How many screws into the studs to ensure horizontals are secure?

dunnycan

Hi,

I’m replacing my inbuilt wardrobe. Originally was going to paint it but the wardrobe was starting to disintegrate so ripped it out. 

The left side of the wardrobe is plasterboard and the right side is brick. So that it is flush, and so that the wardrobe uprights are secure into the studs, I’m putting up a false wall with 8 horizontal wooden battens using the material below and a 1cm plywood over the top. The 8 horizontal wooden battens will line up with holes of the uprights. And the horizontals will drill into the studs behind the wall.

There is a conduit for telephone line, which one of the reasons for putting up the false wall. Also, wanted to ensure that with heavy hanging clothes, it doesn’t rip out of the plasterboard as the vertical uprights don’t line up with the studs.

How many screws should go into each of the horizontals and into the studs to ensure the horizontal is secure. Also are these timber screws suitable. Is more than 1 screw is required into the studs (the green things in the diagram), is there a distance between the screws so that it doesn’t weak the studs?

Thanks

JacobZ

Hi @dunnycan,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

I'd suggest using two screws through the battens into every available stud. If you have four studs, this will mean eight screws per batten.

The Zenith 10G x 75mm Gold Passivated Type 17 Countersunk Head Timber Screws would be perfect for this. Just make sure to predrill pilot holes to prevent the timber from splitting. With a 10g screw, a 4mm pilot hole would work well. Due to the length of the screw, you'll need to use a long series drill bit such as this Kango 4mm Long Series HSS Drill Bit.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob