Another way to plumb/flatten/square walls
Hey folks. Wanted to pass along a way to get your walls plumb flat and square not using the traditional sister/shimming method. I’ve been using this with great success for a while now. What I do is use 1&5/8“ steel track to slip over the offending studs. Don’t use steal studs as they have a round over at the opening.
Here is an example. This wall was 3/4” out of plumb, way out of square and bowed. I set my two corners for plumb and square, then using a straight edge I set the rest of the studs all on the same plane. Make sure to secure the steal track to the sides of the stud not the face. All in this wall took me a little over an hour to do.
For this wall I was 1&3/4” out of plumb, and about 1/2” out of square. The trouble with this wall is the bottom half is a double 2x4 with the short section supporting the ceiling joists for the kitchen in this split level. Sistering would put my support studs 3” away from each corner. Way to far for my comfort. Likewise the niche is going in the 2nd bay on the left which is already only 11” wide.
For this I installed an additional 2x4“ section to make the entire run a double. I then ripped 1/2” plywood 3” wide and installed that on the sides of my corners plumb and square. Then using a straight edge I set my plywood strips on the rest of the studs all on the same plane.
Once the plywood was up I set 2x material on the stud and used the plywood to strike a line.
Using a circular saw I then cut my 2x on the line and secured it on the face of the stud opposite the one the plywood is attached to. I then faced the whole thing with 3&5/8“ steel track.
Plumb, square and all on the same plane.
