Structural supports required in closet walls?
Oldtiredelectrician
| Posted in Code Questions on
I’m building a new home. My builder didn’t put studs or headers in the walls to support the ends of the shelves, nailing the supports directly into sheetrock. And he refuses to correct it. Of course, this won’t hold up anything of substance. Is there a building code in the US that requires structural members (studs or headers) in the walls, or other means to adequately support the weight to be placed on these shelves? I see this as a safety issue.
Replies
Nothing I know of for shelving. Of course there are in place structural requirements having to do with loads being transferred to foundation.
The problem you realize is probably the reason those metal wire shelving kits were invented. Wouldn’t necessarily store all my bowling balls on ‘m.
Long ago we framed closets and pantries then went back and lined them with scraps and extra sheathing. We were doing those start to finish.
Rough frame only jobs……
Something about “a man on a fast horse…….”
Edit: he had nothing in the corners to catch any fastener?
nope. they're just anchored with staples into sheetrock. Have to love the quality...
We call that deadwood but usually just add an additional stud in the middle to carry the shelf. However, most tract home builders don't because they use wire shelving that hangs on the drywall. If you're worried about it go in behind the builder and add another diagonal brace at each end of the shelf.
As a subcontractor back in the day, I trimmed a lot of houses where no blocking was added to the framing to support the shelves. All I had were the studs on their 16 in. centers. That worked fine, but I always made sure to nail the shelf cleats into the studs, extending the side cleats as far as necessary to lap a stud. Nailing to the drywall alone is first rate hackery - Are you sure your builder isn't hitting the studs? I've also installed the wire shelves that fasten with drywall anchors - never again. Utter crap.