How to Build a Stud Partition Wall
If you need to add an extra bathroom, bedroom, or office to your home, you can do so by putting a stud partition wall up first. A stud wall is made up of a timber frame secured by metal studs and covered by plasterboard. The wall can be secured to the ceiling, floor, or walls. If you are planning on building a stud partition wall, you should first check to make sure any work that you will have to do meets the current building regulations issued by your city or state. This includes light, fire resistance, and ventilation.
Making the Frame for a Stud Partition Wall
You can use either 75mm x 50mm sawn timber or 100mm x 50mm sawn timber to make the wall frame. A fantastic idea would be to use CLS timber, which is an amazing option for framing and building stud walls. You will also need a ceiling plate, floor plate, studs between the plates, and noggings for supporting the frame. You can also get a metal frame kit that includes the stud partitions and ceiling and floor fixings. A kit creates less mess and is easier to assemble than timber. First, you should decide where you want to put your wall. Use an electronic detector to locate any cables, joists, or pipes in the wall, as well as the ceiling and floor.
Then, to make the frame do the following:
- Measure from both ends of an existing wall in the room and mark the position for one edge on the floor.
- Hang a plumb line from the mark.
- Draw a line that follows the plumb line from floor to ceiling.
- Use off-cut wood to mark the ceiling line and hammer a nail into the ceiling to mark the ceiling plate.
- Measure and mark the ceiling and wall junction on the opposite ceiling and then draw a line in chalk between the two points.
- Measure the timber length you will need for the ceiling plate. It will need to fit snugly between the walls. Drill holes where the plate will go and use wood screws to hold it in place.
- Measure the timber you will use for the floor plate. If you include a door, you will also need to leave an opening for it. Mark the floor plate so that it fits precisely into the gap. Nail the floor plate into the floor.
- Measure between the floor and ceiling plates and cut two studs to mark where you will put the skirting board.
Filling in the Frame for the Stud Partition Wall
When you get ready to fill the frame using timber studs and noggings, you will need to mark your floor plate at 600mm intervals. Nail an off-cut timber block to each of the vertical studs on the floor plate. While holding your vertical studs steady on the base of the block supports, measure, and cut them. Then attach them to the floor plate using 100mm nails at skewed angles. Attach them to the ceiling plate in the same manner. Measure the ceiling plate and cut noggings to fit horizontally between the vertical studs. The noggings should fit halfway between the floor and ceiling. If you are mounting anything to the wall, such as an outlet, switch, toilet or washbasin you will need to fit extra noggings to support them.
Housing Cables and Pipes in Your Stud Partition Wall
Mark where your plumbing pipes will run with studs. Use a tenon saw to carve out the runs. If you will need to make a deep notch for larger pipes, use a bridging piece to reinforce the stud. Drill holes through the centre of the noggings for cables. Be sure to leave an air gap to prevent the wires from overheating. Also, do not cables and pipes through the same holes.
Cutting and Measuring the Plasterboard
Once your framework is in place, you will need to cover it with a plasterboard that is at least 12.5mm thick. Plasterboard comes in many lengths, widths, and types, including ones that give you excellent sound insulation and a smoother finish. The ivory side of the plasterboard will face outward.
You will need to cut the plasterboard to fit the frame, especially if you have ceilings and walls that slope are slant. You may want to use a knife with replaceable blades to cut the plasterboard because the blade will dull very quickly when cutting it. If you are fixing the plasterboard vertically, position it so that the joints line up with the stud centers. If you are setting it horizontally, nail the bottom of the boards to the frame and stagger the joints vertically.
Whichever way you are fixing the plasterboard, you will want to start at your doorway and work your way outwards. 1220mm x 600mm handy plasterboards are easier to handle than the full-size plasterboard. However, they will need more fixings since they are smaller. Using this size also takes longer and will leave a patchwork looking finish. You can hire an excellent plasterer to fix that quickly with a full coat of plaster.
Attaching the Plasterboard
You will probably want someone to help you attach the plasterboard to the stud wall frame. You can use a piece of off-cut wood to raise the boards tight against the ceiling while you fix the plasterboard. Make sure that the ivory side is facing outward. You can use tape and jointing to finish the joints. Carefully place a full-size piece of plasterboard vertically over half the width of the door stud. Use a bolster chisel to wedge the foot of the board and slide a piece of off-cut wood underneath. Then, using your foot, press downward, and force the board against the ceiling. Use 32mm plasterboard nails to fix the plasterboard in place. The nails should be placed at 150mm intervals and should be 15mm away from wall edges. Continue fitting boards until you have filled in the framework of the wall. Once you cover the wall with plaster (or have someone do it for you), you can paint it or cover it with wallpaper, and your stud wall is complete.
