If you have a finished floor to ceiling height of 8 feet and a double plate at the top and single plate at the bottom, how long do you cut the studs?

To determine the correct length for cutting the studs in this scenario, it's essential to calculate the total height available for the studs and account for the widths of the plates. In a typical framing situation with a finished height of 8 feet (which equals 96 inches), you need to subtract the combined thickness of the top and bottom plates.

In this case, the top plates are usually constructed as a double plate (which typically is composed of two pieces of 2x4 lumber, each with a nominal thickness of 1.5 inches). Therefore, the double plate adds approximately 3 inches total (1.5 inches x 2). The bottom plate, being a single plate composed of a single piece of 2x4 lumber, adds another 1.5 inches.

When you calculate the total thickness of the plates:

• Double top plate: 3 inches

• Single bottom plate: 1.5 inches

• Total thickness of plates: 3 inches + 1.5 inches = 4.5 inches

Now, subtract this total thickness from the finished height:

96 inches (finished height) - 4.5 inches (total thickness of plates) = 91.5 inches.

When calculating the stud length,