Wood Frame Construction

Floor Joists Joists are horizontal structural members used to carry the floor and ceiling loads.

Subfloor The structural floor joined to the joists supports the finish flooring.

Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems Sole Plate A horizontal structural member located at the bottom of the studs and used to hold the wall together. A sole plate also provides a surface for attaching the wall to its supporting structure. 2” by 8” wood, with 2” side facing up. Wood used in conjunction with metal joist hangers which help secure the joist to the outer frame (tell students to check their outside deck for joist hangers). Floor joists are generally spaced 16” on center. If the area of the floor is small, they can be placed 19.2” or even 24” on center. If it is a bigger span, or if the floor will support the kitchen or dining room, then 12” on center may be required.

Walls Stud: The vertical framing member in frame wall construction. Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems Walls Stud: The vertical framing member in frame wall construction. The walls shown are made up of wood 2x4s spaced at 16 in. on center. 4’ x 8’ sheets of tongue and groove ¾” plywood. Adhesive is placed on top of the 2” floor joist, and subfloor is placed on top. Screws are applied for a secure bond.

Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems Top Plate A horizontal structural member located on top of the studs and used to hold the wall together. 2” sides facing in/out. Walls are often constructed on a flat surface and then raised into place and fastened. The corners have extra studs to ensure that exterior and interior points have attachment points.

Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems Window Opening Header: A horizontal structural member used to support other structural members over openings, such as doors and windows. Sill: A horizontal wood member placed at the bottom of walls and openings in walls.

Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems Window Opening Cripple Stud: A short piece of stud used to transfer a load from a top plate to a header or from a sill to a sole plate. Trimmer: Used to hold up a header, trimmers transfer the load of the header down to the sole plate. 2x4 is parallel to the sole plate.

Anatomy of a Window 1 Let’s Review ___________ 7 4 2 9 6 5 3 8 Wood Frame Systems GTT – Green Architecture Unit 7 – Lesson 7.2 – Wood Frame Systems 1 Let’s Review ___________ Top Plate 7 4 Stud Sole Plate Window 2 9 Header Trimmer Sill Made of 2” x 6”s, with the 2” side facing up for greater strength. Cripple Stud 6 5 3 Cripple Stud Trimmer 8

Wall Project You and a partner will draw two ¾″ scale walls, then build and join them together to create the corner of a single-story residential house. One wall will have a window centered on it; the other wall will have a door centered in it.