The savings from using 2x6 insulated and R19 is about 10% of average heating/cooling costs and 15% for R24 insulation depending on region. It's nice that exteriors are going 2x6 … Anyway, we also did a mix of 2x4 and 2x6. *Absolutely, Marvin is great for job security, you get to come back and replace the different components every couple years, just as soon as the warranty lapses.Now, Andersen, on the other hand..........So, John, anyways, EVERYONE knows that the best wall for 6000 degree-day areas is a 2x4 @16" oc, with 1" foam EXTERIOR, let-in metal corner brace, 1/2" CDX ply sheathing/ nailbase, Fiber -cement clapboards, GP PrimeTrim trim, backprime everything, and either highdensity glass batts with seperate poly vapor barrier interior or blow cellulose thru the blueboard before skim-coat. I say that the extra expense for 2x6 studs is justified because along with the additional insulation and energy savings, you also get a much stiffer house. I have walls that are 2x6. At what point do you think it is worth it having 2x6's vs 2x4's. As with more conventionally framed walls, advanced framing strategies can save material and labor. Good question! Content can be pictures of cabins, topics on how to build or maintain one, lake houses, mountain cabins, or any home that incorporates green technology while focusing on size and efficiency. Until your buildier can quote a price on 2x4 vs 2x6 (with all the additional expenses included), and then you compare that cost to estimated savings on your energy bill, it's all guesswork. A friend and I have been having an on-going discussion (argument) about the pros and cons of 2x6 vs. 2x4 exterior stud walls. It can be used for R19 or R24 insulation and that wall will cost $193.85 with R19 insulation at Lowes USA. Interior walls with conditioned spaces on both sides and no sound proofing issues don't need 2x6. But the answers to a lot of these questions are still to be found hidden in the archives. Tim Healey Conventional framing, 2x4 vs. 2x6.Wall 1 and Wall 2 compare typical wood wall framing at 16 inches on-center. By using larger dimension 2x6 lumber, you increase the load and insulation capability. *... a topic often discussed here -- search the archives for articles with 2x4 and 2x6 in them -- and actually being discussed right now in another thread... in construction? I'd rip it rather than overbuilding the entire garage to fit the sole plate. Thanks, every country has different methods to get the same results and not all countries can get 2x6 or 2x8 lumber. Most wall assemblies, especially those in older homes, are built with two-by-four (2x4) studs. If you have a 3" waste line, 3.5" OD and larger than that for the hub of the fitting, then it's nice to place that in a 2x6 wall. I'd be interested in other comments. He stated that 22 years was the pay-back period. A washer box fits in the 2x4 spacing. Perfect case scenario. Let's dive into the answers to both questions. 2x6 vs 2x4 exterior walls Anyone know what year 2x6 ext walls became standard in Alberta? On one hand, you wouldn't want to include the "lunatic fringe" (should any appear on our beloved Breaktime) but at the same time you wouldn't want to alienate people by leaving them out if you included everything else. These are subject to axial compression loads in addition to their own weight and, where there is eccentricity of load or lateral loads, to flexure. I would love to see if it's possible to remove the hinges and insert some type of interior extension but I don't know if they make that for a new threshold or if that is even possible. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/enclosures-that-work/high-r-value-wall-assemblies/copy_of_advanced-frame-wall-construction, https://homeguides.sfgate.com/anchor-sill-plate-cinder-block-foundation-29451.html, https://www.homeenergy.org/show/article/id/249#:~:text=But%20it%20has%20one%20significant,insulation%20(see%20Table%201). *Maybe FAQ folder with links to archives? Builders are afraid that 2x6 24"oc framing will get blown down unlike 2x6 or 2x4 on 16"oc or so I've read from Texas builders that have engineering degrees and "30 yrs" experience. I say that the extra expense for 2x6 studs is justified because along with the additional insulation and energy savings, you also get a much stiffer house. This will give you the best of both worlds. And it gives extra room in the walls for insulation, plumbing pipes and electrical fixtures. If we use f/glass batt insulation a 2X4 wall will yield alittle better than R13 (thats insulation plus whatever sheathing is on the exterior). (Especially single story or non-load bearing.) Load bearing interior wall stud requirements are the same as for exterior wall studs which limits 2x4 studs to a height of 10 ft. In other words, a quick index of what a good search of the archives on the topic would turn up, kind of like retrospective magazine indexes. I am doing repairs for my mother’s home which she built in 1987 and I can say unequivocally the 2*6 framing used for interior and exterior walls and on 16″ centers has been a godsend. 2x6 studs out of DF #2 and better will bow and twist to give you nightmares in straightening the walls before drywall. *I've proposed it many times; problem is, who administers it? If your walls are tall (11' or taller), you NEED 2x6's. All on cc 24" (60cm really). All those houses I built that way must be falling down. It is something you must think about and decide when deciding to build. While most other discussion sites cannot begin to comare with Taunton's sites for the sophistication of their web server, many of them do have additional aids such as FAQs. • Upgrading to 2X6 home construction is not cheap. Barked on one or two edges (allowed by grading), BIG knots (allowed by grading) and so wet they weep unashamedly on the deck while they are waiting and spit water at you as you sink that 16d one more time. I am a retired contractor/framing contractor in California having done everything from cheap tracts (God forgive me) to apartment complexes to commercial and industrial. There are several considerations you'll need to think about when calculating cost vs ROI when increasing the thickness of exterior wall thickness in new home construction or when adding an addition. I will do a post on drywall and thermal mass in the future. He and I obviously? Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. This is because metal is a much better thermal conductor. First, if one uses 2x6s one not only increases the cost to insulate, one also increases the cost in windows and doors sicne jambs must be ordered or constructed to fit a 2x6 rather than a 2x4 wall. *What did your rockers do? What is 2x6 construction? Plus, get tips for a clean and solid installation. Publisher Logo. There is a big difference in compressive strength, resistance to buckling, and lateral deflection between a 9' 2x4 wall and a 9' 2x6 wall. It uses less framing but has superior strength and more space for insulation and higher R value. Our architect planned for a 2x6 for the exterior framing. This goes for any URL I reference on any of my posts. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." *John Doe. Best insulated frame house (eliminating ICF or similar) I ever studied was framed with 2x4 but the exterior walls were doubled, i.e. My approach is to show him or them what is in it for them. Wellllll, maybe not answers, but information for sure. By the way, I'm referencing this post in a thread in the "About Breaktime: Help Using, Ideas for Improving" subfolder.Not sure the idea "threads with 100 or more posts in it", if I understand you correctly, would necessarily be the ticket. The total difference in cost to build your house with 2x6 exterior construction vs 2x4 is $2,149.90. 2x3 in a shed may be perfectly OK, it's not supporting a lot of weight and it keeps the cost down. I don't see why you would need a wider plate either. Lots of people ask how much it costs to build a house with 2x6 walls rather than 2x4. My Karma ran over your Dogma. *Around here framers are very willing to try something new..........as long as their great-grandfathers tried it first. It produces a structurally sounder frame and thus a stronger house. Summary: So you can see that using 2x6 framing provides superior strength, superior insulation value, is faster to build and cheaper than a traditional 2x4 wall and is recommended for all extreme climate construction. Other common, universal file formats are .gif , .wmf .bmp and .html. I loan a video of some of my framing techniques to the lead framer.I like the idea of a FAQ if done properly and updated as needed. All exterior walls will profit by going with 2x6 or even 2x8 as good insulation will pay for itself over and over again in offset utility bills. I also have 4 2x4 windows installed on the same 2x6 walls … And Other Tough Questions, Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. 4 Answers. More space for insulation, R-21 vs. R-13, means less heat loss and smaller cooling and heating costs. 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