staggered stud partition wall - noggins, corners, and sound insulation

[David Robinson]

I'm planning to build something like this...

4x2 top+bottom, and 3x2 studs.

Has anyone every successfully put a corner into one of these without joining the two sides together (which would make the whole thing pointless)? If so, how?!

Also, Noggins.I've seen suggestions to put little 45 degree pieces top and bottom internally, since conventional noggins would simply couple the two walls together (making it pointless). Any other ideas?

You can build them further apart, like this:

room for conventional noggins without bridging the two sides, but I don't want to "waste" that much space.

Shall I try to fit sound insulation into the little 1" gap behind each stud, or just put it in the larger gaps between studs?

Cheers, David.

[NT]

Corners are relatievly rigid, so dont much compromise sound resistance.

you could upsize from 2x3 to 2x4 uprights at the cost of another inch of space, but I dont know how much sound insulation youre looking for.

2 layers of 12mm PB on each side helps too. If not enough space for that you can always stick scrap PB or even plaster to the inner side of one of the PB where the gaps between studs are to stiffen and weight it.

You can also add weights to the uprights to redce movement. Its less easy with no noggings, but still doable.

NT

[dom]

this...

> ...with 4x2 top+bottom, and 3x2 studs.

this:

...leaving room for conventional noggins without bridging the two

You can set conventional noggins on their side, so using 50*100mm studs you would need to be only a shade over 150mm wide top and sole plates.

Everything counts, so thicker studs (particularly with higher ceilings) give extra stiffness, as does adding extra rows of noggins.

Thicker plasterboard, sound deadening plasterboard (e.g. LaFarge dB check) double staggered layers, denser sound insulation material, peripheral airtight seals around the wall, more screws, carefully positioned sockets - all counts - as does just good workmanship.

Check out Part E of the approved docs for lots of proven good advice.