Maximum Height for Stick Built Shop/Garage

[TTMotorsports]

OK so I am wanting to build a small house with a large garage aka shop attached. For the cost of finishing the house it will be stick built. Now what is the Maximum height I can build the walls with say a 2x4 construction or what lumber would be needed to go to say a 16ft tall wall? I would go with steel building BUT having to build a house and attach it to it and make it look good wouldn't be easy unless I wanted to do steel siding like the shop for the house OR do with stucco siding on the shop.

 

[matt_i]

I think you are there with 16' walls, but in today's "timber economy" its going to be a costly exercise acquiring an already-rare size.

Definitely good to pay extra attention to strength within the building structure, that's a lot of "side area" that's going to be exposed to the wind and the roof edges are also going to be considerably higher in the windstream so I would also detail out uplift connection all the way from slab to truss.

I don't know the overall size planned but I'm guessing a large one. If you are attempting to house a large coach or Semi truck can you build a central-hall to support that and then lean-tos for the work areas to the sides? Thinking of classic "clerestory" design. Another possibility would be to integrate moment-bearing columns into the centerline. We all like clear span but if you are heating or more likely cooling it, the ability to partition inside might be a good one and you could merge that with some additional structure.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't go over 10' with 2x4 walls. Honestly, I wouldn't even consider using 2x4 for a new build or addition being used as work space.

In the long run, you will be money ahead to use 2x6 studs. They will be stronger and allow the use of R19 rather than R11/13 insulation.

 

[Crawlin]

People still build with 2x4s? Theres no way your county would let you build a 16' wall with a 2x4. I would use engineered studs for the length available and they are straight. Cost more but probably not much more than spf lumber.

 

[PoorUB]

I wouldn't build a 16 foot wall with 2x4 studs, No way! 2x6 minimally, and possibly 2x8, or like the other post, engineered studs.
Finding a quantity of straight 16 foot long 2x6 is going to be difficult! I doubt you can get them at one of the chain home centers, perhaps a real lumber yard may have good quality 2x6x16 footers.

 

[Nowater]

Building height here is set by zoning. Max height with 2 by 4s is 14 feet of a solid board, not 8 ' joined to 6 ' because of the high winds.
Multistory is different. I think you need more input than just what people here say.

 

[mcbane]

Maximum laterally unbraced height of a 2X4 supporting wall is 10 ft. You can go to 14 ft for a wall that carries no vertical loads.

 

[kbs2244]

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[David Beyer]

We just completed a new house and Shop build. Due to HOA constrains the outbuilding (shop) had to be less than 1300 square feet. Because of this I went as high as I could go, keep in mind this is a pole building that is sided and roofed to match the house. Local code set the roof peak at 25 feet so the side walls are 18 feet, this allows a future Man cave loft and storage areas.

 

[vtjon]

I am nearing completion of building my stick-built shop with 12' walls and used 2x4s. This passed inspection and code (2017 codebook I think). Over 10', you have to add blocking every 8' (I think) but I added it every 4 feet. This is part of the "prescriptive" design in the code. I don't have any unique circumstances here as far as unusual wind load, earthquake, etc. I don't think you can go much over 12' and I likely wouldn't want to build higher than 12' with 2x4s.

From a zoning perspective, my detached building couldn't be higher than my house which wasn't a concern.

 

[gfd_703]

Just to show how we get lucky sometimes. I finished my stick built shop one year ago and it was contracted in March of 2020. I used 16 ft 2x6s and they were $7.00 each. As straight as any lumber I had seen except for the 24 ft 2x12s the same contractor used on an earlier lean to project for me. Don't judge lumber quality or price by what the box stores sell.

 

[TTMotorsports]

I would not buy or build in an HOA. I've contacted some contractors who said they can design and engineer a building we will see.