How would you recommend attaching the top plate on walls whose top plate don't reach into the joist area? I have a wall that runs just below my main trunk and return lines for my hvac system, and attaches to two other walls. I was wondering if I could just run a piece of 2x4 from the joists to the wall, or perhaps create a little header across a 3 foot section of this 8 foot wall to provide a means of attaching the top.

Also, I have one column I'm trying to hide inside a wall. I figured I could notch the heck out of a 2x6 and build a 2x6 wall to hide the 3.5" round lolly column. Does this make sense??

Any advice would be appreacited!

Dan

 

Since the wall isn't too long, I think it might be sufficiently supported by being well attached to the walls on either end. Use a single board for the top plate. Try to save a little room on top of the top plate for diagonal bracing from the two side walls. I've done something similar in the past.

Are you going to build a soffit around the ducts. If so, this soffit may be able to provide some support to that top plate too.

As far as hiding poles inside walls (I assume that we are talking about a different wall than the one above), this is commonly done and can sometimes even be done inside a 2x4 wall. If the sole plate is attached to the floor, and the top plate to the joists, you don't have to notch them -- you can merely stop on one side of the pole and start again on the other.

 

John,

Thanks for the advice! I wound up doing what you suggested, and also using a little bit of scrap to build a box to the ceiling. Put it this way ... the wall's not moving!

Regarding the poles, we changed our floorplan a bit and are going to box them in now vs. incorporating them into a wall but thanks for the suggestion!

Dan