What is the typical stud spacing for wood or metal studs? 5

[TDIengineer]

I just asked this question to one of the new employees.. and they didn't know the answer.

Am I crazy? or if you graduated from college with a civil engineering degree wouldn't you at least know this?

Just wondering if I am expecting too much here... wow.

 

[oldestguy]

I also taught a US University graduate school course dealing with highway design and construction and had students from many different countries. Most had never been on a field trip and so we did many. All seemed to think getting a high grade was more important than getting some practical knowledge. All exams were open book and such that some answers were not in the book causing them great consternation having to go out and find other sources for their answers. So, it is not just in USA, but seems to be everywhere as to what is taught in undergrad colleges. One of my "helpers" with a civil domineering Master's degree and from a construction family business once asked me "what is a backhoe". Not a lie.

 

[Ingenuity]

"In other countries that use Metric, is it possible to exactly fit a full sheet of "metric" plywood in a pickup truck? That I think is more important than anything else."

In metric countries we have metric pickups (utes!)

For form ply, it is commonplace to have sheets that are 1200x1800 - lighter and easier to handle than 4'x8' equivalents.

Oh yeah, and 2x4's and called 4x2's.

 

[mtu1972]

I did have a timber design class (elective) on my transcript and probably new 16" stud spacing before I took the class. However, no masonry class and I used part of my 1st pay check to by a book on Building Construction because I had never heard of items such as purlins, girts, lintels, etc. I did not want my new boss or my direct supervisor to know how ignorant I was. I had graduated with a B+ average and also taken 5 terms of graduate courses before starting work, and yet many things were not ever discussed.

gjc

 

[AELLC]

We call light metal plate connected open web roof trusses as 2x4 trusses, and floor trusses as 4x2 trusses, implying the orientation of the 2x4 members, isn't that clever?

 

[a2mfk]

2 young engineers in my office did not know what a "lock" was and I used it in the context of waterways/canals.

One had a masters in Civil, of all things, water resources. Both very smart too.

Glad to hear everyone has the same complaints about the lack of practical knowledge in most engineering curricula. I just learned the plural of curriculum and I am almost 40!

 

[graybeach]

I never had exposure to timber framing as a kid and would not have known the answer when I graduated from college. My dad built a whole house by himself but probably didn't think I would be interested. I knew how to sew my own clothes though, and this ended up being some pretty valuable "construction" experience. Anyway, I learned the importance of maintining a basic module or 4'/8' after framing a complicated 2 way, unequal leg, hip roof. The framing was very complex, and in some places I just spaced the rafters equally, like I would do laying out rebar. I was so proud of myself for figuring out all the complicated angles. But what a major pain it was when it came to cutting up the 4'x8' plywood sheathing! It took 3x longer than it should have.

 

[TDIengineer]

On Monday the company owner let go the entry level engineer that prompted this thread. Really sad actually, it was his lack of practical experience that really hindered him.

He had little to no knowledge of timber design or any experience reading plans. He was even having a hard time converting a framing plan into a series of free body diagrams for each element in order to analyze individual beams. Anyway, my point being that the university system is broken in my opinion when it comes to being a practicing design engineer. If you don't at least get some sort of internship, you are really going to struggle with your first job.

I know I was personally on very thin ice at my first job, I fortunately pulled it off because I was so strong on computers and software. I am a UCLA graduate and they didn't teach squat about timber or reading plans either, just like this fellow.

 

[a2mfk]

I thought learning to read plans and think in 3-D was one of the steepest parts of the learning curve once I got out of school. Also, one of the things I enjoyed the most. I am glad I worked for a firm that had architecture and engineering under one roof, because I learned a TON about drawings and practical construction from the more seasoned architects.

But in regards to your entry level hire, it sounds like whoever hired this person did not properly evaluate this person's knowledge. If you didn't have a class in timber or an internship, how would you know much about it? Free body diagrams, however, is pretty basic and should be something you get pounded into your head in undergrad.

 

[Archie264]

>>>I know I was personally on very thin ice at my first job, I fortunately pulled it off because I was so strong on computers and software. I am a UCLA graduate and they didn't teach squat about timber or reading plans either, just like this fellow.<<<

TDI, other than the UCLA part that described my experience exactly. Neither my "old school" boss nor I thought I was going to last out the first week. Thankfully he needed my computer skills badly enough that he was willing to invest the time and energy required to mentor me. It seems to me that one simple (non-existent at my school) course entitled "Practical Design & Construction Practices" would have gone a long way to alleviate that. I was so thirsty for such knowledge that I would have gladly paid to take it on a non-credit basis. I felt very vulnerable and useless learning only theory with no practical background. My $.02 worth.

 

[ztengguy]

Growing up, we had 4 channels on TV. ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS. I watched almost everything on PBS. I think watching This old house, woodwrights shop, new Yankee workshop, hometime, and then all the cooking shows really make my life easier. I dont have to call a plumber, electrician, carpenter, wood woorker if I want to change something in my house. I know what spacing to set framing at.

Perhaps a semester of common sense is in order.

I also teach some at a local school. We teach firefighting. About 80% of the last class had never used a chainsaw, and they are not from the inner city.

Im not sure we are going to get better engineers out of school by having them in school more.

 

[TDIengineer]

@ztenguy: Very true. This generation sits behind their devices all day. Many kids get little to no interaction of real life objects other than their fingers touching the digitizer.

Common sense and practical knowledge is getting to be very rare. Although I am sure old timers have been bashing the younger generations for quite a while now.

 

[Archie264]

zteng,

The counterpoint is that you're not going to learn it sitting in front of a tv either.

While what you write is true enough, the situation has now been set in place through several generational cycles at this point. Nowadays unless you grow up on a farm or something similar you tend to be rather far removed from such stuff and if you don't have a family member to teach you...well, you're not likely to be exposed to it. A simple course or seminar at school about how the theory they are teaching is practically applied would have been helpful to me. Further, it would have had the side effect of being helpful to the most of the professors in the school by reminding them that their research serves to support the design and construction industry, not the other way around.

(PS: Those chainsaws are dangerous and yes, I own and operate a nice one.)

 

[ztengguy]

Might not learn how to put up a wall from being in front of a TV, but would know that the best spacing is 16" oc.

 

[Archie264]

Ditto such a seminar in E-school.

 

[IRstuff]

"Getting back to the original question, any North American person that doesn't guess at least 16" or 24" would be suspect - even though never having wood design in University. Wood framing under construction is apparent everywhere, and I would expect every one to know that plywood/OSB and gypsum board comes in lengths of 8'."

That's a bit harsh. I don't know that my kids have even registered seeing the framing in our old house, and the new house has no exposed framing anywhere outside of the attic. And unless they're prone to haunting and lurking in Home Depot, plywood sizes are probably completely unknown.

TTFN
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[Archie264]

Further, some people transfer into civil engineering programs having first thought they would study something else. There's no reason to presume they would already know construction practices. It's like the old joke about the safety sign at a swimming pool:

DON'T GO IN THE WATER UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW TO SWIM

 

[AELLC]

IRstuff,

I meant any North American engineer - not any person.

 

[dvd]

I like to think of myself as a stud: we are few and far between.

 

[Qrs]

I like to think of myself as a stud: we are few and far between.

..about 16" to 24"...