Wall framing guidelines

[oldhomeowner]

When you frame a exterior wall do you measure the ceiling height to the top of the studs or to the top of the top plate? And is it from the sill or the cement floor level

[dhill]

I've not really measured the exterior wall height. My exterior wall height has always been determined by the interior wall heights. What's the reason for measuring exterior wall height?

[VALENT]

top of the top plate to the cement floor. Of course your finished wall height will be that figure minus the thickness of the ceiling covering and minus the thickness of the floor covering. But generally speaking it would be the distance from the floor to the top of the top plate.

[Sweep]

The top plate of an exterior wall is set a certain distance above the subfloor or concrete slab. A conventional flat ceiling could be anywhere below that height depending on the design. I usually set it 1 1/4" below the top plate to allow for 3/4" strapping and 1/2" GWB but that could be different for many reasons.

[rgramjet]

If you want 8' ceilings, buy precut studs that are 92-5/8". That way with your single sill and double top, it comes to 8'.....saves a ton of time and material.

They also have 104-5/8" studs for 9" ceilings.

[Dragon]

Well actually, it comes out to 8' 1 1/8"

The idea is to end up with 8' of finished space.

[rgramjet]

8'0-5/8" assuming 1/2" drywall on ceiling. Add the 3/4" flooring surface of your choice and you are looking at 7'11-7/8" finished ceiling height. Id say close enough.

[Dragon]

Yeah that will pretty well do it.