FEBRUARY JLC 1997 To strengthen stud walls for increased loading or to reduce deflection in tall walls, you can decrease stud spacing, increase stud thickness, or use doubled or tripled studs. With ordinary dimensional lumber however, achieving a stiff stud wall that is also perfectly flat is easier said than done, particularly when longer studs are needed. Typical workarounds include nailing together two studs with crowns opposed, sistering steel channels to individual studs, or, in extreme cases, fabricating a steel moment frame. New alternatives. A better answer may be found in the latest crop of engineered wood materials. If you're framing a tall wall, or a wall with a lot of large openings in it
