Do Walls Need Crosspieces?

Fire Control

• Crosspieces are needed in some interior walls where fire can easily travel up and through the spaces. The crosspieces act as fire stops and give inhabitants a few more minutes to escape if a fire starts from below. Walls suited for these crosspieces include bedrooms and kitchens.

Freestanding Wall Extensions

• When a wall continues out into an open space without connecting to another perpendicular wall, it requires extra support. Especially for long stretches of a freestanding wall, crosspieces help prevent wood studs from warping or twisting.

  In addition to doubling or reinforcing the end studs within the wall, install crosspieces throughout the frame and especially near the end. The crosspieces secure the vertical studs together with horizontal connections so any stress on the wall -- whether vertically or horizontally -- will be balanced by an opposing support.

Doorways

• Passing through a doorway means that behind the sheetrock or plaster is the framework for a stable and reinforced passageway. Wall studs on either side of a doorway are often reinforced with crosspieces to help balance the weight of the swinging door and its constant opening and closing. Doorways receive a lot of stress and movement; the crosspieces distribute this stress to the neighboring studs to maintain the strength and integrity of the door frame.

Load-Bearing Walls

• Load-bearing walls may require crosspieces. Instead of transferring the weight of the wall straight down each vertical stud, the stud is instead interconnected by the crosspieces. These act as bridges distributing the load across the whole network of wood studs and crosspieces. For walls that have sections bearing more weight than others, the crosspieces balance this out to extend the life of the wall.

Plumbing Support

• Depending on how plumbing pipes run through the wall, crosspieces may be needed. Sections where pipes run horizontally through a series of wall studs need to regain the intended structural wall strength. This is achieved through a series of crosspieces above and below the plumbing.

Cabinetry and Shelving

• Hanging cabinetry and shelving on a wall to house heavy dishes, pots, tools, books and equipment requires in-wall reinforcements. Once in place on the wall, these items can easily weigh hundreds of pounds, which is a lot of pulling weight for any wall to handle. Crosspieces provide extra support by tying the wall studs to each other, and also providing additional points of attachment for the cabinetry and shelving.