20 Essential House Framing Terms Homeowners Must Know (Part 1)
House framing means constructing the new home’s skeletal structure, which involves planning and assembling the components that will serve as the building’s framework.
However, as you contact your local house framing company, you might wonder about the different terms your builders will use during construction. For this reason, it’s always best to educate yourself by researching them or asking your contractors. That way, you can ensure an efficient project and reduce the risks of expensive mistakes.
This article guides you to understand ten of the most common house framing terms. We’ll also discuss ten more in part two of this series!
1. Posts and Beams
A sound home backbone begins with stable beams and posts. Beams are long, horizontal pieces that span the frame, while posts are vertical components that ensure strength. Your architect, engineer, or house framing company will determine their size and material based on the weight they should support.
They can create these components from engineered lumber, steel, or wood.
2. Floor Joist
They’re horizontal framing components that support the house’s floors and walls. While floor joists are usually 2x8, 2x10 or 2x12 lumber, modern homes may use engineered joists like trusses or I-joists for better strength. They’re usually 12, 16 or 24 inches on-centre, and your contractors may size them according to the weight they support.
3. On-Centre
Carpenters must measure and mark “on-centre” distances when adding joists, studs, rafters, and trusses. You can usually find them on building plans and measure from the framing members’ edges.
4. Blocking
Blocking includes short woods or engineered lumber that can be can cut to fit between joists, studs or trusses for structural strength, fire prevention, or a solid attachment for hardware.
5. Rim Joist
A floor frame is a house framing component placed on posts, beams, or foundation walls.
Rim joints are the parts of the floor frame that run perpendicular to the floor joists and hold them in place. House framing companies measure and cut the rim and floor joists to the correct lengths and nail them into the rim joists.
6. Subfloor
Carpenters nail or screw subfloors above the floor joists, providing the walls with a platform and the finished floor materials with a base. They’re usually ⅝ to ¾ inches thick and come in 4x8-foot sheets. House framing companies use subfloors made from plywood and OSB.
7. Studs
House framing companies use vertical boards to build wall frames. They usually space studs 16 or 24 inches apart and are made from standard framing, engineered, or laminated strand lumber.
Carpenters can also buy precut studs to save time when constructing traditional 8-, 9- and 10-foot-tall walls. Moreover, contractors can give unique names to studs that don’t reach the top plate from the bottom part.
8. King Studs
Windows and door openings in walls need two vertical lumber pieces that run from the wall’s bottom to the top. House framing companies can use these lumber pieces on the window or door opening’s left and right sides.
9. Wall Plate
Plates are the walls’ top and flat bottom boards that hold the wall studs in place. Carpenters cut them to the right length and mark them for the doors, windows, and studs’ placements. A bottom, top, and an additional top plate on the next wall is a typical set-up to tie them together.
10. Trimmer or Jack Studs
They frame window and door openings. They run from the bottom plate to the horizontal member above the entrance.
Conclusion
A stable property begins with a secure foundation. Educating yourself and asking your house framing company about the different terms can help ensure a more productive home construction project. Tune in for part two of this blog series!
If you’re looking for a reliable house-framing company, we can help. Konstruction Group Inc. offers reliable house framing services in Toronto and the greater area. Contact us now for a consultation!