Well, plasterboard is 1200mm wide, so you have the choice of spacing the studs at 600mm (cheap and quick) or 400mm (more solid).
Use 75mm x 50mm studwork. You need a footplate of the same material and a top plate over the top. Place either one or two noggins, depending on the height of the wall. Two is probably better, equally spaced between the footer and header.
Attach the studwork using skew nailing. Plasterboard over using 12.5mm plasterboard, either straight edge, scrim taped and skimmed, or taper edged, taped and filled. Use plasterboard screws. Avoid plasterboard nails.
The top of the wall need securing, to stop it wobbling, especially over 3m. How this is done depends on the situation. You may be able to attach to joists in the ceiling above.
A = topplate/header B = stud C = noggin D = footplate/footer
Skew nailing is a secure and strong way of making a butt join. Obviously, perfectionists may use proper furniture type joins with mortice and tenons etc, but this is not necessary.
The diagonal lines represent the nails. By nailing in at 90 degrees to each other, you get a very strong join that wouldn't be the case if all nails were parallel. It is best to predrill the wood, though, especially the clearance hole.
Scrim tape is a fibre backed ultra low tack sticky tape. You cover plasterboard joins with it to prevent or reduce cracking as the boards move naturally.
Note they say to you fit the sole/top plates first. I would build it on the floor by placing the sole and top plates on top of each other where you want the wall and then measure down from the ceiling to the top of the top plate (ensure the measurement is taken vertically!).
It usually takes a bit of umff to get the wall in place but it will pretty much self support while you get it exactly vertical and square. Put the noggins in afterward so its easy to square.
If you nail, leave the heads 5mm out until you are very very happy with the whole deal (including all other sections)!
I have used this approach on about six stud partitions of various sizes and it worked for me.
Most DIY books reccomend placing the top/soles first ... my builder mate fell about laughing when I showed him the pictures.
Thanks to all for informative replies. One question arising, some are quoting 3"x2" and some 4"x2". Presumably the timber is fixed such that the 3" (or 4") thickness dictates the wall width? If so, is there not a standard width of stud wall? I've seen door frame sets in our local timber merchant's so I expected the wall width (thickness) would also be standard!
Certainly, there is little to object to it. It depends how the noggins are attached, really. With skew nailing it makes no difference, whilst other methods are easier otherwise.
Just out of interest, what function do the noggins perform? Stiffening the frame or providing more places to screw the plasterboard?
I only ask, because one (at least) of the walls in my last flat didn;t appear to have any, given the ease I pushed a bit of oval conduit up 3/4 of the height internaly to feed a new bathroom mirror-light.
In which case its better *not* to use the offset noggin method I suggested.
The plasterboard also provides a lot of stiffening too.
BTW, if you really want a stiff wall you can put diagonals in to make a lattice type wall (although I cannot think of a domestic situation where this would be required).
It can be required for structural stud walls, where the structural value of the wall is for stability of the house, resisting sideways wind loads, rather than simple gravity load bearing.
Me too. I've used both Scant & CLS, add 12.5mm boards & skim and both are about 100mm - just the right size for standard door casings - which you will find very handy ;-)
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