Staggered Wall Concept

The exterior walls are different on our home, designed to minimize any exterior noise and maximize energy efficiency. 2x6 lumber is used for the top and bottom plates, but 2x4 finger jointed studs are utilized between the plates. The studs are staggered so that one stud is flush with the outside edge of the plate, and the next stud is shifted so that it's flush with the inside edge of the plate. So each stud has only interior wall sheathing or exterior sheathing fastened to it, but not both, thus reducing sound transmission through the studs and eliminating a great deal of thermal transfer. This makes for a lot more wood in the wall. We selected finger jointed studs because the quality of wood today is suspect at best, and we don't want warping/twisting problems in the future. From the outside in, you have the exterior siding, house wrap, OSB sheathing, staggered studs, 1.5" of spray foam insulation, blown insulation, vapor barrier, and finally sheet rock. This process was more expensive than conventional walls, but will pay us back in energy efficiency in the years to come.