So yesterday was devoted to putting the last jack stud into the lower half of the bay of my back wall into which the A/C unit will eventually be installed. That gives me the structural re-inforcing that will be needed for when the upper section of the bay gets opened up to receive the rough in box for the A/C unit. Think of it as basically the same process as when you build a wall with the openings in it for windows. You have to fabricate an opening or pocket for the window sash to sit in and that has to be supported; usually by means of taking the existing king studs and doubling them by using jack studs. The whole exercise is all about load. In this case, when the wall was constructed at the assembly shop, the pocket was not included as a way to cut costs at the time and because there was no anticipated need for windows; no windows meant no way for trespassers to be nosy. However, climate change is driving the need to introduce the A/C so now the wall has to be fitted with the lower set of jack studs to support the lower sill of the window into which the mounting box for the unit will go.
And to that end, today was "re-stuff the insulation back in the bay, replace the vapor barrier and retape it, and rehang the wall board day" Dusty, messy and necessary. Threw a coat of mud at the screws and seams. Will apply the seam mesh and another layer of mud tomorrow. Sand the whole mess down and maybe slap on some paint, or not.
And, oh yeah, no pictures of any of this. I like my camera far too much to bring it into that kind of environment. Plus which, kind of hard to take pictures while holding up 5/8ths wall board and running the screws at the same time.
Nick