Building Your House: The 2×4 vs. 2×6 Framing Debate
When I started building houses, I didn’t realize there was a difference in the construction of the house frame. I always assumed they used 2×4 lumber to frame a house. I was wrong and found that there really is a difference in framing with 2×6 studs. What is a 2×6 building? It is the 2×6 stud, usually 8 feet long, used to frame the exterior walls around the entire house. 2×4 studs are used for interior walls. It is something you should think about and decide when deciding to build.
When building your dream home, there are various opinions on 2×6 construction. You can ask the contractor if someone else is building your house, or if you’re building it yourself, investigate on your own. Some would say that it is cheaper to build with two by fours, because it is cheaper and requires less insulation. One builder I heard about said, “Two-by-six construction can add an increase in ‘thicker’ insulation, but this insulation alone will not insulate a house ‘better’ than a properly treated 2×4.” .”
I wouldn’t agree. When building your dream home, the benefit of more insulation is long-term. It increases energy efficiency, and when paired with a two-by-six with a 24-inch center instead of a 16-inch center, it can reduce labor costs, allow more room for insulation around pipes, wiring, and ductwork. , and also allow more room for R-19 or R-21 wall insulation. It is much more economical in homes that are in a colder winter environment, or homes where windows and doors occupy 10 percent or less of the total wall area.
There are some significant costs to building 2×6’s, window and door jambs need to be made wider, requiring the purchase of a door jamb extender which can increase the cost by $12-$15 per opening. The cost of 2x4x8′ studs is 40% less than two foot, four foot, eight foot studs. In addition to that, there are the bottom and the two top plates. Then there is the added cost of additional insulation, as well as deeper sills.
Some contractors will say that 2×4 construction is structurally as good as 2×6. They can easily support the structure and weight of the house. Most would agree, the main reason is insulation and energy benefits. I prefer 2×6, and most real estate agents and buyers ask about this, and prefer it too. Necessary? it’s debatable. All my houses I built were 2×6’s, and I think the costs were worth it.
