Construction Framing

1. Construction Framing Mr. Brock

2. Lumber • 2x4s are not actually 2” by 4”

3. Lumber • The lumber is cut 2” by 4” but after being planed and dressed the actual dimensions are 1 ½ by 3 ½ inches. • 1 inch boards are only planed and dressed to ¾ of an inch, so a 1x4 is actually ¾ by 3 ½ • Any boards 8 inches or more are trimmed ¾ of an inch, so a 1x8 is actually ¾ by 7 ¼

4. Lumber • 1x4 = ¾ x 3 ½ • 2x4 = 1 ½ x 3 ½ • 2x 6 = 1 ½ x 5 ½ • 2x8 = 1 ½ x 7 ¼ • 2x10 = 1 ½ x 9 ¼ • 4x4 = 3 ½ x 3 ½ • 6x6 = 5 ½ x 5 ½ • These sizes are very important when framing because if you add wrong you could throw everything off.

5. Lumber • 1 x 12 x 1 = 1 board foot • Calculating Board Feet • T” x W” x L’ = Board Feet 12 • Ex: 1 x 12 x 12 12 = 12 BF

6. Calculate the following • 2 x 4 x 12 • 2 x 6 x 8 • 1 x 10 x 8 • 2 x 12 x 12 • 4 x 4 x 10 • 6 x 6 x 10 • 10 pieces 2 x 4 x 12 • 24 pieces 1 x 12 x 12

7. Wall Framing

8. Framing • The main wall supports in a wall are called studs. • Studs are generally 2x4s, and are usually 8 or 9 feet long. • Studs are spaced on 16 inch centers to provide proper support. • Cripple Studs are short studs cut to go under windows, and trimmer studs line the windows to support the Header.

9. Framing • A Header consists of two 2x4s turned edgeways with a strip of ½ inch plywood in between. • The purpose of the ½ inch plywood is to make the header the same thickness as the studs. • The purpose of the Header is to carry the weight of the ceiling and roof over window and door openings. • The Header should be cut to the length of the opening plus the two trimmer studs. • Ex: 34” opening = 37” (2 trimmers 1 ½ each)

10. Framing • At the base of the wall is the Sole Plate. • At the top of the wall is the Top Plate. • All of the studs are nailed at the bottom to the sole plate and at the top to the top plate. • After all of the interior and exterior walls are constructed and erected the 2nd or double top plate is nailed on. • The purpose of the double top plate is to tie the walls together and it should be nailed on in a way that accomplishes this.

11. Trusses

12. Trusses • The inclining or vertical pieces are the Top Cords. • The horizontal pieces that sit on top of your walls are the Bottom Cords. • Gussets are the metal or wood brackets used to fasten and hold the truss together. • Although not pictured in the diagram sometimes a Birds Mouth is notched into the truss where it would sit on the exterior wall.

13. Shingles The most common residential roofing material is asphalt shingles.

14. Shingles • A standard asphalt shingle is 36” or 3 feet long. • Each shingle has 3 tabs, so each tab is 12” or 1 foot long. • A Square of shingles consists of 3 bundles and covers 100 square feet. • A starter strip is laid first under the first row of shingle to fill in between the tabs of the first row. • 3 inches of shingle should be exposed on the 1st row, and 5 inches on each row thereafter.

15. Framing Nails • 16d nails are used to nail floor joists, studs and rafters. • 16d nails are 3 ½ inches long and provide more strength for the thick lumber used in framing. • 8d nails are used to nail plywood. • 8d nails are 2 ½ inches long, that is all that is necessary because plywood is generally ¾ or less.