wall heigth

[texasgun]

Have a question about wall heigth. If I were to build a 20 X 30 would it be possible to use 14 foot baloon framed walls? I know alot of people are using 12 foot but I would like to know if anyone has used 14'. The cabin would have a loft covering 1/2 and tall ceiling with rafter ties on the open part. Built the house I am living in now 1000 sq. foot single story on our farm over a 2 year period and moved in last year but want to build at our ranch for a weekend getaway. Feel like I am part of a big family even though this is my first post I have been reading your fourm for quite awhile. Thanks in advance for the replies I know I will be getting. I have already got my power set up and hired out construction of a 20 X 48 barn/carport/living quarter to stay in while under construction. bar is about half finished so now is time to make plans for cabin.

[Beavers]

Just looked it up in the code book and you could go up to 16' walls using 2x6 16" oc or 14' max 24" oc.  That would be for supporting one floor and a roof in wind speeds less than 100mph.

If you look in the "Referral Links" section on this site, there is a sticky at the top with links to different places to download the International Residential Code for free.  I found it very helpful when planning my house.  It's dry reading...but spells out pretty clearly what you can and can't do.

I'm pretty sure that you have to have collar ties at a minimum of every 4 foot.  (don't quote me on that though)
I've got them all the way across the loft in my 12x16 and if placed up high they don't take very much out of the headroom at all.

[texasgun]

Thanks Beavers heres some more details building in West Texas only codes, inspections or permits required are septic. Would like tall walls so roof pitch does not have to be so steep like maybe 6/12 and have ample headroom. was planing 2X6 walls 16"oc, loft joists (maybe wood I beams) 16" oc, built up wall ties on the open part at every 4ft. Roof rafters also 16" oc. Do you guys thing baloon framing is stronger than platform? Platform is usually done around here but for this type of cabin with loft baloon framing looks like it might be easier.

[Beavers]

I only did 10' walls on my house.  I'm sure it was easier to balloon frame it than to do platform framing.  Everything I've read suggests that balloon framing is way stronger than platform framing for the 1 1/2 story houses most of us here are building.  

With your house platform framed you would have an 8' wall then another 8' wall on top of that? (with no ceiling joists in the loft area to hold the walls together) Balloon framed it would be one solid 16' tall wall.  Now imagine pushing down on the roof of your house, the place where the two 8' walls meet is a hinge point and is more likely to push out than the solid 16' wall would be.  Hope that makes sense.  

BTW- I'm no expert...I'm currently learning as I go building my small house, hopefully someone will chime in if I'm way off course with this info!