Calculate Stud Length

Summary

This video tutorial explains how to calculate the height of studs in timber frame walls based on various wall heights and materials, including Gyprock and plasterboard sheets. It covers different scenarios like walls on a concrete slab, platform floors, and floating floors, detailing the adjustments needed for plate thickness, trenching, and additional elements like battens and furring channels. The guide helps viewers understand how to determine the correct stud length for constructing timber walls.

Takeaways

• 🏗️ The height of a stud in a timber frame wall is determined by the wall's height and the type of lining used, such as Gyprock or plasterboard sheets.
• 📏 Common wall heights are 2400mm (two sheets stacked), 2700mm (two 1350mm sheets), and recently advertised heights like 2600mm or 2650mm, which combine a 1200mm and a 1350mm sheet.
• 🔩 Studs are typically joined to the top and bottom plates by either butt jointing or trenching, with butt jointing being more common.
• 📐 The need for a double top plate or a ribbon plate depends on whether the top plate will be randomly loaded, which requires a 70mm top plate according to the Timber Framing Code.
• ⚙️ Random loading of a top plate means not being able to land every rafter or truss within a zone of 1.5 times the thickness of the plate.
• 🛠️ If a 70mm top plate is needed, it can be reinforced with a noggin or a ribbon plate to allow for more flexible placement of rafters or trusses.
• 📐 Calculating stud length involves adding the wall height, ceiling material thickness, and subtracting the thickness of the top and bottom plates.
• 🏠 For a concrete slab floor with a 2400mm ceiling height, the stud length is 2305mm for butt jointed plates or 2315mm for trenched plates.
• 🌾 If a platform floor with a 20mm strip flooring is used, the stud length adjusts to 2325mm for butt jointed or 2335mm for trenched plates.
• 🪵 In scenarios with natural timber floors, the wall height must accommodate the thickness of the battens and flooring, resulting in a stud length of 2345mm for butt jointed or 2355mm for trenched plates.
• 🛖 For walls with a cut-in floor where the wall plate sits on top of the joists, the stud length calculation must include the thickness of the flooring, ceiling height, and furring channel, resulting in a stud length of 2345mm for butt jointed or 2365mm for trenched plates.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is teaching how to calculate the height of a stud in a Timber Frame Wall.

Why is the height of the stud related to the height of the wall?

The height of the stud is related to the height of the wall because the stud's length needs to accommodate the wall's total height, including the wall lining materials and any additional elements like cornices.

What are common wall heights mentioned in the video?

Common wall heights mentioned are 2400 mm, 2700 mm, and recently advertised 2600 mm or 2650 mm.

What are the standard widths of Gyprock or Plasterboard sheets?

The standard widths of Gyprock or Plasterboard sheets are 1200 mm.

What is the significance of the term 'butt jointed' in the context of studs and plates?

The term 'butt jointed' refers to the method of joining studs to the top and bottom plates by simply butting them together, which is a common method nowadays.

What is the purpose of a 'ribbon plate' or 'double top plate'?

A 'ribbon plate' or 'double top plate' is used to provide additional clearance over internal walls, especially when working with trusses, and to meet the requirements of the Timber Framing Code for random loading of the top plate.

What does 'random loading' of a top plate mean?

Random loading of a top plate means that not all rafters or trusses are landing within the specified zone of 1.5 times the thickness of the plate, necessitating a 70mm top plate according to the Timber Framing Code.

What is the standard top and bottom plate thickness used in the video example?

The standard top plate thickness used in the example is 70mm, and the bottom plate thickness is 35mm.

How does the presence of a floating floor affect the calculation of stud length?

The presence of a floating floor adds an additional thickness to the wall height calculation, requiring an adjustment in the stud length to accommodate the extra height.

What is the effect of using a natural timber floor on the wall height calculation?

Using a natural timber floor involves battening out the concrete slab, which increases the wall height requirement to fit the combined thickness of the battens and the flooring.

What additional element is considered in the 'cut in floor' scenario?

In the 'cut in floor' scenario, the wall plate sits on top of the joists, and additional elements like the Faring Channel and the thickness of the plasterboard and flooring are considered in the wall height calculation.