30x40x12 new build

[7DeltaLima]

Hello all,
I'm starting a 30x40x12' workshop / garage with an additional 10 foot overhang for porch / storage on each side. Concrete poured and waiting till it warms up a bit to start framing. This will be a DIY. I'll post pictures once we get going.

I plan to frame using 2x6 and building on a slab. I'm debating whether to cut the 2x6x12 back down to around 141" or just use them the full 12' 3/16 that it appears they come.

Couple of questions:
1). Even though the 2x6x12 isn't exactly 12', buying from the same place and most from the same bundle --- will they be square and all be the same length? If I don't cut back to stud length to line up with standard Sheathing material, it doesn't really matter if they are 12' or 12 1/4 or 12 3/16, etc. as long as they are all the exact same. I'll have to rip sheathing to fit regardless.

2) If I use full length 2x6x12, I'll have about 4 1/2 inches taller wall than standard sheathing will work out on.... i.e. 8' vertical and 4' horizontal sheathing. Does it matter where the 4 1/2 inch sheathing piece goes? Bottom, middle between 8' and 4' or just 4 1/2" at top? If it doesn't matter, I would put the piece on bottom and then I could sheath before raising the wall. (I can't sheath all the way down as I have Simpson concrete straps that will need to be wrapped around the pressure treated sill plate.). I've tried to find it in code but haven't yet.

May just end up cutting them all back but it's a PIA cutting them more than anything else.

Regards,
Doug

 

[matt_i]

Re #1 - I cut every timber on my saw. Some were OK = square and others not so much. But that's me being picky (machinist trying to rough frame)

#2 - I had a similar issue, somewhere around 6", I put it at the top so it would "hide" behind the sofft. But, I had anchor bolts and not the tie-straps. It seems natural that one would want to maximize the shear that a 4'x8' panel can support, so if you didn't nail off a full panel on the bottom, make sure to hit a full panel on the top (or as close to full as possible). IIrc the code addresses the type and spacing of nails (6" along edges and 12" across center with #10s) but not the placement of the panels.

 

[OneOfEm]

With the lumber I buy, a 2x6 is actually 1" longer than stated length. I've always assumed that was so that the ends could be trimmed square and still have 12'.

If you're building to code (i.e. it will be inspected), make sure that stud lengths longer than 8' won't add additional steps (fire blocking, etc.) in your jurisdiction.