2x6 or 2x4 walls?

[VA_Joe]

As Eddy said 2x4s are plenty strong. It's the insulation issue here. Investing in insulation is a good thing. The cost differece between 2x4 and 2x6 should be 5 min calculation. For 16" on center, figure 1 stud per perimeter foot. A 30x40 is 140' of ext wall. If your stud diff is $2, the upgrade is $280 for studs, The headers should have the load needs but will require more spacing. Also consider using 2x6 on 2' centers vs 2x4 on 16" centers, again dropping some what.

Alternitive: frame with 2x4s and use 2" extruded foam on the outside.

I agree - the cost differential is minimal compared to everything else. The cost of the doors/windows might be an extra $20 a piece to go to a 2 x 6 rough in. Since labor will be the same - going 2x6 will likely add about 0.5% to the total the cost of the house (figuring $1000 on a $200,000 house). Unless you are running really tight on the budget - this is probably not enough to worry about (it is also something that can't redone later). To me - the main advantages of 2x6 are

1. quieter and sturdier walls (go 16" OC)
2. more space to stuff plumbing, electrical boxes and etc. with sufficient insulation between them and the outside world (BTW - unless sealed tight - electrical boxes and recessed lights can be significantly worse offenders than the windows)
3. Better efficiency due to more wall insulation. Although all bets are off if you use the spray-in foam vice fiber glass - I suspect that if you can afford the spray-in foam (very expensive) - that the extra grand or so for 2x6 construction is not an issue.

Anyways - my two cents.

Joe

 

[gotcha]

Please let me clarify this for our state. It is for exterior walls and only on new construction such as additions and new home build. It does not mean if you are working with an existing 2X4 wall that it needs to be changed. That is not included in the 2X6 ruling. Just mainly NEW BUILD.
The Gotcha Man

 

[AlanB]

I was just wondering, and thinking about the "regional" difference, and I was guessing you were further north. I do not think I have seen a house built with 2 X 6 studs unless it was real tall, and even then I am not sure. (I have always been in the south though)

I guess to the OP, I would just say to make sure you check out what is available where YOU are at. (and I think it is close too me) I do not think I will find a door or window at my local Lowes set up for a 2 X 6 wall.

I am sure I could get them in, and some of the upscale building suppliers may have some limited stock, but just doubtfull I could walk in and grab one. May be an issue for you, or may be totally irrelevant.

As someone above said, it is something you kind of got to do from the start though, kind of hard to retrofit that change.

Good luck on your decision, at some point though, it is one of those decisions that really has no right or wrong, just kind of a left or right, and then that is the road you head down.

 

[VA_Joe]

I agree - rarely will you ever see windows and doors built for 2 x 6 "off the rack" at Lowes or HD. However - very few people building new will buy their windows this way due to limitations in style and sizes. Usually a special order is needed (and if you are special ordering - going 2 x 6 is as simple as checking a box).

Joe

 

[NewToy]

I built with 2x4 walls and added an inch of ridgid foam insulation all around. The house is dead quiet inside. I ended up with an R-21 or so wall insulation. We blew in Nu-Wool insulation in the walls then put the foam over the OSB then the siding. I used OI sound abatement insulation on all interior walls and it made for a very quiet house. This is the first house I ever had that has all the interior walls sound proofed and it's really worth the extra money.

John