All in All, More Than Just Another Stud in the Wall
By George Perrault
Depending on which generation you belong to and your world view, Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” can mean any number of things. But when it comes to top-notch wall construction in new homes, additions and remodels, “just another brick” – or in this case, just any old stud – doesn’t cut it.
Builders can use specially tested lumber and engineered wood products to help simplify common framing challenges. In walls, these include building smooth and even surfaces for a quality finish, tall walls more than 10 feet high, and lateral bracing for earthquakes and high wind.
Smooth, Even Walls
How many times have you gone into a home and noticed wavy or crooked walls? You can bet those are an ongoing annoyance to the homeowner. While straight, smooth walls are critical for high-end and custom homes, they also demonstrate underlying quality in starter and mid-level homes.
Laminated strand lumber (LSL) is increasingly popular with builders, since it is consistently straight, knot-free, and resists twisting, shrinking and bowing after installation. LSL wall studs can help provide a quality finished wall with less risk of sheetrock cracks and nail pops, as well as a stable surface for hanging cabinets and installing tile.
Some builders use LSL studs throughout the frame because of the higher quality and lower risk of call-backs, while others use a mix of LSL and dimensional lumber to balance performance and cost. Where the budget won’t support engineered wood in all walls, a good approach is to reserve LSL for the most critical areas such as kitchens and bathrooms where cabinetry, countertops and specialty finishes require smooth walls. Dimensional lumber can then be used for other interior and exterior walls.
Fortunately, it’s not an either/or decision between engineered studs and commodity lumber. More types of specialty lumber are available that are lower cost than the premium pricing typical with LSL, yet help create higher-quality walls than standard lumber. For example, Weyerhaeuser Green Studs are made with advanced milling practices and strict grading standards to create straighter studs than conventional lumber. Manufacturers typically give such products a brand name and include labels to help differentiate such lumber from standard offerings.
10-Foot-Plus Tall Walls
In nearly all home price ranges, walls higher than 10 feet have become a common feature. Since these walls often include many windows – such as in cathedral ceiling rooms and multistory entryways – it can be a challenge to make them stable and even.
The common solution of platform framing (stacked walls) using dimensional lumber creates a hinge point susceptible to drywall cracks and leaks around windows. In some instances, window companies void their warranties in applications where the wall has not been engineered to provide the necessary strength and stiffness to protect the window assemblies from damage.
LSL studs provide a good alternative for tall-wall construction. They are available in lengths up to 30 feet, so provide a way to use straight, single-piece framing members throughout the wall. This allows for clean wall lines, and since they are stiff and have high bending strength, perform well under wind loads.
Lateral Bracing
California builders are familiar with wall bracing requirements for earthquakes, and have frequently used four-foot or wider site-built braced walls, or steel moment frames.
However, for homes with numerous window and door openings, in which narrow wall segments less than four feet wide are prevalent, site-built braced wall panels or shear walls may not be possible. Incorporating adequate lateral bracing also can be challenging in homes with large openings, tall walls and multiple stories. For these projects, pre-fabricated shear panels made of engineered wood are a strong and simple-to-use solution.
Because they are assembled in a controlled setting, pre-fabricated shear panels provide more predictable and consistent performance than sections of site-built braced wall panels or shear walls. Depending on the product, a 12-inch wide pre-fabricated shear panel can have the same lateral resistance as a 4-foot by 8-foot braced wall panel.
Pre-fabricated wood shear panels also offer greater flexibility of use on the jobsite. Unlike steel panels, wood shear panels can be nailed and some can be trimmed in height, allowing them to be customized to fit with uneven foundations and varying wall heights. Some pre-fabricated wood shear panels also come with pre-drilled chases and holes for easy installation of wiring and lighting.
Depending on the product, some pre-fabricated shear panels can be used in stacked-walls for multi-story applications, or are available in single-piece heights up to 20 feet. For example, the iLevel Shear Brace was the first pre-fabricated shear panel – steel or wood – to receive ICC-ES 2009 IRC code compliance verification, including for use in portal systems, tall walls up to 20 feet high and two-story structures.
For more information on the latest wall framing materials, contact a manufacturer or dealer. They also may be able to assist with other insights on wall construction, as well as provide design software for a range of wall building needs.
George Perrault is the Southwest regional sales manager for iLevel by Weyerhaeuser. For more information, visit www.iLevel.com or call 888-453-8358. Photos courtesy of iLevel by Weyerhaeuser.
