From About This Project
Q I’m finishing my basement and the framing is complete. However, I placed a 4-ft. level across several studs and noticed that my walls aren’t as straight as I’d hoped. When a stud is bowed, what is the easiest way to make it straight again without removing it? I’m worried about how the drywall will look after it’s fastened to these uneven studs.
—Dave English, via e-mail
A Your worries are well founded. Drywall will follow the contour of the studs, so if they’re bowed or out of alignment, you’ll end up with a wavy wall. And if your drywall contractor has to fix the problem, you can bet that you’ll get an extra charge.
You have a couple of options here, depending on how many studs are bowed and how badly they’re bowed. Start by placing a long straightedge horizontally across your framed wall. Mark any studs that are out of alignment. The studs should be within 1/8 in. of each other. Anything more will be noticeable in the finished wall.
Option 1: If only a few studs have minor outward bows, a power planer will quickly solve the problem. Simply plane the bowed studs until they’re flush with adjacent studs.
Option 2: For minor inward bows, simply knock the stud out and replace it or turn it around and plane off the bow. If you can’t remove it, nail a long, straight 1x2 or 1x3 to the side of the stud.
Option 3: If you have a few severely bowed-out studs that are more than 1/2 in. out of alignment, make a series of 1-3/4-in.-deep kerfs (saw cuts) every 8 to 10 in. in the bowed area with a circular saw. Toenail a 16d nail through each kerf. As you nail, the cuts will close and the board will straighten. To reinforce the cut studs, screw scrap 1-in. lumber alongside the cuts, making sure the scraps don’t protrude past the edge of the stud.