How do you replace rotten wall studs?

Answer 1

The biggest concern is supporting all structures ABOVE the rotten area. So you first need to do mental (thinking, planning) work before touching ANY of it. BEFORE you do a thing, you need to know how to insert new studs (or doubled up studs) beside the old studs.

So, first steps:

1. Make sure you have any building permits required in your township, city, state.
2. Start in morning so you have daylight to work in.
3. Wear gloves and eye protection.
4. Carefully remove the baseboards and other decorative wood. Put these somewhere safe if you plan to reuse them.
5. Lay down tarps on floor to collect debris.
6. Remove plaster over that wall area. NOTE: You'll probably lose plaster on an entire wall.
7. Notice any outlets; notice all house wiring. *Make sure to turn electric OFF at the main. In many instances, it will be easier to re-run new electrical wiring.
8. Carefully, remove drywall, using a smaller hammer when near elec. wiring areas.
9. Pay particular attention to what is above. Notice if you are working on a load bearing wall. **CONSULT EXPERTS IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE LOAD BEARING POINTS ARE.
10. MAKE SURE to check the roof, as well. Do it before going any further. No sense fixing a wall if you do not correct WHY the wood rotted.
11. Make sure to KNOW what the standard stud sizes are for the project. * Consult experts.
12. MEASURE THE WALL SPACE CAREFULLY FOR HEIGHT AND CAREFULLY CUT THE STUDS.
13. Get or build scaffolding.
14. Once you have done the planning, you will put a stud alongside the one you need to replace. Some studs need 2. *Consult experts.
15. Once all of your second floor or roof or load bearing beams are supported from underneath with new studs, you can saw through the rotten stud and remove it in pieces. *Consult experts. **HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN.
16. Once you have a clean slate with new studs set, and brackets used where needed, the electrician can drill out new holes to run the electrical wires or attach cable to the studs; hook up electrical outlets, etc. He/she will make sure the job follows codes, and will test the work.
17. After all the electric is replaced or re-run, you will need insulation if an outside wall. USE MASK, EYE PROTECTION, AND GLOVES.
18. Place 3/4ths inch plywood down where you plan to cut the insulation roll. Grab a short piece of straight wood to use as a marking-cut line. RE-MEASURE THE WALL SPACE CAREFULLY. CUT ONE HEIGHT (LENGTH), TRY IT IN THE SPACE. MEASURE THE REST, MAKING A LIST OF WHAT HEIGHTS YOU NEED.
19. Wearing protections, insert each height of insulation, tacking as you go. It helps to have help. Remember, do not cut insulation to go around anything except an electrical box---if needed. Just put the insulation over wires. ***BE CAREFUL to NOT use a staple gun near wiring!
20. Get or build scaffolding.
21. Once each stud is set (and insulation on external walls), now you get to measure and cut sheets of drywall. Plan to use the premade large pieces first. Fill in with cut pieces second. (I believe my dad raised full sheets to the ceiling because he needed cut pieces around electrical boxes.) Just measure and plan FIRST to reduce wasted product. Be careful with nailing AND use a uniform nailing pattern.
22. Next, you get to add drywall strips over each seam. And add the wet compound with a drywall tool; work it so it is flat and even, covering both sides of the drywall tape strips.
23. Next, make sure all nailheads are flat against the surface, then use the wet compound to cover the nailheads-- work it across the spot so the compound is flat before it dries. The wall will look funky now....
24. My dad sanded the dry compound. After cleaning up the dust with a damp rag, he let the wall dry a few days.
25. Then comes the plaster....