Closet added to small bedroom space.
Everyone loves closets. But, maybe you moved into an old house and you have bedrooms with no closet. A bedroom isn't a bedroom in many states unless it has a built-in closet. So, if you have the room, adding a closet may actually increase the value of your home. You should make sure that the space you have left, after you add the closet, is large enough to be used for a bedroom or for the purpose you intend. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select the spot in your room where you want to build your closet. The inside depth of the closet must be at least two feet to hang clothing. The length should be at least five feet (for a single door) and seven feet (for bi-fold or bi-swing doors). The best way to situate your closet is by borrowing two of your existing room walls.
2. Measure from your corner and tape painter's tape on the floor. You should have two parallel lines indicating the wall depth plus your drywall. Measure for the door you want to install and leave a gap to show the door opening. Walk around your tape. Make sure all of your windows and doors open and close without touching or bumping the new closet. Tape your closet door swing to be sure. Check your measurements to be certain you have at least two feet inside the closet from inside wall to inside wall.
3. Cut the carpet and padding along the outside taped edge of the new walls. Cut across the future closet door as well. Be careful if you want to re-use this carpet piece inside the closet later. Roll up the carpet and pad and put them aside. Use a pry bar, putty knife and pliers to remove the tack strip and any nails and staples.
4. Place a ladder inside the closet area and mark your closet measurements onto the ceiling with a pencil and straight edge. Move a stud finder across the ceiling to locate joists and make an X when you locate them. Your top plate will be a 2 by 4-inch board that you will nail to the ceiling that matches the walls of your new closet. The top plate will go across the doorway. The bottom plates also follow the perimeter, but there is no plate at the closet doorway.
5. Measure the width of your door and add 6-inches for the width of your rough opening. Nail your top and bottom plates in place using a framing nail gun. Measure between your top and bottom plate and use a chop saw to cut 2 by 4-inch boards to this length. Toe nail one board to each outer wall and the top and bottom plates. Nail one board at the corner.
6. Cut two studs the height of the door plus 1-inch. Be sure to account for the height of your bottom plate in this calculation. Cut two studs the height between the top and bottom plate. Lay one short stud on top of one long stud. Align one end and nail the two studs together. Repeat this for the second set. Nail the double studs into place with the short studs facing inside, toward the door.
7. Measure the distance between the two tall studs. Cut two studs to this width. Fit the first stud so that it rests on the top of each shorter vertical stud. Nail this header board into place. Place the second stud on top of the first one and nail the two studs together. Measure the distance from the top of the top horizontal door stud to the bottom of the top plate. Cut short studs to fit every 16-inches on center over the door. Position the cripple studs (short pieces) and nail them into place.
8. Cut all your remaining wall studs to fit spaced at 16-inches on center. Measure and cut drywall with a utility knife for both the inside and outside walls. Screw the drywall into the studs using drywall screws. Attach an outside corner bead to the outside corner and tape and mud (drywall joint compound) all of the inside corners and seams using a 4-inch putty knife. Lightly sand after two hours. Apply more mud and sand until the seams are gone.
9. Fit and shim your pre-hung door or doors. Use a level to be sure the door is square and plumb. Use shims to make leveling adjustments. Measure and cut your door casing and baseboard to fit using a miter saw and finish nails. Fill your holes with wood fill and caulk. Prime and paint your drywall, door, and trim. Use a primer made for drywall for best results. Paint with an angled paint brush and roller.
10. Measure and cut your closet rod and shelf to fit. Position your rod and shelf brackets against the back wall of the closet. Locate the brackets over studs. Screw the brackets into studs. Screw the end caps for the closet rod into the side walls. Screw the rod into the bottom of the bracket. Screw the shelf to the bracket from the underside.
Tags: your closet, bottom plate, bottom plates, inside closet, into place, your bottom, 16-inches center