Chalk line out of square room for framing
#1
07-23-11, 05:25 PM
Chalk line out of square room for framing
Hello all, I am framing interior walls in a balloon framed house. The whole house is gutted to the outside walls. I am going to frame partitioning walls throughout the entire house. The house was an old railroad style, about 15 foot wide and 50 foot long each floor. I am having an issue snapping my chalk lines though as the outside walls of course are not square. I have tried using a few lasers but no luck. I have framed walls before but always in platform style houses with exterior walls that were much more true. I know this should be easy, but really having a hard time here. I understand the 3-4-5 method, but with the walls running out, I never can seem to make everything work. If anyone has a few pointers or links to vids that would help, I would be much appreciative. My fiancée is about to knock me out of square for taking so long with this. 
#2
07-25-11, 06:54 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums
When working with old, out-of-square buildings, you will likely not be able to make everything square and will have to adapt to what the structure gives you.
When working with old, out-of-square buildings, you will likely not be able to make everything square and will have to adapt to what the structure gives you.
#3
07-25-11, 07:34 PM
I would measure off the short wall half the distance of the long wall in two places, 7' apart or so, one at the wall and one in the middle. Snap a line. Move from this line as a baseline for the remainder to either end. You will use this as a center line of the building and a reference point. Disregard the long wall, as it is probably the culprit. You will not have square corners, but, then neither did the $350k new house I worked on last week, so don't fret.
