On an Accessory Dwelling Unit we are building for an owner in Durham, we used an advanced framing technique called stagger stud framing. Why did we choose this technique?

The owner is having this ADU built for her mom, and she is a very light sleeper. Outside noises can wake her up easily and she often struggles to get back to sleep, so we had to design this home to cater to her needs.

With a stagger stud wall like you see in the video below, approximately 40-50% of the vibrational sound waves from outside of the building are no longer able to penetrate through the exterior walls and into the building envelope. This wall has an acoustical break built into it. This is a common technique used in buildings like movie theaters and hotels.

On some of our builds, we also use this technique on a room-by-room basis. A good example would be if we have a bedroom up against a busy area, like a living room.

There is also a thermal benefit here as we are able to upgrade the walls to R-19 from a typical R-15 assembly and get a continuous insulation barrier. The thermal continuity will help the walls feel warmer in the winter as thermal bridging is eliminated.

Are you looking for a new construction custom home in the Durham area? If yes, please reach out to us to discuss options!