ᐅ Aligning the Substructure (Wood on Wood)

Hello,

I need help with the process of aligning the wooden framework.
Please keep in mind that this is my first time doing this, so I would appreciate a detailed explanation.

I have now attached two wooden battens using adjustment screws, but I am not sure how to start aligning the entire structure.

Here’s what I have tried:
1. First, I individually leveled the first five battens (each 4 meters (13 feet) long) lengthwise using a spirit level. Then, to check, I held a straightedge across the five battens, but the fit at the front and back didn’t match. Some battens had a large gap to the straightedge, others only a small one. I thought that if I leveled them lengthwise with the spirit level, they would also all be correct widthwise.

What am I doing wrong, and what is the proper procedure?

Best regards

Basically, you need to work in the exact opposite way. First, level a row of screws across the lowest point. Then you can adjust the battens piece by piece yourself. It’s very fiddly and time-consuming. We went through the same process.

We didn’t manage to get it 100% perfect either. As mentioned before, it’s quite a fiddly task. A spirit level can’t provide extremely precise readings; over a length of 5 meters (16 feet), you can easily have a difference of a few millimeters (fractions of an inch), which you then need to adjust repeatedly.

What’s probably important (or so I’ve heard) is that the battens where the drywall sheets meet should be as flat as possible. Unevenness tends to show more at the (filled and sanded) joints than if a sheet is slightly bent by a few millimeters (fractions of an inch).

In our case, the battens were also somewhat warped or even twisted, which didn’t make things any easier.

It looks like you had ceiling panels installed before and now want to lower the ceiling using counter battens to install drywall sheets.

- First, find the lowest point on the ceiling.
- Depending on the dimensions of your drywall sheets, define the spacing of the counter battens and mark the lines. For larger distances, it’s best to work with two people and a chalk line. (Before installing the drywall sheets, mark lines on the wall to later find the center of the battens for screwing.)
- You can align the counter battens either with adjustable screws or traditionally using spacer blocks.

- Starting all battens at the same length from one wall, as you did, is not ideal because it creates a continuous joint. It’s better, for example, to start every second row from the opposite side.
- Saw the battens so that the joints are centered under the batten above, or place a short scrap piece over the joint and screw it down with two screws on each side. The screws must be shorter than both battens; otherwise, you will have holes in the vapor barrier, or in your case, concrete would get in the way.
- Then take a longer spirit level, for example 2 meters (6.5 feet), and starting from the lowest point, level only the two outermost battens reachable with the spirit level throughout the room, both lengthwise and widthwise.
- Once those are aligned, adjust the intermediate battens so that they just touch the spirit level or straight edge.
- Done.

AOLNCM schrieb:
It looks like you had ceiling panels installed and now want to lower the ceiling using counter battens to fit plasterboard sheets.

- First, locate the lowest point on the ceiling.
- Based on the dimensions of your plasterboard sheets, determine the spacing of the counter battens and mark the lines. For wider spacing, it’s best to work with two people and use a chalk line. (Before installing the plasterboard, mark lines on the wall so you can find the center of the battens when screwing them in later.)
- You can align the counter battens either with adjustable screws or traditionally using spacer blocks.

- Starting all battens at the same length from one wall, as you have done, isn’t ideal because it creates a straight joint line. It’s better to start, for example, every second row from the opposite side.
- Cut the battens so that the joints are centered underneath the batten above, or insert a short piece over the joint and secure it with two screws on each side. The screws should be shorter than the thickness of the battens to avoid making holes in the vapor barrier, or in your case, running into concrete.
- Then use a longer spirit level, for example 2 meters (6.5 feet), and from the lowest point, level the outermost two battens you can reach with the spirit level in both directions across the whole room.
- Once these are leveled, adjust the intermediate battens so they just touch the spirit level or straightedge.
- Done.

Now a silly question: How do I find the lowest point exactly? (Do I measure from the floor up to the batten and the spot with the smallest measurement in centimeters is the lowest point?)

We had a rotating laser.
With a tape measure, it went quickly.