A stud wall (or stud partition) is a lightweight internal wall built from a frame of vertical timber or metal studs fixed between a horizontal sole plate at the floor and a head plate at the ceiling, then clad on both faces with plasterboard. In most domestic uses, stud walls are non-structural (they divide rooms but carry no floor or roof loads above). However, in timber-frame houses, the external walls are structural stud walls that carry the full weight of the building.

How is a timber stud wall built?

A standard domestic timber stud wall uses 75x50mm or 100x50mm C16 treated softwood. A sole plate is fixed to the floor, a head plate to the ceiling joists above. Vertical studs are cut to fit between the plates and fixed at 400mm or 600mm centres - 400mm centres are used when single-layer 12.5mm plasterboard is to be applied. Noggings (short horizontal pieces between studs) are fitted at mid-height for rigidity and to provide fixing points. Openings for doors require a lintel (head piece) and cripple studs.

Is a stud wall load-bearing?

Most domestic stud walls are non-load-bearing partitions that simply divide space - they can be removed without structural consequences (though Building Regulations approval is still advisable to confirm this). However, some stud walls are load-bearing - they carry floor joists or roof loads above them. In timber-frame construction, all external walls and some internal walls are structural stud walls. Before removing any stud wall, a structural engineer or experienced builder must confirm whether it is load-bearing by checking what is above it and how the floor or roof spans.

What is the difference between a timber stud wall and a metal stud partition?

Timber stud walls use C16 softwood framing (typically 75x50mm or 100x50mm) and are the standard in domestic construction - they are easy to work with and simple to fix fittings to. Metal stud (or light gauge steel frame) partitions use C-shaped and U-shaped cold-formed steel sections (typically 70mm or 100mm wide) and are standard in commercial construction - they are lighter, dimensionally stable, not susceptible to movement or shrinkage, and faster to erect on large projects. Metal stud partitions require special fixings for heavy items as the thin steel does not hold screws as firmly as timber.

Structural noun

Stud Wall

/ stʌd wɔːl /

Also known as: stud partition, timber studwork, metal stud partition, partition wall

Definition

A stud wall is a lightweight internal partition constructed from a framework of vertical studs (timber or metal) fixed between a sole plate at the floor and a head plate at the ceiling, then clad on both faces with plasterboard. In most domestic applications, stud walls are non-structural - they divide space without carrying floor or roof loads. In timber-frame construction, structural stud walls carry the full weight of the building.

In practice

Standard domestic timber stud walls use 75x50mm or 100x50mm C16 treated softwood. The sole plate is fixed to the floor with frame fixings or cut nails; the head plate to ceiling joists. Studs are set at 400mm centres for single-layer 12.5mm plasterboard (600mm for thicker boards). Noggings (horizontal offcuts between studs) are fixed at mid-height to provide rigidity and fixing points for sockets, switches, and radiators. Door openings require a timber head (lintel) across the top and cripple studs below to carry it.

For improved sound insulation between rooms, acoustic mineral wool quilt is fitted between the studs and a second layer of plasterboard (staggered joints) is applied. For fire-rated walls (between a house and an integral garage, or in flats), fire-rated plasterboard is used - typically two layers of 15mm fire board to achieve 60 minutes. The gap between the sole plate and a concrete floor should be sealed with acoustic mastic to prevent sound flanking around the wall base.

Building Regulations

Structural (Part A)Structural stud walls must be engineered - check before removing any wall

Fire (Part B)Garage-to-house wall requires 30 min fire resistance minimum

Sound (Part E)Walls between dwellings must achieve Rw 40 dB minimum

Stud centres400mm for 12.5mm board, 600mm for 15mm board

Adding or removing a stud wall requires consideration of Part A (if structural), Part B (fire - garage walls, walls between flats), and Part E (sound - walls between dwellings). Building Regulations approval is required when removing or altering a structural wall or when the work forms part of a notifiable building work. New stud walls in existing dwellings for purely domestic subdivision generally do not require Building Regulations approval as long as they are non-structural and do not affect fire escape routes.

Full Building Regulations guidance

Stud Wall

Just so you know...