Studs: steel vs. wood

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gascap

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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!
 
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.
 
gascap said:


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

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?
 
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
 
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.
 
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!
 
lunatic said:

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

Tin snips? Really? Im having a hard time believing this one...
 
Hey Version2

Hey Version2,

What do you do in Tulsa?

My in-laws all live in Owasso...yippee.
 
Re: Hey Version2

gascap said:
Hey Version2,

What do you do in Tulsa?

My in-laws all live in Owasso...yippee.
Click to expand...

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

:p
 
What's not to like..they have a big-ass Wal-Mart and a new Chili's restaurant.
 
gascap said:
What's not to like..they have a big-ass Wal-Mart and a new Chili's restaurant.
Click to expand...

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

:)
 
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 ?
 
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.
 
gascap said:
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.
Click to expand...

Actually, its quite possible that I misread...I am going to go and doublecheck.
 
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 said:
Ah... no sweat :D


So, how much STC do you lose going with steel?
Click to expand...

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

*undecided*
 
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.
 
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