I’ve done some research and looked at past discussions, but still I’m confused.
I’m planning an addition to my home in eastern WV, a little south of the 39th parallel. I plan to have 2×6 wall studs, 24″ OC. I will be incorporating both passive solar and active solar systems (solar heated radiant floors and DHW.
Do I attach OSB directly to the studs and then one inch of rigid insulation followed by the cedar siding, or first put up rigid insulation and then the OSB? I’ve seen discussion of both ways.
If I put up the rigid insulation first, what does that do to the strutural (you know, the house flopping over on its side) integrity? Would cross bracing be required?
Even with the rigid insulation do I need house wrap?
-Another Bob the Builder
Replies
The sheathing always goes on the studs. Prop[erly nailed off, this is what gives the wall shear strength.
I would design to have the faom panels on the inside of the wall, which is better in a heating climate such as yours.. In cooling climate such as the Caroolinas dopwn into the Gilf states, the foam should be on the outside.
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curvedroof,
why build with studs? (2x6's)
why not try building with SIP's .(structural insulated panels)..
those are the ones that use foam between two sheets of OSB. they are very strong very fast and easy to build with, and wonderfully efficent..
I haven't checked currant prices but when I built with mine it was much cheaper than building with studs and insulating them.. a little over 3 dollars per sq foot..
The really great part apart from low utility bills is that the walls go up so fast!
The trouble with stick building is it's slow, expensive, and much much weaker than building with SIP's
There are other advantages as well. when you sheetrock you always hit a "stud" no matter where you put the sheetrock screw.. inside walls are still built with studs (unless you want a really quiet room).. (Sip's make the house really quiet, even in a high wind when stick built houses are creaking and moaning SIP's built houses are really quiet)...
They are safer in a fire as well. The heat from one side of a wall doesn't transfer to the other side of the wall. I watched one video where they built a bonfire in a room built with SIP's and the temp on the wall nearest the fire was 1500 degrees and the outside of that same wall was only 50 degrees warmer than ambiant! The sheetrock acted as a fire barrier and the foam prevented transfer of heat to a stud or something combustable..
You can figure that a SIP built house will save you over 1/2 of your energy bill. (and energy isn't getting cheaper!
They are simple to build with..
I ordered standard panel sizes (they come as large as 8x24) and no wire chases..
Where ever I wanted wires I used a simple drill with a spade bit and a lot of extensions and it was like drilling thru butter..
I put mine up and then cut out for windows.. some places put the windows in the panels for you but I liked the ease of my way.
I was able to chage my mind right up[ to the point where I made the cut for the windows..
Thus if the wrong size had been ordered or delivered it wouldn't have bothered me at all.
I watched on house built with SIP's be put up by a crew of 3 in just one day.. but typically it takes less than 1/2 of the regular time..