"hinge" in the wall framing?

[zaktark]

Framing the first floor of this year-round cottage, using 2 x 6s, and not knowing what I was doing (more or less), I didn't go high enough. After I was done and had ceiling joists on top of those walls, I see the building code for my area wants another 4" of height.

So I jacked everything, 3/4" at a time, going between the subfloor and the sole plate, to a finished height of 6", sliding 4-foot long solid 6x6s under the plate everywhere -- for exterior and interior walls, doorframes -- everything. Toenailed the 6x6s to the subfloor, and fastened through the plate to the top of the 6x6s.

I realize I now have a bit of a "hinge" in my walls (though of course everything feels solid as a rock). If necessary, I plan to solve that "hinge" (hope it solves it) by through-bolting through from top of plate to bottom of subfloor, and I guess I probably need blocking under the subfloor also, and bolt through that as well. Two bolts per 4-foot long 6x6.

1. Do I need to do the bolting step?
2. Do I need the blocking under the subfloor?
3. Or is none of this any good and still not passable?

I'm putting on roof rafters on the second floor, now, so I sure hope that stuff way down there will be okay.

Any thoughts or advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Rich]

I wouldn't call it a hinge so much. If you had to add 2' of additional framing then I would call it a hinge. The overturning moment on a 6x6 is pretty substantial. That being said I would probably still through bolt for nothing else than overturning on the whole house (wind loads etc). Does your exterior sheathing span over the "hinge" - i.e. there isn't a plywood seam right there?

[Tom R]

Yeah, - - that's my feeling, too, - - the sheathing will tie it all together, no problem.

[Cole]

New word for me, I have never ever heard of it called a "hinge".

[zaktark]

Rich, Tom -- Thanks for your valuable opinions.

Sheathing not done yet. Yah, I do everything the way it turns out true builders don't. I've got lots and lots of temporary bracing on all walls, and I've got "let in" 2x4 bracing in all exterior walls, so she ain't blowin over just yet. (also 2nd floor walls and the few roof rafters that are up are braced 9 ways to Christmas).

Why haven't I sheathed? It's a long way to go from home/work to this weekends-only project, time is short, season is short, I've just been going after getting the metal roof on the whole shebang as soon as possible -- which means maybe this year, by fall (and it was two years ago I started the framing -- so you see, not on the usual clock).

Anyway, very encouraging what you say. Sounds like I could go with sheathing (will be using 7/16 OSB) over 6x6s and rest of wall, and maybe just need to thru-bolt, or maybe even lag -- just ONE bolt per 6x6, go through the subfloor and into a block of 2x.

Thanks a lot for your views. Really makes a difference -- like not flying totally blind on these sticky points.

[Tom R]

Yeah, Cole, - - let's say you're building an addition with a shed roof that's 10' at the high point and 8' at the low, - - and you frame it buy making by lifting up an 8' wall, - - and then build a wall on top of that, - - that goes from 2' down to nothing, - - now you've created a 'hinge-point', - - a weakness, - - whereas is would have been stonger to make the wall one height, - - by cutting each individual stud to length from the 10'ers down to the 8'ers.

[Cole]

I would call that a "pony" wall.

[Tom R]

That's fine, - - just saying at the same time you've created a hinge-point.

[Cole]

I understand, just trying to cause trouble. :P

[Tom R]

No problem, - - just remember, - - TRouble starts with TR!! :twisted:

[zaktark]

Okay, Cole, now you got me curious. Where would that name "pony wall" have come from? Any idea? I mean I can picture a hinge -- swivels somewhere within its length -- being kinda similar to what a wall could do with a joint in the middle.
When I picture a pony in there, I'm baffled.
Any idea where the saying came from?

[Tom R]

Maybe junior wall on top of the 'mane' wall ?:lol:

[zaktark]

Good one.

But sounds right, too. Like the pony is the little wall -- the two-foot wall that got added onto the top of the eight-foot wall (the big horse).

[Cole]

:lol: :lol:

Tom, I have no clue where it originated, but we use it in the south.

[Tom R]

I guess pony wall sounded better that puppy wall, kitten wall, or calf wall, - - although calf wall sounds like half wall. We need a 'Construction Trivia' book.

[Dragon]

Yep we call them pony walls here as well.

And I refuse to build them due to the hinge factor.

[jjcold]

sometimes framers around here use a pony wall to support the floor joists rather than a ridge beam supported by posts. Basically it's a short wall with sill plate and double top plates and short studs, just like a regular wall only 2 - 3 feet high instead of 8' high.