Wall Framing Trick Video
Tim Carter shows a nifty trick when framing walls for a house. Don't allow an interior wall to touch an exterior wall. Leave a 3/4-inch gap so you can slide drywall in one giant piece instead of having to cut it at the corners.
This wall framing trick also helps prevent air infiltration because the vapor barrier and drywall are solid along the entire exterior wall surfaces of the entire house.
You save lumber too because there's no need for lathe catcher studs at the intersection of the two walls.
Reference: February 13, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter
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I watched your drywall framing tip video. I assume that when you are Framming the interior walls you have to immediately attach the top plate to tie the interior and exterior wall together. It did not look like the plate continued over to the outside wall. I am from Chicago where residential code requires rigid conduit. I would think the labor cost would be more expensive since every J box would require extra conduit going down into the basement or into the attic to avoid obstructing three-quarter inch gap in the corners. I am not sure labor and material cost would actually be saved. Certainly the insulation and vapor seal advantage is a good one. Am I missing something?
John,
Yes, you're missing how to stabilize an interior wall. Based on some emails I've received after sending out my newsletter, I can see I need to tape a quick video showing people HOW an interior wall is attached to ceiling joists or trusses - in this case.
The interior wall in this case gathers little support whatsoever from contacting the exterior wall. Interior walls contacting exterior walls at a 90-degree angle are not subject to racking forces. If they are, then the house will probably collapse from the tornado, hurricane or 7.9 earthquake!
I read this to my husband Frank just now . . . and he too questions the time/material factor of the electrical conduit being installed. He believes there would be a significant cost increase to the homeowner's wallet. Your thoughts please. Thanks, Holly
I see no issue with electric run in conduit. Have the electrician put the outlets that are on outside walls all on one circuit or two in a ranch house. You're supposed to split circuits anyway and not have all electric in one room on one circuit. Interior outlets in one room are on one circuit and the exterior wall outlets are on a different circuit. Get it?
The conduit from interior walls never touches an interior wall.
Easy peasy.
I like your (borrowed) idea. As long as the circuits are "clearly" labeled at the panel...interior receptacles bedrms 1-2-3; exterior [outside wall] receptacles bedrms 1-2-3 (as an example), this should be fairly easy to accomplish.
It's a potentially greener solution too.
Too bad you can not find a way to do something similar for ceiling drywall. Perhaps you can with a little thought?