I've had good luck with TimberStrand too, especially around showers—really cuts down on headaches later with tile. But yeah, cost adds up quick. Regular lumber's fine for most walls, just gotta spend extra time sorting through the pile...tedious but saves cash in the end.
I've found that even with regular lumber, if you spend a bit more time bracing and blocking as you go, it can really help keep walls straight. Sure, sorting through the pile is tedious, but honestly, I've had just as much luck by carefully placing temporary braces every few feet until the sheathing goes on. It takes a little extra effort upfront, but saves headaches later when you're hanging drywall or cabinets.
Curious though—do you guys typically brace walls individually or wait until you've got a few sections up before bracing them together? I've seen it done both ways, and everyone seems to have their own preference...
I've always found it easier to brace walls individually as I go. It might slow things down a bit initially, but it saves me from having to wrestle with alignment issues later on. That said, I've worked with guys who swear by waiting until they've got a few sections up before bracing them together. Maybe it's just personal preference or depends on the size of the project... Have you noticed if one method works better for taller walls or longer runs?
I've noticed something similar when working on taller walls—bracing individually as you go really helps keep things manageable. Honestly, alignment issues can be such a headache later on, especially if you're dealing with longer runs or higher ceilings. I've seen crews who prefer to wait and brace multiple sections at once, and while it might seem faster initially, I've noticed they often spend extra time tweaking and adjusting later. It can get frustrating fast.
A buddy of mine recently built a pretty large custom home with some seriously tall walls in the great room area—like 14-footers—and he swore by bracing each section individually. He said it saved him from having to wrestle with alignment nightmares down the line. I was skeptical at first (seemed like overkill), but after seeing how smoothly his framing went up, I started thinking he might be onto something.
I guess it could depend on your crew size too. If you've got plenty of hands around, maybe waiting until you've got a few sections up isn't such a big deal. But if you're working solo or with just one helper, bracing as you go seems like the smarter move. Sure, it feels slower at first, but you're probably saving yourself from bigger headaches later.
Either way, sounds like you're already onto a solid method—trust your gut on this one. It's probably more about personal preference and project specifics than anything else...
"alignment issues can be such a headache later on, especially if you're dealing with longer runs or higher ceilings."
Couldn't agree more—alignment headaches aren't just frustrating, they're a real waste of resources. I've also noticed that individually braced walls tend to perform better long-term in terms of structural integrity and energy efficiency. Have you considered how bracing methods might affect insulation or air sealing down the line? Seems like it could make a noticeable difference...
