home exterior .

The 2X4 Vs 2X6 Exterior Walls Strength New Ideas

Written by William Sep 02, 2023 · 3 min read
The 2X4 Vs 2X6 Exterior Walls Strength New Ideas
WHAT'S INCLUDED Architerra Homes
WHAT'S INCLUDED Architerra Homes

The 2X4 Vs 2X6 Exterior Walls Strength New Ideas, In general, 2 x 4 wall framing is structurally sufficient for many small garages and sheds. An added benefit of 2x6 construction is the ability to fit larger headers and beams for large openings and the ability to fit plumbing and electrical. In bending, however, such as from a wind load, a 2x6 wall is considerably stronger.

And 2×6’S Are Framed At 24” O.c., The Values Vary Much More Widely When.


In tall walls, where column buckling might be a factor, a 2x6 wall would be stronger if a structural sheathing was used. Once the walls are finished, the thickness jumps to 4.5 inches for a 2x4 wall and just under 6.5 inches for a 2x6 wall. You can hit the same r value of an exterior wall using 2x 4 construction with various other insulation products.

As I Was Researching This Project I Ran Across A Similar Study On A 2,350 Sq/Ft House With Similar Details And The Author Came Up With A Total Cost Increase Of $1,951.56 Or $.83 Per Sq/Ft Of Living.


So, let’s take a look at those numbers… In bending, however, such as from a wind load, a 2x6 wall is considerably stronger. Strength while dead load strength between the 2×4 and 2×6 framing is virtually the same when 2×4’s are framed at 16” o.c.

That Means 25% More Studs Than If You Used 2X4S (Plus The Additional Labor Cost Of Setting 25% More Studs!), So Much For Cost Savings!


Two exterior walls constructed with 2×6 and 2×4 respectively, without any added foam or other insulation around the outside, show that 2×6 is superior to 2×4 exterior walls. 2x4 vs 2x6 framing video. Not much of a difference.

But 2X6 Framing, Which Is A Little More Than 1.5 Times Wider, Is A Common Upgrade And Is Required By Some Local Building Codes.


Modern conventional home building normally makes use of 2x4 lumber (top line above, second from left) in constructing exterior walls. Its deeper section also will resist more wind load. In general, 2 x 4 wall framing is structurally sufficient for many small garages and sheds.

They're Harder To Lift And The Headers On Exterior Walls Require More Work.


Go to your local lumber yard and compare prices on 2x4 vs. In bending, however, such as from a wind load, a 2x6 wall is considerably stronger. An added benefit of 2x6 construction is the ability to fit larger headers and beams for large openings and the ability to fit plumbing and electrical.

Go to your local lumber yard and compare prices on 2x4 vs. When bearing wall heights do not exceed 10 ft. The total bearing area of three 2x4s is 15 3/4 square inches;

WHAT'S INCLUDED Architerra Homes.

Also, in baton rouge, you would be better off saving the money on the wall and spending it on a higher seer rating on your air conditioner. If your framing crew has to cut every stud to length, that will add to the building cost. 2x4 wall with spray foam is better than 2x6 wall with any other insulation material. Spacing, for small sheds and garages with a building widths less. They're harder to lift and the headers on exterior walls require more work. WHAT'S INCLUDED Architerra Homes