thinner interior walls?

[dug]

There are a couple of interior walls I have planned under the loft area. They will be apx. 9 ft. long (each) and will be located directly under two of the loft floor joists. The joists are 4 by 8's and I would like to leave them exposed.

So to accomplish that I would need to build the walls no more than 3 and 1/2 in. wide total, which would mean that I would have to rip the studs to 2 and 1/2 in. That, plus drywall on both sides would bring the total width to 3 and 1/2 in.

The walls in question will have nothing hanging from them, and no doors.

I'm just kicking this idea around, so if it is ridiculous just let me know!

[texasgun]

I had to do a similar thing in a closet in the house I live in presently in the country during a remodel. I just ripped my plates to the thickness of my studs and turned the studs sideways. It was not load bearing and just a partition wall but it came out plenty strong

[Onkeludo2]

I have done similar things but there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

What will be in the walls?  Electrical...shallower boxes are required which means the volume decreases and you cannot use ANY specialty outlets or switches (GFI, Dimmer, Etc), max 2 x 12Ga NM wires.  Not a deal killer but requires planning.  Plumbing...water lines might fit but you have no way to mount anything else.  You also cannot meet the code minimum clearance for the wires so you will have to use protector plates.

What will be on the walls?  You said nothing will be hanging so my only concern would be tile.

Finally, noise transmission may go up.

Like I said, I have done it before and I would do it again, but I will not say it is a good idea...or even code compliant depending on the application.

Mike

[dug]

Thanks guys.

I think I am going to do it on at least one of the walls. No plumbing or electric will be involved so I'm in the clear there. It will be covered with drywall.

[texasgun]

My wall was the same no electrical or plumbing and drywall on both sides seemed plenty strong and I dought it would transmit that alot more noise somethong else to think about doors would be a problem but if it is just a partition it should work.

[cmsilvay]

Not sure if you will have any thing in the wall but I had a few short walls in my 14 x30 all I did was turn the studs sideways and rockover them. Now in the case of 1/2 rock that leaves a 1/4 on each side if you split it.

[ben2go]

I have turned studs sideways and glued one inch builders foam to the inside of the sheet rock, on the wall facing out.Really helps kill some noise.I did this in mobile homes I have.Every inch counts in them.

[John_M]

Why don't you just buy 2x3's instead of ripping a 2x4??

[dug]

Why don't you just buy 2x3's instead of ripping a 2x4??

Our local (small town) lumberyard doesn't stock them.

When I did live in an area that had them I would still usually buy 2 by 4's even if I needed smaller lumber. They were actually slightly less expensive, generally much straighter, and the leftover pieces are very useful.

[glenn kangiser]

Sound transmission may be greater.

In some areas in the underground houses where using real wood such as pine shiplap, and if there is no reason to do otherwise, we may sometimes use a single thickness1x  board wall. 

Electrical can be surface mounted with armored cable for that nice industrial look.