Just a few beginner questions

[rob_h]

Hi to everyone at the forum!
Have travelled here from gearslutz after reading a number of studio build threads and really enjoying them. I'm only 17 years old and have 0 construction experience, but have learnt a lot of the theory from reading this board in particular.

Over the last couple days I've read a huge amount of material on building a studio, but still have a few questions which i'm sure will be obvious to most of you! I've looked through all of knightfly's reference material...which suggests that these questions are just too obvious to have been asked here...but ill go ahead, and if you would answer then it would be hugely appreciated!

1) How are first layer of gypsum boards attached to the studs (when the studs are either wood or metal)?
2)Are layers attached using screws or nails? which is better?
3)What are sole plates, are they just a piece of 2x4 or 2x6 on its side on the floor?
4)How are sole plates attached to the existing floor/floating floor?
5)Can cloth be put over any surface or does it affect its absorption rating?
6)How are cable conduits passed under the floor if it is filled with studs/concrete and insulation?
7)What is mudding and taping?
8)Are resilient channels placed horizontally between studs?

I understand that lots of these may seems rly elementary, but any help would be great thanks! If there are any previous posts that you can direct me to, then that would also be great, but i've looked through my fair share and haven't found any answers to these questions. Really admire what you guys do, and i will be designing studios for a long time to come until i get enough money to actually build my own one

Rob

[knightfly]

Rob, sorry for the delay; if you can't find answers, it's more likely I've "ass-u-me-d" too much, let's see what we can do -

1) How are first layer of gypsum boards attached to the studs (when the studs are either wood or metal)?

With screws; there are different thread pitches for wood stud or steel stud - steel stud screws are finer thread, and are also used when fastening to Resilient Channels. Go to the REFERENCE section and follow directions to download the USG manual; get the high res version, there are lots of pix and eventually the "buzz" words will start to make sense.

2)Are layers attached using screws or nails? which is better?

Definitely screws. In the "good ole days" nails were used - they pull out, they hurt your wrist driving them (especially ceilings), and they don't work on steel framing at ALL.

3)What are sole plates, are they just a piece of 2x4 or 2x6 on its side on the floor?

Yup; if the floor is concrete, you want something under them to act as a thermal break (tar paper or any of the currently available "sill seal" materials.

4)How are sole plates attached to the existing floor/floating floor?

If wood floor, nails; if concrete, drill and use lag shields/bolts. or these

http://www.confast.com/products/tapcon- ... escrew.asp

1/4 x 3-1/4 gives over 1200 pounds pull-out resistance.

5)Can cloth be put over any surface or does it affect its absorption rating?

Tight weave cloth can slightly reduce high frequency absorption, but that's usually a GOOD thing anyway. otherwise, no change to speak of.

More important - FIRE. check out http://www.natfire.com/
for more.

6)How are cable conduits passed under the floor if it is filled with studs/concrete and insulation?

BEFORE.

7)What is mudding and taping?

See the USG manual you downloaded; "mud" is a slang term for Joint Compound, "tape" is the wide paper that's placed OVER the joint AFTER the "mud" is smoothed over the joint, then a slightly wetter "mud" is smoothed over the paper, allowed to dry, and sanded smooth.

8)Are resilient channels placed horizontally between studs?

Yes; these are critical to install correctly, and in the right spacing for the number of layers used - and if using separate frames for inner and outer leaf, they should not be used AT ALL... Steve

[rob_h]

cheers steve! read through over 100 pages of forum since i posted, so lots of techniques have become a lot clearer to me, but great to have specific answers. Now let's hope i actually get a chance to put all this into action!...anybody in london want to hire help this summer?

Cheers again,
Rob

[knightfly]

Might check with Jules over at Gearslutz - dunno if he's done building or not, but it's the right part of the world... Steve