I'm building two stud walls joining at a right angle to create a small room in the corner of a larger room. The timber I'm using is 63x38mm (2 1/2" by 1 1/2" – actual measurement) CLS. One wall is 2.4 m long, the other wall with the door is 1.8m long.
Now looking at the soundproofing solution I have in mind I wonder if these studs will be strong enough to support the wall. Can anyone advise on the strength of such a structure with 40 or 50cm centres? The walls are not loadbearing.
Heaviest case, the wall layering will be: Soundboard | Stud wall (40cm centres) | Soundboard | Rubber panels on which are suspended: | Soundboard | Soundboard
An alternative layering would be | Soundboard | Stud wall (50cm centres) | Rubber panels on which are suspended: | Soundboard | Soundboard
The soundboard is heavy sound resistant plasterboard which weighs 28kg for 2.4m by 1.2m.
The rubber panels weigh 15kg for 1m by 1m
Best Answer
You could always use the lumber you have and reduce the spacing to something like 5 3/4" (that's the actual spacing ratio for a 2x4@16"oc) to get an equivalent amount of control over the deflection.
I would not use anything less than a 2x4 at 16" on center, or it's equivalent. The main reason for this is because if someone were to lean on that wall they could crack the boards on either side. This would not only ruin their appearance but it could reduce their acoustic performance. Additionally, if a seismic event were to occur the weight of all that materials you have on there would begin to move with the earthquake. It would bend the wall out of plane causing cracks. 2x4s at 16" is the code recommendation to avoid these cracks.