Window Framing Tips Nothing slows down the wall framing process quite like installing window framing components. There are so many parts that need to be assembled, without good planning and an efficient process, a lot of time will be lost. Framing Components Header – Supports weight of rafters, ceiling, and floor joists from above. Should…

Wall Framing Basics Before I begin on the basics of wall framing I’d like to tell you a little story about a fellow carpenter. First I’ve worked with this guy since high school, you will not find a better carpenter when it comes to framing. This guy carries the biggest headers, fourteen studs at a…

Squaring Walls for Sheathing Squaring walls before standing them is a rather simple process. Whenever possible, exterior walls should be squared up, sheathed, and house wrap applied before being raised. Any carpenter is more efficient standing flat footed on the ground, therefore all work that can be completed on the ground should be. We’ve all…

Pocket Door Framing Determining what size to make rough openings for single pocket door framing is a simple process. Almost all hardware manufacturers state in their instructions, width of the rough opening is two times that of the door plus one inch and the height is seven feet one inch. Bear in mind that converging…

Laying Out Wall Framing When laying out wall framing, the lead man must be efficient, clear, and concise with the marking of the framing components. This page contains some tips and shortcut’s to speed up this carpentry task. The job of marking out wall plates normally falls to the most experienced carpenter on the crew.…

Garage Door Framing The wall containing the garage door framing can be very heavy so make sure you have plenty of help. If I’m framing a new house with an attached garage, it’s best to build the the garage walls on the sheathed deck before the wall framing for the main house begins. This method…

Tips for Framing Walls Framing walls is like working a puzzle. The lay out carpenter has already marked the wall plates for the location of windows, doors, corners, studs, and wall intersections. Once you have learned to recognize these lay out marks, it is a rather simple task of building and raising the walls one…

Installing Exterior Doors All types of exterior doors have advantages and disadvantages. Depending upon your needs, you should choose a new door with looks, durability, price, and energy efficiency in mind. All door types are available with windows, transoms, and sidelights. Wooden doors are the most expensive and visually appealing entry doors available. They are…

Door Framing Rough Openings Determining rough openings for door framing can sometimes be a confusing task. With the multitude of pre hung door manufacturers, its no wonder there are sometimes mistakes made. The general rule of thumb being, the rough opening for a normal interior or exterior door, is two inches wider than the stated…

Balloon Framing Gable Walls Modern balloon framing, lay out and construction methods for framing a gable wall. This wall framing method is only used in certain situation’s by carpenter’s in today’s age of platform framing. In today’s carpentry world there are many advantages and disadvantages to be considered before choosing this method. Advantages 1. Greater…

Modern balloon framing, lay out and construction methods for framing a gable wall. This wall framing method is only used in certain situation’s by carpenter’s in today’s age of platform framing. In today’s carpentry world there are many advantages and disadvantages to be considered before choosing this method. Advantages 1. Greater strength to resist high…