How to Straighten Bowed Stud Walls

Drywall will follow the contour of the studs, so if they’re bowed or out of alignment, you’ll end up with a wavy wall. And if your drywall contractor has to fix the problem, you can bet that you’ll get an extra charge.

You have a couple of options here, depending on how many studs are bowed and how badly they’re bowed

. Start by placing a long straightedge horizontally across your framed wall (Photo 1). Mark any studs that are out of alignment. The studs should be within 1/8 in. of each other. Anything more will be noticeable in the finished wall.

Option 1: If only a few studs have minor outward bows, a power planer will quickly solve the problem. Simply plane the bowed studs until they’re flush with adjacent studs (Photo 2).

Option 2: For minor inward bows, simply knock the stud out and replace it or turn it around and plane off the bow. If you can’t remove it, nail a long, straight 1x2 or 1x3 to the side of the stud.

Option 3: If you have a few severely bowed-out studs that are more than 1/2 in. out of alignment, make a series of 1-3/4-in.-deep kerfs (saw cuts) every 8 to 10 in. in the bowed area with a circular saw. Toenail a 16d nail through each kerf. As you nail, the cuts will close and the board will straighten. To reinforce the cut studs, screw scrap 1-in. lumber alongside the cuts, making sure the scraps don’t protrude past the edge of the stud.

Original article and pictures take http://www.familyhandyman.com/carpentry/how-to-straighten-bowed-stud-walls/view-all site


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