Would you call this overkill?

[dirtlooter]

wasted another very beautiful day helping my father build his new home. Wasted you may ask but let me explain. My father is building a 2 story house up on the side of a mountain. He has a very washed out and steep road leading up to it. He is 80 years plus and is determined to do most of the work except the actual roof. He has a huge shop already on site and "he" is building the walls inside of the shop where they are waiting to be taken out and put in place on the slab. The wasted part comes from the fact of what he is building the walls out of. Normally one uses 2x4 stud walls and I have heard of 2x6 stud walls but no, he is building 2x8 stud walls. Normally one uses nails to put it together with but we are using 3/8 lag bolts. A ten foot section of wall is gigantic in both weight and size, it is all we could do to get it stood upright and moved about fifteen feet. He has 14 wall sections already built and we have 4 more to build. So let's talk about yesterday, when the trailer load of 2x8s, over 50 of them, slid off the trailer as he drove them up to the house. Loads of fun as we had to walk back down the the side of the "hill" and hand carry them up. He has a backhoe that he plans to use to put up the walls. But 2x8s? it's his money but my back is already bad enough. The good side, my brother-n-law is coming for a week to help get it up and then my brother is coming for a couple of weeks. lucky me.

 

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[fish1on]

Is there plans for a helo pad on the roof? Should be strong enough for one. LOL

If he has the money and ability, why not 2x8's if that is what he wants to do. I say go for it.

 

[oldkoot]

I would not necessarily call it over kill myself the added thickness of the walls could save on cooling and heating the house tremendously,and as far as codes are concerned they are what is the bare minimum that is expected a house to be built under and like you stated its his money he is spending

 

[dirtlooter]

codes? not in the country. he currently lives in a 2 story log house that we build back in 78, not a kit either. we will plumb and do the electrical ourselves, as we have numerous times in the past. He was a radio repair man in the Air Force as was I, plus took course in Vo-Tech 1980.

 

[lairmo]

2 of my walls I built in my barn house are 10"...the others are 2 x 8... I had to, to compensate for the out of square barn I started with.... Not that scared of 'Nado's now...lol

 

[releventchair]

Not overkill.
Those thicker walls can allow built in shelves if insulation space is not needed.
Strong bones make for a strong body.

 

[Phishfindr]

If he builds it, they will come...

 

[Gare]

I PROMISE you there will come a TIME when you wish you could waste it helping your father

 

[Duckshot]

You know, your father might will you that house.

2"x8" studs you say? Are they 16" on center or 24"? Or, did he go 1.2' on center giving five studs every eight feet? I'd have gone 1.2" o.c. but it would be a pain to insulate unless you blow it in. Still, with 7" of insulation it should not be difficult to moderate room temperature. Open the window at night and it'll stay cool all day, and a small wood stove might heat the place.

 

[digger460]

2x8's I wouldn't say overkill. Lag bolts, I would say yes. Can't think of gaining any strength, being there vertical. But, it's his money! Hope it's a driver your using, and not just a socket wrench. That would suck!

 

[Tpmetal]

Not overkill at all, I'de build everything out of Stainless steel and granite if I could

 

[dirtlooter]

16" on center. yep using air drive and he has twisted off 15 lag bolts so far, got him to drop down the power. No, my sister will get the house, already know that. I would help him no matter what, well as far as I am physically able. what I question is when we have to try to lift up or move one of those walls, he is over 80 and I am 61 with a lot of health issues. I am not even supposed to be doing any of this but he is my father and so it is. He also has a 31 Ford long bed truck that he is in process of restoring as well as a 33 four door. He has already restored a 31 with rumble seat.

 

[Duckshot]

I should have wrote 1.6', not 1.2 feet before.

Platform framed, or post and beam? How are you going to raise the walls?

You might want a crane but on a steep slope you might not be able to get one there. I hope you get something figured out. Stay safe.