from the bottom of the sill plate. Square the marked lines across the face and edge of both king studs. This line is the bottom of the door header height.
- 7). Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 framing lumber to the dimension between the top of the sill plate and the header height marked in Step 6. These are the trimmer studs for the opening.
- 8). Place one of the trimmers cut in Step 7 at each side of the opening, on the inside face of the king studs. Secure in place with three 16d nails each, inserted horizontally through the trimmers into the king studs.
- 9). Measure the dimension between the two king studs at the top plate. Cut a 4-by-6 beam to this length. This is the header for the opening.
- 10
Insert the header beam cut in Step 9 between the kings studs and against the top of the trimmers to span across the opening. Attach the header with five 16d nails through the king studs and into the ends of the header. - 11
Measure the distance between the top of the header and the bottom of the top plate. Cut a 2-by-4 block for each 16-inch wall stud layout line on the top plate, plus one to install at each end of the header. - 12
Install one of the 2-by-4 blocks cut in Step 11 at 16-inches on center, in sequence with the wall layout, and attach with an 8d nail diagonally through corner of header beam into the block end and two 8d nails through the top plate into the block. - 13
Stand the wall in place and use a level to insure it is plumb and square. Secure the sill plate to the floor with 16d nails at each stud bay, making certain not to nail the sill plate inside the door opening. - 14
Use a handsaw placed against the inside face of each trimmer stud to cut the sill plate and remove it. The opening is ready for installation of the pocket door frame kit.
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