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Framing

This Module will go over the different methods of framing. This section will talk about floor, wall and roof framing. It will also cover the different materials and techniques used in framing.

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Platform Framing

Used in building construction, each floor is framed separately, as contrasted with balloon framing, in which the studs (vertical members) extend the full height of the building. Freed from the heavy timbers of the post-and-beam system, platform framing offers ease of construction.

Balloon Framing 

Is a style of wood-house building that uses long, vertical 2" x 4"s for the exterior walls. These long "studs" extend uninterrupted, from the sill on top of the foundation, all the way up to the roof.

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Firestops 

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Physical barriers are designed to prevent the spread of flames, deadly toxic smoke through openings created during building upgrades and the installation of electrical, communications, plumbing and ventilation systems, as well as grease ducts. 

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Types of Floor Frames

Dimensional Lumber

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A structural element are responsible for nearly every type of residential home built today. 

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I - Joists

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Extensively used in residential floor and roof framing. Strong lightweight, "I" shaped engineered wood structural members that meet demanding performance standards.

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Floor Trusses 

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Engineered products made from high-quality lumber are available in a variety of depths to match the requirements of your projects. 

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Flooring Substructures

Never seen directly in the finished product, the quality of the finished floor is determined by the substrate. Some of the issues that the flooring substrates have is that it is not clean enough, flat enough, or not dry enough. All of these issues will affect the quality of the finished floor  

Plywood - is commonly used because of its strength and lack of susceptibility to expansion and contraction. When installing to avoid squeaks and creaks it is best practice to use adhesive and screw the plywood onto the joists.

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Concrete slabs - a good substrate especially due to their durability. One of the common issues is installing the finished flooring too early before the concrete has had a chance to fully cure. 

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Exterior Wall Framing

When you think of a wall you might just think of 2x4’s, insulation, and drywall,  however there is much more that goes into an exterior wall than just this. Exterior walls have to be strong enough to withstand wind, rain and wildlife/critters.

Components

A few basic components and systems commonly found in an exterior wall assembly include structural elements, drainage plane  (typically the air and water barrier) insulating elements and exterior cladding.

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Roof Framing

There are two different types of roof framing. You can either have pre-manufactured trusses or you can stick frame (this method consists of rafters and ceiling joists.)

Types of Roofing Frames

Roofs are framed in five basic designs: shed, gable, hip, gambrel and mansard. The gable is the most common, and it can be complicated with multiple roof lines, including valleys and dormers

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Roof Inspections

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Before even climbing on a roof it is good practice to see if the roof is safe to go on if possible take a look inside the attic to see if there is any excessive rot or water damage on the underside of the plywood.

Once this is completed and you feel comfortable going on the roof put your harness on and proceed to tie off to an inspected tie-off point.

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  • Blistered, curled or split shingles.

  • Loose or missing shingles.

  • Loose or exposed nails.

  • Improperly seated nails that “popped”.

  • Broken or loose shingles at the ridge and hip lines.

  • Signs of missing caulk to seal flashing.

  • Rusty or corroded metal flashing.

  • Damaged or missing flashing.

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Shed Roof

  • The shed Roof is a roof that is designed to have a single slope. This makes them cost-effective, easy to build, effective at shedding water and snow depending on the slope, and able to install solar panels.

  • Some of the downsides to using this roof are that it is susceptible to high winds, low interior ceiling heights, Depending on slope potential drainage issues, and little to no attic space.

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Gable Roof

  • The gable roof is one of the most common roofs available, it is cost-effective and can be designed in a multitude of different ways. This roof is also more effective than a flat roof when it comes to weather resistance.

  • One of the flaws with this roof however is that it is more prone to wind damage compared to some other roof options.

Hip Roof

  • The hip roof is one of the most common roofs; it is sloped from all sides to meet at the ridge. This is the main difference between a hip roof and a gable roof.

  • The gable roof only has 2 slopes and 2 flat sides however the hip has 4 sloped sides leading to the ridge. Some of the advantages that the hip roof has are that it requires less bracing then a gable roof because the hip roof is already self bracing requiring less diagonal bracing.

  • The roof also is more wind resistant than a gable roof. A few of the disadvantages of this type of roof is that it has less storage space compared to a gable roof, is harder to ventilate, and they are more difficult to maintain.

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Gambrel Roof

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  • The gambrel roof is typically seen on barns and sheds. It is similar to the previously mentioned gable roof in the fact that it is a 2 sided roof. The main difference between the two is that the gambrel roof has two different slopes the roof meanwhile the gable roof only has one.

  • Some of the advantages are that they require fewer materials to build because there are fewer beams and columns as well as fewer gusset joints. They also provide better water drainage due to the high slope, and you can store more things in this roof type because of the extra headspace. This roof type is not perfect though and like all roofs has its cons.

  • The gambrel roof can have snow buildup on the top section of the roof which can sometimes lead to collapse, it is also vulnerable to wind due to the change in slopes, and finally, some of these designs have poor ventilation which can lead to needing to repair the roof sooner or

Mansard Roof

  • The mansard roof is a combination of both a hip and a gambrel roof, it is however actually considered a modified gable roof, however it differs because it has 2 slopes on each side. 

  • Advantages of this roof style are that you have lots of attic space, it is easier to add floors on top of the roof, and it also is considered to be a very elegant choice. Some of the disadvantages however are that the low slope can cause a buildup of snow and possibly a collapse in the roof, and the low slope can also cause water buildup and leaks, it is also expensive to install and maintain.

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Wrap-up

Framing is the skeleton of the home, it needs to be strong, accurate, and consistent. If these three attributes are missing it will end up affecting the entire build process including the finished product. The floors will squeak, the drywall will pop, and the installation of doors and windows will be much harder. This is why even though it is considered Rough Carpentry care should be taken throughout the framing process.

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