24″ OC Stud spacing for exterior walls
ashterisk
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I am in WA state and looking to start a new build (my first). Its a standard 2 storied home around 50’x36′ foot print.
I am going with 16″ OC floor joist for ground floor and 18″ floor trusses for 1st floor (for HVAC ducts in conditioned space). I am also considering if I should go with 2×6 @24″ OC for exterior walls for my wall framing. That would help with better insulation as well as spacing the studs over joists.
Wanted to see if anyone see any disadvantage with this? Also, from structural perspective, anything that I should be aware or require from structural plan (being drawn by engineer)?
Replies
Your engineer should be the primary source of information for the structural capabilities of your framing.
(including the load transfer from your floor trusses to the wall studs, including alternate trusses at 12 inch spacing over 24 inch center wall studs)
In general, a double top plate will carry the load from floor joists or trusses to the wall studs.
The design, specification, and selection of air sealing and insulation can interact with framing specification.
increasing wall depth and stud spacing provides more options for this.
analysis of the structural thermal properties is a good thing to include as you get ready to build. This also can extend to the details of your HVAC system.