Putting up a stud wall

[MATTHEW.SWALE]

Hi,

I want to put up a stud wall to divide a 21ft space into two smaller spaces, and will need a wall with two doors which will create a hallway and then a wall across the middle to split them.

My question: Are there flat pack stud wall kits I can buy to do this?

I have seen people put a metal carcus up and then put the plaster board onto that which looked quite simple, is it?

Just really want to know where I could get the materials from or whether it would be worth getting a builder in.

What is a fair price a builder would charge?

Thanks in advance,

Mat.

[cj]

I recently built a partition wall. It was my first majoy DIY experiment and it all went well. I would suggest trying it your self. You can get metal kits from Screwfix but I just used wood. I followed a guide that I found on the Wickes website. I say 'have a go'. If you get into trouble then call a builder.

[MATTHEW.SWALE]

Ah thanks. I just found the Wickes site which shows how to make one, so think I'll give it a go. Doesn't look too difficult.

How did you get it delivered? Do Wickes deliver it all, Plaster board and wood etc?

Thanks,

Mat.

[cj]

I can't really help you there, sorry. I bought most of my bits from a local DIY shop and they delivered anything I couldn't fit in the car for a tenner. I think my one bit of advice would be to take your time. When I built my small dividing wall I took a week off work but it took more like

2-3 weeks! This was mainly due to me double checking everything and then realising that I'd forgotten to buy something (I must have gone to the DIY shop at least 3 times a day!). Also dont scrimp on insulation. Its really cheap so double it up; put the plaster board up on one side and then push as much insulation in as possible before putting the other side up.

[Alex]

here is some good info 2 seconds on a Google search

[MATTHEW.SWALE]

FAO CJ - 3 weeks??? I was hoping to do it in a few days, I certainly haven't got three weeks, if that is the case I will have to get the builders in.

Why does it take so long?

[Lurch]

On 12 Feb 2007 08:26:58 -0800, [e-mail] mused:

It can be done in a day if you know what you're doing and have all the materials and tools at the ready.

The actual time it takes you to complete depends on your various skills in construction, organisation and time management.

[cj]

-Maybe because mine was in a bathroom so I have to remove tiles, make wall flat. I also had to re-route heating and wiring into the new wall. Also when you come to 'jointing' the pieces of plasterboard you have to sit around and wait for it dry.

-You prob can do it in a few days but I'm pretty useless at things like this so I go by the rule of 'measure 20 times, cut once'!

[John Rumm]

Easy enough to do, although note that it may in theory require building regs approval.

You can buy metal stud sections, which can be handy if you need a very thin wall. Otherwise just ordinary sawn 4x2 or 3x2 will do the job nicely.

Yup, but wood is even more simple usually.

Any builders merchant, wood yard, or if you don't mind paying a bit more DIY shop. Wickes would probably not be too bad for that sort of thing.

Depends on exactly what you ask for... like do you want the plasterboard skimmed after erection? or just taped and jointed?

[MATTHEW.SWALE]

Thanks for all the help, but why the need for building regs, as it won't be load bearing, I read that you could put walls up without building regs?

[The Natural Philosopher]

Well you can..but consider at least one example.

I have a large upstairs room with two windows in it. It actual;ly has tow doors and can be accessed from either if them.

I could in theory put up a stud wall down the middle and create two decent sized rooms.

But I can;t. Guess why?

Building regulations stipulate that there must be emergency fire access to any upstairs room, and whilst the rear facing window is large enough to comply, the front facing window is too narrow to be allowable. You may run into similar problems with fire regs..if you craate a room that suddenly hasn't got direct access to outside that it used t, you may need to fit smoke alarms, and extra window or something.

My advice is to look up the building regulations and see if they possibly apply. If they do, you have tow choices - inform the BCO, and all the hassle that entails, or just do it anyway, and have a potential situation that one day they might find out and ask you to take it down.

I doubt they would find out though. And that fact that an older house is not to current regulations is no battier to selling it. Unless the purchaser notices and objects. In which case he can knock it down.

[John Rumm]

It depends a bit on the type of room you add - creating a new bathroom etc would be one instance where you have a change of use. Putting more than one room on a floor that previously only had one could affect the regulations regarding exit from a fire. The easiest way to find out is a quit call to you local building control office.

[MATTHEW.SWALE]

Ah right, I understand.

However, I should be ok as it is on the ground floor and both are large windows which fully open.

I will be creating a hallway, but that shouldn't cause a problem, does a hallway need to be a certain width?

Thanks,

MAt.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes. If it leads to/from the 'principal storey' from the designated 'disabled entrance'.