"Ba r r y" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 23:26:11 -0000, Brian Elfert
wrote:


I'm guessing commercial construction uses 20 gauge metal studs for load
bearing walls, not the 25 gauge metal studs they sell at all the home
improvement centers.

I should also mention that some of these walls are studded 12" OC.

There's lots of little tricks the framers use to make the whole thing
happen, studs on 12" centers is just one of them.
I have seen them rip a 2x4 and put it inside the steel stud to act as a
backer for supporting door jambs on the hinge side.
They can also nest 1 stud inside another to form a square O and they can
screw 2 studs together like this: ][.
Framing with steel is completely different than with wood, different tools,
different techniques.

"Don" wrote in message
.net...



2x blocking is installed between the studs at the proper heights to act as
*nailers* for the wall cabinets to be screwed to.
Believe it or not the drywall adds a lot to the stability of the steel
stud
wall. Without the drywall you can grab ahold of the studs and twist them
every which way, but once the drywall has been screwed on it acts like a
drum head, tightens right up. My next house will be built with steel studs
because I like the consistency of the sizing and continuity of the
quality.
Those two things are not possible with wood studs.



Yep, everyone here should recognize that the skin spreads and sustains a
load. Boats, cars, airplanes, all build on that principle.

That's why it's no longer a simple question of withdrawal force on a screw,
because the load has been spread by that infinite fender washer called a
wall skin to other screws, other studs.

"Don" writes:


drum head, tightens right up. My next house will be built with steel studs
because I like the consistency of the sizing and continuity of the quality.
Those two things are not possible with wood studs.

Metal studs for a house would be really expensive. A 20 gauge stud is
about $6 each and load bearing walls might need them every 12" instead of
16" with wood.

They make finger jointed wood studs that are extremely consistent in size.
I have no idea if they cost less than 20 gauge steel studs or not.

I would use metal for a house in a heartbeat if it was similiar in price
and I could find a carpenter who has done it before on a house.

Brian Elfert

"Brian Elfert" wrote
"Don" writes:
drum head, tightens right up. My next house will be built with steel studs
because I like the consistency of the sizing and continuity of the
quality.
Those two things are not possible with wood studs.

Metal studs for a house would be really expensive. A 20 gauge stud is
about $6 each and load bearing walls might need them every 12" instead of
16" with wood.

They make finger jointed wood studs that are extremely consistent in size.
I have no idea if they cost less than 20 gauge steel studs or not.

I would use metal for a house in a heartbeat if it was similiar in price
and I could find a carpenter who has done it before on a house.

The largest builder in our area (will build over 2000 tract homes throughout
the county in 2005 www.1st-home.com ) uses steel studs exclusively.
I doubt they're doing that because the studs are expensive.
In a reasonable home, using clear span roof trusses, there is no reason to
have internal load bearing walls.
Around here most of the homes have exterior walls that are CBS, Concrete
Block w/ Stucco.
I built a new home 3 years ago with wood studs and the workmanship of the
carpenters and the quality of the wood studs were almost unacceptable.
I won't make that mistake again, no matter the cost.
Paralam makes a quality engineered wood stud but the price is on the moon.
I spec them all the time on the custom island homes I design, where cost
isn't an issue.

"longshot" wrote in message
...


"Brian Elfert" wrote in message
...
I am building some cabinets to be hung from as yet unbuilt wall.

I want to build the wall from 25 or 26 gauge steel studs (whatever they
sell at Home Depot/Menards) instead of woood studs.

Will screwing the cabinets into the metal studs be enough support?

No, typically plywood is added between the studs & drywall for these
applications


At work, they add the plywood or 1x whatevers after the rock.
Mark