Wood Houses-2×4 versus 2×6 Walls

Pros and Cons of 2by4 versus 2by6 Walls

Homes that were built with wood and timber are common in the U.S. As the years went by, the cost for constructing wood houses has seen a rise in cost that somehow change the attitude of people who are building new homes. Due to the rising cost of raw materials, structural engineers designed optional preferences to build homes using wood to lower cost. The main reduction however is seen on the use of stick built frames.

A stick built house is a home that is built in wood frames. Modern structural engineering has revolutionized the use of different sized lumber as components. These sized lumbers however could differ on the distance between studs or beams of wood that form the framework of the structure. This means, using thicker wood material will allow a further distance in between studs. Typically, these are placed 16 inches apart, but occasionally, they are placed 24 inches apart.

Standard wood sized studs come in 2 by 4 and 2 by 6 inches. In building projects such as homes, small commercial or multi-purpose buildings, outbuildings, garages and other small structural features, the use of the 2 by 4 stud to frame the wall is common. But occasionally, there are cases when a 2 by 6 inch sized lumber may be advisable for the frames.

Comparing the Cost of Materials

Naturally, by requiring more timber would entail additional cost. It would be about 20 percent more material that will be required for a 2 by 6 wall as compared with a 2 by 4 wall. Though the studs can be placed farther in distance apart, still a significant number of the studs maybe required to maintain strength and stability.

The actual cost of the materials will actually depend on your local lumber prices. But the labor costs for construction will remain similar for walls of either material.

The Insulation for both materials

Using the 6 inch thick stud can create a thicker wall cavity that can actually allow the placement of more insulation material in the walls. To have more insulation material in your walls can basically increase the overall cooling and heating economy of the home. If calculated properly, one can measure savings in the heating and cooling costs in extreme climates. The savings perhaps can justify the increased cost of materials for a 2 by 6 stud wall given a payback period and the downsizing of the heating and cooling system. However, some homeowners maintain the same insulation materials used in a 2 by 4 wall cavity.

Strength and Stability

It is basic to understand that the heavier and thicker frame components can result in the increase of strength of the wall. While construction standards recommend that 2 by 4 stud walls should not be taller than 14 feet in height, the 2 by 6 wall stud can be built 22 feet high.

Comparably, thicker walls better accommodate holes for wires or plumbing installations. This is like drilling a 1 inch hole through a 2 by 4 stud. The 1 inch hole will remove 25 percent of the material on the 2 by 4 stud. On the other hand, the 1 inch hole will only remove 18 percent of the material in a 2 by 6 stud. It still leaves strength on the stud wall.

The Windows, Doors, and Usable Floor Space

Prebuilt doors, windows have frames built and works commonly for the 2 by 4 stud wall. In using the 2 by 6 stud wall, the builder needs to specify windows and doors that fits and works with the thicker walls. Without this, he can also build his own windows and doors.

In both case, the process of accommodating doors and windows to 2 by 6 wall stud adds to the cost of the project.

For space conscious users, thicker walls in wood houses reduce the usable space within the room by 2 inches on each wall.