What is the frame of 1960 Eichler made of??
We just bought an Eichler in Terra Linda and would like to update our bathroom and put up sheetrock. Does anyone know what the framing is made of and how far apart the studs are? Are they 16, 18, or more inches apart. The reason I am asking is we intend to mount the vanity on the wall.
Our 1958 Sunnyvale Eichler has 2x4s on 16 inch centers.
you could purchase a studfinder and run it along the wall in question. I just got one for xmas and its a fun toy (it has a laser level too!). We just used it this weekend to mount an IKEA medicine cabiniet on our bathroom wall.
The 2x4's are redwood with standard 16" spacing. The roof boards are redwood also. That is why your house is still standing. The beams are 'not' redwood.
what I found with our bathroom wall was that, because it is not a wide wall, there is much less than 16" from the end of the wall to the 1st stud, and then a 'standard' spacing to the next stud, which is then close again to the other wall.
also, there are the crossmembers between the studs (stringers? somebody help me out). These are there for ?? Someone told me fire protection, so flames dont have a clear shot from floor to ceiling? anyways, you may find one of these in the way as well. A studfinder will at least tell your before you open the wall up.
Then again, you're putting up sheetrock so you'll get to see the studs yourself sooner or later....
My house is a Jones & Emmons in San Jose built 59-60. If I remember correctly, mine had redwood floor sills but douglas fir studs and diagonal crossmembers (used, I think, for sheer strength rather than the horizontal fire blocking you see in more modern homes--but I could be wrong).
As fxlarry points out, the spacing in bathrooms is often non-standard because of partition walls, electrical routings, and plumbing. If you are committed to a new bathroom, you might want to carefully remove some of the panelling to see what lies beneath--there's nothing like seeing it to be sure of what you have. The walls around the vanity in my model are particularly challenging.
Jake
I have a Terra Linda Eichler also. The wall framing is Douglas Fir on 16" centers throughout the house, with the exception of the sills (the piece of wood at the base of each wall) which is redwood. In the alcove where the vanities usually go, however, there will be maybe 2 studs spaced 16", and the rest are irregularly spaced. They have to account for the plumbing and roof vent. There will always be studs at the corners of the alcove, because how else would you be able to nail in your paneling or gyp board.
You've gotten the best advice already...go get a stud finder at your hardware store. It's one of the more useful items you can have during remodeling.
