Details For Conventional Wood Frame Construction

DETAILS FOR
CONVENTIONAL WOOD
FRAME CONSTRUCTION
American Wood Council
American
Forest &
Paper
Association
Copyright © 2001
American Forest & Paper Association
WOOD CONSTRUCTION DATA 1 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter/Title Page Chapter/Title Page
Introduction ............................................. 3 Firestopping ............................................ 8
General Scope ......................................... 3 Draftstopping .......................................... 8
Grade Marking ........................................ 3 Exterior Wall Framing ........................... 8
Lumber Seasoning ................................. 4 Interior Partition Framing .................... 9
TYPES OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION Framing Around Chimneys and
Platform Frame ....................................... 4 Fireplaces .......................................... 9
Balloon Frame ......................................... 5 Roof and Ceiling Framing ................. 10
Fastenings ............................................... 5 Insulation and Vapor Retarders ....... 11
Plank and Beam Construction ............ 5 Exterior Siding and Coverings ........ 11
Truss-Framed Construction ................. 5 Flooring ................................................. 12
Foundations ............................................. 5 Wood Decks ......................................... 13
Protection Against Termites and Conclusion ............................................ 14

Decay .................................................. 6 Appendix .................................................52
Floor Framing .......................................... 7
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
I. Nominal and Minimum-Dressed Sizes of
Boards, Dimension and Timbers.............. 15
II. Wood Shingle and Shake Weather
Exposures ................................................. 16
AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Table of Contents List of Illustrations
2 DETAILS FOR CONVENTIONAL WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Page Figure Page
1. Platform Frame Construction ...................... 17 35. Second Floor Overhang of Exterior Wall,
2. Balloon Frame Construction ....................... 18 Joists at Right Angles to Supporting
3. Methods of Loading Nails ............................ 18 Walls ............................................................... 33
4. Sizes of Common Wire Nails ....................... 19 36. Second Floor Overhang of Exterior Wall,
Joists Parallel to Supporting Walls ............. 33
5. Masonry Foundation Wall and Footing ...... 20
37. Firestopping Around Pipes .......................... 34
6a. Permanent Wood Foundation - Crawl
space .............................................................. 20 38. Firestopping of Dropped Ceilings ............... 34
6b. Permanent Wood Foundation - 39a. Firestoppingof Masonry Walls - Floor ........ 35
Basement ....................................................... 21 39b.Firestopping of Masonry Walls - Ceiling .... 35
7a. Sump for Poorly Drained Soils .................... 22 40. Draftstopping of Trussed Floors ................. 36
7b. Sump for Medium to Well Drained Soils .... 22 41. Multiple Studs at Corners ............................ 36
8. Pier Foundation and Anchorage ................. 23 42. Wall Framing at Intersecting Partitions ...... 36
9. Clearance Between Earth and Floor 43. Exterior Wall Openings, Header Details
Framing .......................................................... 23 with Cripple Studs ........................................ 37
10. Support for Basement Post ......................... 23 44. Exterior Wall Openings, Header Details
11. Floor Framing at Exterior Wall .................... 24 with Joist Hangers ........................................ 37
12. Girder Framing in Exterior Wall ................... 24 45. Framing of Bay Window ............................... 38
13. Termite Shields .............................................. 24 46. Wall Framing at Gable Ends ........................ 38
14. Anchorage of Sill to Foundation Wall ......... 25 47a. Wall and Floor Framing at Fireplace ........... 39
15. Nailing Built-up Beams and Girders ........... 25 47b. Hearth Centering Detail ................................ 39
16. Joist End Bearing ......................................... 25 48a. Clearance of Fireplace Trim ......................... 40
17. Joist Supported on Ledger .......................... 26 48b. Section Through Mantle ............................... 40
18. Joist Supported by Metal Framing 49. Building Paper and Siding Application ...... 41
Anchors .......................................................... 26 50. Application of Wood Shingles ..................... 41
19. Joists Resting on Girder .............................. 26 51. Roof Framing Ceiling Joists Parallel to
20. Joists Resting on Steel Beam ..................... 26 Rafters ............................................................ 42
21. Diagonal Bridging of Floor Joists ............... 27 52. Roof Framing, Ceiling Joists
Perpendicular to Rafters .............................. 42
22. Solid Bridging of Floor Joists ..................... 27
53. Roof Framing Gable Overhang .................... 43
23. Framing of Tail Joists on Ledger Strip ....... 28
54. Flat Roof Framing ......................................... 43
24. Framing of Tail Joists by Framing
Anchors .......................................................... 28 55. Valley Rafter Roof Framing .......................... 44
25. Framing of Header to Trimmer by Joist 56. Hip Rafter Roof Framing .............................. 44
Hangers .......................................................... 28 57. Roof Framing at Eave ................................... 44
26. Notching and Boring of Joists .................... 28 58. Shed Dormer Roof Framing ......................... 45
27. Framing Over Bearing Partition, 59. Gable Dormer Framing ................................. 46
Platform Construction .................................. 29 60. Roof Framing Around Chimney .................. 46
28. Framing Over Bearing Partition, Balloon 61. Roof Ventilation Requirements ................... 47
Construction .................................................. 29 62. Ventilating Eave Overhangs ........................ 47
29. Framing Under Non-Bearing Partition ........ 30 63. Wood Siding Patterns and Nailing .............. 48
30. Attachment of Non-Bearing Partition to 64. Corner Treatments for Wood Siding ........... 48
Ceiling Framing ............................................. 30 65. Application of Masonry Veneer to Wood
31. Interior Stairway Framing ............................ 31 Framing .......................................................... 49
32. Stairway With a Landing .............................. 32 66. Wood Strip Flooring ..................................... 49
33. Framing Supporting Bathtub ....................... 32 67. Wood Deck ..................................................... 50
34. Second Floor Framing, Exterior Wall ......... 33 68. Ceiling-Floor Partition Separation .............. 51
AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

DETAILS FOR CONVENTIONAL WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION
INTRODUCTION The first approach to achieving a strong, durable struc-

ture, involving economical use of materials, is to follow a
Wood frame construction is the predominant method basic modular plan for layout and attachment of framing
of building homes and apartments in the United States, members. Such methods use a 4-foot design module,
enabling this nation to have the world’s best housed popu- which governs a 16-inch spacing of joists, studs, rafters
lation. and panel sheathing products. This module also provides
Increasingly, wood framing is also being used in com- for alternate 24-inch spacing of floor, wall and roof fram-
mercial and industrial buildings. Wood frame buildings are ing where floor and roof trusses are used, and
economical to build, heat and cool, and provide maximum accommodates 24-inch spacing of studs where wind loads
comfort to occupants. Wood construction is readily adapt- permit, or where larger studs are required for thicker in-
able to traditional, contemporary and the most futuristic sulation or heavier floor and roof loads.
building styles. Its architectural possibilities are limitless.
History has demonstrated the inherent strength and Terminology
durability of wood frame buildings. The purpose of this Previous versions of this document have followed the
document is to summarize and illustrate conventional con- practice of using “shall” and “should” to emphasize those
struction rules as a guide for builders, carpentry foremen, mandatory instructions covering fire and life safety as
building inspectors and students in the building trades. separate from general good practices cover durability, re-
The application of conventional construction rules may duced maintenance costs and best performance of
be limited by building code requirements in use where products. Recognizing that the term “should,” in practice,
the building is being constructed. Conventional construc- can be considered as optional and that failure to follow
tion provisions, as found in this publication, represent such provisions can result in serious damage or excessive
techniques with a history of satisfactory performance. maintenance costs to the home owner, this publication
Today, some building codes may require a more rigor- states the procedure as it is to be illustrated in the house
ous structural design methodology than is associated with plan, followed by the job foreman and subcontractors, and
conventional construction. This requirement may result from enforced by the building inspector.
a need for better building performance when the structure is Wherever possible, the provisions described are in-
exposed to moderate-to-high wind, seismic, and snow loads. tended to conform to current code provisions; however, it
AF&PA publishes the Wood Frame Construction Manual is recommended that the local building code be checked
for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (Appendix, Item 1) to for additional requirements. Other methods of building
provide solutions based on engineering analysis, in accor- may provide equal, or possibly, improved performance.
dance with recognized national codes and standards. Like These, however, must provide performance assurance ac-
conventional construction, the engineered solutions are pro- ceptable to the owner and the building inspector.
vided in a prescriptive format.
Dimensioning
GENERAL SCOPE In general, dimensions for framing lumber, wood sid-
ing and trim referenced in this document are nominal
With any building material or product, sound construc- dimensions; i.e., 2x4, 2x6, etc., for simplicity. Actual sur-
tion and installation practices must be followed to assure faced dimensions conform with those in Product Standard
durability and trouble-free performance. Areas for PS 20, published by the American Lumber Standards Com-
economy in basic design and house construction are cov- mittee (Appendix, Item 2). A summary of these
ered in numerous publications. However, skimping on dimensions is set forth in Table I.
materials or using poor building practices in constructing
the house frame saves little. Such practices may reduce GRADE MARKING
the strength and rigidity of the structure and cause diffi-
culty in attachment of cladding materials and trim. Framing lumber, also referred to as “dimension” lum-
Therefore, the details in this document are not intended to ber, must be properly grade marked to be acceptable under
be bare minimums; rather, they reflect requirements for the major building codes. Such grade marks identify the
producing sound, low maintenance wood frame buildings. grade, species or species group, seasoning condition at

time of manufacture, producing mill number and the grad- Final moisture content of lumber in the building varies
ing rules writing agency. with the geographic region and with location in the struc-
The bending strength, Fb, and the stiffness or modulus ture. Floor joists over a crawl space may reach seasonal
of elasticity, E, may be determined from the grade mark for moisture contents in excess of 14 percent. Roof trusses and
lumber used as joists, rafters, and decking. These values rafters, on the other hand, may dry below 6 percent. Squeak-
enable determination of allowable spans for the lumber. ing floors and loose nails in wallboard or siding can be
Grading rules for various softwood and certain hard- reduced by allowing framing to season to a moisture con-
wood species are written by regional rules writing tent which is as close as possible to moisture levels it will
agencies, which operate within the system, established by reach in service and by utilizing modern framing techniques
the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) un- and products, including glued-nailed floor systems, grooved
der the authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce. or ring-shanked nails, and drywall screws.
This system provides for on-going inspection of lumber
produced to the applicable rules and for monitoring of the Protection of Materials
inspection agencies by the Board of Review of the ALSC. Lumber, panel products and millwork (windows, doors
Engineering values and tables of allowable spans for and trim) should be protected from the weather when de-
framing lumber are available from the American Forest livered at the building site. Preparation of a construction
& Paper Association (Appendix, Items 3 and 4), and the schedule will assure that lumber and millwork are deliv-
regional rules writing agencies. ered as needed. Follow these simple rules:
(1) Support framing lumber, plywood and panel prod-
LUMBER SEASONING
ucts at least six inches above ground and protect
them below and above with a waterproof cover such
Wood loses moisture from the time it is cut and manu-
as plastic film. Finish lumber and flooring, particu-
factured into lumber until it reaches equilibrium in service.
larly, are to be protected from ground or concrete
Best performance of wood frame buildings is obtained when
slab moisture and kept under cover – preferably in-
the moisture content of framing lumber at the time the build-
doors – until installation.
ing is enclosed with sheathing and interior finish, is as close
as possible to the condition it will reach in service. (2) Store door and window assemblies, siding and ex-
Grading rules which conform with American Soft- terior trim inside. Where this is not practical, these
wood Lumber Standard, PS 20, provide for framing lumber materials are to be elevated from the ground and
surfaced to standard sizes at the unseasoned condition (S- protected above and below with a weatherproof
Grn), at 19 percent maximum moisture content (S-Dry) cover.
and at 15 percent maximum moisture content (KD) or
(MC-15). Standard sizes apply to S-Dry (19% max), with Millwork items are often pre-treated with a water-
slightly larger sizes provided for S-Grn so that both prod- repellent preservative as received. Whether treated
ucts reach approximately the same size after seasoning in or not, such materials are to be stored under cover.
service. MC-15 lumber is produced to the same standard Untreated exterior millwork should receive a wa-
size as S-Dry. In some cases engineering stress values as- ter-repellent preservative treatment before
signed to lumber produced to different seasoning installation.
conditions are adjusted to reflect the effects of seasoning. (3) Store interior doors, trim, flooring and cabinetwork
Lumber should be protected from weather at the job in the building. Where wet plaster is used it must be
site. Buildings should be roofed and enclosed with sheath- permitted to dry before interior woodwork, cabinetry
ing without delay to maintain the original dryness of the and flooring are installed.
lumber or to help unseasoned lumber reach equilibrium
during construction.
TYPES OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION

PLATFORM FRAME erected. This is the type of construction most generally
used in home building, Figure 1.
In platform-frame construction, first floor joists are Platform construction is easy to erect. It provides a
completely covered with sub-flooring to form a platform work surface at each floor level and is readily adapted to
upon which exterior walls and interior partitions are various methods of prefabrication. In platform systems it

is common practice to assemble wall framing on the floor exterior sidings. Details for this method of framing are pro-
and tilt the entire unit into place. vided in Plank and Beam Framing for Residential Buildings
- Wood Construction Data No. 4, published by the Ameri-
BALLOON FRAME can Forest & Paper Association (Appendix, Item 5).
In balloon-frame construction, exterior wall studs con- TRUSS-FRAMED CONSTRUCTION

tinue through the first and second stories. First floor joists and
exterior wall studs both bear on the anchored sill, Figure 2. The strength and resilience of wood construction is
Second-floor joists bear on a minimum 1x4-inch ribbon strip, due to its framework of structural lumber combined with
which has been let-in to the inside edges of exterior wall studs. a covering of subflooring, wall and roof sheathing. Addi-
In two-story buildings with brick or stone veneer exte- tional engineering of the system through use of floor and
riors, balloon framing reduces variations in settlement of roof trusses and metal framing anchors provides even
framing and the masonry veneer. Where exterior walls are greater rigidity and permits wider spacing of floor and
of solid masonry, balloon framing of interior bearing parti- roof supporting members.
tions also reduces distortions in door and closet openings
in crosswalls. The requirement for longer studs, and the FOUNDATIONS
difficulty in accommodating current erection practices and
firestopping, has reduced the popularity of this system. A firm foundation, consisting of properly installed
footings of adequate size to support the structure, is es-
FASTENINGS sential to the satisfactory performance of all buildings.
Such foundations fully utilize the strength and resilience
Nails, used alone or in combination with metal fram- of wood frame construction.
ing anchors and construction adhesives, are the most Footings should extend below exterior grade suffi-
common method of fastening 1- and 2-inch framing lum- ciently to be free of frost action during winter months. Where
ber and sheathing panels, Figure 4. Ring or spiral shank roots of trees are removed during excavation or when build-
nails provide higher load-carrying capacities than com- ing on filled ground, the ground should be well compacted
mon nails of the same diameter, and are particularly useful before footings are installed or concrete is poured.
where greater withdrawal resistance is required. Where poor soil conditions exist, satisfactory foun-
Nailed joints provide best performance where the load dations may be constructed of treated timber piles capped
acts at right angles to the nails. Nailed joints with the load with wood or concrete sills. Footing requirements are cov-
applied parallel to the nail (in withdrawal) should be ered in the local building code. It is good practice,
avoided wherever possible, since joints are weakest when generally, to make the footing thickness equal to the thick-
nailed in this manner, Figure 3. ness of the foundation wall and the footing projection equal
Where tilt-up wall framing is not practical, or where to one-half the foundation wall thickness.
stronger stud-to-plate attachment is required (as in the use Two principal foundation types are commonly used.
of rigid foam sheathing), toe-nailing is the most practical These are concrete and pressure preservative treated wood.
method of framing studs and plates. Concrete footings with poured concrete or masonry block
In toe-nailing, nails are driven at a 30-degree angle foundation walls are most common. An increasingly popu-
(approximately) to the stud. Studs can be pre-drilled to lar foundation for houses and other wood frame buildings
simplify this operation and prevent excessive splitting. is the “Permanent Wood Foundation” which is accepted
by all model building codes and the Department of Hous-
PLANK AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION ing and Urban Development (HUD).
In the plank and beam framing method, beams of ad- Concrete Foundations
equate size to support floor and roof loads are spaced up Concrete footings are frequently unreinforced. Where
to eight feet apart. Floors and roofs are covered with 2- unstable soil conditions exist, however, reinforced con-
inch planks. These serve as subflooring and roof sheathing, crete is used. This requires engineering analysis of the
and, where tongue-and-grooved planking is used, provide footing. The foundation wall may be of poured concrete
an attractive finished floor and ceiling. or masonry blocks. Masonry block basement walls typi-
Ends of floor and roof beams are supported on posts cally have a ½-inch coat of Portland cement mortar applied
which provide the wall framing. Supplementary framing to the exterior. When set, the mortar parging is covered
between posts permits attachment of wall sheathing and with two coats of asphalt to resist penetration of the wall

by ground water, Figure 5. Masonry block walls are tures for Permanence-Wood Construction Data No. 6
capped at the top with 4 inches of solid masonry or con- (Appendix, Item 8). The following practices are basic:
crete. Drain tiles are installed around the entire footing All roots and scraps of lumber are removed from the
perimeter of concrete foundations. These lead to a storm immediate vicinity of the house before backfilling.
drain or sump with pump to a positive drain. Loose backfill is carefully tamped to reduce settle-
ment around the foundation perimeter. Grading at the
Wood Foundations foundation and over the building site is sloped to provide
Permanent wood foundations are engineered systems drainage away from the structure.
consisting of wood framing and plywood sheathing that
have been pressure treated with heavy concentrations of Unexcavated Spaces
preservative to assure freedom from decay and insect at- Exposed ground in crawl spaces and under porches or
tack. The system is used with both basement and crawl decks is covered with 6-mil polyethylene film. Minimum
space foundations, Figures 6a and 6b. clearance between the ground and the bottom edge of beams
Permanent wood foundations are particularly suitable or girders is at least twelve inches. Clearance between the
for cold weather construction where the entire foundation bottom of wood joists or a structural plank floor and the
system can be prefabricated. The footing and basement ground is a minimum of 18 inches, Figure 9. Where it is
area consists of a layer of gravel or crushed stone of 4- not possible to maintain these clearances, approved1 pres-
inch minimum thickness. Treated wood footing plates of sure treated or naturally durable wood species are used.
adequate thickness and width are placed on the stone base
at the wall perimeter. These support foundation stud walls Columns and Posts
of treated lumber framing and plywood sheathing which Posts or columns in basements and cellars, or exposed
have been designed to support vertical and lateral loads. to the weather, are supported by concrete piers or pedestals
Exterior plywood joints are caulked and basement foun- projecting at least 1 inch above concrete floors or decks
dation walls are covered with 6-mil polyethylene film to and 6 inches above exposed earth. Wood posts and col-
direct ground water to the gravel base. Basement floors umns are separated from concrete piers by an impervious
are concrete slab or wood flooring laid on treated wood moisture barrier, except when approved pressure treated or
joists on sleepers. A 6-mil polyethylene film is placed over naturally durable wood species are used, Figures 9 and 10.
the gravel base beneath the slab or wood floor. Wood posts or columns which are closer than 8 inches
Drain tiles are not required with permanent wood foun- to exposed ground in crawl spaces or supporting porches
dations. Ground water at the wall perimeter drains through or decks are of approved pressure treated or naturally du-
the gravel footing and the gravel slab base to a sump which rable wood species.
leads to a daylight outlet or is pumped to a storm drain,
Figure 7. Such basements have a superior record for main- Exterior walls
taining dry interior conditions. Additional information on Wood framing and sheathing used in exterior walls
Permanent Wood Foundations is available from AF&PA and are installed at least 8 inches above exposed earth (in-
the Southern Pine Council (Appendix, Items 6 and 7). cluding finished grade), unless approved pressure treated
or naturally durable wood species are used, Figures 11
Other Foundations and 12.
Other foundation types include free standing piers,
piers with curtain walls, or piers supporting grade beams. Beams and Girders in Masonry Walls
Piers and their footings must be of adequate size to carry Openings or cavities in masonry walls to support the
the weight of the house, contents and occupants. Pier spac- ends of beams, girders, or floor joists are of sufficient size to
ing will depend upon arrangement of floor framing and provide a minimum of ½-inch clearance at the top, sides and
location of bearing walls and partitions. Spacing in the ends of such members, unless pressure preservative treated
range of 8 to 12 feet is common practice, Figure 8. or naturally durable wood species are used, Figure 12.
PROTECTION AGAINST TERMITES AND Wood Supports Embedded in Ground

DECAY Wood supports embedded in the ground to support
permanent structures shall be treated with approved pres-
Good construction practice prevents conditions that sure preservative treatments. Wood posts, poles and
could lead to decay or termite attack. Details for termite columns which support permanent structures and which
and decay prevention are found in Design of Wood Struc-
1 Approved, as used in this text, means approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

are embedded in concrete in direct contact with earth or approximately 6-foot intervals. Bolts are embedded at least
exposed to the weather, shall be treated with approved 6 inches in poured concrete walls and at least 15 inches in
pressure preservative treatments. masonry block walls, Figure 14. Metal anchor straps,
embedded in foundation walls at sufficient intervals to
Siding permit adequate nail fastening to sills, may also be used.
A minimum clearance of 6 inches is maintained be-
tween the finished grade and the bottom edge of all types Sills on Piers
of siding used with wood frame buildings. Such clear- Sills supported by free-standing piers must be of ad-
ance permits ready inspection for termite activity and equate size to carry all imposed loads between piers. They
improved performance of exterior paint and stain finishes. may be of solid wood or of built-up construction such as
described for beams and girders. Sills are anchored to piers
Crawl Space Ventilation with ½-inch bolts embedded at least 6 inches in poured
Crawl spaces are vented by openings in foundation concrete and at least 15 inches in masonry block, Figure 8.
walls. The number and size of such vent openings are de-
termined to provide a minimum total vent area equal to Beams and Girders
1/150 of the crawl space ground area. For example, a 1500 Beams and girders are of solid timber or built-up con-
sq. ft. ground area would require a total of 10 sq. ft. of struction in which multiple pieces of nominal 2-inch thick
vented opening, or 10 vents, each 1 square foot in net lumber are nailed together with the wide faces vertical.
opening size. Corrosion resistant mesh with ¼-inch maxi- Such pieces are nailed with two rows of 20d nails-one
mum openings is recommended. row near the top edge and the other near the bottom edge.
A 6-mil plastic film ground cover in the crawl space Nails in each row are spaced 32 inches apart. End joints
reduces the required amount of ventilation to 10 percent of the nailed lumber should occur over the supporting
of the preceding recommendation. With ground cover column or pier. End joints in adjacent pieces should be at
protection, vents may have operable louvers. Vent open- least 16 inches apart, Figure 15. Glued-laminated mem-
ings should be placed to provide cross ventilation and bers are also used. Beams and girders that are not
occur within 3 feet of corners. continuous are tied together across supports. Bearing of
at least 4 inches is required at supports.
Termite Control
After removal of all scrap wood from the building Selection and Placing of Joists
perimeter, treatment of the soil around the foundation with Span Tables for Joists and Rafters (Appendix, Item 4)
an approved termiticide is the most effective protection published by the American Forest & Paper Association,
against subterranean termites. Properly installed termite provides maximum allowable spans for the different spe-
shields also provide protection where the interiors of foun- cies and grades of lumber depending upon floor and roof
dation walls are not easily inspected, Figure 13. design loads and spacing of the members.
Joist end-bearing should not be less than 1½ inches
Additional Requirements on wood or metal and 3 inches on masonry. Joists are usu-
In geographical areas where experience has demon- ally attached to sills by two toe-nails, or by metal framing
strated a need for more protective measures, the anchors, Figures 8, 11 and 16. Joists should be placed so
requirements of the preceding paragraphs may be modi- the top edge provides an even plane for the sub-floor and
fied to the extent required by local conditions. finished floor. It is preferable to frame joists into the sides
of girders to reduce the cumulative effect of seasoning
FLOOR FRAMING shrinkage, Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Floor framing consists of a system of sills, girders, Bridging

joists or floor trusses and sub-flooring that provides sup- Adequately nailed subflooring will maintain the up-
port for floor loads and gives lateral support to exterior per edges of floor joists in proper alignment. Nailing the
walls. ends of joists to band joists or headers, Figures 11 and
24, provides additional joist support that, under normal
Sills on Foundation Walls conditions, eliminates the need for intermediate bridging.
Sills resting on continuous masonry foundation walls Where the nominal depth-to-thickness ratio of joists ex-
are generally of nominal 2x4 or 2x6 lumber. They are an- ceeds 6, or where builders have encountered problems
chored to masonry walls with ½-inch bolts at with twisting of joists in service, intermediate joist bridg-

ing is installed at 8-foot intervals. Bridging may also be FIRESTOPPING

accomplished with cross braces of nominal 1x4-inch lum-
ber or solid 2-inch lumber, Figures 21 and 22. All concealed spaces in wood framing are firestopped
with wood blocking or other approved materials. Block-
Framing of Floor Openings ing must be accurately fitted to fill the opening and to
Headers, trimmers and tail joists form the framing for prevent drafts between spaces, Figures 2, 16, 27, 28, 31,
floor openings. Trimmers and headers are doubled when and 32.
the header span exceeds 4 feet. Headers more than 6 feet Openings around vents, pipes, ducts, chimneys, fire-
in length are supported at the ends by joist hangers or places and similar fixtures which would allow passage of
framing anchors unless they are bearing on a partition, fire are filled with non-combustible material, Figure 37.
beam or wall. Tail joists which exceed 12 feet in length Other firestopping requires 2-inch lumber or two
are supported on framing anchors or on ledger strips not thicknesses of 1-inch lumber with staggered joints, or one
less than nominal 2x2 inches, Figures 23, 24 and 25. thickness of ¾-inch plywood with joints backed by 1-inch
lumber or ¾-inch plywood.
Notching and Boring of Joists Sills and plates normally provide adequate
Notches or holes in joists for plumbing or wiring shall firestopping in walls and partitions. However, stopping is
not be cut in the middle one-third of the joist span. Notches required at all intersections between vertical and horizon-
in the outer-third sections of the span may be no greater tal spaces such as occur at soffits, dropped ceilings and
than one-sixth the joist depth. Where notches are made at coved ceilings, Figure 38.
the joist ends for ledger support, they may be no greater Furred spaces on masonry walls are firestopped at each
than one-fourth the joist depth. Holes in the joist are floor level and at the ceiling level by wood blocking or by
are limited in diameter to one-third the joist depth and are non-combustible material of sufficient thickness to fill the
cut with the edge of the hole no closer than 2 inches to space, Figure 39.
the top or bottom edges, Figure 26.
DRAFTSTOPPING
Support of Partitions
Bearing partitions are normally placed over girders In single family residences, draftstopping is required
or walls which support the floor system. Where floor fram- parallel to main framing members in floor/ceiling assem-
ing is adequate to support the added load, bearing partitions blies separating usable spaces into two or more
may be offset from supporting members by no more than approximately equal areas with no area greater than 500
the joist depth, unless floor joists are designed to carry square feet. Materials for draftstopping may be 3/8-inch
the increased load, Figures 27 and 28. plywood or ½-inch gypsum board, Figure 40.
Where non-bearing partitions run parallel to floor
joists, the joist under the partition is doubled to support EXTERIOR WALL FRAMING
increased loads which frequently occur adjacent to the
partition, Figures 29 and 30. Exterior wall framing must be of adequate size and
strength to support floor and roof loads. Walls must also
Overhang of Floors resist lateral wind loads and, in some locations, earthquake
Where second-floor joists project over the first story forces. Top plates are doubled and lapped at corners and
wall at right angles, they are cantilevered to support the at bearing partition intersections to tie the building into a
second story wall, Figure 35. Where the overhanging wall strong structural unit. A single top plate may be used where
is parallel to the second floor joists, a double joist sup- roof rafters or trusses bear directly above wall studs. In
ports lookout joists which extend at right angles over the such cases adequate corner ties are required, particularly
first story wall, Figure 36. The double joist is located where non-structural sheathing is used.
inside the supporting wall at a distance equal to twice the
overhang. Lookout joists are framed into the double joist Stud Size and Spacing
by framing anchors or a ledger strip nailed at the upper Studs in exterior walls of one and two-story buildings
edge. are at least nominal 2x4 inches with the 4-inch dimension
forming the basic wall thickness. Stud spacing is normally
16 inches in exterior walls, although 24-inch spacing of
2x4 studs is acceptable in one-story buildings if wall
sheathing or siding is of adequate thickness to bridge

across studs. In three-story buildings studs in the bottom rating of five or greater. Six-inch wide strips of sheathing
story are at least nominal 3x4 or 2x6 inches and may not paper are applied around all wall openings and behind all
exceed 16-inch spacing. exterior trim, Figures 49 and 50. Sheathing paper is ap-
Studs are arranged in multiples at corners and parti- plied from the bottom of the wall, lapping horizontal joints
tion intersections to provide for rigid attachment of 4 inches and vertical joints 6 inches.
sheathing, siding and interior wall finish materials. Nail-
ing strips or metal clips may be used to back up interior INTERIOR PARTITION FRAMING
finish at corners, Figures 41 and 42.
There are two types of interior partitions: bearing par-
Exterior Wall Openings titions which support floors, ceilings or roofs; and
A header of adequate size is required at window and non-bearing partitions which carry only the weight of the
door openings to carry vertical loads across the opening. materials in the partition, including attachments in the fin-
Headers may be supported by doubled studs or, where the ished building.
span does not exceed 3 feet, framing anchors may be used
with single supporting studs, Figures 43 and 44. Where Bearing Partitions
the opening width exceeds 6 feet, triple studs are used Studs in bearing partitions should be at least nominal
with each end of the header bearing on two studs. 2x4 inches, with the wide surface of the stud at right angles
to top and bottom plates or headers. Plates are lapped or
Gable End Walls tied into exterior walls at intersection points.
Studs at gable ends bear on the top plate and are Single top plates are permitted where joists or rafters
notched and nailed to the end rafter, Figure 46. are supported directly over bearing wall studs. Studs sup-
porting floors are spaced a maximum of 16 inches on
Wall Sheathing center. Studs supporting ceilings may be spaced 24 inches
The high resistance of wood frame construction to on center. Headers in bearing walls are used to carry loads
hurricane, earthquake and other forces of nature is pro- over openings, as required for exterior walls.
vided when wood sheathing is adequately nailed to the
outside edges of exterior wall studs, plates and headers. Non-Bearing Partitions
Wall sheathing includes plywood, particleboard and other Studs in non-bearing partitions are nominal 2x3 or
structural panels such as wafer-board, oriented-strand 2x4 inches and may be installed with the wide face per-
board, structural insulation board and one-inch board lum- pendicular or parallel to the wall surface. Single top plates
ber. Such sheathing is applied in strict accordance with are used. Stud spacing is 16-or 24-inches on center as re-
manufacturer’s nailing requirements to provide a rigid, quired by the wall covering.
yet resilient, wood frame system. Some structural panels
function as both sheathing and siding. FRAMING AROUND CHIMNEYS AND
Where the building exterior is to be stuccoed, where FIREPLACES
plastic foam sheathing is used, or where bevel or other
lap siding is applied directly to the studs, exterior walls Framing
must be braced at the corners with 1x4 lumber which has Wood framing must be adequately separated from fire-
been “let-in” to the outside surfaces of studs, plates and place and chimney masonry, Figures 47a and 47b. All
headers at an angle of 45 degrees, Figures 1 and 2. Metal headers, beams, joists and studs must be kept at least two
strap braces adequately nailed may be used. Plywood or inches from the outside face of chimney and fireplace
other structural panels applied vertically at each corner masonry. Prefabricated metal fireplace and chimney as-
also serve as adequate corner bracing where non-struc- semblies are to be installed in accordance with the
tural sheathing is otherwise used. manufacturer’s recommendations and must be approved
by the code authority.
Building or Sheathing Paper
Walls are protected from wind and water infiltration Trim
by covering the wall sheathing with a layer of Type 15 Wood mantles and similar trim are separated from fire-
asphalt saturated felt paper or with other suitable water place openings by at least six inches, Figures 48a and 48b.
repellent paper or plastic films. Such coverings must per- Where combustible material is within 12 inches of the
mit passage of any moisture vapor which enters the wall fireplace opening, the projection shall not exceed ½ inch
system from the interior and have a vapor permeability for each 1-inch distance from such opening.

ROOF AND CEILING FRAMING stallation of roof and ceiling framing. Roof trusses are
generally spaced 24 inches on center.
Roof construction must be of adequate strength to Where roof trusses are used, gable ends are usually
withstand anticipated snow and wind loads. Framing mem- framed in the conventional manner using a common rafter
bers must be securely fastened to each other, to sheathing to which gable end studs are nailed. Eave overhangs are
and to exterior walls to enable the roof system to serve as framed by extending the top chords of the trusses beyond
a structural unit, Figures 51 through 59. the wall.
Where hip and valley construction is required, modi-
Ceiling Joist and Rafter Framing fied trusses or conventional framing are used to meet the
Maximum allowable spans for ceiling joists and rafters condition.
for various lumber grades and species are provided in Span
Tables for Joists and Rafters, (Appendix, Item 4). Ceiling-Floor-Partition Separation
Ceiling joists must be securely nailed to exterior wall In some localities truss uplift may be a problem. This
plates, to the ends of rafters and where the joists join over problem is characterized by the separation of the floor or
interior partitions. This provides a structural tie across the ceiling from an interior partition.
building to withstand outward forces exerted by the rafters, A widely used technique to minimize truss uplift sepa-
Figure 51. Ceiling joists at right angles to rafters are to be ration is to allow the gypsum board ceiling to “float” or
avoided, Figure 52. rest on the partition and remain unattached to the truss on
The ridge member is of 1- or 2-inch thick lumber and either side of the partition. In cases where trusses are per-
is 2 inches deeper than the depth of the rafters to permit pendicular to partitions, the gypsum board ceiling remains
full bearing at the angled rafter ends. Rafters are placed unattached at least 18 inches from the ceiling/ wall inter-
directly opposite each other across the ridge and are section, Figure 68. Additional solutions to this separation
notched at the lower end to fit the exterior wall top plate, are found in two reports referenced in Appendix, Items
Figures 53 and 57. Rafters are secured to the wall plate 12 and 13.
by toe-nailing or use of special metal plate fastenings.
Flat Roofs
Collar Beams (collar ties) Flat roofs should be avoided if possible because they
Collar beams of nominal 1x6 or 2x4 lumber are in- are difficult to ventilate and insulate adequately and present
stalled in the upper one-third of the attic space to every weather proofing problems. Where flat roofs are used,
third pair of rafters to secure the ridge framing. rafters or roof joists serve as ceiling joists for the space
below, Figure 54. Maximum allowable spans for ceiling
Valley and Hip Rafter Framing joists and rafters are contained in Span Tables for Joists
Valley rafters at the intersection of two roof areas are and Rafters, (Appendix, Item 4). Flat roof joists are se-
doubled in thickness and two inches deeper than adjoin- curely nailed to exterior wall plates and to each other where
ing rafters, Figure 55. they join over interior partitions.
Hip rafters are of single thickness but are two inches
deeper than common rafters to permit full bearing of jack Roof Sheathing
rafters, Figure 56. Wood structural panels or 1-inch board lumber pro-
Where ridges occur at different elevations, provision vides a solid base for roof coverings. Structural panels
must be made for vertical support of the interior end of are manufactured in various thicknesses and are usually
the lower ridge board. 4’x8' in surface dimension. Recommended spans, spac-
ing between panel edges and thickness are stamped on
Roof Trusses the panel face. Structural panels are installed with the long
Roof framing may be fabricated as light trusses and dimension perpendicular to rafters and with the panel con-
installed as complete units. Such framing is designed ac- tinuous over two or more spans.
cording to accepted engineering practice. The truss
members are joined together by fasteners such as nails, Spaced Sheathing
nails and glue, bolts, metal plates or other framing de- Where wood shingles or shakes are to be applied as
vices. the finished roof, solid sheathing is used or nominal 1x4
Use of roof trusses eliminates the need for interior lumber is nailed perpendicular to rafters and trusses with
bearing partitions and frequently results in more rapid in- each board spaced a distance from the next board equal to
the weather exposure of the shingles or shakes. (5½ inches

is common exposure for shingles. Shakes may be exposed ates gaps along each stud, which make this type of vapor
7 to 13 inches depending on their length.) Because shakes protection of little value. Proper vapor protection requires
are not smooth surfaced, an 18-inch wide underlay of as- a 4-mil (.004") minimum thickness of polyethylene film
phalt felt is used between each course. Where wind driven stapled to wall studs immediately beneath the dry wall or
snow is encountered, solid sheathing and Type 15 asphalt other interior finish. The film is carefully fitted around
felt are used under wood shakes. window and door openings and behind electric outlets.
Crawl spaces and basement concrete slabs are also
Ventilation of Attic Spaces sources of moisture vapor, which reduce the effectiveness
Ventilation of all attic spaces is required to eliminate of insulation and create expansion problems with hard-
moisture condensation on roof framing in cold weather wood flooring. A 6-mil (.006") polyethylene film placed
and to permit heat to escape in warm weather, Figure 61. over the ground in crawl spaces and over the gravel be-
For gable roofs, a screened, louvered opening is used fore the basement slab is poured is the most effective
which provides a net open area of 1/150 of the area of the method of controlling moisture vapor from the ground.
ceiling below. Where a ¾-inch wide screened slot is also Some plastic foam sheathings and foil-faced sheath-
provided in the eave soffits, or where a vapor retarder ing may act as vapor retarders on the outside of exterior
having one perm or less permeability is installed on the walls. Where such sheathing panels are used, it is essen-
warm side of the ceiling, the total ventilating area may be tial that a vapor retardant polyethylene film be placed on
reduced to 1/300 of the ceiling area. the inside wall surface, beneath the interior wall finish.
With hip roof construction, a ¾-inch wide screened
slot in the eave soffits, and ventilator at the ridge to pro- EXTERIOR SIDING AND COVERINGS
vide 1/450 inlet and 1/900 outlet fractions of the ceiling
area below, assures adequate ventilation. Many types of wood, hardboard, shingle, structural
For flat roofs, blocking, bridging and insulation are panel, metal and masonry veneer sidings are used over
arranged to prevent obstruction of air flow. Such roofs wood framing. Such materials are separated from the fi-
are ventilated at eave soffits to provide net open area equal nal, finished grade by a minimum of 6 inches, Figure 49.
to 1/250 of the area of the ceiling below. A vapor retarder
of one perm or less permeability is applied under the ceil- Wood Siding
ing finish below flat roofs. A variety of wood and hardboard siding patterns are
available. Bevel, shiplap and drop types are generally used
INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDERS horizontally. Board-and-batten, board-on-board and
tongued and grooved boards are applied vertically,
Insulation Figure 63. Surfaces are smooth, rough sawn or overlaid
Adequate insulation in stud spaces of exterior walls, with paper or plastic film. They may be natural or factory
between floor and ceiling joists or rafters and on the in- pre-primed or pre-finished.
side of masonry foundations between grade line and first Siding and exterior trim are applied over a layer of
floor, make wood frame construction efficient to heat and Type 15 asphalt felt or other water repellent sheathing
cool. It also increases occupant comfort and absorbs out- cover with corrosion-resistant nails. Hot dipped galvanized
side noises. Roll or batt-type insulation is installed full steel, stainless steel or aluminum nails may be used. Nail
thickness in exterior walls or between rafters. Roll or loose length varies with the thickness of siding and sheathing.
fill insulation is used in attics between ceiling joists. Rigid For smooth shank siding nails, required length is deter-
foam plastic is bonded to the inside of foundation walls mined by adding to the combined siding and sheathing
with construction adhesive. thickness an additional 1½ inches for penetration into solid
wood.
Vapor Retarders Where foam sheathing or insulation board sheathing
Vapor retardant film prevents moisture vapor from are used, “solid wood” means 1½-inch nail penetration
moving through the insulated wall and condensing on the into the stud. However, where plywood, waferboard or
back side of sheathing and siding. Such condensation oriented strand board sheathing are used, the thickness of
greatly reduces the effectiveness of insulation and causes these panels becomes a part of the 1½-inch solid wood
failures of exterior paints and finishes. nail penetration.
Wall insulation batts usually have vapor retardant pa- Ring-shank or spiral-shank siding nails have additional
per covers facing the room interior. However, the most holding power. A reduction of 1/8 to 1/4 inch in required
common method of installing wall insulation batts cre- nail penetration into solid wood is permitted for these fas-

teners. Additional requirements apply to use of rigid tervals equal to the weather exposure of the shingles or
foam plastic sheathing, and are published by AF&PA shakes, Figure 50.
(Appendix, Item 9).
Bevel siding and square edged boards applied hori- Masonry Veneer
zontally are nailed with a single nail at each stud. The Masonry veneer applied to wood frame construction
minimum lap is 1 inch, with the nail driven approximately is supported on the masonry foundation wall. Where per-
1½ inches above the lap, Figure 63(a). manent wood foundations are used, masonry veneer is
Drop and shiplap type sidings, which lay flush against supported on the preservative treated wood footing plate
the sheathing paper, are nailed at each stud with a single or on a preservative treated wood knee wall attached to
nail approximately 1½ inches above the drip edge. Where the wood foundation with corrosion resistant metal ties.
siding width is 8 inches or more or where sheathing is Ties are spaced horizontally 24 inches on center, with each
omitted, two nails are used, Figure 63(b). tie supporting no more than two square feet of wall area.
Corner treatment is governed by the house design. Ties are fastened through sheathing directly to founda-
Corner boards, mitered corners, metal corner covers or tion studs, Figure 65.
alternately lapped corners are used, Figure 64. In masonry veneer applications to permanent wood
Board siding, both square edge and tongue and foundations, a 1-inch space is left between sheathing and
grooved, is applied vertically, Figures 63(c) and 63(d). masonry. Base flashing extends from the outside face of
Where wood, plywood or structural panel sheathing of the masonry wall over the foundation and up the sheath-
½-inch minimum thickness is used, nails are spaced 16 ing a minimum distance of 12 inches. Weep holes are
inches vertically. For other types of sheathing, horizontal provided by leaving open vertical joints at 4-foot inter-
nominal 1x4-inch furring strips are applied at 24-inch in- vals in the bottom course of masonry veneer.
tervals as a nail base for vertical siding application. Where
stud spacing exceeds 16 inches, inter-stud blocking with FLOORING
2-inch lumber between studs is required.
Flooring consists of the subfloor, underlayment and fin-
Protection of Siding ish floor. Depending upon the type of finish floor or subfloor
Ends of wood siding at corners, butt joints and at joints used, underlayment may not be required. Where 25/32-inch
with window and door trim are protected by an applica- tongue and grooved wood strip flooring is used, it may be
tion of clear water repellent preservative. Dipping at the laid directly over the subfloor, Figure 66. Where lesser
time of siding application or subsequent brush or spray thicknesses of wood strip flooring are used, the thickness
treatment before caulking and painting are effective. and grade of subflooring must be adequate to support end
Where wood siding is to be left to weather unfinished, a joints at full design load, unless they occur over joists.
liberal coat of clear water repellent preservative is applied Underlayment is normally applied over the sub-floor
to the entire exterior siding surface. where resilient tile, sheet vinyl or carpet is used as the
finish floor surface.
Wood Shingles and Shakes
Shingles and shakes used as exterior wall covering Sub-flooring
are applied with the weather exposures in Table II. The sub-floor usually consists of plywood, particle-
Shingles and shakes are nailed with corrosion resis- board or other wood structural panels, or board lumber.
tant nails of sufficient length to penetrate wood sheathing. Lumber sub-flooring is typically laid diagonally to per-
Two nails are used for widths up to 8 inches. For wider mit wood strip finish flooring to be laid either parallel
shingles and shakes, three nails are used. with or at right angles to, the floor joists. End-joints in
With single course applications nails are driven one sub-flooring are cut to occur over joists.
inch above the butt line of the succeeding course. In double Wood structural panels are typically installed with the
coursing the under course is attached to wood sheathing long dimension at right angles to the joists and with the
with three nails or staples. The outer course is applied panel continuous over two or more spans. Spacing be-
with small-headed nails driven approximately 1 inch above tween panels should be approximately 1/8 inch.
the butts and ¾ inch from the edges.
Where other than wood, plywood, waferboard or ori- Underlayment
ented-strand board sheathing is used, a nail base of Underlayment panels are applied over sub-flooring
1x3-inch wood furring strips is applied horizontally at in- to provide a smooth surface for application of carpeting
and other resilient floor coverings. Plywood underlayment

requirements are covered by U.S. Product Standard PS 1- minimum design live load, considering the concentration
95, which is published by APA-The Engineered Wood of people frequently supported by decks. The applicable
Association (Appendix, Item 10). Hardboard code will govern this requirement.
underlayment requirements are set forth in ANSI/AHA The initial header joist for the deck is attached to a
A135.4 (Appendix, Item 11) published by the American band or header joist of the house with through bolts or lag
Hardboard Association. Application of finish floor cover- screws, Figure 67. The level of the deck framing, includ-
ings is generally by specialists who follow the ing the 1½-inch decking thickness is determined so that
manufacturer’s installation instructions for the carpet, re- the deck surface is at least one inch below that of the inte-
silient tile or vinyl products. rior floor surface. If deck height is significantly different
from that of the band or header joists of the house, the
Wood Flooring deck header must be securely fastened to the wall studs.
Hardwood and softwood strip flooring of ¾-inch or Joists are attached to the header by proper toe-nailing,
25/32-inch thickness provides adequate strength and stiff- preferably, by metal hangers to prevent splitting. Corro-
ness for direct application over sub-flooring at right angles sion resistant hangers and hot-dipped galvanized or
to joists. Where parquet (squares) are used or where strip stainless steel nails are required.
flooring is laid parallel to joists, the grade and thickness Post lengths are determined after deck framing has
of sub-flooring panels must be adequate to provide sup- been supported on temporary 2x4 posts. For posts, pres-
port between joists. An additional thickness of subflooring sure preservative treated for ground contact, footing holes
may be required over the rough subfloor in such applica- are dug at required points. Concrete or gravel bases of 4-
tions. inch minimum thickness below the frost line are placed
Wood strip flooring is normally applied over build- over compacted soil in the holes. From the concrete or
ing paper and is sanded and finished after installation. An gravel base required length of post to the deck level can
expansion joint of at least one-half inch must be provided be determined.
at the edge of flooring strips adjacent to parallel parti- Footings for naturally durable wood posts extend 6
tions and exterior walls. This joint is covered by the inches above grade. Pre-cast concrete piers or concrete
baseplate and toe molding. block piers with imbedded ½-inch re-enforcing bar pins
or treated wood nailers are used to secure posts against
WOOD DECKS lateral movement, Figure 67.
Wood decks are a special feature of many new houses Decking

and a useful add-on to others. Their capability for provid- The floor of the deck is normally 2x4-inch or 2x6-
ing additional low-cost living and recreational space makes inch lumber. It is nailed with the end-grain showing the
it important to consider them as part of the original house “bark-side-up.” Where pressure preservative treated lum-
design. Use of pressure treated and naturally durable lumber or unseasoned naturally durable lumber species are
ber has made these outdoor structures as permanent as used, decking pieces can be nailed in contact or spaced no
the house itself. farther apart than a nail diameter. Kiln dried decking can
Supporting joists, posts and decking lumber must be be laid with a maximum spacing of ¼-inch.
properly grade marked and identified as naturally durable Decking nails must be good quality hot-dipped gal-
or pressure preservative treated wood by quality control vanized, aluminum or stainless steel. Two 16d nails are
agencies approved by the model building codes or the driven at slight angles to each other at each joist position,
dwelling codes. Figure 67. Butt joints in 2x6 decking require three nails.
Design Railings
Deck shape and size should be consistent with the Railing designs follow the style of the house. Rail-
general lines of the house and should be positioned to func- ings must be securely anchored to the deck, preferably
tion as part of the total structure. Orientation for sun including an extension of the posts. Openings in the rail-
exposure and shade is particularly important in location ing are limited to six inches, or as the code requires.
of the deck.
Finishes
Engineering Both pressure treated and naturally durable wood are
Cantilevered and other special deck types should be resistant to decay and insects. However, a good water-
properly engineered. Forty pounds per square foot is a repellent stain or paint finish will protect against checking

and maintain the attractiveness of the deck. Application

of a clear water repellent preservative immediately upon
completion of the deck is recommended for both pressure
treated and naturally durable lumber.
CONCLUSION
The home is, for many families, the major investment

of a lifetime. While, in a mobile society, many families
will have lived in several homes, each structure should
serve as a prized possession, capable of providing com-
fortable shelter for a succession of satisfied occupants.
Basic house construction follows simple engineering
principles. In addition, the workmanship of the home,
which involves carpentry and a number of other construc-
tion trades, is in many ways a truly American art-form.
This publication provides essential requirements for con-
struction, and information to assist in the design,
construction and inspection of wood structures of proven
durability and performance.

Table I. Nominal and Minimum-Dressed Sizes of Boards, Dimension and

Timbers.a
The thicknesses apply to all widths and all widths apply to all thicknesses. Sizes are given in inches and millimeters. Metric units are based on dressed size - see
Appendix B, PS 20-99 for rounding rule.
Thicknesses Face Widths

Minimum Dressed Minimum Dressed
Nom. Dryb Greenb Nom. Dryb Greenb
inch inch mm inch mm inch inch mm inch mm
2 1-1/2 38 1-9/16 40
3 2-1/2 64 2-9/16 65
4 3-1/2 89 3-9/16 90
5 4-1/2 114 4-5/8 117
3/4 5/8 16 11/16 17 6 5-1/2 140 5-5/8 143
1 3/4 19 25/32 20 7 6-1/2 165 6-5/8 168
Boards 1-1/4 1 25 1-1/32 26 8 7-1/4 184 7-1/2 190
1-1/2 1-1/4 32 1-9/32 33 9 8-1/4 210 8-1/2 216
10 9-1/4 235 9-1/2 241
11 10-1/4 260 10-1/2 267
12 11-1/4 286 11-1/2 292
14 13-1/4 337 13-1/2 343
16 15-1/4 387 15-1/2 394
2 1-1/2 38 1-9/16 40
2-1/2 2 51 2-1/16 52
3 2-1/2 64 2-9/16 65
2 1-1/2 38 1-9/16 40 3-1/2 3 76 3-1/16 78
2-1/2 2 51 2-1/16 52 4 3-1/2 89 3-9/16 90
3 2-1/2 64 2-9/16 65 4-1/2 4 102 4-1/16 103
Dimension 3-1/2 3 76 3-1/16 78 5 4-1/2 114 4-5/8 117
4 3-1/2 89 3-9/16 90 6 5-1/2 140 5-5/8 143
4-1/2 4 102 4-1/16 103 8 7-1/4 184 7-1/2 190
10 9-1/4 235 9-1/2 241
12 11-1/4 286 11-1/2 292
14 13-1/4 337 13-1/2 343
16 15-1/4 387 15-1/2 394
Timbers 5& ½ off 13 off 5& ½ off 13 off
thicker wider
a
Based on Voluntary Product Standard DOC PS 20-99, American Softwood Lumber Standard. U.S. Department of Commerce. September 1999.
b
See sections 2.7 and 2.11, PS 20-99 for the definitions of dry and green lumber.

Table II. Wood Shingle and Shake Weather Exposures
Shingle or Shake Maximum Weather Exposures

Single-Coursing Double-Coursing
Length and Type No. 1 No.2 No.1 No.2
1. 16-inch Shingles 7½” 7½” 12” 10”
2. 18-inch Shingles 8½” 8½” 14” 11”
3. 24-inch Shingles 11½” 11½” 16” 14”
4. 18-inch Resawn Shakes 8½” — 14” —
5. 18-inch Straight-Split Shakes 8½” — 16” —
6. 24-inch Resawn Shakes 11½” — 20” —

Figure 1. Platform Frame Construction

Figure 2. Balloon Frame Construction
Figure 3. Methods of Loading Nails

Figure 4. Sizes of Common Wire Nails
Note: Print to scale to ensure accurate measurements. Do NOT check “Fit to Page.”

Figure 5. Masonry Foundation Wall and Footing
Figure 6a. Permanent Wood Foundation - Crawl space

Figure 6b. Permanent Wood Foundation - Basement

Figure 7a. Sump for Poorly Drained Soils

NOTE: 1. USE OF SUMP PUMP IS OPTIONAL
2. 24 INCH DIAMETER OR 20 INCH SQUARE TERRA
COTTA TILE OR TREATED WOOD BOX MAY BE
SUBSTITUTED FOR PRECAST CONCRETE TILE
Figure 7b. Sump for Medium to Well Drained Soils
NOTE: VERTICAL PIPE MAY BE EXTENDED

THROUGH SLAB WITH A CLEANOUT
PLUG IN FLOOR

Figure 8. Pier Foundation and

Anchorage
Figure 9. Clearance Between Earth

and Floor Framing
Figure 10. Support for Basement

Post

Figure 11. Floor Framing at Exterior

Wall
Figure 12. Girder Framing in Exterior

Wall
Figure 13. Termite Shields

Figure 14. Anchorage of Sill to

Foundation Wall
Figure 15. Nailing Built-up Beams and

Girders
Figure 16. Joist End Bearing

Figure 17. Joist Supported on Ledger
Figure 18. Joist Supported by Metal

Framing Anchors
Figure 19. Joists Resting on Girder
Figure 20. Joists Resting on Steel

Beam

Figure 21. Diagonal Bridging of Floor Joists
Figure 22. Solid Bridging of Floor Joists

Figure 23. Framing of Tail Joists on

Ledger Strip
Figure 24. Framing of Tail Joists by

Framing Anchors
Figure 25. Framing of Header to

Trimmer by Joist Hangers
Figure 26. Notching and Boring of

Joists

Figure 27. Framing Over Bearing

Partition, Platform
Construction
Figure 28. Framing Over Bearing

Partition, Balloon
Construction

Figure 29. Framing Under Non-Bearing Partition
Figure 30. Attachment of Non-Bearing Partition to Ceiling Framing

Figure 31. Interior Stairway Framing

Figure 32. Stairway With a Landing
Figure 33. Framing Supporting

Bathtub

Figure 34. Second Floor Framing,

Exterior Wall
Figure 35. Second Floor Overhang of

Exterior Wall, Joists at
Right Angles to
Supporting Walls
Figure 36. Second Floor Overhang of

Exterior Wall, Joists
Parallel to Supporting
Walls

Figure 37. Firestopping Around Pipes
Figure 38. Firestopping of Dropped Ceilings

Figure 39a. Firestopping of Masonry Walls - Floor
Figure 39b. Firestopping of Masonry Walls - Ceiling

Figure 40. Draftstopping of Trussed Floors
Figure 41. Multiple Studs at Corners
Figure 42. Wall Framing at

Intersecting Partitions

Figure 43. Exterior Wall Openings,

Header Details with
Cripple Studs
Figure 44. Exterior Wall Openings,

Header Details with Joist
Hangers

Figure 45. Framing of Bay Window
Figure 46. Wall Framing at Gable

Ends

Figure 47a. Wall and Floor Framing at Fireplace
Figure 47b. Hearth Centering Detail

Figure 48a. Clearance of Fireplace Trim
Figure 48b. Section Through Mantle

Figure 49. Building Paper and Siding Application
Figure 50. Application of Wood Shingles

Figure 51. Roof Framing Ceiling Joists Parallel to Rafters
Figure 52. Roof Framing, Ceiling

Joists Perpendicular to
Rafters

Figure 53. Roof Framing Gable Overhang
Figure 54. Flat Roof Framing

Figure 55. Valley Rafter Roof

Framing
Figure 56. Hip Rafter Roof Framing
Figure 57. Roof Framing at Eave

Figure 58. Shed Dormer Roof Framing

Figure 59. Gable Dormer Framing
Figure 60. Roof Framing Around

Chimney

Figure 61. Roof Ventilation Requirements
Figure 62. Ventilating Eave Overhangs

Figure 63. Wood Siding Patterns and Nailing
c)
a)
b) d)
Figure 64. Corner Treatments for Wood Siding

Figure 65. Application of Masonry Veneer to Wood Framing
Figure 66. Wood Strip Flooring

Figure 67. Wood Deck

Figure 68. Ceiling-Floor Partition Separation

APPENDIX
1. Wood Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, American Forest & Paper
Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
2. American Softwood Lumber Standard, PS 20-99; U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
3. National Design Specificationâ for Wood Construction, American Forest & Paper Association, 1111 19th
Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
4. Span Tables for Joists and Rafters, American Forest & Paper Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite
800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
5. Plank and Beam Framing for Residential Buildings- Wood Construction Data No. 4, American Forest &
Paper Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
6. Permanent Wood Foundation System-Basic Requirements, Technical Report No. 7, American Forest &
Paper Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
7. Permanent Wood Foundation Design and Construction Guide, Southern Forest Products Association,
P. O. Box 641700, Kenner, LA 70064.
8. Design of Wood Structures for Permanence-Wood Construction Data No. 6, American Forest & Paper
Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.
9. Recommendations for Installing and Finishing Wood and Hardboard Siding Over Rigid Foam
Sheathing, American Forest & Paper Association, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C.
20036.
10. U.S. Product Standard PS1-95 Construction and Industrial Plywood, APA-The Engineered Wood
Association, P.O. Box 11700, Tacoma, Washington, 98411.
11. Basic Hardboard ANSI/AHA Standard A135.4, American Hardboard Association, 1210 W. Northwest
Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067.
12. Research Report 82-2:Ceiling-Floor Partition Separation in Light Frame Construction, Truss Plate
Institute, 583 D’Onofrio Dr., Madison, WI 53719.
13. Partition Separation Prevention and Solutions, Wood Truss Council of America, 6300 Enterprise Lane,
Madison, WI 53719

American Forest & Paper Association
American Wood Council
1111 19th Street, NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-463-4713
Fax: 202-463-2791
email: [email protected]
web: http://www.awc.org

Details For Conventional Wood Frame Construction

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DETAILS FOR

Balloon Frame ......................................... 5 Roof and Ceiling Framing ................. 10

Fastenings ............................................... 5 Insulation and Vapor Retarders ....... 11

Truss-Framed Construction ................. 5 Flooring ................................................. 12

Foundations ............................................. 5 Wood Decks ......................................... 13

Protection Against Termites and Conclusion ............................................ 14

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL