Does my House have 2 x 6 framing?

How do I know if my House has 2 by 6 framing?

Although it is more expensive than the 2 by 4 framing, the 2 x 6 framing is used for a number of beneficial reasons. As we have discussed in some of the articles in this site, the 2 by 6 framings can produce a structurally sound framing and thus a stronger home structure as compared to the 2 by 4 framing. It provides extra room in the wall cavity for insulation, electrical wiring and plumbing pipes. The larger wall cavities can also accommodate more heating insulation and soundproofing if needed, such as in locations near highways and railways. The 2 x 6 framings would need the special door jambs and window casings which can be fabricated by the contractor or sometimes ordered for special fabrication in a wood factory.

Most of us are not into the construction business. Whenever we have the chance to own a home, we proceed to shop around old houses, renovated homes, and even newly constructed homes. Going through a long list of houses for sale in your location can be so tiresome, since there are really several houses for sale in almost every corner in your city or county. When you finally trim your choices down to three or two perhaps, comes the time to compare the benefits you would like to get out from the best of the best. Choosing the perfect home for you would be your utmost concern.

Basing on the advantages written above, the 2 by 6 framing has several benefits as compared to the 2 by 4 framing. You can however tell the difference by following these simple steps and find out what the house framing is really made of. The benefits of having a 2 by 6 framing can be useful for locations near highways and railways, take them into consideration. Use your knowledge to make your decisions wisely.

Easy tips on how to find out about your wall framing

1. Start from the door. Open the door and measure the width of the door jamb, that is the distance from the outside edge of the trim to the inside edge of the trim of the door jamb. By standard, this distance will be a little more than 8 inches if you have a 2 by 6 inch stud wall framing. The 2 by 4 inch stud wall framing can only accommodate a little more than 6 inches of door jamb.

2. Remove or pry off a piece of interior trim just around the door jamb or a window casing. Once the framing is visible, you can measure and identify its make.
3. In the gap, insert a straight edge as far as it can go and note the measurement you get. The door jamb or window casings will have 5 ½ inches in measurement if you have 2 by 6 inch studs. If you get a 3 ½ inch result, then you only have the 2 by 4 inches stud framing in the house.

4. You can also examine any unfinished exterior wall somewhere in the basement or garage, or inside a built-in closet. Measure the width of the studs on the exposed framing.

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