Exterior wall thickness

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am working on drawing some preliminary plans for a remodeling project on a old house built in 1958 in San Francisco. I have search the web and tried looking for a old building code and unable to find one that will tell me what is the exterior wall thickness is.

The house is built out of wood and has a concrete exterior and is a 2 story. Eventually I will send these plans to a architecture who will revise the plans and send it to the city for there  review

I was thinking of using a 4.5" thickness. Is there a architect out here who can confirm is this is ok to use for now.

Thanks

[pendean]

Drill a hole and run a tape-measure through it.

OR

measure a doorway or window, subtract the frame projections.

OR

find a wall penetration and run a tape measure through it. There is always a wall penetration.

Hire a contractor to do all the above for you.

[leothebuilder]

As suggested by Pendean you will have to physically confirm what the stud sizes are.

Exterior walls will probably be a different size than the interior.

No code book is going to confirm a size for you.

4-1/2" is not really a wood stud size anyway, it's either 2x4 (1-1/2" x 3-1/2" finished) or 2x6 (1-1/2"x5-1/2" finished)

[Anonymous]

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@leothebuilder wrote:

As suggested by Pendean you will have to physically confirm what the stud sizes are.

Exterior walls will probably be a different size than the interior.

No code book is going to confirm a size for you.

4-1/2" is not really a wood stud size anyway, it's either 2x4 (1-1/2" x 3-1/2" finished) or 2x6 (1-1/2"x5-1/2" finished)

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Hello,

I did not mention the wood size is 4.5" , I mentioned the wall thickness is 4.5". I know they are usually 2"x4" or 2"x6" in my case they are 2"x4".

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Try contacting Mr. Tom C. Hui, S.E, C.B.O, Director in SF:

Department of Building Inspection
1660 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 558-6088 General Information
(415) 558-6401 Fax
Email:  dbicustomerservice@sfgov.org

If the Chief Building Inspector can't tell you, then NOBOY can! Plus they'll possibly have records even on your specific structure by address. Current codes would be lots different that they were back in '58.  Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Back in '58, there were many builders still using FULL SIZE (not nominal) size studs in their construction!  Also, depending upon the location / builder, after WWII many used nonstandard sizes for walls.  My house was also built in '58 and I have 6-1/2" exterior walls, 5-1/2" load bearing center wall with everything else between rooms at only 2-1/2"!

Fun, fun, fun!

Codes have changed ALOT since then!

(I never suggest anyone ever doing the 'drilling' for info in an older building, you'll find electrical wires, pipes etc. in locations you'd her dream of!)  Call the CBO first!

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Back in '58, there were many builders still using FULL SIZE (not nominal) size studs in their construction!  Also, depending upon the location / builder, after WWII many used nonstandard sizes for walls.  My house was also built in '58 and I have 6-1/2" exterior walls, 5-1/2" load bearing center wall with everything else between rooms at only 2-1/2"!

Fun, fun, fun!

Codes have changed ALOT since then!

(I never suggest anyone ever doing the 'drilling' for info in an older building, you'll find electrical wires, pipes etc. in locations you'd her dream of!)  Call the CBO first!

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Thanks