Wall height with 2x6 questions

[dlc]

I'm starting the garage soon and have a few questions. The garage is going to be 24x32. The walls will be 12' 2x6 on top of 8" block two high. The rafters are "room in attic" storage with the bottom and top pieces made from 2x10s. The rafters are pretty heavy which has me questioning the height/strength of the walls. The walls as I mentioned are made from 2x6s 12' high on 16" center. Will the walls be sufficient to support the weight of the rafters? There will be osb on the inside and outside of the walls. Should I double the 2x6s every so often to help strenghten them or am I just worrying too much?

 

[holdover]

pretty stout roof/ storage area. The 2 X 6 should be strong enough unless you are going to store tanks in the loft. If you wanted to strenghten the walls do the 2 X 6 12" OC

 

[ForceFed70]

No problem with 2x6 16" OC. If it can hold a 3 story house, it will hold your attic.

I'm in the process of framing my 32x40 garage and I'm also using attic trusses. I'm going 24" OC and I'm still not worried about it.

 

[tfi racing]

Believe or not,you could likely pass code with 2x4's,but who would want to?You will be fine with 2x6's but with them being over 10' long you will be required to put in horizontal blocking,at least that's the case in these parts.

 

[slimpickins]

I'm no expert on this but here's my 2 cents for what I'd be looking at if I were in your shoes: I don't think you have a problem with the walls at all, assuming proper building techniques of course (double top plate, proper cross bracing for the bottom chords, and truss/rafters should be on top of the 2x6's as well.) The 2 x 10 bottom chord of the trusses sounds a bit small for a 24 ft. span. However, if the trusses are engineered, then you should go with the engineering specs for the load rating for the floor of the room in attic. Some of these room in attic plans are not designed as living space and there is a difference between live load and dead load (storage).

 

[Marty256]

2X6 12" OC center section 20' high open space manufactured center beam with 2X10 roof rafters.

 

[blkhonda1991]

No problem with 2x6 16" OC. If it can hold a 3 story house, it will hold your attic.

I'm in the process of framing my 32x40 garage and I'm also using attic trusses. I'm going 24" OC and I'm still not worried about it.

its a bit different using an 8' stud vs a 12' stud in terms of how much weight they will bear before failure, the 12' studs will definitely need lateral bracing so they dont snap like a toothpick

 

[tcianci]

you got no problems

 

[Justanoldguy]

Anything less than 16" is overkill and a waste of good money.

 

[twostory]

I have 12 ft 2x6 walls 16"oc, for the first story.

A full second story, then attic trusses on top of that.

You are well within spec. Do add blocking about half way up the wall (as TFI_Racing suggested)

 

[FJ 432]

You might want to consider 12" OC. I built 14' walls (almost the same with your block) and my engineer said you should be fine with 16" OC but it was the windy side of my house. I went with 12" OC. I believe mine was overkill and the price was a little higher. Thought about pre-laminate material and that was crazy money!

 

[nate379]

We get 70-80mph winds out here every winter and I have never see or heard of someone doing a 12" oc wall. Some places are built 24" oc still even.

 

[ForceFed70]

its a bit different using an 8' stud vs a 12' stud in terms of how much weight they will bear before failure, the 12' studs will definitely need lateral bracing so they dont snap like a toothpick

My garage will have 12' walls. You don't need bracing, the sheathing will do that for you.

Code in my area is 12' and under needs no bracing, over 12' and it must be engineered (engineer would call for bracing).

I'm sure that blocking is a good idea but it doesn't really add much strength so long as the sheating is properly fastened.

 

[Full Size 66]

I am building a 28x32 with 15'6" walls and all 2x6 framing. I was advised that 16 OC was more than enough for snow and wind load. My trusses are not for attic storage as it is a low pitch roof. Trusses however are designed and built with a planed load rating. These ratings are for your safety as much as the strength of the building. If you order trusses they will be happy to do the math for you and get whatever you want...