should i use 2x4 or 2x6 walls

arod26

im am using trusses to span 56 feet with a 4 1/2 pitch will a 2x4x8 wall with 1/2 in playwood be enough to hold the weight or should i use 2x6x8

tony.g

Considering the total dead- and live loads for that span,you would almost certainly need 2x6s

Hammer450R

Whatever the blue print calls for.

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GBrackins

I wouldn't use 2x4, but then with our energy code we usually frame all exterior walls with 2x6.

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Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

Joe Carola

2x4 walls are all you need. The size and weight of the trusses don't mean anything. You can build two and three stories with 2x4 walls.

Who's designing this and what is it for?

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ddawg16

A very important point.....

This is where it helps to know what part of the country your in.

Agree.....this of course assumes your doing 16" OC.

With that said....I did my garage with 2x6's on the lower floor...and part of my 2-story addition is 2x6. For the garage....it was 2x6 because the plans said so....for the house, one of the walls spans a good distance...9' high....and is part of the family room where we will do most of our tv watching...I wanted the extra insulation....partially for temp control and partially for noise control.

Side note...given the quality of 2x4's we are getting today....I'm finding that it's easier to build a straight wall with 2x6's.

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joecaption

Speck house, use 2 X 4's.
Going to live it it, use 2 X 6's
With 2 X 6's you can go with R19 instead of R13.
Just order windows and doors with wider jambs to save a whole lot of extra work.

woodworkbykirk

with 2x4 walls your not going to have the same insulation value in them.
but for actually framing with them have a engineer look over the plans for any possible issues that may need to be addressed such as turning certain walls into shear walls .. (1/2" plywood on both the outside and inside)

Gary in WA

I agree with post #3. The total load may be handled by 2x4's, depends on the on-center spacing and height of the studs. Energy code accepts 2x4 as is 2x6- from Zone 1 through Zone 6: http://publicecodes.citation.com/ico..._11_sec002.htm

2x4 at two and 3 story have restrictions; http://publicecodes.citation.com/ico...002_par006.htm

2x4 are more efficient from an energy standpoint, compressing R-19 (low density) gives R-18, complete with inherent convective loops the R-13 (medium density) doesn't have, so you lose twice with 2x6; http://numsum.com/spreadsheet/show/21111

R-13 for 2x4 walls is just R-19 (2x6) compressed. You could use a medium or high density (2x6) batt for no convective loops, or just use cellulose or another better one than fiberglass.

Gary

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