Benefits of 2×4 or 2×6 House Framing

Structural Stability Discussed

There are some home builders who claim that the use of 2 by 6 lumber stud house framing can create a more structurally sound and durable edifice. Instinctively, this seems to be true, given the fact that the 2 by 6 studs are larger in size and stronger in built. However, there are also builders who believe that there is no significant advantage found in using a 2 by 6 stud over a 2 by 4 stud wall.

It is now fundamental that houses built in a 2 by 4 stud are sufficiently strong and solid home structures. Basing on this fact, the added strength of a 2 by 6 is not significant when it comes to strength and stability. The stability will actually depend on the configuration of the wood and the fastening materials used like nails and screws. It is now an acceptable standard to use 2 x 4 studs in building wood houses in the U.S.

The Insulation for Heating and Cooling Purposes

There are construction engineers who prefer to use the 2 by 6 stud walls. One of the primary reason in using the 2 by 6 studs wall is to increase the wall thickness and cavity to allow the installation of the 5 ½ inch batts of insulation or the 5 ½ inch sheets of matted synthetic fiber for insulation. The 2 by 4 stud wall can only accommodate the 3 ½ inch matted synthetic fiber for insulation. This adds the 2 inches thick of insulation to the wall. In doing this, there is an increase in the insulation value of the wall.

However, another construction method that some engineers claim to be superior is to build a 2 by 4 stud wall and install 3 ½ inch insulation batts. Sheathing the exterior of the wall after with the 1 inch or a two inch rigid foam insulation can give the house a comparable R-value in insulation. This will also cut down on drafts and condensation as the rigid foam sheets will bridge the joint between studs and insulation batts in the wall. These joints however, are sites of a lot of moisture leakage and heat loss in walls without the exterior insulation, either built of 2 by 6 or 2 by 4 stud walls.

The Concept of Efficiency in General

In building a house, it is not always the intention of a builder to use as much material more than what is required. To be efficient, only necessary materials are used to make a solid and durable structure. The 2 by 6 stub wall are obviously using more wood than the 2 by 4 stud wall and more materials will follow.

The use of wood in construction today is practically discouraged. This means, the more wood you use, the more contribution you give to environmental problems. The green concept has changed every concept of using our natural resources. We decide to consider and protect them.

Another element is on the types of insulation. Let us consider the concept of embodied energy in figuring out the practicality of insulation to be used. The amount of energy used in the production of the insulation material is known as embodied energy. A piece of insulation that saves X amount of energy over its lifetime but required 2 X the amount of energy to produce the material is actually causing a net loss.

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