Different Residential Wall Construction Methods, and Which is Right for Your Family?

By: Mark Mathis

When you are in the process of reviewing house plans at a reputable online floor plan website, there is more to consider than simply the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, the living space square footage, the floor plan layout, and the Architectural style. You should also consider the construction methods to be used by your builder, and in particular, if the floor plan wall construction type is optimal for the climate in your local region, and your needs.

Choosing a floor plan and building with an appropriate wall type can save you many thousands of dollars in heating and cooling costs over the years, will make your residence more comfortable to live in, and may help to protect your residence if an extreme natural event such as a hurricane or tornado should affect your local region. Selecting a floor plan with a wall type suitable for your area is critical.

The easiest, quickest, and likely the most versatile floor plan wall construction method is the 2×4 stud wall. The 2×4 wall construction method is, usually, the most cost-effective, offers sufficient strength for most areas, and is normally suitable for most locales in the United States.

However, in certain parts of the United States, a 2×4 stud wall may not allow enough space for insulation, and as such, a 2×6 stud wall may be used. In the 2×6 stud wall construction, the additional 2 inches of wall cavity space can be filled with additional insulation which can add an additional level of interior comfort for the homeowner. Also it should be noted that, although a 2×6 house wall construction will be more expensive initially, the additional insulation and space can save you a significant amount in future heating and cooling costs.

One additional floor plan wall construction type is ICF or Insulated Concrete Forms. In certain areas of the United States, it may be common to build with the ICF walls, which offer some of the highest levels of insulation and significant strength and durability. In addition, the ICF wall construction may be preferable in certain areas of the country prone to extreme weather, temperatures, and high winds. Also, this type of floor plan wall construction is usually more expensive than either 2×4 stud wall or 2×6 stud wall construction, but may provide you with the features that you need in your area of the country.

Most high-quality house plans that you find on the internet, will have one or more floor plan wall construction methods included in the plan package. If your desired wall type is not included in the standard plan package, you can usually have the home designer provide you with a reasonable quote to modify the design to other wall types.

One of the best places to locate best-selling house plans on the Internet is at http://www.HousePlanGallery.com

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Mark Mathis is the president of House Plan Gallery, Inc, a residential design firm that develops and markets stock home plans with flexible floor plan layouts and all the most-popular home design features. Be sure to visit House Plan Gallery.com and join the “House Plan and Home Design eNews” mailing list. You’ll be the first to know about new home plans and special SUBSCRIBER-ONLY offers! Don’t miss out… Join today!