24 X 40, 2x4 or 2x6?

[aalleexx]

Looking at building a 24 x 40 stick built in our back yard. Wife has given okay as long as I leave her Crepe Myrtle tree alone Talked to the city and they say any size that fits within the setbacks is good to go. I have seen other threads where people used attic trusses and have a spare space above because of it. Is there a lot of difference in the way it is built using attic trusses vs. conventional trusses? Like, does it need to be 2x6 vs. 2x4 framing? Plan on doing it myself(hiring out help as needed) except for the slab. Will do it a little at a time as monies allow. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[Ijhursh]

so for me whether u use 2x4 or 2x6 depends on wall height. since my outside walls are 10' I was required by code to use 2x6. My trusses were done by a local truss company. good luck with yours! Mine is 32x33, check it out below.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349890

Jim

 

[ddawg16]

How tall? If over 8' wall,s then, yes on the 2x6. If standard 8' high walls....then 2x4 is fine.

However, cost difference is minimal.

2x4's will support plenty of weight.

The advantage of 2x6....walls tend to stay straighter....if you insulate, you can get more insulation in the walls.

What ever you do....make sure the slab is well above grade...better yet, put in a stem wall. If you use an 8" stem wall....with 8' studs....that will give you an 8' 8" ceiling height. And you can wash down the inside....and don't have to worry about the outside water getting in through the bottom plate.

Click on the link in my signature for pics of how I did my foundation.

 

[aalleexx]

Thanks for the replies,
I was thinking about 10' walls, but I like the idea of the stem wall. I'm getting ready for the shock of what the concrete work will cost.

 

[Ray-CA]

We have a 28x30 with both scissor trusses and attic trusses. The attic trusses cover 8-ft of the space.

Ray

 

[aalleexx]

That looks good Ray. I checked out the links in the posts above, nice.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My garage is 24 x 40, with attic trusses and a 10/12 slope roof. The wall studs are 8 foot 2x4s, sitting on one row of concrete blocks.

2x6 would be better if you plan on insulating.

 

[aalleexx]

Looks good, Stuart in MN. Exactly what I'm after except with one overhead door where your window is in the front and a window on the other side. Do you have stairs inside or a drop down ladder?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Is there a lot of difference in the way it is built using attic trusses vs. conventional trusses? Like, does it need to be 2x6 vs. 2x4 framing?

Nope. 2x6 is not really that much more and gives you the opportunity for more insulation. Ceiling/roof insulation is much more important than wall insulation.

See what the city has to say about 9' or 10' wall. Big difference over an 8' wall !

 

[dmcintosh]

When my brother built his garage he put down a couple courses of block at the base of the walls and Framed on top of that. Ended up with a 10' stud wall on top of about 24" of block so he has tons of head room. In his case, he actually built an 'upstairs' as well in case he wanted to use the space for a wood shop. To do so he used traditional floor joists and rafters instead of trussses.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Looks good, Stuart in MN. Exactly what I'm after except with one overhead door where your window is in the front and a window on the other side. Do you have stairs inside or a drop down ladder?

I have one of those fold up attic ladders. I've never been really happy with it, they aren't very sturdy - if I were to do it over I'd build a permanent stair. I may still do that some day.

 

[ratdoggy]

If you are using block would it make sense to just go 2x6 walls? I'm thinking the wall would be flush with block inside and out and no "step" around the perimeter

 

[aalleexx]

Good point, ratdoggy.

 

[Ray-CA]

That looks good Ray. I checked out the links in the posts above, nice.

Here are the designs....

Ray

 

[skipnay]

2x6 for down stairs walls. 2' floor joist, 2x6 upstairs with 8' ceilings.... Our garage is 24x40. We have had 40-50 plus upstairs without any problems. I think the joist are rated to 14psi. (that might be wrong, sounds light)

 

[gasserdan]

I used 2x6 and really glad I did. The 2x6s I purchased seemed to be a better quality than the 2x4s . I also liked the fact that when I was helping put up the attic trusses I had 5 1/2" to stand on instead of 3 1/2''. It felt a little safer.

 

[ford fanatic]

I just did a 30X40 with 12' ceilings, went with 2X6 simply to get more insulation.

 

[happy2rv]

Is there a lot of difference in the way it is built using attic trusses vs. conventional trusses?

No difference in building the walls below the trusses and definitely the cheapest space you will ever "build" I think the price difference between common trusses and attic trusses on my 26'x32' was around $300 total when I built it in 2012. I got 32' x about 11' with around 5'5" of headroom in the center on 8/12 pitch. I didn't do any modified trusses to allow for a staircase though and later wished that I had.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 for all the great GJ advice for 2x6 tall walls and stem wall.

I'd also recommend you PLAN for Lift . . . . so that you make slab thicker at those locations. Nice size shop like that just Needs a Lift !!

While you are at it . . . 24' is too narrow. Much better utilization if 30' x 40' . .
. . . . . you know . . . the "GJ way" . . . . bigger is better !!

 

[aalleexx]

Would love 30 x 40, but I'm already encroaching on the Boss's Crape Myrtle tree at 24'.

 

[ard]

Crape Myrtles have a way of just dying over the winter.

Just saying.....

 

[Falcon67]

With 2x6, your interior dimension will be 23' or less, make sure that's acceptable.

 

[aalleexx]

Good point Falcon. I might get to squeeze another foot or two, possibly to 26.

 

[aalleexx]

I've been looking at threads with homemade wall jacks, looks promising. My wife can work circles around a lot of men. Might get to save calling in favors till I figure out how to get attic trusses on top.

 

[38Chevy454]

Completely agree with 2x6 for more insulation and also for height above 8 ft. Unless you have some serious roof pitch, on a 24 ft truss your attic storage area will be pretty short. For example, say you have 4/12 pitch - that is only potential for 4 ft of height at center. Just use regular trusses and finish the ceiling. Then put a lot of insulation up there.

 

[jives]

2x6 walls, minimum 10' wall ht; preferably a minimum of 12'. Marginally more cost. Use attic trusses or scissor, again, marginally more cost for much more benefit. Unless you really need more interior height (e.g., lift), get the added storage with attic trusses. On you size plan you will need to go at least a 9/12 pitch to get sufficiently usable space.

 

[aalleexx]

Yeah, I was thinking 9 or 10' walls. No need for a lift, want the extra space above. Thinking 10/12 pitch like Stuart in MN. Really like the looks of his build.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Here's a picture of my attic during construction - I didn't have the floor down yet, but you can get an idea of the available space up there with a 10.12 pitch. The floor is 12 feet wide.

 

[TractorJeff]

Stuart in MN, how tall is your garage to the outside peak?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Not sure exactly (I probably knew it at one time, but the garage is over 20 years old now and my memory is not what it used to be. ) I believe it's about 19 feet overall from grade to the very top - the slab is a few inches above grade, then one row of block at the base, 8 foot studs plus the base and top plates, 24 foot 10/12 trusses so they're about 10 feet tall at the peak, plus the thickness of the sheathing and shingles.

 

[rburke65]

I did 2x6 studs...not much diff. from a 2x4. I love my attic trusses and a full size stairway. Good luck.

 

[uscarry45]

I would definitely do 2x6 construction for a vareity of reasons

-better insulation capacity (this is good for heating and cooling)

-easier to route electrical / plumbing etc

as for conventional vs attic trusses -- consult your building code -- consider if you will be crawling around in the attic at all

 

[GarageGuy89]

As others said. If I did mine again it would have been 2x6's.

Easier to run electrical and plumbing, and the insulation factor is a huge plus.

I did do a 12" stem wall throughout and can say that it is VERY NICE. Everything stays dry and cleaning is a breeze.

I also have a steep pitch with attic space, actually its two apartments on top. If I did again I would have put a flatter roof on. I have to pay someone to come clean the roof every year because it's so steep. Tried climbing up one year and slide right off. Not fun.

 

[kbs2244]

If the tree is that important remember that the slab work will affect the roots.
You might want to get a tree guy on the Q T to check out what you plan.
He can give you advice for the concrete guy to follow.

 

[padroo]

One thing I have observed, most people build for where they are in their lives at the moment. Try to look into what you want to do in your garage in the future. I made that mistake.