In New Hampshire and Massachusetts, most concrete foundation walls are about 8″ or 10″ thick and mudsill used on the wall is usually in 2×6 size. The weight load on the wall is then only on 1/2 to 2/3 side the wall. Why don’t we use 2×8 or 2×10 to evenly distribute the weight on total top surface of the wall?
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Why should you? Concrete distributes weight far better than wood.
4-5" of bearing is plenty for any floor joist. Joist hangers only have 1-1/2-2".
Matt
Why don't we use 2x4 and save a few bucks on lumber?
Trying to get foundation subs to hit a 2x4 right on here is a small miracle.
That would also put the J-bolts really close to the edge of the poured wall. Possible cracking in the future.
Matt
Good explanation why we want to use 2x6 instead of 2x4, thank you. But I still feel that a house sits on the foundation walls only partially through 2x6 mudsill. It's like I sit on a chair but only sit on part of the chair.
Think of it this way: It would make more sense to use a concrete piece to bear the weight -- it's a lot stiffer than wood and will spread the weight out over a wider area. Then consider that the top few inches of the foundation are indeed that concrete piece -- the mudsill just provides a convenient way to attach the framing.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I agree, if a concrete block is 7 1/2" wide, why wouldn't you use a 2x8 that fits perfect over the block? Looks better too over a 2x6 . Use the 2x8,no inspector in their right mind would fail the work.
7.5 concrete blocks?
Uhhh, yeah.
Don't know about CA, but in DE if I ask at the yard for 8" block it will actually measure 7-1/2" to 7-5/8" depending on which manufacturer.
Mortar joint takes it to 8" gain in hieght. Nobody sweats the width so 7-1/2" or so with no parging added.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
No need to reinvent the wheel brother. If all these 10" pours with 2x6 sills start crumbling then we'll revisit it at that time. But I ain't holding my breath.
You have a nice philosophy there :-)
Hey Joe,
Heard you were dealing with R yesterday...can you post something to me so we can doublecheck that everything is in order now? Thanks, sorry for the trouble.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
Can you read this?Joe Carola
Yup, everything is back to normal. Thanks for your patience while I was out of the office.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
Thank You, Justin.Joe Carola
Is this the thread you emailed about? Alot of replies/posts got deleted. I didn't get anything on my end. Sorry for getting to this so late.
Matt