Just finished part1 of a Honeydo project: Stud wall 20' long with a door near one end. I'll do the drywall next weekend...

Currently it's all vertical studs, with the exception of the horizontal above the pre-hung door. I'll be drywalling both sides. Are cross pieces necessary?

Thanks!

skiberger

Cross peices are not needed. The drywall will prevent the wall from racking.

dmatos

Cross-pieces may not be needed to prevent the wall from racking, but they might be a good idea to put in as firebreaks. They may be required by building code in your area, for precisely this reason, especially if you've got any electricals in the wall that may be a point for fires to start.

The idea is to prevent any flames from racing up the entire interior of the wall. Smaller cavities means smaller, slower fires if any do start in the wall. It can make the difference between the firemen saving your house and saving your basement.

skiberger

Fireblocking is not needed if the wall has a top and bottom plate and is under 10' tall. If you want fireblocking in the wall rickj, install unfaced insulation. This will act as a fireblock but also sound barrier with-in the wall cavities of that 20' wall.

RickJ

Oh, so the cross pieces are not for added stability...they're for fireblocking?

I don't need it. It's in my basement. I may, though, add the insulation for sound since the part partitioned off is a bedroom.

I do have top and bottom plates: top nailed into joists and bottom into the concrete floor.

dherman1

Rick,

Go with the insulation.

But, install some cross braces at some like spots where you anticiapate things may be hung from the wall.

Another reason to use cross braces is to give the drywall some structure. One wall in my additon didn't have cross braces and the wall seemed very hollow. (granted it was, but...) while another wall where I put in cross braces for hanging towel rods sounded much more solid.

Just my two cents.

Dan

RickJ

Thanks. I finished the project: Did not use cross pieces, but did add insulation.