Block or Stud Walls - is builder correct?

[roseheath]

Hi,

My architect has specified block walls on the ground floor but the builder wants to use stud walls.

The garage conversion is having a second skin and the builder has suggested that it would be better to add studwork to the [existing] single skin and use 100mm thick insulation inside the studs. He says this will be just as good as the architects design which is to add internal 100mm blocks with a 50mm cavity and then plaster over 62.5mm Kingspan insulation.

Also he wants to use studded internal walls. He says they will not transmit so much noise. He says the block walls tend to vibrate and carry the noise. It all sounds plausible to me. Should I let him go ahead, or ask him to build exactly to the plans?

 

[noseall]

The denser the material or the greater the mass, the better the sound blocking qualities.

Your builder knows nothing about sound travel through buildings and even less about science.

Insist he uses blocks because I know I would. There may also be other reasons why masonry is required.

 

[HERTS P&D]

My bet is 'your builder' is a chippy and not a brickie!

Andy

 

[stuart45]

We used to live in a bungalow that had the internal walls built with Southwater engineering bricks. The soundproofing was really good, especially compared to timber stud walls.
Could be your builder is more of a chippy and prefers to build in stud.
As a bricklayer I always prefer to build in masonry.
As stated above, dense walls give the best soundproofing.

 

[RogerBoyle]

Its quicker and cheaper to build in timber but as already said it will not dampen the noise as well as solid block..

If it was my house It would be solid block

 

[roseheath]

Thanks for the early replies. Are there any builders out there who have an opinion?

 

[stuart45]

Thanks for the early replies. Are there any builders out there who have an opinion?

You have some builders opinions.

 

[tony1851]

Are there any builders out there ?

 

[Deluks]

Concrete block or lightweight block?
From a sound perspective, I would choose a couple of layers of plasterboard and 100mm wool over breeze blocks and kingspan. Heavy concrete blocks would fare better, but I would still ditch the kingspan and go mineral wool and battens.

 

[noseall]

Thanks for the early replies. Are there any builders out there who have an opinion?

Hilarious!

 

[Deluks]

Thanks for the early replies. Are there any builders out there who have an opinion?

Hilarious!

I read that twice to get your meaning, then I lol'ed.

 

[roseheath]

Thanks for the early replies. Are there any builders out there who have an opinion?

Hilarious!

OK, I'm new to all this, go easy on me! This is a big decision for us, these walls will be expected to last a lifetime and I need to be sure they're done properly.

Here's a picture from the architects drawings. This is what the architect has proposed for the garage walls.

Untitled

• roseheath
• 11 Feb 2014
• 1

[/img]

The builder wants to leave out the blockwork (but still have a 50mm airgap) and have 100mm wide studding filled with soft insulation and a layer of plasterboard over the top.

 

[Deluks]

Either option is fine, really.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

My architect has specified block walls on the ground floor but the builder wants to use stud walls ... Should I let him go ahead, or force him to build exactly to the plans?

Tell him it's really very simple, and the way it works is this:

The person paying for the work gets to specify it.

And that therefore he can put up stud walls if he pays for them.

 

[trowlerman]

that seems a long winded way of doing it why cant you just have blockwork with 100 mm cavity ??