Framing the Walls

Conex Box walls are very sturdy. The inside walls really don’t need any additional framing. Therefore many builders of Conex homes use minimal framing for the outside walls. Usually they just add enough studs to have something to attach the wall board. Often they use smaller studs than the 2×4 studs used in conventional framing such as 2×3 or 2×2 studs. The main purpose for using the smaller stud size is to save as much of the limited interior space as possible.

I will not be going this route with my Conex home. Unlike many Conex home builders I will be framing the walls of my Conex home with standard 2×4 studs framed 16″ on center. Using conventional framing, while decreasing the usable space on the interior will eliminate issues on finishing later on in the build.

Many building products are designed for standard framing dimensions. For example, drywall sheets are designed to line up with studs when framed at standard intervals. Therefore framing at standard intervals will eliminate some cutting when hanging drywall. Also some products such as recessed medicine cabinets and electrical breaker boxes are designed to fit within the depth of standard 2×4 studs. If the walls are framed with unconventional sized studs there is the potential for issues later when using products designed for 2×4 framing. And finally as stated in a previous post, Conex Boxes can get very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter if not properly insulated. Many insulation products are designed for the dimensions of conventional framing.

By using conventional framing I believe I will be eliminating potential issues down the road with my home.

What are your thoughts? Can you think of any other advantages to using conventional framing? Let me know in the comments.