Studs: steel vs. wood

[gascap]

Hi All,

Well, I'm a bit confused again....

Is there a big difference in whether I use wood or steel studs?

Steel is half the price and according to the SAE web site:

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2 layers of 16mm (5/8") plasterboard each side of a staggered steel stud - w/ insulation has an STC of 58

Staggered (wood) stud wall construction with 2 layers of 16mm(5/8") Plasterboard on studs of 95x35mm (4 x 11/2") on a 120mm (4 3/4")common base - w/ insulation has an STC of 54.

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Unless I'm mistaken by these numbers, steel performs equally to wood (or even slightly better.) Is there another acoustic factor I'm missing in comparing the two?

My budget would benefit from steel....or is this a 'given' that I've been missing 'til now?

Thanks!

[flatrockrecordin]

From my personal experience: One existing basement interior wall became a wall of my studio. It's 2x6 wood stud, insulation, and one layer of sheetrock on each side. Another wall is one that I constructed from steel 2x4s, insulation, one layer of sheetrock on each side. I didn't go to the trouble to use resilient channel(probably should have). Naturally, sound escapes from both walls, but the wood stud wall transmits much more bass which makes the steel stud wall seem way quieter. BTW, I really liked working with the steel studs.

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap


Steel is half the price and according to the SAE web site:

Wow. I did not know that steel was that much cheaper. I think I might have to look into that myself. Where are you shopping at? Local store? Big chain?

[lunatic]

While I cannot talk to the STC properties of steel, still learning all that stuff, I can talk to the idea of using steel in construction.

My wife and I finished our basement by ourselves about 2 years ago and we used steel for the framing. It was amazing how easy it was to work with! In fact, framing the walls was the easiest part of the whole project!

The steel was easily cut with tin snips and fastened with sheet metal screws... just make sure you have a good drill

Anyway, do not hesitate to use steel. It's cheap and readily available. We bought all ours at the local Home Depot.

Anyway, just my .02 worth.


Peace,
Brad

[version2]

Just how much cheaper is it? I am getting ready to call depot in a bit, but I wanted to be lazy and get the scoop in here first if possible.

[gascap]

Hey All,

Thanks for the responses.

I think steel will get the nod for my project too.

I found steel studs (and the track necessary to set them in) at Home Depot and Lowes. An 8' long 2-1/2" stud was @ $1.40, and the 10' was @ $1.60. (double check this.)

I plan on doing a double 2-1/2" stud wall system to separate the control room from the booth. These stores also have 3-5/8" wide studs as well - but that price escapes me now. Wood studs were @ $3 - 4....and I suppose you don't have to worry about warpage - or all that time spent sifting through wet wood looking for straight boards.

Any other thoughts about this?

Thanks!

[version2]

Originally posted by lunatic

The steel was easily cut with tin snips and fastened with sheet metal screws... just make sure you have a good drill

Tin snips? Really? Im having a hard time believing this one...

[gascap]

Hey Version2,

What do you do in Tulsa?

My in-laws all live in Owasso...yippee.

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap
Hey Version2,

What do you do in Tulsa?

My in-laws all live in Owasso...yippee.

Ah, good 'ol Owasso. Heh. I am a Software Engineer for an industrial electronics company here. Fun Fun!

[gascap]

What's not to like..they have a big-ass Wal-Mart and a new Chili's restaurant.

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap
What's not to like..they have a big-ass Wal-Mart and a new Chili's restaurant.

I have a sister that lives in Owasso. I pretty much stay in the city. I dont venture out to the suburbs much...

[version2]

Looking at the STC ratings over at SAE I am starting to think steel studs are not the way to go. It looks like the STC ratings are lower for steel studs and I thought this would not be affected.

Is the savings worth the cut in the STC ?

[gascap]

Where do you see that on the SAE site? I copy/pasted the data from the STC chart (found on the SAE site) in my original message. Did I mis-read it?....it's quite possible.

Thanks.

[lunatic]

Version2: Sorry your having a hard time believing me.

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap
Where do you see that on the SAE site? I copy/pasted the data from the STC chart (found on the SAE site) in my original message. Did I mis-read it?....it's quite possible.

Thanks.

Actually, its quite possible that I misread...I am going to go and doublecheck.

[version2]

Originally posted by lunatic
Version2: Sorry your having a hard time believing me.

I was being sarcastic. I have never had good luck with tin snips.

[version2]

gascap,

Ok. Here is what I got. Lets look at just one example.

Staggered stud wall construction with 1 layer of 16mm(5/8") Plasterboard on studs of 95x35mm (4 x 11/2") on a 120mm (4 3/4")common base.

No Insulation 42
With Insulation 48


NOW, here is the same (relative) with steel:

1 layer of 16mm (5/8") plasterboard each side of a staggered steel stud.

No Insulation 41
With Insulation 47

[lunatic]

Ah... no sweat


So, how much STC do you lose going with steel?

[version2]

Originally posted by lunatic
Ah... no sweat


So, how much STC do you lose going with steel?

Not very much, as you can see from the example above. it is probably still worth it considering how much cheaper it is.

*undecided*

[gascap]

Yea, that's where I got confused - ....because the chart numbers for a double-layered stud staggered system seems to actually favor steel (albeit slightly) AND what I think I am actually going to do, is the double layered steel studs back-to-back, (studs not touching, and non-staggered, w/ insulation.) The chart shows no wood example of the same assembly for a direct comparison.

Either way (tinsnip awkwardness notwithstanding...HA!), I don't think one or two STC is worth the effort of finding good wood studs, and the all-important price differences.

[version2]

This is just a cost comparison.

I am taking my fairly oversized two car garage as my new project studio. We are having a new baby, so my studio upstairs is now deemed a nursery.

So, I am building a small shed out back to house the lawn stuff, etc. Now, I just priced my lumber and for giggles I priced the same in steel. Here is what I have:

Total cost of lumber: $115.34 (not including plywood)

Total cost of steel (again, no plywood): $77.60

WOW! What a savings. The only thing weird is that Home Depot, Sutherlands, etc doesnt carry steel studs here. I had to go to a specialty place which quoted me .20 a foot.

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap


Either way (tinsnip awkwardness notwithstanding...HA!), I don't think one or two STC is worth the effort of finding good wood studs, and the all-important price differences.

And I think I am with you on this, now. As you can see from my cost comparison...it is a huge jump. If I save almost $50 in building this shed then I know I am going to be saving serious dough on the studio construction.

[frederic]

(tinsnip awkwardness notwithstanding...HA!), I don't think one or two STC is worth the effort of finding good wood studs, and the all-important price differences. [/B]

Picture a double amp stack (say, Marshall) rolling off a truck's ramp out of control, across your studio, into a steel studded wall and your wall bending, or even breaking.

can we say ooops?

Anyway, humor aside, cutting steel studs is as easy as wood studs, you just need a different saw blade. If you have a chop saw, use a cutting disk designed for cutting steel. If Sawzall is your tool of preference, they make blades for it that cut through the steel studs like butter.

Tin snips are definately not the way to go... unless you have leather gloves and/or a large bandaid supply

[gascap]

Thanks for the price lists/comparison. I think it will help many folks.

That IS weird that those those two chain-gangs don't carry steel -especially since here (just 3-1/2 hours north, they do AND in both 8' and 10' lengths.)

We have a 2 month old and a 3 year old so I know what it's like to be ousted from a comfy 'nursery-studio'. The good news for me was that our finished basement is fair game - hence the self-education of acoustic construction. I think I'll like the arrangement once it's all built (and the kid can sleep through the night.)

Good luck with the growing family!

[version2]

Originally posted by gascap


Good luck with the growing family!

Thanks! We have a 6 year old and now we have our second on the way.

I didnt mind been outed from my current project studio as I was outgrowing the space. The garage is very spacious, enough so that i might be able to open up for some outside work even.

Of course, I will have to stop working on my stuff long enough for that to happen.