3 ms·

I live in a 100 year old wooden house. Its got some character due to modifications and its era (1920's). But its been well maintained and there is no apparent r

I live in a 100 year old wooden house. Its got some character due to modifications and its era (1920's). But its been well maintained and there is no apparent reason it wouldn't survive another 100 years.

waynesonfire 5y ago
same. and it was built so long ago that the 2x4s used in it's construction are actually 2"x4", and probably made from old growth.
- Scoundreller 5y ago
  A lot of codes are directly or indirectly moving to whatever size a 2x6 is because of increased insulation requirements. For exterior walls anyway.
  - bluGill 5y ago
    The codes are moving back to 2x4 walls. Since the 1970s 2x6 started becoming common, but that reversed when someone realized you can put 2 inches of foam outside the 2x4, have the same wall thickness (meaning common doors/windows fit), and there is no break in the wall insulation. The wood itself in a board is not great insulation, so the foam around the whole house even while it seems to offer the same r value offers more. (you can also get foam with r values much better than wood, I'm not aware of code requiring that, but some builders offer it as an upgrade). Note that this foam is foil faced meaning it insulates against radiation energy as well as conduction or convection.
    - rootusrootus 5y ago
      That must be regional. I live in the PNW, and it's pretty temperate here (the last few days notwithstanding...). House construction is still 100% 2x6 for exterior (and interior load-supporting) walls. Most houses are not being built with foam on the outside. I've heard of that happening where it's legitimately cold, though.
      - bluGill 5y ago
        I'm sure it is regional. Close climates need more insulation than warmer ones. I've seen variations of this in El Paso (only 1 in foam) for high end housing where the cooling advantages can be sold. I doubt interior load supporting walls are 2x6. Often there are internal 2x6 walls, but that is to allow extra space for plumbing - 2x4 is plenty strong enough for load bearing in most houses, but toilet drains/vents don't really fit.
        rootusrootus 5y ago
        > I doubt interior load supporting walls are 2x6 Could be another regional difference. Our code requires 2x6 minimum for load bearing walls.
    - CalRobert 5y ago
      This works for bigger studs too! The options presented for the house I'm building now are 70x200mm (about a 3"x8") stud with 200mm interior insulation and 100mm exterior. That's for a very well insulated wall, though.
      - bluGill 5y ago
        It doesn't, the 2x6 "fad" went on long enough that you can buy doors and windows sized to that standard. You can use any thickness of wall you want, but if it isn't same thickness as a 2x4 or 2x6 you will have to put forth extra effort to make your doors and windows fit. Use a standard dimension wall and you can buy those to fit. Not a big deal for a qualified carpenter, but enough extra labor that you will pay extra for it in addition to materials.
        CalRobert 5y ago
        Huh, for what it's worth I think 200mm is relatively common here. 200mm insulation batts are standard, if nothing else.
        bluGill 5y ago
        This is clearly regional. I'm in the US where we don't measure in MM. Different parts of the world will have different standard sizes. you might be able to import a US standard door if you wanted to use 88.9mm widths for some reason (there is more than enough tolerance to round that to 90mm), but it would be extra effort on your part. The hard part about importing it often codes are designed to limit this, so even if the US door is better it might not meet some standard that shouldn't even required. (this goes both ways, US standards often require things just to limit imports as well)
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  My last house was built in 1964 and the wood would be considered extravagant by today's standards. It was no fancy house, either, just a garden variety ranch. But it had decent (as I said, not fancy) oak hardwood throughout. Actual 2x4s that weigh 2x as much as fir studs today. Old-growth cedar siding. It was built in an era where it was no big deal to use good wood for everything.
chrisseaton 5y ago
> I live in a 100 year old wooden house I don’t understand if people posting this realise what a low bar this is? Brick and stone houses last a thousand years.

waynesonfire 5y ago

same. and it was built so long ago that the 2x4s used in it's construction are actually 2"x4", and probably made from old growth.

Scoundreller 5y ago
A lot of codes are directly or indirectly moving to whatever size a 2x6 is because of increased insulation requirements. For exterior walls anyway.
- bluGill 5y ago
  The codes are moving back to 2x4 walls. Since the 1970s 2x6 started becoming common, but that reversed when someone realized you can put 2 inches of foam outside the 2x4, have the same wall thickness (meaning common doors/windows fit), and there is no break in the wall insulation. The wood itself in a board is not great insulation, so the foam around the whole house even while it seems to offer the same r value offers more. (you can also get foam with r values much better than wood, I'm not aware of code requiring that, but some builders offer it as an upgrade). Note that this foam is foil faced meaning it insulates against radiation energy as well as conduction or convection.
  - rootusrootus 5y ago
    That must be regional. I live in the PNW, and it's pretty temperate here (the last few days notwithstanding...). House construction is still 100% 2x6 for exterior (and interior load-supporting) walls. Most houses are not being built with foam on the outside. I've heard of that happening where it's legitimately cold, though.
    - bluGill 5y ago
      I'm sure it is regional. Close climates need more insulation than warmer ones. I've seen variations of this in El Paso (only 1 in foam) for high end housing where the cooling advantages can be sold. I doubt interior load supporting walls are 2x6. Often there are internal 2x6 walls, but that is to allow extra space for plumbing - 2x4 is plenty strong enough for load bearing in most houses, but toilet drains/vents don't really fit.
      - rootusrootus 5y ago
        > I doubt interior load supporting walls are 2x6 Could be another regional difference. Our code requires 2x6 minimum for load bearing walls.
  - CalRobert 5y ago
    This works for bigger studs too! The options presented for the house I'm building now are 70x200mm (about a 3"x8") stud with 200mm interior insulation and 100mm exterior. That's for a very well insulated wall, though.
    - bluGill 5y ago
      It doesn't, the 2x6 "fad" went on long enough that you can buy doors and windows sized to that standard. You can use any thickness of wall you want, but if it isn't same thickness as a 2x4 or 2x6 you will have to put forth extra effort to make your doors and windows fit. Use a standard dimension wall and you can buy those to fit. Not a big deal for a qualified carpenter, but enough extra labor that you will pay extra for it in addition to materials.
      - CalRobert 5y ago
        Huh, for what it's worth I think 200mm is relatively common here. 200mm insulation batts are standard, if nothing else.
        bluGill 5y ago
        This is clearly regional. I'm in the US where we don't measure in MM. Different parts of the world will have different standard sizes. you might be able to import a US standard door if you wanted to use 88.9mm widths for some reason (there is more than enough tolerance to round that to 90mm), but it would be extra effort on your part. The hard part about importing it often codes are designed to limit this, so even if the US door is better it might not meet some standard that shouldn't even required. (this goes both ways, US standards often require things just to limit imports as well)
rootusrootus 5y ago
My last house was built in 1964 and the wood would be considered extravagant by today's standards. It was no fancy house, either, just a garden variety ranch. But it had decent (as I said, not fancy) oak hardwood throughout. Actual 2x4s that weigh 2x as much as fir studs today. Old-growth cedar siding. It was built in an era where it was no big deal to use good wood for everything.

chrisseaton 5y ago

> I live in a 100 year old wooden house I don’t understand if people posting this realise what a low bar this is? Brick and stone houses last a thousand years.