Before installing a partition wall to divide off part of an existing room, check the construction method of the adjacent walls. If one is also a stud-partition wall, moving the position of the new wall slightly may enable you to secure it to an existing stud. A stud-and-joist detector will enable you to find the stud positions.

Check, too, which way the floorboard and ceiling joists run (not necessarily the same). Ideally, they will be at right angles to the new wall, but again careful positioning of the new wall may be necessary to coincide with a parallel joist - particularly on the floor. If the partition wall has to go between floor or ceiling joists, lift the floorboards below or above and secure 50mm x 100mm (2in x 4in) timbers at right angles between the existing joists to support the new wall.

Think about light for the newly-created room. If you are utilising an existing window, the wall will need to be positioned carefully so that the window can be shared by both rooms.

It is not difficult to build a doorway into the new partition wall, but careful positioning can minimise the amount of plasterboard-sheet cutting and fitting you need to do.

Think about any socket outlets you might want in the new wall. A stud-partition wall is ideal for running electric cable, but you need to plan the run first and install the cable before the plasterboard is added.

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