how to buid a partition wall:joist centres

HOW TO BUILD A PARTITION WALL

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Now the spacing between the studs needs to be worked out before the studs are nailed into position. There are several different opinions on the subject of stud spacing, some people set the studs at 400mm or 450mm and some set the studs at 600mm. Before you decide on your stud spacing you need to decide which size plasterboard you will be attaching to the studs afterwards. Thicker plasterboard is preferred rather than thin plasterboard and so a minimum of 12.5mm thick plasterboard is recommended.

The spacing of the studs is dependent on which size of plasterboard you will be using and whether you will be positioning them horizontally or vertically.


Boards fitted vertically	Boards fitted Horizontally (note how the joints are staggered)

As most houses have low ceilings we are going to use 1200mm * 2400mm sheets of plasterboard and fit them vertically, therefore for this demonstration we will be positioning the joist centres at 400mm.

Ensure That the first stud is placed tight to the wall, measure the first 400mm from the wall then each other 400mm from the centre of the next stud. When all studs are secured in place fix noggins in between each stud in the middle of the studs, if you are to fix a sink to the wall later ensure a noggin is placed there also.

It is now a good idea to mark the floor where all the centres are marked, this is so you know where to nail when you position the plaster board in place, make sure you use suitable rust proof nails with a large flat head or use bugle headed plaster board screws for fastening the plasterboard to the position.

Here is a good example of a stud partition wall. You can see that the noggins have been staggered to make them easier to fasten into position.

Doors can be easily be built into the partition by leaving a opening with studs on each side of the gap, fit the door casing directly to the studs.

After fastening the plasterboard on one side it is a good idea to place insulation between the sheets to provide sound proofing and better energy efficiency, then fasten the other side on.

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