in an effort to save lumber and insulate better,i want to stack frame 24″ o.c.
if i am building a 2×6 14′ balloon frame with a let in ledger for the second floor joists,will this be enough or is 16″o.c. required?
also will 2x12x14 floor joists with a 14′ span using 2×6 t&g floor hold up 24″o.c.? no plywood subfloor, just metal “t” bracing and the 2×6 t&g.
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Replies
I guess I'd fall back on the standard answer--ask your building inspector. It seems good to me, but I'm not a BI or an engineer. I've heard of 2x6 studs in platform framed all the time and it seems like your balloon frame with the 2x6 t&g floor would sure stiffen the structure. With everything stacked, loads should be transfered well to the foundation. See what others here say as soon as they wake up!
Stone
Perhaps this link will give you the tools to answer your question.
http://www.awc.org/calculators/span/calc/timbercalcstyle.asp?
Rich
thanks for that!
A few years back 2x6x24 framing was quite in vogue, being seen as permitting better insulation than 16 OC. Don't hear about it as much anymore, but at least it's not an outright dumb idea.
We do 24-centers for 2x6 wallframes, 24 for roof rafters or trusses, and 24 for floors with 2x6 t&g decking.
No issues at all.
Our ground snow load is 90 psf, and our winter design temperature for heating systems is -35 F.
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"A stripe is just as real as a goddamn flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Gene do you have any issues with exterior plywood staying flat?
This seems to be the issue around here.
No issues with flat on exterior.
But let me qualify. Virtually all exterior sheathing is 7/16" OSB, from the starter homes to the multimillion dollar monsters. Furthermore, the preponderance of exterior siding finishes are rustic, with either half-log, roughsawn waney edge heavy claps, rough stucco, fieldstone veneer, or stained cedar shingling being used.
None of those siding finishes telegraph wall waviness very well.
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"A stripe is just as real as a goddamn flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
5/8 rock inside?
Nope. Half inch rock.
Let's face it. A badly framed wall can result in waves, whether your spacing for members is at 12, 16, or 24 inches.
We follow best practice for aligning members per crowns, toss aside anything bad, plane/shim/chop, etc., as required to get things right inside, and all that.
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"A stripe is just as real as a goddamn flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Let the BO help you, if he will. BTW ... you will likely have to block at the floor level (fire code), so that will give you a nailer to stiffen your sheathing. The blocking may be required structurally as well. I'm thinking the balloon floor is less stiff than the platform ... not the floor ... the ext walls/whole structure ... but is better in terms of e.g. uplift forces ... hence why you often have to strap platform construction at the intersection of floors/walls.
Pay attention to the t brace requirements. I've worked on a lot of houses that were sheathed in foam and relied on the metal tbraces. Those houses were very shaky. When I was on the roof sheathing it, I could feel every step taken when someone was walking on the second floor deck!
I'm sure the drywall stiffened it up a bit.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
stonefarmer
I see you are fairly new here. If you want a good insulation package here are acouple threads that might interest you.
Ther is alot of reading, but also alot of good ideas.
Super Insulated House in Issue #194
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=102383.1
Mooney Wall
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=65624.1
Rich
yes i am new. also new to the "builder" title. i've been a carpenter for about 6 years but this is my first house at the helm. it also happenes to be my own house...so links like the ones you've provided are very helpful. and appreciated...thanks for you're time helping us novice builders
stone
This is a good site. Dumb questions are accepatable. Most get answered reasonably.
Sometimes people jump on you for being dumb. Ignore them.
Alot of very intelligent people and alot of experience here. Great place to tap into for answers.
if you type in a subject in search you will find alot of answers to your questions.
There is nothing new under the sun applies here. Most topics have been covered several times. But we don't mind talking about them again.
If you click on your name a dialog box will apppear. If you give us some basic information about yourself, geographical loacation, then it is helpful in answering questions. You can click on anyones name and read their profile.
If you subsribe to FHB you can buy access to the whole website with all the old articles archived for about $20.
Stonefarmer, reminds me of working on my Dad's farm in the 60's in NW IA. Rocks from your fist to a basketball popped up everyyear and one of our jobs was to follow the tractor and pickup rocks every spring.
Rich