Which is the better option in framing a house? 16" on center studs, or 24" on center studs?

Question

I am having a house built by a general contractor, and he seems to think that 24" on center is the better way to go because he says "they can pack the wall with more insulation". I have been doing some research and it seem the more structurally sound thing to do would be to have 16" on center studs. What are the benefits of having 24" center studs?

Answer 1

If you are using 2x6 studs (as opposed to the regular 2x4's), and it meets the local building code, it would be OK to go with the 24" centers because the 2x6's are stronger. It will cost you less money for lumber as well. With 2x4's, only 16" spacing is acceptable.

Answer 2

Your both wrong here and, if this is his idea, you'd better look for someone else or your going to be sorry in the end, if you get that far. Once the building inspector See's this, he'll make you tear it down and start over, at which time your "contractor" will disappear.

It's a universal question as to the size and spacing of the studs and he's going off on a tangent that's making me think he "thinks he a contractor" but, from what school?

He may have half your house built and the inspector comes around and finds the studs at 24 inches instead of 16 inches he'll "Red Tag" the job until it's corrected.
That means you'll have to tear everything out and start over.

My brother and I took over a house in Vegas that was like this, they tried getting by the inspector, when the job was red tagged and the contractor "bugged" out, we took over and made the corrections and, it cost the owner a bundle, while he was tring to save many to get by. A 160 K house coast his 360K

Answer 3

i would keep him as a stud if you think he has the body to be a stud most studs are built big and have the good looks to match. if he has good manners now then yes if i was you i would have him trained do some shows and start breeding him to good mares when he is older. id say have the trainers advise some studs just honestly need to be gelded i know a very famous QH roping judge and he breaks horses to rope in my area and he has just about all studs at his facility's but he has told me several times that some times he will get a horse that is so unruly, obnoxious, and just hard to train that he tells the owner to have him gelded or he will not continue training him. because a good stud can make an even better gelding. usually they mellow out A lot. so i would wait till he is about 3 if he is a good stud and starts riding good then i would keep him as a stud at least until he is older. and don't listed to people saying you can only ride in certain situations. i have rode Paul's stud horse tigger on trail rides all the time and just about every horse there is a mare. its usually the unruly dumb mares that act a fool not the stud because he has been taught manners. if a stud has been taught to be a gentle man than he will be.

Answer 4

Less wood materials to cut, drill for wires and piping.
Pack with more insulation is hooey. Insulation sags moreso on a 24 wall than on a 16 wall.
More structurally sound with 16's.
More load bearing capacity. Stands up better in winds.
Cheaper and faster to put up with 24"s as the walls are lighter so they can be built on the floor and hoisted up. Less likely with a 16.
But with a 16 , later on, when you need to hang a mirror or large picture and you need to hit a stud, there is one there.

Answer 5

In size of 2x4 and 2x6 standard distance is 16" OC
Now if you using 4x4 stud then you can go by 24" OC

Answer 6

The law is 16!

Answer 7

Have him show you the code book....

Talk to your architect; he should have determined that in the approved plans.