Wiremu, Vellon, and I were responsible for framing one side of the sleepout using 90 × 45 mm (3 × 2) studs at 2400 mm high, spaced at 600 mm centres as required. However, we identified a hazard when one of the stud positions was marked incorrectly at the 600 mm spacing. I noticed the error when Vellon had marked the stud layout differently to where it should have been. This happened because the bottom plate had been marked but was not transferred to the top plate. Once we realised this, we corrected the layout so both the 6 m bottom and top plates were squared off and marked the same, which made it easier to position the studs accurately.
When assembling the frame, I was in a good mindset even though I had not been there at the start. The studs had been cut to 2310 mm in length. I was happy to be offered the chance to use the nail gun. Although I was not fully confident at first, it helped build my confidence as I nailed the studs to the top and bottom plates. After that, we were ready to install the nogs and use a string line to make sure our side of the frame was straight.
On Thursday, Jack asked Wiremu and me to brace the inside of the sleepout so the frames would not fall over. We had to make sure each frame was square before bracing. First, I took an H3.2-treated 90 × 45 mm timber brace and cut both ends at a 45° angle. This allowed the brace to sit flat on the floor at the bottom and fit flush against the top plate at the top corner. I then used a clamp to hold the brace tight against the stud, which made it easier to screw the top of the brace into the stud near the top plate. We used a spirit level to check that the corner stud was plumb before fixing the bottom of the brace to the stud and bottom plate.
We installed four 90 × 45 mm H3.2-treated timber braces to plumb and stabilise the inside wall framing. Each brace was cut with a 45° angle at the bottom so it could sit flat on the floor, and the top was screwed to the stud where the brace angle was closest to the framing. Two braces were fixed to the right-hand side of the 2400 mm high wall frame, and another two were installed in the same way on the opposite side. Finally, we ran a string line along the top plate from one end of the frame to the other to check that the wall was straight before permanently fixing it in place.