large hole in stud wall

[bananaspark]

I've got a 5 metre wall with studs at about 14 inches and as im redoing all the plasterboard. I thought it a good opportunity to [if its legal] to create a 40 x 30 rectangle to recess a plasma screen in future.

There is a long wooden lintel top and bottom of it. joists run parallel to the lintel in one room above and sit on it in another smaller room above (partially supporting wall). I thought about mitre cuting some 2x4 to arch over (A shape) and under (V shape) the tv frame and double up the studs ether side of the recess.
should i use an acro whilst doing this?

thanks bert.

 

[Richard C]

If it truly is a stud partition wall, it won’t be supporting anything other than its own weight. The lintels you refer to are in fact the head & sole plates which support the vertical partition studs; these are normally at 400 or 600mm centers with horizontal noggins half way up the wall. If you want to cut a hole in it (are you sure there are no cables behind) then propping should not be necessary but you will need to fabricate a new surround to support the edges of the plasterboard & to add same to the reveals.

If you look at the back of the set you will see it’s covered in ventilation slots/holes & the heat must be allowed to dissipate it’s to have any sort life expectancy. Putting flat screen TV’s into a recess seems to becoming very popular but they must have adequate ventilation (i.e. some form of duct & an outlet to allow the heat escape) & most manufacturers print a disclaimer in their warranty if the minimum air space around the set has not been provided.

 

[ColJack]

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/anatomy-stud-framed-wall.aspx

a link to stud framing site..

your would be similar to the window frame in the picture..

 

[bananaspark]

thanks, it seems to be exactly as you describle, (non supporting).
as far as heat, I thought about drilling 2 inch holes either side of frame, and mount some mini fans like you get in a pc, with foil ducting into the room.
realistically I'm hoping that by the time I can afford one, they will be low voltage/heat types available in future so vent wont be necessary.

 

[Richard C]

-- realistically I'm hoping that by the time I can afford one, they will be low voltage/heat types available in future so vent wont be necessary.

I think you will have a very long wait!