Some basic tips or instructions on building a wall in my apartment?

Question

I just entered the last stages of aquiring a loft and I'm really excited but I need to build a wall to create a room. can any of you help me just to get started?

One side of the wall would terminate into exposed brick and the other into a wall of sheetrock, it would up into the ceiling what I'm assuming is more sheetrock. As for dimensions I don't know, I'd say it's around 15' long by about 8' feet high. It's very important that it's sturdy and a minimal amount of sound escapes.

Can I build two sides of the wall and fill it with heat insulator?

Also what materials/tools goes into something like this? what's the ballpark cost?

Answer 1

why do you not get book shelves nailed to floor for the height then sheet rock(dry wall)for one side. this leaves out alot of work of cutting for a partition wall and very use full at same time the things on the shelves will sound proof and ifyou use books will do the job.or get bins and use it for cloths.  make your wall usefull and save space

you will need the dry wall 5 sheetsif 15x8 screws ,compound,and tape.you should not need to do cutting if this is the size if you do they will at builders supply

Answer 2

Cost will be 400 dollars...........I handsaw...1 hammer.......12 2x4's 8' and 3 2x4's 16' some nails and anchors insulation....4 sheets of sht rock 4x12 and 2 sheets 4x8 some self sticking fiberglass tape for the joints.....a sheet rock knife for cutting the wall board.....rock one side and then put what you want in the wall......then put the insulation in just stuff it in and anchor the top with a couple of tack(sheet rock nails) then rock the front side......put your self sticking tape over the joints and mud with a 10" sheet rock blade and mud tray........1 box of mud will do it.......about 3 coats....sand and paint......again.......400plus tax.......good luck....have someone tell you what size of nails for each....tell them what you are anchoring to...........enjoy

Answer 3

First, you'll want to check with local authorities to see if you need any special permits before beginning this project.  Inspectors REALLY dont like finding out about something AFTER you've started or completed it, hehehe... and if a permit is required, you'll need to have it, due to insurance purposes.  Most insurance companies, if they find something not done with a permit, will void the policy.  And the most likely time for them to discover something amiss, would be when you needed the insurance the most, hehehehe.

I prefer to use screws for everything, because they do not 'back out' like nails.

If you REALLY want sound absorbtion, then you should actually make TWO walls... offset the studs, and leave about a half inch gap between the walls.  Fill the wall cavities with sound absorption material, rather than thermal insulation.  This will cost a bit more, but it will make a BIG difference in how much sound gets thru.

Basic wall construction is fairly simple.. you need a piece of lumber to run along the bottom, and another at the top.  I would actually use two at the top... attach one right to the ceiling.  This makes it easier to tilt the wall up into place (you'll build the wall on the floor).  And studs to run vertically between them.  As I said, I prefer screws.. you want your s***w to be at least twice the length of your wood thickness....so, if youve got a 1.5 inch stud, you want a 3 inch s***w, etc.  The vertical studs should be at the standard spacing (here in the US, thats 16 inches apart, on center).

So far, for tools, youre using either a hammer and nails, or a screwgun and screws... a saw (to cut the lumber to length).. and a tape measure.  A small square is handy to mark your cut lines, if you're not using a miter box saw.  (Rent the more expensive tools, rather than purchase them, for a one-time project)

The 'terminating ends' of the wall... you say you have drywall at one end, and brick at the other.  You'll 'probably' have to cut into the drywall end, and put some support members across between the two adjacent wall studs here, so you have something to secure the new wall to.  Depending on which way your rafters are running, you may need to do the same thing in the ceiling.  I would use lag bolts to secure the wall to the adjacent surfaces.  That means a socket wrench, and drill/drill bit (for the pilot holes).  To secure the new wall to the brick wall, is going to take some drilling... use a 'hammer drill'...this is going to be noisy and dirty.  What size drill bit will be determined by the type of anchor you choose to use.

Insulation, or sound absorption material.... can usually be cut to length with a utility knife, and stapled in place.

Wall covering... the standard approach would be 1/2 inch sheetrock (aka drywall, or gyprock).  Again, use screws, and you may find it helpful to apply a bead of construction adhesive to the studs.  You'll be needing a tape measure, screwgun, and utility knife.  A straight edge is helpful too, as well as a chalk line.  Construction adhesive is least expensive when bought in a 'caulk' tube, so you'd need a caulk gun too.

Leave a small gap at the bottom of the sheetrock...that is, don't run it all the way to the floor.  A 1/2" gap would be perfect.

Now its time to apply the joint compound.  I'd recommend using a mesh tape, which you can stick directly on the drywall seams, and then push your first layer of compound (aka 'mud') right thru it.  Try to leave each layer of compound as smooth as you can, to minimize sanding.  You apply the first layer to all the joints, (and s***w, or nail, heads), and let it dry for 24 hours.  Sand it where necessary, and apply another coat (use a slightly wider taping knife).  Let this layer dry 24 hours, and sand.  You'll most likely need at least 3 layers of compound to get the wall smooth, and use an 8 to 12 inch taping knife for the last layer, feathering out the 'mud' to either side of the joints.  So, for this portion of the work, youre using a utility knife, a 3 inch putty knife, 6 to 8 inch putty knife, and 8 to 12 inch taping knife, and a 'mud tray'.  If you purchase your drywall compound as a dry mix, then youre going to want a bucket, and maybe a mixing paddle (which can be inserted into a drill).  I recommend first time drywallers to avoid 'quickset', or 'hotset' drywall mix.  Once you have all the mud smoothed out, you can either add a texture, or begin painting.  Most textures are sprayed on using a hopper gun, and there are various techniques, and products, to achieve various looks.  Give everything a good coat of primer, and let it dry according to the label, before painting with your finish color.

Finally, you can add some baseboard, and/or crown trim.  I prefer to use a pneumatic brad nailer for this.  (air compressor, nail gun, and miter saw).

I think that covers it all... hehehe....Think before you put the drywall on, about whether you want any electrical outlets along that wall, on either/both side(s).  If so, you want to run the electrical wires, and place the outlets/gang boxes, before the wall covering goes on.

There are usually some fairly decent 'how to videos on YouTube, and you can also look up any and all of these various techniques on sites like This Old House, HGTV, or DIY network.  On YouTube, use the 'advance' search to select How To... this will help remove a lot of unrelated videos from your search results.

As to how much it all costs, will depend on your selection of materials, what prices are running in your area.  Most building supply stores will help you figure out what you need, and the cost, as part of their service.

Oh, yes.... think about if you need a door, or any ventilation in this wall too!, hehehe.

Have Fun  :)

Answer 4

Are you allowed to actually build something in an apartment??  Most landlords don't let tennants do things like that, only changeable things like painting and such.  I would ask and make sure before I begin any sort of construction type project.  More than likely you wont be able to change anything that major.

Go to your local hardware store and see what they have.  You can make different types of "walls" using shelving or that type of thing.  Nothing is going to be too sound proof or sound limiting.  Even just a big blanket across a rope will do something for now.  I hope that helps a little.

Answer 5

Dude if you have never seen this done on TV or from someone who knows how to do it.  DONT TRY IT>  Ask a friend or Dad or someone who has done it b4 to do it with you.  

You will need a hammer, nails 2x4's. Drywall, drywall screws, mud, prim paint.  Maybe a door maybe an outlet etc.  like I said you have got to have someone there to help you do this.