This guy is my hero. For a couple taps of the hammer, he takes the time to put in ear protection. Sound advice for anyone who wants to be able to hear into their later years.

Wife and I built our house like this in 1984. Double 2x4 with a 1 inch air space between. Outside studs 24" OC, inside 16"OC. Only place the touch is the top, where I used a 9" strip of 3/4" plywood all down the walls. Good way to go back then. We did it because I felled some of the timber on our place and milled it, so lumber cost was very little. Both walls filled with fiberglass insulation we got for free from a local water heater plant.....they took back the old heaters under warranty that failed and had a place out back that stripped them down...sheet metal in one pile, thermostats/wire in another, etc. The fiberglass insulation (used at that time) they would bag up in huge plastic bags and you could get it for free. I'd stop by every time I was in town and haul 2 bags home (all that would fit in my truck), stick in the loft of our barn for the house build. Stuffed it in the walls, then used 6mil plastic for a vapor barrier. We've just started a remodel of the master bathroom. Pulled all that insulation out (took 20 of the large black contractor type trash bags to hold it). I'll be spraying 2-3" foam this time on the outer wall, then re-pack the insulation and plastic vapor barrier again. Good for the rest of my lifetime and then some !

I built my workshop this way ten years ago, in the Arizona high desert (hot summers, cold winters). Although I used glass insulation in both walls. It's not just great for insulation value (I neither heat nor cool) but with a little extra care (sealing seams) I made it virtually soundproof as well. I can run my equipment late at night and the neighbors have no idea. Meanwhile, the house I built out of that shop is a post-and-beam Straw Bale...now that's some insulation!

Barney style. Definitely one of the simplest explanations of double-stud framing I've seen. First, you need to know WHY before you learn HOW. It stops us from "cutting corners"

Great video- and thanks for taking the time to try to educate the many nay-sayers who have little experience or knowledge. My house uses one 12,000 BTU heat pump for heating and cooling 1824SF. Double stud walls similar to these described here except I lined the window openings with 1/2" plywood. I did connect the 24" OC 2x4 studs with a plywood gusset every three feet to stiffen up the walls. Straight window openings are lined with white painted plywood extension jambs that fit into the 1/2" "drywall channels" on the Marvin windows. Many people like to sit in the windowsills that are not filled with plants. The talk about rodents is crazy- no way there are any rodents in any house I've ever built! Living in a house with ZERO energy bills plus plenty of kwh to charge electric vehicles is really nice (9.9 kw solar array). Spend the money up front on insulation and solar panels and then never pay for energy for the next 30 years. Dense pack cellulose is fire retardant as you say and makes a really quiet and well insulated house when combined with the 16" loose fill cellulose in the attic. Total insulation bill including fiberglass in the attached garage and all interior walls for sound insulation was $9800.

My brother and I built a house in VT using this technique in 1985. 2800sq’ house 2 floors. One tank of fuel oil heated it for the year. Super insulated and very quiet.

Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for and had planned for my next build. I can not believe this was filmed 3 years ago. It is the first video I have seen on this. I was wondering about the connection between the two walls without sacrificing the thermal transmission. Thanks, exactly what I was looking for.

I basically built my home 30 years ago in this same fashion it has R42 plus mathematically figured I did many other things as well but for now we will just stick with the wall thickness and insulation factors. It works I live in high elevation area 30 40 bellow is not uncommon I heat 6500 sq.ft for 100 dollars a month year round average. It was all worth the 1/3 more in building cost.

This video was jam packed with know-how. I love the time you took for the cad drawings. You should have 100k subscribers. Well you just got another one.

Dang! This man is a quality carpenter, OCD, belt and suspenders sort of fella, integrity in his work, great attitude and super smart! 👍💯 🇨🇦🍁

I did this many year's ago but we always offset the studs so the edges of the insulation wouldn't align. Less heat loss along the edge of the studs. We put bat type unfaced insulation toward the outside of course the studs in the middle (offset 8 inches) helped hold them in place. Then we put standard 3 1/2" faced insulation on the innermost framing. We did the windows in a way similar to what you did it but we were also required to put a fire stop at the top of the wall.

Gotta love that Zip sheathing, Zip flash tape and Zip stretch tape! Here in Canada we have another brand which is more accessible. The Zip R sheathing with polyiso does not do as well here thermally as rigid foam here in Zone 7, Canada. I wonder if they will change the Zip R to rigid foam instead??? Thank you for the detail and work to edit this helpful Video! Long live our houses, Steve Baczek, architect and guest on Risingers The build Show. ☺🇨🇦

I’m in the insulation business. Heat loss is normally figured 5% floor, 20-25% wall, 70-75% ceiling. With waste of natural resources and interior square footage I don’t understand this system of framing. I would put the money in ceiling insulation and Geo heat.

I built my house with double 2x4 walls lined up the framing like shown here then used cardboard to connect the inner and outer studs together to make cells. Then blew in fiberglass using the bibs system and ended up with an r50. Also used triple pane windows and don't have any concrete touching the ground, I used high density styrofoam under the footings and wrapped the sides with styrofoam as well.

Super good for fighting sound transfer as well!

A couple good tips here. Especially the router, never thought of that!

That is VERY DIFFERENT and I want to see MORE.

Much better! Really like the fluid applied flashing.

I learned on double wall construction you frame the exterior wall for exterior sheathing layout. On the interior you do layout for sheet rock. It is laid out for best sheetrock layout not stud layout for the plywood. We also offset them, putting them parallel creates cold spots from nearby thermal bridging. Also, I think there is a lot to be gained from splaying the interior walls and turning the sills into friendly places to sit against. For top performance sliding pocket door can fit in the window spaces for thermal protection at night or extreme weather. Nice work

Designed and built our 2 story home in 1985 in Illinois with double stud walls + brick exterior = 18” thick. Plus 2” blueboard around entire basement 8’ deep capped by custom aluminum cover angle between brick ledge and bricks. $50/month gas bill average year round for 3800 sq ft home.

There’s a YT video of a Philly row house showing installation of an R40 outside wall. As I recall they used a PE vapor barrier. Built the wall on the floor, then tilted it up. Basically the same idea but with more space between the outer and inner framing. They also used taped-off green foam board sheathing.

Fascinating stuff. I never put much thought into what it takes to build a quality home and the professionalism it takes. Good stuff, good vid, good job!!!

Whack the framing to show it who's the boss. These videos are great.

Thanks Pro TradeCraft!! Love your videos

With a beard like that you know the guy is a good construction worker!

Love the dry humor inserted👍

What are the benefits of this approach vs using a thick layer of exterior insulation? The latter seems just as good of not better thermally, and I assume less expensive because of less framing material and labor. I am designing my new home, and was planning to use 2x6 with closed cell spray foam and maybe 4-6" exterior insulation.

Good job with the framing, I’ll reproduce it

Amazing what I've done with 2x6 exterior walls with stock fiberglass insulation. Insulate floor, walls, and ceiling, and 'voila', I only need three electric space heaters for a 1,000 sqft home. Once warm, my house will stay warm down to an average 20°f for two to three days without cycling the heaters but about hourly. I set the heaters for high heat/low thermostat (=short cycle). If I need a little extra heat, I switch to low heat/high thermostat (= long cycle). Sometimes I run my ceiling fans to keep the heat off the (9ft) ceilings - yet I still save big bucks over a central heating system wrapped in an envelope house. Some insulation tech (or whoever) will probably claim it's impossible, but it works for me!

Nice clean work.

That must be one quiet house

Has anyone used a 2" x 3" inside wall? Less thermal bridge, more room for insulation. Any pitfalls to this variation?

Any additional cost or lost square footage ...what is that compared to the security & insulating piece of mind you get from having a double wall house. I for one would sleep like a baby knowing this house has double the structural integrity than any other house on the block.

Credit to your editor from 5:44 to 6:03. He edited at the exact point of completion of a full cut out. Using a transition which simulated the ply falling in on camera. I jumped a little.

In New Mexico they use this method and use alfalfa as insulation.

Great video!

Great Video ! I am planning on building , using a similar idea . Using 2 walls, built with 2x6 , with a 1/2 inch gap in-between, than using a 2x12 for my top plate. My way is more work involved . My studs will be staggered , - exterior wall studs to accommodate exterior sheeting, interior studs to accommodate drywall sheeting. Using a rock-wool insulation, should give a little better than a R-50 in the walls. I would like to see how you insulated your walls. I will subscribe !

Why not stagger the wall for added strength? And.....Why not 2x6's with the inner and outer walls butted together in a staggered format?

I love this energy-efficient stuff!

What is a good book that goes in depth into this construction technique?

I built double stud walls and laid my plates for the the interior and exterior wall at the same time.

Most people in comment section obviously do not live up north like in Montreal and obviously never researched anything about passivhaus

wonder what the r value was when it was all complete.

A lot of material and labor and lost square footage. Seems there would be a better system than this.

Any chance you can help me understand how the interior framed wall is fastened to the subfloor and roof rafters? Much appreciated!

well presented video

Is the double stud to break the thermal bridge? If so, then why would you allow a window buck to be installed without using any foam to separate the OSB from the studs?

I believe the double wall is the best insulated wall. I also like the inset door and window look it provides.

You should offset, your interior studs. Virtually eliminates all thermal bridging.

I just want to learn how to put two pieces of wood together. 😳

Wow, can you imagine how much energy would be saved with 12” walls?

I’m not a construction guy and have never even used a table saw, but how is he supposed to add drywall or plywood to the load bearing wall with the double wall a few inches away? Then he has to put drywall on the backside of the double wall, that too seems problematic to me. What am I missing?

This is a good idea. California uses title 24 rules for insulation and r value calculations. You need r 22 plus in so cal, not Maine even

Well, that was fun. Even better, it made good sense and I learned a few things. I'm subscribing.

well that is certainly a great way to build a house ...... IF YOU ARE A MILLIONAIRE !!!!!! ......

now close in the top and bottom space with 3/4 plywood then with pieces cut 1 foot long cover every other foot with the plywood. This would leave room for electrical and plumbing and insulation make the double wall act as one wall. You would have joist for walls and joist for connecting your joist or rafters to. This would be for someone that wanted to make their hose laugh at 100 mph wind and labor or materials and cost was not a factor. Just a dream house.

Are the top plates tied together as a fire block

Great work but why not put an angle on the bottom buck rather than the angled piece in the next video?

Building a house inside of another house 🤔

What is the plan for what type of insulation you are going to use?

How did you insulate this double wall, fiberglass batts ?

Great concept, and video!! You do top of the line work as well. I am just wondering how much EXTRA it costs to double wall everything that meets an outside wall?? It would have to cost a TON, then add in the extra insulation and hardware, that's got to be the better part of building a second home. I would think anyway. If you added up all that money, then deducted that from your fuel costs over however long you plan to live there..is the savings really enough to off set the extra materials and labor it costs to build it?? Or, if you sell it, will you recoup enough to cover your upgrade costs? I'm just wondering..I'm not taking away anything from your design or workmanship. So please don't be offended. I just figured that you would have a list off all these figures that maybe we can see, if it's not to personal sir. Thanks again for the video..it's great!!😁😁

There is no seam sealer on the bottom plate, not good. Other than this, double stud walls is great idea. I like to use thick rock wall !!!

Where is this located and what is the r-value goal? Pink? Rock wool? Sprayed in? Looks to be a passive design, but beyond the scope and budget of most.

great work

Can do A video on floating walls floating ceilings and floating floor for home theater room?

2x6 exterior framing works just fine.

Use triple brick walls and double glazing in windows. That will keep you warm in the winter. We do that in North Europe. Your method is suitable for little weekender used only in the summer for few days.

What if a fire breaks out between the walls?

Amazing. Very interesting.

There’s no fire blocking between inner and outer wall?

Thats a lot of wood that most homeowners cant afford i live in a metal building with a 12” post and beam foundation and metal siding then a 2x4 wall and sheet rock it can be 95 outside but it will be 70 inside with no AC. Simple a less money

Very cool! How do You insulate the ceiling/roof? I have a 1970s house in South Carolina. I would like to envelope the house. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Why copy the stud location? It would provide a thermal conduit thru the insulation barrier. The would provides a conduit for cold to transfer inside the house.

I'd like to see how to frame the inner wall a little larger so the sides taper in, like on an older house.

What a wonderful run/home you’ve made for the rats and mice...

So is the bottom line that it would cost less to use a 2x4 double wall approach instead of the usual 2x6 simple wall with exterior insulation?

Double walls are killer on fire fighting. Less efficient also. No need for all of that if you use zip r-sheathing for a thermal break to begin with.

Building inspectors in my area would go nuts. No firestop once it breaks into that cavity.

What is liquid flashing?

Has anyone done the math on this build style? Is it worth the extra expense and the loss of sq ft?

GOOD VIDEO..

When you set the bucks in the window, why is ONLY attached to the outer framing?

Wheres the treated wood on top of concrete

Could there be any rodent issues with that much space between walls?

Why wasn't the the wall system framed with advanced framing techniques? No need from a structure point of view to frame 16" on center. 24" is more than sufficient. Allows for more insulation in the wall because of less wood framing members.

What is done about insulation with this type of wall?

Eight penny clamps? Is that a new term for nails?

The window bucks on the sides and top seem a bit pointless.

Who’s the builder? Would love to contact them.

Do they build two roofs as well?

Plus Double Layer Drywall.

What is the purpose of double stud wall

Could have used Tstuds to avoid thermal bridging.

What a waste of wood. They make insulated 2x6s or you can just insulate between the studs and the sheathing.

A plastic speed square then a festool tracksaw that funny

2021 lumber prices: “lol”

I built my house with double 2x4 walls because I had to raise them by myself. I used 16 in spacing on both walls. The outside is sheeted with 1/2 in plywood. The inside with 1/2 in drywall. The walls have some flex in them. I would never do it that way again. 8 inch walls and lifting jacks would have made a stiffer wall. Better yet, earth berm and you have a much better energy efficiency.

谢谢

Why not just build it with 2 by 12 from the start instead of 2 by 4. Just wondering