Hi there,
My partner and I have just bought a house and want to put a stud wall up separating the living room from the hall as it is open plan at the moment, how easy is it to do and has anyone had any disasters??
Thanks in advance
It's very easy. I'm not a builder but have built several. Use 4x2 timber (some would use 3x2 but I think that's a bit flimsy). This is my method but I'm sure someone who actually knows what he is talking about will be along in a moment.
Say you are building a wall 10 feet long and 8 feet high. Fix a 10 foot length of 4x2 (the sole plate) to the floor with 75mm screws, and another (the header plate) directly above it to the ceiling. It would help to discover where the first floor joists are so you can screw into those. Make sure not to hit cables or water pipes. If your ground floor is solid, then use brown plugs and 4 inch screws.
Then fix a vertical stud at each end between the two plates. Length will be 8 feet less the thickness of the plates. Fix by skew screwing at an angle (builders here will probably be horrified, but I use 75mm plasterboard screws as they self-drive very well). Then fix vertical studs along the wall at 400 centres (600mm is OK but 400 is more robust).
Then fix horizontal bits of 4x2 (noggings) at 1/3 and 2/3 way up between the verticals, to brace it all. These you can screw into the ends, through the vertical studs (stagger them by 2 inches as you work across, so you can do this).
Then fix your plasterboard to the plates, studs and noggins with 32mm plasterboard screws (PB is 1200mm wide, which is why you fixed your studs at 400mm or 600mm centres). If bothered about noise, put something like Soundbloc insulation batts inside before fixing the second side of plasterboard.
Ring your plasterer and get him to come and skim it. Fit skirting and decorate.
If you want a door in it, get a door and a suitable size door casing from a builder's merchant. The door casing needs to be fixed between studs, so adjust stud spacing to suit, with a nogging across the top - screw through the casing to those, making sure all is plumb, straight and square so you don't distort the casing by screwing to a bent stud ... Obviously cut out the bit of the sole plate where the door opening is.
Happy to offer any more help from my own experience, but I expect a proper builder will be along in a moment. None of my walls has fallen down so far.
Cheers
Richard
