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Framing

Is there anything more important to building a house that lasts than framing it correctly? Ask any framer and they will tell you that, no, nothing sets the tone for a new house or an addition more emphatically than the quality of the frame. The guys that do the foundation might have grounds to disagree, but the reality is that no well-built house ever springs from a poorly executed frame. Just building a backyard garden shed? Same rules still apply.

Frames in residential construction are almost always made from wood. Whether the house is panelized, modular, or site-built, the frame is likely to be fabricated from softwood. And most houses are built on site, assembled one stud, joist and rafter at a time. The list of skills a framer needs to accomplish this isn’t short, and by the time the framers get to the roof and begin cutting compound angles in pieces of dimensional stock the ante has gone up considerably. House plans and floor plans will be drawn up by others, but the quality of the finished house is a function of the hundreds of individual connections and thousands of fasteners under the purview of the framing crew.

New materials, and more sophisticated tools, are creeping in. Engineered lumber is becoming an increasingly important component in many new homes, not only in the I-joists that many builders already use for floor joists, but also in engineered studs, headers and beams. Framers are finding more uses for light-gauge steel. Green builders are mastering techniques that make houses more energy efficient — better ways of framing corners and headers, for example, or building houses with double stud walls.

So if the craft of framing houses in many ways looks just like it did a century ago, it’s not. Want to keep up? Hang out with the pro framers who write for Fine Homebuilding.

  • Advantages of a Vented Over-Roof

    Builders Travis Brungardt and Joe Cook walk through the decisions behind building a ventilated over roof and the problems it solves for their assembly.

  • Sponsored Content
    Simplify the Wall-to-Roof Transition With ZIP System

    Travis Brungardt and Joe Cook detail how Huber Engineered Woods family of products were used to create the air and water barrier at FHB House Kansas.

  • Air-Sealing Exposed Rafter Tails

    Travis Brungardt and Joe Cook demonstrate how they're dealing with the air barrier between their exposed rafter tails.

  • Airtight Corner for a Variety of Cladding Types

    See how the team at FHB House Kansas assembles a solid corner with backing on both sides for consistent nailing on multiple types of siding.

  • Sponsored Content
    A Faster Way to Square Mudsills

    Travis Brungardt and Joe Cook of Catalyst Construction demonstrate how Stabila's LA 180L Layout Station made laying the mudsill and interior basement walls more efficient.

  • Airtight Mudsill Connection

    Learn how Catalyst Construction is detailing their mudsill at FHB House Kansas.

  • High Ceilings in the Hills

    Designed with inspiration from locations in Europe and on the East and West Coasts, this custom home encapsulates openness and airiness.

  • The Hole Truth: How to Properly Place, Cut and Drill Holes in TJI’s

    Trus Joist expert Steve Rudowsky discusses proper techniques and allowable locations and sizes for making holes for plumbing, wiring, and ductwork in TJI joists.

  • Building Homes to Withstand Storms

    Whether you're dealing with flooding, high winds, or both, check out this list of articles we've compiled to help homes better weather storms.

  • How to Frame an I-Joist Roof

    Engineered rafters are lighter, straighter, and often have more room for insulation than dimensional lumber.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 312 - Dec/Jan
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  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
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  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
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    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job
  • Issue 308 - July 2022
    • Pretty Good House Book Excerpt: Copper Farmhouse
    • 10 Dos and Don'ts for Electric In-Floor Heat
    • A Sturdy Rail for Outdoor Stairs

Fine Homebuilding

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