Non load bearing stud spacing.

[Micah]

Im building and 8x8 shed and was wondering if I could go with 24" stud spacing on the non load bearing walls. Im gonna have some heavy things in the shed so I decided to go with 16" for the floor. The roof is going to be shed style with one end being 1 foot higher than the back side for rain run off.

[John Raabe]

Yes, you can go 24" on all studs load or non-load bearing. Make sure the thickness of your sheet materials can span between 24" supports.

FYI - When building a house you can frame two load bearing floors at 24", only the lowest level of a three story (or the pony walls in the basement of a two story) need to be 16" o/c.

[Micah]

By "sheet material" do you mean the OSB? If so its gonna be 1/2 inch or should I go 3/4?

[PEG688]

Yes he'd be talking about the type of sheathing you'd use on the exterior walls .

7/16" OSB or 1/2" CDX would be fine. For what your building.

   Stack your rafters directly over your wall studs and use "H" clips on your roof sheathing.  You can still get away with either the 7/16" or 1/2" even on the roof. You'd get a more solid feeling roof with 5/8"CDX , also "H" clipped.  Thats the place to spend the extra dollars for stouter sheathing IMO IF you decide to chinze out with 24" OC framing.   

  24" OC is allowable even with single wall construction , as in using T1-11 type siding as combo siding / sheathing, is it the best way to go? IMO no. 

  For a shed or cabin, ya sure. For something you want 30 or more years of use out of , not so much.


   

[rocking23nf]

The cost for 16 inch spacing is like 20 bucks, if that. Minor trade off for that extra bit of strength

[dougpete]

This question is slightly off topic, but I need to know.  How tall are studs to be so the drywall on walls and ceilings fit?  (I know we have to figure in bottom plate, top plate and cap plate.)

DougPete

[rocking23nf]

This question is slightly off topic, but I need to know.  How tall are studs to be so the drywall on walls and ceilings fit?  (I know we have to figure in bottom plate, top plate and cap plate.)

DougPete

Im pretty sure that all framing lumber is pre cut to fit with 1 bottom plate, and 2 top plates.  So you should never have to trim your studs.

[John Raabe]

Ask at the lumber yard for precut studs. Usually 92 5/8"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061127075456AAAFZqW

[John Raabe]

Note: In my plans I call out 16" stud spacing and 1/2" structural (OSB or plywood) sheathing on ALL walls. This is more than is code required but gives a solid wall and cheap insurance for extra wind and earthquake bracing.

Owner builders should build on the conservative side in my opinion. It will allow an error or two a pro probably wouldn't miss. Wood frame construction is amazingly forgiving but it is good to know the forces at work.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/design/articles/how-it-works-building-loads.aspx

[dougpete]

Thanks - I'll know to buy them that way next time.  I have seen that length in the store and it never occurred to me why they were that length.  It's the stuff I don't know I don't know that potentially gets me into trouble, as opposed to the stuff I know I don't know.

[Micah]

Wow lots of good information here! I decided to suck up the cost and go with 16"