{"id":1101,"date":"2021-04-06T00:40:47","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T00:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/?p=1101"},"modified":"2023-04-14T09:36:45","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T09:36:45","slug":"can-you-use-2x2-for-stud-walls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/can-you-use-2x2-for-stud-walls\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you use 2×2 for stud walls?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Having new walls put up is a popular DIY project. The studs\u2019 sizing always determines the walls\u2019 width for stud walls since the walls\u2019 boards are nailed to them. The question now is if a thinner stud, such as a 2×2, can support a wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, it\u2019s within the standard to use 2×2 studs for a wall. However, this is uncommon and what\u2019s usually used is 2×4 or 2×6. The partition that 2×2 provides is relatively small and thin and does not provide as much space between different rooms as the other large-sized studs. Not to say that this is a bad thing, having a thinner wall put up can work to your advantage if used properly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on as we\u2019ll be going into how 2×2 stud can be beneficial for your home and work with them. We\u2019ll be going into the different ways that you can improve your walls and other options that you can consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned earlier, a 2×2 stud is still capable of holding up a stud wall, given that its height is not too big and that the wall is not load-bearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2×2 walls are great for adding new walls to your house. Since they don\u2019t take up as much space, we\u2019re assuming that you will not be running any utilities inside this wall except maybe for electrical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thinness of a 2×2 stud wall can be used to act as a partition within rooms already. This could be useful if you\u2019d want a wall between your front door and your living room, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, 2×2 studs are much more affordable compared to other stud types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main con of using 2×2 studs is that it does not provide that much space for utilities and insulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2×2 stud walls will tend to have a low-fire rating. Stud walls often achieve fire rating through their boards, insulations, and fillings. Since you have less of everything when using 2×2 stud walls, expect your fire protection to be as neat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2×2 should also not be used for exterior walls or any exterior partitioning in general since you\u2019ll end up using less insulation material because of the small space, and the thinness of the wall, in general, will probably deteriorate quite fast when exposed to outdoor elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another con of using 2×2 studs is that it severely limits the boards you can use. You\u2019ll probably end up using wooden boards with a light finish. This severely hinders your capability of improving fire-rating, moisture protection, sound- protection, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You probably won\u2019t be able to add openings or have severely limited options when working with thin walls. Windows and doors just won\u2019t fit right because they\u2019re often sized to fit in with the usual 2×4 or 2×6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, there can be issues when installing 2×2 studs because of how thin they are. A bit of force can knock them over, considering how light they are. Nails and other fasteners also don\u2019t have that much wood to hold on to compared to a 2×4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you plan to install multiple stud walls with 2×2 studs, you\u2019ll need to find ways to mitigate the cons we\u2019ve just mentioned. Here is a list of the main cons that you need to make up for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can opt to use fire-retardant finishes such as plaster or gypsum board. These are relatively light and easy to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need to shell out a bit extra to get high-end insulation, such as foam spray, if you need to maximize the insulation rating of thin walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can add some hollow trim at the bottom of your walls to make way for wiring or small pipes if you need to install utilities on the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These may seem like many extra steps just for a wall but remember that we\u2019re increasing its value by providing more usage for it. As much as possible, we want to maximize the things that we build to increase cost-efficiency from the long-term benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy use 2×2 studs for your stud wall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCons of using 2×2 studs for your stud wall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow to compensate for having 2×2 stud walls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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