After carefully inspecting 8 random Tstuds from the shipment of 2200 lineal feet we received, I have decided to return it all. Because it is a lumber-based product, a 10-15% cull rate would not be unusual. For whatever reason, however, the quality control on the product we received was not to an acceptable standard for use on our project. Instead, I have decided to use LVL 2×4’s to build a staggered stud wall (wood is a poor insulator and the goal is to avoid creating a bridge from the inside wall to the outside wall). Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. Made in a factory under controlled specifications, it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform than conventional lumber. Due to its composite nature, it is much less likely to warp, twist, bow, or shrink. Used in a staggered wall design, it will provide an even higher R-value than Tstuds. The only downside is that it is 5x more expensive than regular lumber and roughly 35% more than the Tstuds.