Phil, GGs

Here in Australia where metric is spoken universally and fluently by all,
450mm is the standard stud spacing. That's 18 inches.

Stud spacings came first, sheet lengths/widths to suit came later.

There's plenty of documentation around about the development of timber
framed buildings. I've got a dozen books at least. It's an interesting
subject for a carpenter.

Mick Dowling
Melbourne
Member, Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia Inc.



On 18/04/2014 12:27 am, "Phil Schempf"  wrote:

> I wonder which came first, 16" spacing or 4' sheet stock, sort of a chicken
> and egg type of deal.
>   What's the framing practice in metric countries, guessing it's not 16"
> centers and 4' plywood?
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 5:32 AM, CheekyGeek  wrote:
> 
>> I have no specific knowledge or source (would love to see the real history)
>> but I suspect that the 16" standard came about as a result of engineering,
>> in combination with the standardization of the lumber production industry.
>> 
>> We've all heard of the 2x4 and we all know that today it isn't 2"x4". 16"
>> is a logical progression of the 2x4 sequence and so may, mathematically
>> have something to do with it (along with the standard of 8' ceiling
>> heights, perhaps?). I know in older homes the 2x4s ARE 2"x4".
>> 
>> I'm guessing an engineer did the math and calculated that, at an 8' ceiling
>> standard, and a 16" on-center wall panel stud standard, the necessary
>> strength could be provided by less material in the stud (and the lumber
>> industry could get more material from the same tree) and so the 1-1/2" x
>> 3-1/2" 2x4 was born. (Leaving the 16" on-center standard alone).
>> 
>> But, like I said, this is all conjecture. I'd love to see the history of
>> the development somewhere.
>> 
>> A man understands one day that his life is built on nothing, and that's a
>> bad, crazy day. - Cosmo Castorini, Moonstruck
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 8:17 AM, Michael Blair  wrote:
>> 
>>> It's a code requirement in California for any dwelling space.  Every
>> house
>>> I've lived in has 2X4s on 16 inch centers.  My great-grandfather built
>> all
>>> houses this way.  My house now was built in 1925 -- 2X4s on 16 inch
>>> centers.
>>> The 1906 house I lived in had 2X4s on 16 inch centers.  The Victorians
>> I've
>>> worked on had 2X4s on 16 inch centers, so the standard has been around
>> for
>>> a very long time.  Fiberglass insulation specifically for walls comes in
>>> 16 inch wide rolls.  Roof insulation comes in 24 inch wide rolls.
>>> 
>>> Why?  You'd need to ask a structural engineer for the rational.
>>> 
>>> Mike in Sacto
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
> 
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
> 
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
> 
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
> 
> OldTools@r...
> http://rucku
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