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The Frame:
About Lesson

What is framing?

In construction, framing is the process of joining building materials together to create a structure’s shape and support. Framing is a critical part of the building process and includes the walls, floors, and roof systems. It must be done correctly to ensure the building’s structural integrity and longevity. Framing is important because it needs to be strong enough to withstand outside forces like wind, snow, earthquakes, and gravity, and it also needs to be energy efficient. Poorly framed buildings can be susceptible to structural failures, which can cause damage and even endanger people. 

 
 
Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The traditional method of construction framing involves cutting and assembling lumber on-site to create the desired frame. However, with the advancement of technology and the need for more sustainable construction practices, there has been a growing interest in innovative approaches to construction framing
 

Types of Framing:

Timber framing (Post and Beam):

Timber framing (Post and Beam) which involves fitting together large posts and beams and connecting them with wooden pegs, was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. In timber framing, builders work with natural logs and trees, rather than lumber pre-cut to common dimensions (like 2x4s).  This framing method fell out of fashion because timbers were hand-hewn, and the advent of machine-sawn lumber allowed builders to construct homes more quickly with standard-sized (dimensional) lumber. 

Balloon framing:

In the 1830s, balloon framing became popular. This method involves using long, vertical 2x4s as studs, which extend from the sill on top of the foundation up to the roof, and which are secured by nails, rather than pegs. In balloon framing, a single stud could run up to 30 feet. The problem with using uninterrupted studs is the fire hazard: without breaks in the studs, a fire that starts low in the house can quickly shoot up to the top, razing the structure to the ground. 

Platform framing:

Platform framing is a type of wood framing, and is also known as stick framing or western framing. It’s the most common wood framing method used in residential construction today. 

Builders will frame in one-story platforms of typically eight- or nine-foot-high stud walls resting on a subfloor—the platform. Each story is then framed on top of the next, and the roof rests on top of the construction. This method can be used for one- or two-story houses, and has become the standard among contemporary homebuilders because: 

  • Platform framing uses shorter pieces of lumber than previous techniques, like balloon framing, which is an advantage because longer studs are more difficult to obtain and more expensive.
  • The breaks in the studs from level to level create natural firebreaks. 
  • Since builders erect the next floor right on a platform, they are building on a solid work surface—a safer environment, with high structural integrity.  

Other types of residential framing:

Steel Framing:

Residential steel framing is a building technique that uses a steel frame as the structural support for a home. The frame is made up of vertical steel columns and horizontal I-beams that are arranged in a rectangular grid to support the building’s floors, walls, and roof. 

 
Steel framing is a popular choice for home construction because it’s durable, versatile, and economical. Steel frames can also be more resistant to natural disasters like earthquakes because they can bend without cracking and adjust to shifting loads. However, steel is heavier than wood, so it can require more labor and cost more to install. Steel frames can also amplify sound vibrations, so sound-dampening materials may be necessary to create a quieter living environment.
 

Insulated Concrete Blocks/Forms:

Insulated concrete Blocks/Forms (ICF)/CMU construction is a building method that uses interlocking, modular units made of rigid thermal insulation to create concrete walls, floors, and roofs. The units are stacked dry without mortar and then filled with concrete, similar to Lego bricks. Once the concrete hardens, the forms remain in place as a permanent part of the structure, providing insulation, a sound barrier, and a backing for drywall, stucco, lap siding, or brick.

 

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