Metric building question???

JDseller · Oct 3, 2011

In the US we have common dimensions that are used throughout a building: 16 inches, 24 inches and 48 inches. So you buy plywood it comes in a 48 x 96 inch sheets, drywall too. You can then cover up three studs on 16 inch centers or two on 24 inch centers. So what are the common dimensions in the metric system??? Also what about Dave II in Germany is theirs even different from say Canada???

I just was helping a friend build a new calf barn these last few weeks. While we where working it just came to me how everything "fits" together when planned right. You could have hauled all of the scrap from the whole building in a single wheel barrow load. Most of that was where we had to fit around an exciting concrete wall.

Athol Carr · Oct 3, 2011

The 8 foot by 4 foot sheets are 2.4 by 1.2 metres, slightly smaller than the imperial equivalents. The 2x4 piece if timber is 100mm by 50mm instead of the 50.8 by 101,6 mm. However, a lot of timber is more like 90mm by 45 mm.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 3, 2011

When working with lumber up here, anyone I know uses inches. Maybe bigger construction projects might use metric???

sotxbill · Oct 3, 2011

I got fired cuase I couldnt find a metric hammer.

Jason the Red · Oct 3, 2011

I worked on the new Federal Courthouse in Kansas City. It was constructed 100% metric. Stud layout was in centimeters, sheetrock came metric sized, millwork and casework shop drawings were all metric. You could definately tell who had a good head on their shoulders. Some guys would act like you were speaking a different language. In the end, once you picked up on some common dimensions, everything worked out like normal.
That was about 12 years ago, and I had federal jury duty about 5 years ago and noticed all the HVAC thermostats on Celsius.

Mike M · Oct 3, 2011

I had some builders get goofed up by metric shingles. This company IKO is most known for metric ones. Well it turns out they made std. dim. ones too ! So house has std. ones attached garage has metric ones. Got enough std. ones to fill in the peak over to the addition.

Janicholson · Oct 3, 2011

As the others indicate. The Stud centers are 400mm (16") and 600mm (24") they are not exactly that inch equivalent,but they fit the Panels, Jim

Earl Gray · Oct 4, 2011

Or spell!

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2011

common BB store sizes on drywall is based on 60cm (2ft). Common 1 man sheets are 60x240 cm and 120x100 (lay them on there side with 60 cm studs)....
Got a bunch of plywood given to me that wasleftover from several projects on post tho. All new stuff in 4x8 sheets..Mixed in was a few sheets that were 5 cm or so bigger each way........ There was British Army using the area also and building, just thought that this was the common size they used in the UK (???).....

bison · Oct 4, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:18:29 10/04/11)
common BB store sizes on drywall is based on 60cm (2ft). Common 1 man sheets are 60x240 cm and 120x100 (lay them on there side with 60 cm studs)....
Got a bunch of plywood given to me that wasleftover from several projects on post tho. All new stuff in 4x8 sheets..Mixed in was a few sheets that were 5 cm or so bigger each way........ There was British Army using the area also and building, just thought that this was the common size they used in the UK (???).....

grew up in metric back in Europe,We used meters and centimeters,mm where only used when under a centimeter.
Here in Canada everything al the use is milimeters(what pile of crock) :roll:

Besides that, most contractors and farmers still use the imperial system and lumberyards still sell in inches and feet,which i think is just fine.
AFAIAC one can't beat the imperial system for ease of building

IMO the metric system is only superior with machining and weighing smaller than a pound.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:59:39 10/04/11)

(quoted from post at 07:18:29 10/04/11)
common BB store sizes on drywall is based on 60cm (2ft). Common 1 man sheets are 60x240 cm and 120x100 (lay them on there side with 60 cm studs)....
Got a bunch of plywood given to me that wasleftover from several projects on post tho. All new stuff in 4x8 sheets..Mixed in was a few sheets that were 5 cm or so bigger each way........ There was British Army using the area also and building, just thought that this was the common size they used in the UK (???).....

Click to expand...

grew up in metric back in Europe,We used meters and centimeters,mm where only used when under a centimeter.
Here in Canada everything al the use is milimeters(what pile of crock) :roll:

I've just got used to it but always catch myself converting back and forth and have both metric and inch tape measures around.......

Besides that, most contractors and farmers still use the imperial system and lumberyards still sell in inches and feet,which i think is just fine.
AFAIAC one can't beat the imperial system for ease of building

IMO the metric system is only superior with machining and weighing smaller than a pound.

Metric building question???

JDseller

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Athol Carr

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Anonymous-0

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sotxbill

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Jason the Red

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Mike M

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Janicholson

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Earl Gray

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Anonymous-0

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bison

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Anonymous-0

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