In most of the homes these days, first floor internal walls contain extensive studwork. This comprises of a timber frame with a plasterboard screw attached on top.

Studwork is one of the easiest ways to put up a wall. It allows for pipes and wires to run within the hollow frame.

During renovations, stud walls can easily divide any large spaces in your existing home such as home extensions or loft conversions but hiring a chippie to install a stud wall could be a costly affair. However, this is something you could do yourself.

We have prepared a short guide on how to install a stud wal.

Materials and Tools Checklist

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  • Sharp Knife

  • Plasterboard

  • Drill driver

  • Jointing Tape

  • Workbench

  • Studwork Timber

  • Spirit Level

  • Joining Compound

  • Large-bladed Filler Knife

  • 100mm and 32mm Screws or Oval Nails

Procedure

1) Once you have collected all the tools and materials, the first piece of the wood that you need to fit is the floor plate. This plate should be cut to length and be completely straight. Secure it with screws to the floor. Avoid any wires or pipe work in the base plate at intervals of up to 900mm.

2) After fixing the floor plate, the next step is to measure and cut a piece of timber for the head plate (ceiling). You may need a helping hand to hold the ceiling piece and to make sure that it is straight and properly screwed in the right place.

3) Measure the intermediate studs. Add 2mm to the initial measurements in order to ensure a good and firm fit. Fix these intermediate studs across the plates at 400mm centres between each stud, if you’re planning to use a 9.5mm plasterboard. Place them at 600mm centres, in case you’re using 12.5mm plasterboard.

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4) Strengthen the overall structure and stop any wobbles from building up, with the help of noggins. You can easily add reinforcement to the plasterboard too. At this stage, you need to consider any pipe work or wiring that needs to be done. (Tip: Plan and install any wires and pipes before the plasterboard is applied).

5) The plasterboard can now be cut to fit and fixed in its right place. For best results, apply it horizontally and fix it at 300mm centres. As soon as one side of the studwork is properly boarded, you can now work on soundproofing and sound insulation, before attaching it to the other side of the plasterboard.

Finally, you can use a scrim tape over the joint. Apply a joining compound or skim coat at the last stage. If you feel this type of work is beyond your DIY skills, please feel free to contact us!

Hope this information was helpful. The Diligent Team.

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