How to Frame a Wall Unit

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you intend to install your wall unit. You may choose to frame the wall unit between two adjacent studs or make the wall unit larger by removing sections from one or more studs. Mark the position of the studs on the wall in pencil.

Draw the outline of your wall unit on the wall in pencil using a ruler and level to keep your lines straight. Make vertical lines along the inside edge of the studs to mark the sides of your wall unit and connect them with two horizontal lines. If you plan to remove any studs to expand your wall unit, mark the inside edges of all the studs that fall inside the space designated for the wall unit.

Align the tip of a drywall saw with one of the horizontal lines. Gently tap the handle of the saw to drive the tip of the blade through the drywall. Move the saw in and out of the drywall in a slow sawing motion and cut all the way along the line.

Cut along all of the lines you drew on the wall in pencil using the drywall saw. If you are building your wall unit between two adjacent studs you will only need to cut through four lines. To build a larger wall unit you may need to make several separate cutouts to access the studs.

Remove the drywall cutouts from the wall and set them aside. If you are building a larger wall unit, cut through the interior studs near the top and bottom of the wall opening using a circular saw. Leave about a half inch of each stud uncut and finish the cut using a handsaw.

Pull the studs you just cut free from the wall. The studs may be attached to the back of the wall with screws, so use caution when removing the studs to avoid damaging the wall on the back side of the stud.

Measure the width between the two vertical studs on either end of the space designated for the wall unit using a measuring tape. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch hardwood to this length with the circular saw and insert them horizontally into the wall space between the end studs. These boards will reinforce the wall where you removed the studs.

Drive 3-inch wood screws down through the top of the 2-by-4-inch pieces of hardwood into the exposed ends of the studs you cut through. Insert additional screws at a downward angle through the ends of the 2-by-4-inch pieces of hardwood into the end studs.

Measure the total width, depth and height of the exposed wall space where you intend to install your wall unit. When measuring the depth, measure from the back wall to the front edge of the drywall. This will ensure that your wall unit frame is flush with the surface of the drywall.

Cut two pieces of 1-inch hardwood to the total depth and width measurements of your wall unit as determined in Step 9. These boards will be the top and bottom panels for your wall unit frame. Cut two pieces of 1-inch hardwood using the depth measurement and the height of your wall unit, minus 2 inches, for the side panels.

Insert the top panel horizontally between the end studs and position it flat against the 2-by-4-inch piece of hardwood you installed along the top of the wall opening. Place the bottom panel horizontally inside the wall opening so it is flush against the lower 2-by-4-inch piece of hardwood you installed to reinforce the wall.

Drive 2-inch wood screws through the top and bottom panels into the 2-by-4-inch pieces of hardwood to secure them in place. Drive additional nails at an angle through the ends of the boards into the end studs.

Slide the side panels vertically into the wall space between the ends of the top and bottom panels. The widest edge of the side panels should be flush against the end studs. Drive 2-inch wood screws through the side panels into the top and bottom panels and adjacent wall studs to secure the frame.

Complete your wall unit by adding shelves or cabinet doors to the frame you just built. Measure and mark the position of your shelves along the side panels in pencil and cut them out of 1-inch hardwood. Attach any cabinet doors using metal hinges.