DIYbanter - View Single Post - Narrower alternative to stud wall (interior nonbearing)?

marson

wrote:
I was looking at replacing my bathtub with a slightly wider, deeper
unit (32" wide over 30") - but space is so limited as is in the
bathroom that instead of taking up more floor space I was wondering
about going the other way and altering the wall behind the tub.
As I'd only need 2 inches more space and don't want to intrude into the
adjoining room, I was wondering if I could rebuild the wall other than
conventional stud construction - possibly turning the studs 90 degrees
so the framing thickness is 1-1/2" rather than 3-1/2", and to give it
more rigidity, instead of drywall, using 1/2" (marine) plywood instead
of wallboard on the tub side.
Is this a harebrained do-it-yourselfer's idea that would have
inspectors crying foul? I'd have to work out how it connects to the
rest of the framing, and it couldn't take an electrical box (and
there'd be no plumbing in that wall), but I've done enough structural
work on my house that I'd feel pretty confident in my work.

VMacek

if this is an interior, non load bearing wall, it is doable. there are
no code issues that i am aware of (call your building department and
ask if you are going to have it inspected). the problem with flatwise
2x's is that they tend to not lie flat in that dimension. so you
should pick your material very carefully. another possibility is to
use steel studs flatwise, since they are perfectly straight. you would
have to use them in pairs, one facing in, one facing out. then the
track that comes with it wouldn't work, but you could divise something.
i'm not sure what you would gain with plywood, and marine plywood is
overkill. if you have that much water getting into your wall, you have
big problems which need to be fixed anyway.