How Far Apart Are Studs in a 1950s House?
In a typical house built in the 1950s, wall studs are usually spaced either 16 inches or 24 inches apart on center. The most common spacing is 16 inches, which aligns with standard building practices allowing for easier installation of drywall and insulation. However, it's always a good idea to check the specific house, as variations can occur based on regional practices or specific builder preferences.
Standard Spacings and Their Usage
The 16-inch spacing is more common on perimeter and load-bearing walls, while 24-inch spacing is used on interior, non-load-bearing walls. In the United States, the 16 inches on center spacing is the standard, although 19.2 inches or 24 inches might also be used in certain circumstances, especially where an integer number of studs can fit into an 8-foot standard length of plasterboard or plywood.
Region and Builder Variations
Building techniques can vary by region, time, and builder. For example, my parents built a house in an area with no code enforcement until the turn of the century (1999–2000), where builders could have done anything. The house is fine, though, and the builder pushed the limits on floor joists.
While the convention has been 16 inches, this may not always be the case. I've seen variations from 12 inches to 24 inches. Therefore, it is essential to verify the specific spacing of the studs in a 1950s house. If you need to know their exact location, use an ultrasonic stud finder. Alternatively, you can drill a small hole at a shallow angle and use a piece of piano wire to locate a specific stud. However, this method is not feasible if you need to locate every stud in a wall.
Additional Methods and Cost Considerations
There are other, more unconventional methods to locate studs, such as using a vehicle-sized X-ray machine or NMRS tomography, but these are not practical for the average person. Cutting a horizontal line at chest height and another 4 inches below it with a circular saw, then drilling a hole to verify the wall thickness, and finally ripping off the plaster or drywall, will reveal the studs. However, you will notice that the studs are not always perfectly spaced, and the builder's skill level can vary.
It's also important to note that using house or building walls as a guide is not accurate. Buildings are usually not "square" enough to be a reliable reference.
Building rehabs can be expensive due to the surprises that come up when opening walls. While an architect can design any structure, existing buildings always contain unexpected elements, leading to additional costs for adaptation and reuse. Architectural or structural issues leading to a complete rebuild are not uncommon.