How to add a frame wall with a drop ceiling? How to I secure the top plate? Do I need to secure the top plate?

Question

I want to add 2 walls in an existing space and it does not necessarily need to be a permanent wall addition?

Answer 1

This depends on how long the temporary wall is and how you plan to use it. If the new wall is well secured to the floor and to existing walls at each end, it isn't likely to fall over even if you don't attach the top plate to anything--it could stop just short of the drop ceiling. However, the longer the wall is, the more it will wobble if someone leans up against it. If the new wall is fairly short and attached only to the floor and to one existing wall, it should be ok as well.

But if you plan to put shelves on the wall or hang heavy objects on it, I'd secure it to the framing above the drop ceiling. How you do this again depends on the length of the wall and which way the ceiling joists are running.

Here's an article about how to frame an interior wall (called a partition wall)--hope it helps!

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/i...