How to Frame a House
The quality and durability of the construction of a house has much to do with the framing process. There are several techniques used to frame a house. The technique described here is the traditional method used by many professional builders. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start by looking at your concrete slab foundation. (We'll use a concrete slab foundation for this example.) Make sure your slab is square. Measure the corners of the slab. Come in 3 ½ inches on all corners. Chalk lines at each point. This gives you a line around the perimeter of your slab.
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Put a pressure treated plate on the foundation by laying 2-by-4 foot boards. Now use regular 2-by-4 boards for the top plate. Stagger your corners by cutting your top plate over your cuts on the bottom plate. Determine where you want your windows and doors and mark them on your plates to frame your house.
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Take your bottom plate and turn it up on its edge. Take your top plate and carry it out 8 feet. Now turn it up on its edge. With your marks showing, add your 2-by-4 studs, normally on 16-inch centers (the measurement used by most builders to frame a house).
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Raise your walls to frame your house. Align your bottom plate on your chalk line. Secure the bottom plate to the slab. Plumb your wall by using a level. Then, cut braces to hold it in the plumb position, attaching it to the stud and the floor. Do this all the way around the perimeter of the house. Now add a second plate to the top plate around the perimeter. Use the same steps for the interior walls.
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Determine whether you are going to stick-build your roof or use trusses. (We'll use trusses for this example.) On a truss roof, you can go 24 inches on the center. Lay out your back top plate and your front top plate on 24-inch centers. Start on one end and set your first truss, working your way to the other end. Brace your trusses as you go as a safety precaution.
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Comments
View all 8 Comments-
mark106
Sep 15, 2009
i'm just a lowly roofer but i agree with you framers. roofing 'how to' articles leave out so much also. i've had to fix plenty of home owner made messes... -
dsconstruction
Jun 05, 2009
i tell you what , follow these quick and easy steps to save money from hiring a professional . then when you call us we will charge double to fix your mess!
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projectmgr
Aug 11, 2008
2x4 walls are from the sixty's. Most building codes require a minimum of 2x6 thickness walls for the model energy code whether you use mainly central heating or central air conditioning. I would like to see some sheathing attached to the exterior framed walls to keep them square as well.
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projectmgr
Aug 11, 2008
2x4 walls are from the sixty's. Most building codes require a minimum of 2x6 thickness walls for the model energy code whether you use mainly central heating or central air conditioning. I would like to see some sheathing attached to the exterior framed walls to keep them square as well.
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Ken Swanson
Apr 07, 2008
This must be the 'big box' stores two hour seminar version of how to be a seasoned framer. I have to agree with Nathan. There's a heck of a lot more to framing than this, and starting with the slab, just the snap plate detail would have most folks running to a contractor.
