Framing Basement Walls with Steel Studs
Using steel studs to frame basement walls in your home is an ideal use of space and money. Steel studs are much more rigid and lighter than wood studs making them much easier to install and manoeuvre around your job site. Having steel studs will also save you space, even though they are thinner than wood studs they’re much stronger than wood studs and they can give smaller rooms additional space and save you precious square footage.
Steel studs can come in a variety so sizes but the more popular sizes are 1x2 or 1x3. They can come in eight, ten or twelve foot lengths and in most cases have cut out openings so you can run electrical wires through them. When you are running electrical wire through the pre-cut openings you will need to use special bx wire. This wire has a protective metal coat the keeps it safe from getting cut on any sharp edges of the studs.
Before you can start framing a basement you must clear the area you are planning to work in. If you are planning to replace a old wall with a new steel stud one you must first demolish the existing one. You will need to remove any drywall or whatever finish material is attached to your existing studs. Make sure you have a proper disposal method you can use such as a mini disposal bin that you can use to get rid of any material you will not be able to reuse or recycle. Once you have removed the outer material begin to remove your old studs you will be replacing. Make sure that if the wall you are replacing is a load baring wall that you properly support the wall before removing old studs. Be careful when removing the old studs.
The studs are cleverly designed to interlock and slide easily together for easy install. The studs only have three sides making a track shape so that the studs fit inside one and other. You will need to run a top and bottom plate along the length of your desired wall. Then measure the distance between the top and bottom plates and cut your studs to the correct length. Slide your studs into place and attach them together with self tapping screws. If the studs seem to loose you can make them stronger by doubling them up back to back. Once your studs are in place you can attach new drywall.
Steel studs can come in a variety so sizes but the more popular sizes are 1x2 or 1x3. They can come in eight, ten or twelve foot lengths and in most cases have cut out openings so you can run electrical wires through them. When you are running electrical wire through the pre-cut openings you will need to use special bx wire. This wire has a protective metal coat the keeps it safe from getting cut on any sharp edges of the studs.
Before you can start framing a basement you must clear the area you are planning to work in. If you are planning to replace a old wall with a new steel stud one you must first demolish the existing one. You will need to remove any drywall or whatever finish material is attached to your existing studs. Make sure you have a proper disposal method you can use such as a mini disposal bin that you can use to get rid of any material you will not be able to reuse or recycle. Once you have removed the outer material begin to remove your old studs you will be replacing. Make sure that if the wall you are replacing is a load baring wall that you properly support the wall before removing old studs. Be careful when removing the old studs.
The studs are cleverly designed to interlock and slide easily together for easy install. The studs only have three sides making a track shape so that the studs fit inside one and other. You will need to run a top and bottom plate along the length of your desired wall. Then measure the distance between the top and bottom plates and cut your studs to the correct length. Slide your studs into place and attach them together with self tapping screws. If the studs seem to loose you can make them stronger by doubling them up back to back. Once your studs are in place you can attach new drywall.
