Interior wall construction: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What interior wall construction is

Interior wall construction builds a new partition by framing with studs, adding wiring and insulation as needed, hanging drywall and finishing it to divide a room or create a closet or office. People build one when a space needs a new room layout, and the wall must be placed correctly for the framing, the outlets and the doors.

Signs you need it

  • A large room needs to be split into two rooms, such as a bedroom and an office or a closet
  • You want a new closet, pantry or storage wall in a space that does not have one
  • The layout needs a wall that separates a bathroom, a laundry or a mudroom from the rest of the house
  • A new door needs a wall to sit in, and the existing wall does not give the right opening
  • Sound and privacy between two rooms are poor, and a new partition would improve them

What the pro does

  • Mark the wall location on the floor and the ceiling, and check the joists, the ducts and the wiring that run through the area
  • Cut the top and bottom plates to length and fasten them to the floor and the ceiling framing
  • Frame the studs at the spacing the plan calls for, with the headers over the door openings and the blocking for fixtures
  • Run the new wiring for outlets and switches through the studs, and have the electrical work inspected before the wall is closed
  • Insulate the wall for sound or temperature, then hang the drywall, tape and finish the seams
  • Install the doors, the trim and the paint, then check the finished wall for plumb and the operation of the doors

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length and height of the wall, plus the number of door and window openings
  • Insulation type and whether sound-rated insulation is used in the partition
  • Amount of electrical work, including the number of outlets, switches and lights in the new wall
  • Ceiling and floor conditions, such as an uneven ceiling or a floor that must be leveled
  • Interference with ducts, pipes and existing framing that has to be moved or rerouted
  • Finish level for the drywall, including the texture, the paint and the trim style

What a written quote should spell out

  • Wall length and height, with the number of door openings and their sizes
  • Framing lumber size and spacing, and the header sizes used over each opening
  • Insulation type and thickness, named with its rating for sound or temperature
  • Electrical work listed by outlet and switch, with the permit and inspection steps
  • Drywall type, finish level and paint products, with the warranty on the wall

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will the new wall affect the ducts, the pipes or the wiring behind it, and who checks that?
  • What is the framing spacing and the header size over the door?
  • Who runs the electrical in the new wall, and is it inspected before drywall?
  • What insulation do you use, and does it help with sound between the rooms?
  • How do you attach the top plate to the ceiling framing?
  • Can you show me a partition wall you built in a house of similar age?

Red flags

  • The pro builds a new wall on top of a flooring layer without checking the framing underneath
  • The pro fastens the top plate only to the drywall ceiling with no ceiling framing
  • The pro runs wiring through the new wall with no inspection before the drywall goes up
  • The pro says the wall does not need a permit because it is not structural

What you can do yourself

A non-load-bearing partition in a single room can be framed by a homeowner who is comfortable with a saw and a level, as long as the wall does not carry load and no electrical or plumbing work is done without a licensed trade. Removing an existing wall, changing a load-bearing wall, and any wall that moves ducts or wiring should go to a licensed contractor.

Licenses and permits

Interior wall construction often needs a building permit when it includes electrical work or changes the layout, and the electrical work can need a licensed electrician. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before the wall is framed.

Interior wall construction questions

Can I put a wall anywhere in the room?

Only where the framing, the ducts and the wiring allow it. Ask the pro to locate the joists and the hidden lines before the wall is marked, and to tell you if the placement changes the room's use.

Will a new wall be soundproof?

Insulation and double drywall help, but a wall is only as quiet as its gaps and doors. Ask the pro how the top and bottom are sealed and what the insulation is rated for.

Do I need to paint the wall before the trim goes on?

Usually the drywall is finished, painted and then the trim is installed, with the caulk done last. Ask the pro for the order of work so the wall and trim are finished cleanly.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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