| Remodeling and building homes over the years I | | | | 24 inches on center? |
| have seen all sorts of stud spacing measurements | | | | Using half-inch drywall with 24 inch on center stud |
| in bearing and non-bearing walls. | | | | spacing can give the wall a week or spongy feel. I |
| How far should we space a framing stud in a | | | | have been in houses that have 24 inch on |
| bearing wall? | | | | center's stud spacing and can actually push the |
| Most plans will give you this information. If you | | | | wall and see it move. Using 5/8 drywall will solve |
| have a structural shear wall the plans will tell you | | | | this problem in your walls. |
| what size of lumber to use at the plywood | | | | What are the advantages of spacing the studs 24 |
| breaks. The normal spacing on a bearing wall will | | | | inches on center? |
| be 16 inches on center unless otherwise noted on | | | | The only advantage in spacing the studs farther |
| the building plans. This is the most common | | | | apart is the fact you will be able to save a few |
| spacing for studs in a wall. | | | | dollars on the overall cost of building or remodeling |
| How far can we space framing studs in a | | | | your house. I personally do not recommend this |
| nonbearing wall? | | | | process because the savings is miniscule |
| I have seen studs spaced as far as 24 inches on | | | | compared to the overall cost of building the entire |
| center in a nonbearing wall. Over the years looking | | | | house. |
| at the building code books I have found this to be | | | | If you look on a measuring tape between 19 and |
| acceptable for most framing applications. Do not | | | | 20 inches you will usually find a little diamond. This |
| confuse a nonbearing walls with a structural shear | | | | little diamond is another measurement for laying |
| walls because there is no weight sitting on the | | | | out eight-foot walls or floors. So instead of using |
| shear wall. | | | | 16 inch on center layout you can use 19 1/4 for |
| Interior structural shear walls will require 16 inch | | | | stud spacing. This will save you an additional stud |
| on center spacing or less depending on the | | | | in your wall or floor joist every 8 feet. |
| structural engineer and your local building | | | | I have been writing more articles on home |
| department. | | | | construction problems trying to help contractors |
| What are the disadvantages of spacing the studs | | | | and homeowners build safer stronger houses. |