Stud structures are more and more often an alternative to traditional brick walls. Stud partition walls are usually made after plastering, because they do not require wet works. Thanks to this, it is possible to build them even at low temperatures. This solution is often chosen for renovations of already finished rooms, because it is relatively quick and clean.
Frame structures are lighter than traditional masonry walls, which allows to reduce the structural load of the building. In addition, skeletal partition walls are also characterized by good thermal and acoustic insulation, which translates into the comfort of using the rooms.
Skeleton partition walls – construction
Galvanized steel profiles or wood are used to build the load-bearing frame, and gypsum-cardboard, gypsum-fibre or wood-based boards are used for the sheathing. The most popular are plasterboards, produced in several varieties, such as GKB, GKBI, GKF and GKFI. Typical plasterboards are 120 cm wide, 260 to 300 cm high and 12.5 mm thick. They are easy to cut to the desired size.
Installation
Perimeter profiles of the wall frame are fastened with dowels to the ground, ceiling and structural walls. The typical frame spacing is 60 cm, which is half the slab width. Plasterboards are screwed to the posts, but not to the profiles at the floor and ceiling. Between the edge of the boards and the floor and ceiling, gaps of about 1 cm are left to avoid cracking of the boards due to sagging of the ceiling.
Filling
The spaces between the elements of the partition wall frame are usually filled with mineral wool to improve acoustic insulation, and the joints of the boards are filled with a filler, strengthening the connection with a fiberglass mesh or reinforcing tape.
Characteristic
Usable features of skeletal partition walls are very beneficial. These walls are several times lighter than brick walls, thanks to which they can be placed on the ceilings practically freely, and the loads caused by them are very small. Plasterboard sheathing, however, is sensitive to damage. Wood-based and gypsum-fiber boards are more durable. Therefore, to hang heavier equipment on stud walls with plasterboard sheathing, you need to use special wall plugs intended for boards.
What to look for?
It is worth noting that skeletal partition walls have their disadvantages and limitations. One of them is their lower resistance to mechanical loads compared to brick walls. Therefore, remember not to hang too heavy objects on them without proper reinforcement. Another disadvantage of skeletal partition walls is worse acoustic insulation compared to brick walls. However, as mentioned earlier, it can be improved by using double sheathing or thicker and heavier boards and filling the space between the frame elements with mineral wool.
Summary
Stud partition walls are a solution often chosen for renovations or reconstructions. They are particularly suitable for already finished rooms due to their ease and speed of assembly and lower loads they pose to the building structure. Like any solution, it has its drawbacks and limitations. Therefore, they should be used with caution and in accordance with the recommendations of building materials manufacturers.
