1. Floor Framing

2. Platform Framing
Also called Western or Modern framing. It is framing where every floor is built as its own work surface. Then walls, ceilings, and roof members are built on that work surface.
Became popular after WWII. Was instituted to speed up and standardize construction. The baby boom created a huge need for housing, platform framing helped satisfy that need.
Became popular because of ease of construction and resistance to fire.

3. Girders
Beams or engineered pieces resting on the foundation and posts or columns, provided needed support for framing.
Girders can be built up lumber, steel beams, or engineered wood beams.

4. Joists Series of horizontal and parallel members of the floor frame.
They rest across the width of the foundation and girders (if needed).
Joists are generally spaced 16” on center. However that can vary depending on the span and purpose of the structure.

5. Sill Plate
Treated wood member attached to the top of the foundation wall by anchors. This is where the wood portion of the house begins.

6. Sill Sealer
Chemical or plastic barrier places between the foundation wall and the sill and the wood frame of the house.
Prevents the transfer of moisture from the foundation to the wood portion of the house.

7. Span The distance between structural supports.
Foundation wall to foundation wall
Foundation wall to girder
The span is determined by the width of the structure in relation to type and width of the joists that will be used.

8. Dead Load The constant or permanent load that rests on a structure.
This is the weight of the structure and anything attached to the structure.

9. Live Load The weight put on a structure by anything that moves.
The live load is you and anything you will take with you when you move out of the house.

10. Partition Support
Added Joist or member to provide more strength to a loaded area of a structure.
Often called brother or sister joists.
Used under load bearing walls, around staircases, and any other area that will have a large load.

11. Joist Hanger
Metal fastener that holds the joist in place, attaches joist and band joist.
Often referred to as rafter ties or straps.
There are many different types of hangers/straps for various applications.

12. Sole Plate
Lowest horizontal member of the wall frame. Generally sits on top of the sub floor.

13. Band Joist
Horizontal framing member that forms the outline of the structure or an opening.
Rests on top of and flush with the outside edge of the sill plate.
Also called a rim joist or lintel.

14. Sub Floor
Plywood or OSB nailed on the floor joists over which a finished floor is laid.
Minimum ¾” Plywood or OSB must be used for decking or sub flooring.

15. Span Table
Chart that gives the load a joist can hold in relation to its width, length, species, and spacing.
Engineers and contractors use this to determine what material has to be used to make a floor structurally sound.