Metal studs provide a cheaper alternative to wood.
When constructing wall framing, the traditional material of choice has been wood, but now many interior, non-load-bearing walls are being framed with metal wall studs. There are several advantages to using metal studs over wood. It reduces the amount of wood needed in construction, saving trees. Metal studs don't warp or crack like wooden studs, they're lighter than wood, more resistant to damage from insects, rot and fire, and are also cheaper than wooden studs.
Instructions
1. Measure the length of the wall and mark it on the tracks used for the floor and ceiling.
2. Cut the tracks for the floor and ceiling. If doing this by hand, cut the side flanges along the cut line, then cut across the track on the cut line with straight-cut aviation snips. If using a circular saw, cut the tracks with a toothless metal-cutting blade.
3. Snap chalk lines on the floor to mark the location of the wall.
4. Place the first steel track into position along the chalk line. Secure it to the floor by driving in one screw at each end and screws placed in between, spaced no more than three feet apart. Use a hammer drill with 1 1/4-inch hex-head concrete screws on concrete floors and stainless-steel screws on wooden floors.
5. Continue installing the floor tracks until they have all been installed. Overlap different pieces of track by 6 inches. If there is a corner in the wall, cut a notch into the flange of the first track to fit the adjacent piece of track that runs perpendicular into it.
6. Locate and mark the ceiling joists with a stud finder and mark their locations on the ceiling. If the ceiling is not finished and you can see the joists, skip this step.
7. Install the ceiling tracks into position directly over the floor tracks. You can determine the precise location by placing a metal stud into the floor track and marking both sides of the stud on the ceiling, repeating that every few feet. Attach the track to the ceiling or ceiling joists with 1 1/2-inch self-tapping drywall screws. If the ceiling is finished and the joists run parallel to the track, attach the track to the ceiling with drywall anchors.
8. Measure the distance between the top and bottom tracks to determine the height of the studs, and cut the studs using the same technique you used to cut the tracks. The studs need to be within 1/16 inch of the needed height to properly fit the wall. If you're running electrical cable through the wall, cut the studs on the same end so that the keyhole knockouts for the electrical cable are aligned.
9. Place the studs into position between the floor and ceiling tracks, no more than 16 inches apart. Clamp the studs into position with C-clamp locking pliers, then drill a 1/2-inch #8 pan head screw through the middle where the stud and track meet. Repeat this until all studs have been installed and secured to the floor and ceiling tracks.
10. Measure and cut sheets of drywall to cover the studs. Cut the sheets wide enough so that they meet in the center of a stud. Connect the drywall to the studs and tracks with 1 1/4-inch self-tapping drywall screws. Use one screw every 8 inches along the tracks, and one screw every 12 inches along the studs.
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