Wall stud
Encyclopedia
A wall stud is a vertical member in the light frame construction techniques called balloon framing and platform framing of a building
's wall
.
s, header
s and sub-floors, hold the outward forces in check and keep the walls in parallel and from bulging. In the mostly obsolescent and now rare balloon framing method, the wall studs are very long and tall and run from sill plate
to roof plate, with the walls holding up the floors. In tall balloon framed buildings, studs are usually augmented by substantial posts, especially in the corners or mid-points of long walls.
s which are much thinner in cross section than the structural elements in the older, Post and beam and Balloon framing methods of light frame construction. Being thinner and lighter, stick construction techniques are easier and speedier than the older methods, and balloon framing has been made illegal in new construction in many jurisdictions, for fire safety reasons—the plates and platforms in platform framing providing an automatic fire stop inside walls, and so are deemed much safer by fire safety officials.
Traditionally, studs were made of wood, usually 2×4 or 2×6 dimensional lumber. In North America, studs are typically placed 16 inches (400 mm) from each other's centre, but sometimes also at 12 inches (300 mm) or 24 inches (600 mm). Steel studs are gaining popularity, especially for non load-bearing walls.
or plaster
will take significantly less weight.
Using a stud finder
, one can find studs in most walls, though this may not work for very thick plaster, or plaster walls built with wire-lath.
If a stud finder does not work or is unavailable, it is often the easiest to tap lightly on the wall with the underside of one's fist. The resonating vibration especially from plaster and drywalls is an indication for a cavity behind. Tapping against a stud usually results in considerably less vibration. Another practice is to use a hammer and lightly tap on the wall while listening for sound differences until the stud is found. A third option is to resort to trial and error. Drilling a hole into the wall with a masonry bit, the difference between hitting a stud and not will be clear. If a stud is not hit, the bit will punch through quickly, with no resistance after the plaster or drywall. If a stud has been hit, the bit will put up considerable resistance. The bit may still drill into the wood or the metal, but progress will be slower. This difference is more manifest with a masonry bit than a wood drilling bit. After the first stud is found, others will typically be found 16 inches (about 40 cm) in either horizontal direction.
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
's wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
.
Purpose
It is variously also called "stick and platform", "stick and frame", or "stick and box" construction colloquially; the 'sticks' carry the vertical loads, and the rectangular platforms made of floor joistJoist
A joist, in architecture and engineering, is one of the horizontal supporting members that run from wall to wall, wall to beam, or beam to beam to support a ceiling, roof, or floor. It may be made of wood, steel, or concrete. Typically, a beam is bigger than, and is thus distinguished from, a joist...
s, header
Post and lintel
Post and lintel, or in contemporary usage Post and beam, is a simple construction method using a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts...
s and sub-floors, hold the outward forces in check and keep the walls in parallel and from bulging. In the mostly obsolescent and now rare balloon framing method, the wall studs are very long and tall and run from sill plate
Sill plate
A sill plate or sole plate in construction and architecture is the bottom horizontal member of a wall or building to which vertical members are attached. Sill plates are usually composed of lumber. It usually comes in sizes of 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, and 2×10. In the platform framing method the sill plate...
to roof plate, with the walls holding up the floors. In tall balloon framed buildings, studs are usually augmented by substantial posts, especially in the corners or mid-points of long walls.
Properties
The "sticks" refer to the wall studs and the wall plateWall plate
A wall plate, a structural element in the light frame construction method known as platform framing, is a horizontally laid structural element at right angles to the load-bearing part of the vertical load of a building...
s which are much thinner in cross section than the structural elements in the older, Post and beam and Balloon framing methods of light frame construction. Being thinner and lighter, stick construction techniques are easier and speedier than the older methods, and balloon framing has been made illegal in new construction in many jurisdictions, for fire safety reasons—the plates and platforms in platform framing providing an automatic fire stop inside walls, and so are deemed much safer by fire safety officials.
Traditionally, studs were made of wood, usually 2×4 or 2×6 dimensional lumber. In North America, studs are typically placed 16 inches (400 mm) from each other's centre, but sometimes also at 12 inches (300 mm) or 24 inches (600 mm). Steel studs are gaining popularity, especially for non load-bearing walls.
Other terms
Studs used to frame around window and door openings are given different names, including- king stud − hold up the entire house with no problem
- trimmer or jack − stud that supports the window or door header
- cripple − not required
- post or column − a doubled or other integral multiple of a group of studs nailed side by side, or (equivalent, a metal sheathed concrete filled column) used in a load bearing wall to transfer the weight of an upper structure to the bearing wall of a foundation, footingFootingThe word footing has a number of meanings:*Architecture, Foundation *Translation Science, Footing *Bookkeeping, Footing *Sexuality, Footing *Jogging...
, and ground. Posts in walls are most common near high decorative windows, long spans near a wide window or sliding door, and so forth. Where architectural beauty conflicts with needs of engineering strength and safety.
Grades
Based on the WCLIB grading rules, there is only one grade of stud: STUD. A stud is graded for vertical application, and its stress requirements and allowable visual defects reflect that application. A stud is most similar to a #2 grade, which is held to a higher standard during grading. The biggest difference between the two is the frequency, placement and size of knots and overall allowable wane.Finding studs
When mounting an object such as a shelf to a wall and maximum strength is desired, the goal is to attach the object to the studs in the wall, as drywallDrywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
or plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
will take significantly less weight.
Using a stud finder
Stud finder
A stud finder is a handheld device used to determine the location of wood and metal framing studs used in light-frame construction after the walling surface has been installed....
, one can find studs in most walls, though this may not work for very thick plaster, or plaster walls built with wire-lath.
If a stud finder does not work or is unavailable, it is often the easiest to tap lightly on the wall with the underside of one's fist. The resonating vibration especially from plaster and drywalls is an indication for a cavity behind. Tapping against a stud usually results in considerably less vibration. Another practice is to use a hammer and lightly tap on the wall while listening for sound differences until the stud is found. A third option is to resort to trial and error. Drilling a hole into the wall with a masonry bit, the difference between hitting a stud and not will be clear. If a stud is not hit, the bit will punch through quickly, with no resistance after the plaster or drywall. If a stud has been hit, the bit will put up considerable resistance. The bit may still drill into the wood or the metal, but progress will be slower. This difference is more manifest with a masonry bit than a wood drilling bit. After the first stud is found, others will typically be found 16 inches (about 40 cm) in either horizontal direction.
See also
- Framing (construction)Framing (construction)Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
which details each of- Balloon framing
- Platform framing
- Post and lintelPost and lintelPost and lintel, or in contemporary usage Post and beam, is a simple construction method using a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts...
- Post and Beam
- WallWallA wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
s - Wall plateWall plateA wall plate, a structural element in the light frame construction method known as platform framing, is a horizontally laid structural element at right angles to the load-bearing part of the vertical load of a building...
s