Kids' Room Dividing Wall

Below is a summary of steps, as well as a list of tools and materials used, as seen in the kids' room project.

Materials and tools:

1/4" luan (8 sheets)
swivel casters (8)
sheets 3/4" birch (2)
48" piano hinge (4)
table saw
power miter box
air compressor with hoses
finish nailer
speed square
measuring tape
pencil
safety glasses

1. Design the wall. For ours, we're going 6' tall to miss the ceiling fan, and angling the sides to miss the ceiling. Hinge the panels to each other and to the wall so it folds up.

2. Cut the sides. The sides are g made of 3/4" birch ply. Cut the ply into 6" strips and edgeband using iron-on edge banding.

3. Rout the grooves. Using a router (either handheld with a guide fence, or in a router table) cut a 1/4" groove 3/4" from each side of the plywood sides (figure A). This groove will accept a piece of luan to become the wall.

4. Cut the luan. The luan should be cut to fit into the groove that was routed into the sides.

5. Assemble the frame. Use glue and brads to assemble the frame around the luan sheets to form the divider panel (figure B).

6. Install casters. Lag the casters to the bottom of the wall

7. Install the unit. Start by attaching a 6" strip of plywood to the wall studs, then, using the piano hinges, screw the panels together so they fold accordian-style against the wall.

8. Safety blocks. If the wall is straightened out completely, without support it may fall over. To prevent that from happening, install safety blocks where the wall folds to prevent the wall from opening all the way straight.

9. Prime and paint to finish up the project.