To square a wall, secure the bottom plate as shown, then move the top of the wall until the diagonal dimensions are equal. Once the wall is square, secure it with two nails through the double plate into the floor.
Nail on the inside of the bottom plate so the nails will hold the wall in position while it is being stood. The bottom plate should be nailed so that it’s in line with the wall chalk line. Then, when the wall is raised, it will be in the right position.
Cover the entire wall with sheathing, then rout window and door openings with a panel pilot router bit (see illustration). Save the leftover pieces of sheathing for small areas and filling in between floors.
If the first floor exterior walls can be reached from the ground, then the sheathing is not installed until after the walls are plumb and lined (straight and true; see Step 16-Plumb & Line). This eliminates the potential problem of a square wall sitting on a foundation that is not level.
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Panel pilot router bit
