I am framing my basement, and love the idea of building a metal-stud wall in place. It seems very convenient to just attach metal top (header) and bottom (plate) studs and then cut the vertical studs to fit inside them.
However, I also like to hang heavy things on my wall, and I don't like the added cost of metal-specific electrical boxes. For this reason I'd prefer wood vertical studs.
Is it possible (or code) to use metal for the top and bottom, and attach wood vertical studs to them?
Why bother? Toe nailing wood to wood is easy.
Lou
I did that in my basement a few years back in my previous house. It worked well. However looking back, the only thing I did not think about is the bottom plate could rust if the basement is damp. I would at least use a pressure treated plate on the bottom. Metal studs are nice, but not as sturdy as wood studs. Also if you wood studs, you could put any kind of wood paneling on the wall. With metal studs you are limited to sheetrock.
metal studs you are limited to sheetrock.
If you wanted to put some kind of wood paneling, the ones that are fastened with those wood panel nails, then it would be a problem because of the metal studs. If you put plywood first, then paneling you are OK.
I suppose I am trying to avoid the hassle of building a wall on the floor, then hoisting it up, and installing a header and/or shimming.
Is there less labor in that than I am assuming?
It seems nice to be able to throw up some metal top & bottom and cut studs to fit. Am I "smoking the weed"?
You dont have to have one or the other. Nail the wood sole plate in place then put a metal plate on top of it. Solves the problem of fastening wood plate to metal studs, keeps the metal off the possibly damp concrete floor.
Jimmie
Jimmie
You can "throw up" the wood top and bottom plates and then cut wood studs to fit. Easiest sequence:
1) Cut top and bottom plate and layout the studs locations on them. 2) Securely fasten the top plate where you want it. 3) Lay the bottom plate below it with a plumb bob, don't secure it. 4) Cut the studs to length and toe nail into plates with one nail each. 5) Adjust the bottom plate location until the studs are plumb. 6) Secure the bottom plate and finish toe nailing the studs.Cheers, Wayne
Hi, Tight fit framed wall is not a good idea. Make it sort of float.
Thanks, can you elaborate?
If you are, it isn't the good stuff because you're still making sense.
My standard operating procedure for basement partitioning is to use a PT bottom plate with metal track on top of it and a metal top track at the ceiling joists. I install the top track first, plumb down to locate the bottom plate, shoot in (or Tapcon) the PT plate to the slab, then attach the metal track on top. Cut the wood studs about
1/4" short of a tight fit between the tracks, then slip the studs into place.Cutting the studs 1/4" short and having metal track for a top plate will prevent the partition from inadvertently becoming a bearing wall (probably not that big an issue, but that's what another post was referring to).
Alternatively, if you want to go with all wood, use a double bottom
2x4 plate, frame the wall a little bit short, then when you lift the wall into place use cedar shims between the bottom plates (under the studs) to lift the framed wall into contact with the ceiling joists. R
Hi, Let the frame height has an inch or bit more gap. So in case there is a settling or sagging of the ceiling, walls won't buckle. I frame that way always. Bottom sole plate is nailed into floor but I use jack nails thru a drilled holes to secure the top plate. Also studs little bit off the wall to make it straight vertically. Wall is not really flat top to bottom.
Nothing stopping you from doing the same with all wood. Puit your sill-plate and header in place, cut studs to fit, and screw together toe-nail style with deck screws. Fast, easy, and solid.
I put a strip of DriCore down under the sill plate - no pressure treated lumber inside my house.
The OP asked if what he intended with the metal track and wood studs makes sense. I do it for a living so I figured I'd tell him it does. Your way, while standard for some, is also a lot slower with little benefit. If you're building a bearing wall, you want tight, if it's a partition you don't need, or necessarily want, tight. As Tony was pointing out, building an inadvertent bearing wall might not be the best idea. Using the metal track allows gang cutting of studs and then just snapping them into place between the two tracks.
To each his own - my point was to use something that is rot and insect resistant. Cedar would also work. I don't know that I follow you comment - you cut up the 2' squares to make 3.5" strips? Do you mean that you install your partitioning on top of a DriCore (sub)floor?
Rreplying to Mike rock, Dave wrote: Or use foam sill gasket under the bottom metal plate.
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