Steel framing is used in most office
and apartment construction, and it
has several advantages over wood.
Steel studs are perfectly straight.
They don’t shrink or split. They’re light and easy to store, plus they
resist fire, insects and rot. They are also easier to move/correct for
us amateurs.
The overall cost between steel
framing and wood framing is about the
same. Note that for heavy cabinets such as overhead kitchen cabinets,
they may not be strong enough to support the weight, even with drywall
on them.
Steps:
Screw lengths of track to the
floor and ceiling. Tracks are slightly wider than studs, so studs snap
right in.
To trim to correct length, cut both side flanges of a steel
stud, using straight-cut aviation snips. #*Then bend one flange up—clear of the
snips’ jaws—and cut across the stud’s web.
To cut multiple pieces at
once, use a miter saw with a metal cutting blade.
For easier electrical and
plumbing installations later on, keep all the keyhole knockouts aligned
by cutting all studs to length from the same end. Protect your hands
with heavy-duty gloves.
Join studs to tracks by clamping
the two members tightly with a C-clamp locking pliers and driving a 1/2
inch (1.2 cm) No. 8 pan-head screw in the middle where they meet. Drive
the screws at medium speed.
Choose a clutch setting strong
enough to drive the screw home but not so strong that it strips the
screw hole and weakens the joint.
Fabricate
metal headers by cutting the track 2 inch (5 cm) longer than
the rough opening width.
Cut each flange of the track
(on both ends) 1 inch (2.5 cm) lengthwise and bend the web down 90
degrees using sheet metal locking pliers.
Secure electrical cable along the
center line of each stud with plastic ties screwed to the studs. #*Pop
a plastic bushing into each knockout to keep the cable from rubbing
against the sharp edges.
Add
wood nailers as needed for doors, windows and cabinets. If your steel
stud wall seems flimsy, keep in mind that it gains full rigidity once
drywall or sheathing is applied.
Hang drywall or sheathing
using 1-1/4 inch (3.1 cm) self-tapping drywall screws spaced every 8
inch (20.3 cm) along edges (where two sheets meet on a stud) and 12
inch (30.5 cm) on center elsewhere.
Check your local codes,
however: they may require screws placed closer together, and you're
better off having too many than having to add more after the inspector
comes.
Video:
Video on how to quick build small Partition
dry wall ( steel framing ).
This is very simple option for people with no building experience how
to build small wall in your home.
Tips:
The flange on a steel stud is
flexible and may deflect when you’re trying to pierce it with a drywall
screw, especially when two panel edges meet on a single stud. To
prevent this, secure the first panel to the open side of the stud (the
one that’s opposite the web)—to give it rigidity—and then hang the
second panel. Grip the back of the stud flange near the screw
connection point with your fingers (to give it support) and then drive
the screw.
Levels with one magnetic side are
helpful when working with steel studs.
Some people find it well worth the
little extra money to use 20 gauge studs rather than the usual 25 gauge
ones. The walls feel more solid and the cost difference typically isn't
all that much.
At door jambs, if you trim a
wooden 2x4 (5 cm x 10 cm) slightly, it will slide inside of the steel
stud which makes the door frame much sturdier... this makes hinges
easier to attach and the house won't shake so much when your teenager
slams their bedroom door!
Use common sense when doing any
type of work. If you are extremely tired, or rushing, you may hurt
yourself.
Self-tapping screws make joining
pieces much easier.
Warnings:
Don’t try nailing trim into steel
studs. It will not hold. Instead, use specially designed trim screws
for the job.
Cut steel is sharp - wear gloves.
Wear eye protection when cutting
steel and when driving screws. It's not unheard of for a screw to jump
off the power screwdriver and shoot out at you. Once it happens once,
you'll appreciate your safety glasses.
Make sure that your architect or
designer's plans aren't drawn for wood dimensions.
Things You'll Need:
Steel studs are sold in a variety
of widths (comparable to dimensional lumber sizes), lengths and gauges
(the lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel).
The studs are screwed to steel
track (of matching width) with 1/2-in. No. 8 pan-head screws.