Expert: Jamie Yocono - 7/2/2007

Question
I am going to install a small wall unit into a work shop in my garage. I'm going to install it between 2 2x4 joices that are eight feet tall. I was going to place it on a 2x4 anchored between the 2 joices. Will one 2x4 anchored be enough or should I double it up?

Answer
Hi Thomas,

I think I understand what you're asking, and I'm assuming that the 2 x 4 that you say is going to be anchored on the two 2 x 4's is a horizontal piece, right? Once again, I'm assuming that you're planning on nailing horizontally into the upright 2 x 4's and into the horizontal 2 x 4, which is acting as a sill.

Are we thinking along the same line?

Without knowing the weight of the AC unit, I would worry about supporting it solely by the nails. They're strong, but just to be sure, I would also use two short pieces of studs, usually called jack studs, under the horizontal piece- one on each side.  You really don't need to double the sill up, just beef up the support from below, via the jack studs.

Let's say you want to mount that AC unit 36" off the floor. The top 2 x 4 (sill) is 1.5" and the bottom wall plate is 1.5". So the length of the jack stud would be 33" long. It acts as a vertical support for the horizontal piece.

Hope that makes sense! Here is a link to show you what I mean:

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/window/new/ro_framing.htm

OK, good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com