Can anyone let me how if there is a calculator to work out how much timber & plasterboard I would need to build a partition wall of a particular size, using uprights 2 foot apart, e.g wall of 8ft high by 10ft wide
Thanks
Graham Mason
Do you *really* need a calculator? If you can't do this in two minutes flat on the back of an envelope, I seriously doubt whether you will be able to build it once you have the materials!
Go to your local builbers merchants (not a DIY place) and ask them in the office to cost the job for you and sketch you a plan. Don't forget to really push for at least 25% trade discount on that sort of quantity.
They'll sort you out.
It's called asking.
If you don't ask, you don't get. If you do so nicely and pick your time when the merchant isn't busy, then you can do better.
After doing a price comparison for roughly equal list prices, (since anybody can have a high list price and discount heavily), I'm looking for a minimum of a 15-20% discount on most things from a trade merchant - i.e. at least cover the VAT. On some products, in appropriate volume, it is possible to get 50% from list. On some electrical cables, for example, the list prices are so high that the wholesalers sell at a street price because the discounts from list would be ridiculously high.
If a merchant insists on maintaining list prices, I shop elsewhere, simple as that. There's enough of them.......
Opening an account is useful with some as well.
.andy
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Because BMs are well known for their love of Saturday morning DIY'ers?
It's best to phone round for prices. BM's usually quote trade prices over the phone - particularly if they know they are in competition with others. Having quoted a price, they honour it when you go to buy the goods. If you just turn up without phoning, they'll likely charge you the retail price.
Actually, I was being a bit sarcastic... my local BM would probably give the OP a slap and shove him accross the road to do-it-all
Can anyone let me how if there is a calculator to work out how much timber & plasterboard I would need to build a partition wall of a particular size, using uprights 2 foot apart, e.g wall of 8ft high by 10ft wide
Thanks
Graham Mason
I refer the gentleman to the answer given in reply to your post dated 13/1
Check out google for the reply to your orignal thread perhaps ?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Graham Mason wrote
Yes this is REALLY easy. Here's how to do it:
The formula for the timber is:
((((L/s)+1)*H)+3L)*1.1
where L is the wall length in metres, H is the height in metres and s is the spacing of the uprights in metres. (In your example this would be 0.6). This gives you the total number of metres of timber required, allowing for top and bottom plates and 1 No central row of noggins and allowing for 10% waste. For each extra row of noggins add (L*1.1). Then when you've worked it out make sure you tell the timber yard the actual lengths you need, otherwise they'll be bound to cut them too short.
You'll need some 75mm or 100mm wire nails for the studwork. These come by the kilo - don't ask me how many nails per kilo, I get lost here.
The formula for the boards is:
((L*H*2)/2.9768)*1.1
where L is the length in metres and H is the height in metres. This gives you the number of 1.2 x 2.4m sheets of plasterboard to cover both sides, also allowing 10% waste. If H > 2.4m you'll need another row of noggins so you'll need to add another (L*1.1) to the timber.
To work out the number of galvanised plasterboard nails or screws at 300mm centres, again allowing 10% waste:
2*1.1*((3L/0.3)+3+((((L/s)+1)*H)/0.3)+(L/s+1)). Add (2L/0.3) for each extra row of nogginsDon't forget to order your self-adhesive fibreglass scrim tape for all the plasterboard joints. This comes in 50m rolls, so you'll need approximately (# of sheets of plasterboard*7.2)/(50*2) rolls. I made this formula deliberately simple and therefore it could be a bit inaccurate, so better add an extra roll just in case. And don't forget the thin coat angle beads for all the arrisses. You'll have to measure these yourself and divide by 2.4 to get the number of beads. Don't forget to round up to the nearest integer. Oh, and you'll need a few extra plasterboard nails for these, say 20 per bead. Use 32mm nails for
9.5mm thick plasterboard or 38mm nails for 12.5mm thick plasterboard.Finally, to work out the bags of plaster for the skim coat let's say, oo err.. (rubs chin) - I dunno - depends how messy you are. Let's say about 1 bag for every 4 sheets of plasterboard. Ooh, and don't forget to add an extra bag in case it rains and ruins a bag, and another one just in case one mix goes off while you're drinking your tea. Oh, and then you might need another one if you need to cut out all those lumps and bumps and redo the sodding thing all over again.
There you go Graham - I told you it was a doddle. Is this something that could go in the FAQ Phil?
I think it should Peter. It also looks as though you have just signed up to be the group's quantity surveyor.....
Now about that heating job....
.andy
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