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Wall mounting on studs

Hi everyone,

I'm mounting my turntable on the wall, and the shelf system is designed to span over 3 studs (and uses all 3). Since my studs in the wall are currently not where I want them to be, I'm just going to open up the wall and install new studs so my shelf can be installed exactly where I want it to be. My question is, should I just add new studs running vertically from floor to ceiling, or can I add 2x4s horinzontally between the existing studs that are 16" apart? I'm not concerned about cost or difficulty - I just want to know from a performance point of view, what's best to minimize vibration to the shelf?

Thanks!

Pierre
galpi
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
If you are going to the trouble of opening the wall, blocking horizontally is an inexpensive addition to that job. Studs are cheap. You might as well, sure cannot hurt (I would at least block at the mid-point, min.). I would go 24” o.c, or go ‘whole hog’ and block at 16” o.c. as well.

You will wind-up with a very strong wall, and it will be done.
galpi OP
4 posts
 
Thanks. Is there a risk that connecting the existing studs with horizontal pieces of wood would actually pick up/transfer more vibration? more coupling of studs etc .. ? I wish I understood this better. I saw another post where in older homes folks would even have beams installed diagonally in the wall. I don't know that I need to do that, but I want the best solution that minimizes vribration ... 
ericsch
752 posts
 
Just install the new lumber horizontally as needed. Use at least 3" deck screws and pre drill pilot holes. If you are worried about vibrations, add more blocking above and below the location of the shelf.
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@galpi
Thanks. Is there a risk that connecting the existing studs with horizontal pieces of wood would actually pick up/transfer more vibration? more coupling of studs etc ..

No. I’m in the residential design/build business. Believe me, adding blocking will only add strength and minimize any vibration you might be concerned with. I doubt there will be any. Just adding mid-blocking adds a lot of strength to a 2x4 (I look at these calcs all the time). If you really wanted to ‘go crazy’, add 1/2” plywood to the opened area, but, you would then have add a new 1/2” layer of drywall to the entire wall. To be honest, that may be ‘over kill’, but it would leave no doubt 😁
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