Step-by-Step Framing a House

Use the proper tools and materials when framing a house.

There are two basic house framing methods: the platform method (most common) and balloon construction (used in older grand houses) and in both methods the wall studs and ceiling and floor joists are repeated over every 16 or 24 inches of the frame.

1. Obtain the necessary permits and learn the codes to be followed. Codes for framing a house are building codes (defining dimensions such as height of ceiling, hallway, and width of doorways) and fire codes which would the cover size of windows.



2. Create a list of activities to follow and set aside all tools and materials. Each story normally consists of 8- or 9-foot tall stud walls resting on a plywood sub-floor.

3. Pre-build the outside frame (using dry wood) in 8-foot sections, spacing the 2-by-4-inch studs on 16-inch centers and toenailing each section to a sill plate using the right sized nails specified by the building codes. Placing joists, studs and rafters exactly 16 inches apart gives solid support to panel ends.

4. Insert a special bracing known as a jack stud, which acts as a wall stud and helps brace the trimmers and headers, around the openings for the door and window frames.

5. Stand each 8-foot section of the frame up and toe nail the sill plate to the plywood sub-floor. Insert braces to support each section as you go along. These braces should remain until all the framing is complete. Create extra strong corner posts at each corner of house and attach these posts to the 8-foot sections of the frame as well as to the sub-floor.

6. Follow same procedure for entire perimeter of the house until the first floor is completed and then do the same thing for second floor (if there is one) after first putting down the floor for the second story.