Process of Framing a House

Preliminary Steps

• The first framing measures require treated lumber that resists moisture damage. Your framing contractor will install a sill plate on top of the foundation wall to determine the placement of the interior load-bearing points in the basement or crawlspace. The general rule is that wood that touches concrete must be moisture resistant. Additional vapor barriers may be necessary.

Framing the Floor

• Constructing the floor comes next in the framing process. Your contractor will install floor joists, which are similar to wood studs but wider. When turned on their sides, they form a strong structural system on which the home’s wall framing will rest. This is also the time to install the rim joist, which encloses the floor joists. Later, when you install siding, the rim joist won’t be visible. The subfloor, comprised of large sheets of plywood or similar material, goes on top of the floor joists.

Wall Layout and Construction

• Once the subfloor is down, the time comes to start on wall framing. Before constructing the walls, your contractor will lay out the wall pattern with chalk lines on the subfloor, which is an important part of the process since it allows the contractor to see if all the walls and measurements will fit and comply with building codes.

  When the wall framing begins, you’ll see a glimmer of your new home’s shape. Your contractor will frame the exterior walls first, then the interior load-bearing walls, followed by the rest of the interior walls. If the contractor is trying to get the shell of the house up as quickly as possible, usually because of weather concerns, he may opt to come back and frame some of the interior details, like closets, later.

Roof System

• Your home is really starting to take shape. Now comes the roof system, which will attach to ceiling plates located on top of the framed walls. If your house plan calls for roof trusses, they will come pre-assembled on a large truck, and your contractor will use a crane to set the trusses. The alternate method is stick framing, which involves building the roof board by board.

Finishing the Shell

• The last part of the framing process consists of installing the boxing on the exterior of the house and sheathing on the roof, which is called a “dry in” because it creates a protective shell to keep the interior of the house dry. When complete, the house is ready for the next subcontractors. Now, the plumber, electrician, roofer, siding contractor, window and door specialist and the drywall contractor can all work their magic to turn the shell of your house into a home.