How important is stud spacing?

[JackOfDiamonds]

I'm building an interior partition wall, non load bearing, to move my washer away from the garage. It's 2x6 because it has a pocket door and dryer vent in it. So it's already super duper overkill strength.

I submitted the plans for the permit as 16" on center, but my last stud is within 24" of the end. So I either leave the last stud bay 24", or I make it 16" and have a tiny 8" stud bay at the end. Or I could even split the difference.

If 24" on center would be OK anyway, is it really a big deal to have one 24" stud bay in an otherwise 16" wall? What's the worst that could happen? Total protonic reversal?

 

[Shiftless]

Give us all a heads up before you nail that up with the single 24 inch stud bay. We need to prepare…

"all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."

(loved that movie… I can’t believe it’s been 37 years)

Seriously, it’s all up the the inspector. Structurally it will be fine. If you need another stud to pass inspection, just throw one in and move along.

 

[nadogail]

I suggest you have another stud, cut to length and ready to nail, standing by; just in case the Inspector happens to notice the gap.
Even at today's lumber prices another stud is cheaper than a failed inspection.

 

[ddawg16]

About the only issue I see is trying to find a stud to anchor something to.......otherwise....don't stress over it. I'm willing to bet the inspector will not care

 

[FordTruckWench]

I submitted the plans for the permit as 16" on center, but my last stud is within 24" of the end. So I either leave the last stud bay 24", or I make it 16" and have a tiny 8" stud bay at the end. Or I could even split the difference.

Don't split the difference! Install it on pattern or leave it out.

If you install on pattern, that'll make it easy in the future to hang a shelf. Or put up drywall or paneling that comes in standard widths. Studs are positioned not so much for strength, but instead for the ease of using standard sized materials.

May I suggest you look at other parallel walls and their stud placement? It is possible that nearby walls have studs 16" o-c referenced to the outside of the structure.

 

[PCustoms]

What are you saving by leaving it out, $5?

Put it in @16" oc.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

What about moving them all leaving a 20" spacing at each end? Myself I'd put an extra one in and have the 8" and would never think about it. If you want to you can mount an outlet or switch to it making it easy to find and to identify the spacing.

 

[acer66]

Put it in @16" oc.

This.

 

[jar944]

If the wall is 16" centers, just add the last stud.

my house is framed with a mix of 24" and 16" spacing, but is consistent per wall.

 

[jonshonda]

Creates thread about ONE stud......ONE!

 

[Viper98912]

Not worth stressing over. Add the extra stud in. It's easy to do and the right thing to do.

 

[Bucko]

Maintain the 16" pattern and leave the 8" on the end. No wall ends up exact and if you submit the plans skipping a stud they will look at other things harder. You also have to think about where your drywall seems land, you may just need that stud.

My old house was block perimeter walls on the first level with furling strips, wood stud 16" OC perimeter upstairs walls, and steel stud 24" OC interior walls. Hanging TV's was fun!

 

[larry_g]

Take a bit of time to figure out where your drywall seams will be. If the odd or missing stud will affect how you put up your wallboard then let that be your guide.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mike93lx]

Creates thread about ONE stud......ONE!

And you posted in it

 

[jonshonda]

And you posted in it

And you quoted my post!

 

[mike93lx]

And you quoted my post!

I'll quote to that!

I do think it is good that people ask questions like this. It isn't just about spending/saving $5 as this may influence other projects down the road and can only help make those better.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

What about moving them all leaving a 20" spacing at each end?

Dumb idea.
As others have pointed out, structurally he can leave it out. The real issue is havingva stud to nail the sheetrock to, which depends on how the sheetrock works out.

 

[MerlinsBeard]

Make it 16" OC. Having uneven stud bays is normal. If you ever want to hang a shelf and you're looking at 48" wide supports, you'll wish you had that stud there.

This happened in my garage where I wanted to hang a 2x8' shelf with supports at 0", 48" and 96" but an uneven stud spacing in the middle of my wall wrecked my support locations. At that point, I punted and went down to a 2x4' shelf.

 

[rburke65]

For the cost of a stud? Really? Install the stud at 16” OC.

 

[jd_1138]

He needs that $5. I hear you can buy a Big Mac for $5. Not the combo meal (those are $8 now) but just the sandwich.

 

[FredWanaker]

put the stud in. When inspectors around here approve things, they even count the nails and compare placement to drawings sometimes. One freak'n measured the nails in the box to be sure they were the right dimensions that the engineer called for. Just put the stud in and move on.

 

[billconner]

If you don't have it, how many hours/miles is it? I'd say put it in if under an hour round trip. Much further, you can live without it....

 

[mike93lx]

If you don't have it, how many hours/miles is it? I'd say put it in if under an hour round trip. Much further, you can live without it....

I can't imagine having to spend an hr round trip for a piece of lumber. I'd have to plan my projects better and cut back to only 2 or 3 trips to HD for each.

 

[Rc_Guy]

What about moving them all leaving a 20" spacing at each end? Myself I'd put an extra one in and have the 8" and would never think about it. If you want to you can mount an outlet or switch to it making it easy to find and to identify the spacing.

You do know that you typically do framing so it works in four foot increments don't you?

 

[jonshonda]

You do know that you typically do framing so it works in four foot increments don't you?

It really doesn't matter all that much as long as you've got nailers in the right spot. Amazing how many YouTube videos out there are completely wrong with regards to laying out a wall for sheeting/sheetrock.

 

[Rc_Guy]

It really doesn't matter all that much as long as you've got nailers in the right spot. Amazing how many YouTube videos out there are completely wrong with regards to laying out a wall for sheeting/sheetrock.

If you are going to put nailers where you need them why not just put the studs where they belong?

 

[The Cobbler]

it's not a load bearing wall, the inspector likely won't care what the spacing is .would I put a stud there?probably, just so there's a routine when looking for studs to fasten too. if I had to go get a stud before I could put up drywall? I'd pass on putting it in.

 

[jonshonda]

If you are going to put nailers where you need them why not just put the studs where they belong?

Exactly!

 

[firebirdparts]

If 24" on center would be OK anyway, is it really a big deal to have one 24" stud bay in an otherwise 16" wall? What's the worst that could happen? Total protonic reversal?

The worst that can happen is your sheetrock will break in mid-air, and then you'll say "dang it, why didn't I start on the other end of the wall? Non-loaded Interior wall studs, that's all they do, is catch sheetrock. Once in a while you hang a picture on one. They don't do anything else.

 

[KenC]

Structurally it makes no difference. But, someday you or the next owner will want to hang something on that wall, cabinet or bracket, and will need to connect to one or more studs. Keep the standard, put it in the right place.

 

[FMB4]

How important is stud spacing? It's important enough that there is 16" OC code for stud spacing. Follow that code and be done with it.

 

[marak]

Wousers! I can't believe that I just read all of this!

 

[Rc_Guy]

How important is stud spacing? It's important enough that there is 16" OC code for stud spacing. Follow that code and be done with it.

I would doubt it code for 16 inch spacing on another load bearing wall, but it does not hurt to go 16 inches spacing but I would guess you could also do the 24 inch spacing

 

[billconner]

How important is stud spacing? It's important enough that there is 16" OC code for stud spacing. Follow that code and be done with it.

Just had 2018 IRC open and for bearing walls - not sure this one is - 2x4s through 2x6s up to 24" o. c. with some limitations on number of stories and height of wall without lateral support.