I am in the process of remodeling my basement, & it's ready for studs; the basement is small, so to maximize as much space as possible I was thinking of using 2-1/2" metal studs opposed to the 3-5/8" studs; I'm using 1/2" drywall & I'm unsure if the 2-1/2" stud can support the weight of the drywal.
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3While it will likely support the drywall, you should also consider how much insulation you want to get in these walls and if there's any load you want to hang from the wall (e.g. flat screen TV's or shelves).– BMitch ♦Dec 30, 2012 at 22:36
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Indeed. If it were me I would reconsider the 1/2" Drywall decision for future-proofing.– SDsolarMay 20, 2017 at 9:42
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1 Answer
I'm not sure it would be worth making any stud that couldn't take drywall. For walls, the drywall creates an axial load on the stud which it should easily support. But interior walls must also support an arbitrary lateral load, 5 psf in the US. This combined with the axial load is what would do it in. The manufacturer of the studs should publish span tables that tell you the maximum height wall for which you can use each style of stud under varying conditions.
I've little doubt you can find a 2.5" stud that works, but I'm not sure the proper gauge. That's where the span tables come in. Sorry I can't give you a final answer. All I can say is there's reason for hope.
