Framing is the most important step in building a structure such as a single detached house. I say that with all due respect to cribbers (the guys who put the foundations together.) Think of a home as you would your own body. Basically, your skeletal system is the framing of your body. If you did not have it, you would be a gooey mess and your house would fall down.

Without getting into finite detail, there are basically two types of framing; steel stud and wood framing. We will deal with wood framing since it is the most common.

I’m frequently asked, what is ‘good’ framing? Well, let me tell you, this is not an easy question to answer. It is so much easier to tell you what ‘bad’ framing is, but let’s stick with the good. Quality craftsmanship is at the end of the day, most important.

A quality craftsman will ensure ‘good’ framing. Let’s talk about what a reliable, ethical and experienced tradesperson should do for you, with regards to materials. After all, if you are what you eat, then you are what you use to build with…

Whether you have a general contractor or are doing the contracting yourself, you will want to use appropriate gradematerials for your project. Local codes should be strictly adhered to in regards to structural lumber. Most reputable building suppliers will know the codes for your area and will only supply you with those. If you are like me though, you will want to know those codes. Part of what makes ‘good’ framing is knowledge of those codes.

Having the right material for the project is important. Knowing how to put it together with all the different measurements, cuts and nailing or screwing techniques is even more important. Training and experience is the only way to ensure this. Now, you have to start somewhere though don’t you? How about some framing vernacular.

I have used the word ‘stud’ to indicate a typical framing material. Most framers refer to the 92 5/8 inch 2×4 or 2×6, or the 104 5/8 2×4 or 2×6 when talking about studs. Those measurements help achieve a wall height of 8 feet and 9 feet respectively. (As a side note, a 2×4 is actually 1 ½ x3 ½ inches and a 2×6 is 1 ½ x 5 ½ inches. Somewhere along the way, things changed). The stud is part of what holds up the house. It is what we call ‘structural’ lumber.

Next time we will cover plates. No, not the dinner type, but the integral sinew if you will, of the skeletal system. The part which connects the bones (insert studs and friends) is what I am talking about.

So lets build a wall. We will keep it simple and small to begin with. How about a partition wall? That should be simple enough to give us the basic ‘bones’ of a wall. I have to build such a creature in the master bath of my home (says my wife,) so let us use that as an example.

The bathroom is eight by ten feet and needs a wall between the thrown and the tub. The wall is to be four feet long and eight feet high (which is usually 97 1/8 inches, but I have to account for the ceiling and floor thickness. We will not get that detailed here).

So, there will be four main parts to this simple wall. Study these because there will be a test later. These parts are: bottom plate (see, I told you we would talk about plates), top plate, bearing plate and studs.

In my case all three plates will be the same length, four feet. There are times when plates are different lengths, but that is more advanced then we will cover here. The studs, as you will recall are 92 5/8 inches. I will need four studs.

Ok, we have our four foot 2×4 (that is 48 inches) in front of us. We are going to mark the pieces using a framers tape measure and pencil. Have you heard the term ‘On Centre?’ Perhaps well discuss this at a later date. In any case, this particular wall will be marked at two foot on centre. This is actually 23 ¼ inches from on end. It does matter which end in this example.

So our pieces are marked. We now nail or screw (I prefer nailing in this case. It is more economical in material and time for the benefit) the first two studs together. Take time to line up the studs in a parallel fashion. The reason for this will become apparent. Place the studs between the plates like a ‘T’ and nail them together. Two nails per stud are plenty (and you want them about a half inch in from the edges of the studs.) Nail the bearing plate to the top plate in the same manor and you have built a wall.

For further, information consult a bidmyreno framing expert: Ameddio 1000 http://bidmyreno.com/rating/717, Andyreno http://bidmyreno.com/rating/694 and more!

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