What is the rule of thumb in deciding whether to go with 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 framing?. Our home will be approximately 4000 sf with up to 23 foot open room spans. The walls will be 10 feet with coffered ceilings of 11 feet in the formal areas. Much of the back will be glass instead of traditional windows with casings.
What is a ballpark price difference between the two per square foot?
Also, what size of trusses would be recommended?
Replies
The trusses would have to be engineered. The spans, snow loads, and other particulars are given to a truss fabricator, who engineers the trusses to meet the specific requirements. This is normal, and included in the cost of the trusses. There are no rules of thumb.
As for 2 x 4 vs. 2 x 6, you have to go by the load carrying capacity. The architect or engineer would do the calculations during the design. You would not be able to build a 4000 square foot house without an architect's or engineer's stamp, and that's the type of thing you're paying them for.
As for the cost difference, you're talking only a dollar or two per stud.
You can get quite a bit more insulation in a 2 x 6 wall, typically 75% more R-value. I think anyone would be foolish to build a 2 x 4 wall and throw away money every month on HVAC costs.
There is no rule of thumb. Costs are similar and I can get more R-value wioth a 2x4 frame using a foam board or foam spray for insualtion.
but I think from what you describe, I would almost definitely use 2x6.
Reasons;
You have tall walls which need to fight wind loads.
You have a lot of glass on some walls and the adhjacent load transfers will be better handled on the larger studs.
It sounds lie you are DIYing it so a little overkill is a good thing.
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Thanks for the advice. We haven't decided whether it will be DIY or not, and we are still talking with a potential GC. I just want to have my facts straight and be able to talk knowledgeably either way.
I agree with the extra support for the glassed walls. Those sort of scare me.
Thanks again.