Traditional vs Advanced Framing - Details

Summary

In this episode of the Build Show, the focus is on advanced framing techniques, also known as smart framing, for constructing energy-efficient homes. Architect Steve Basic explains the decision-making process behind framing choices that align with overall project goals. The discussion covers various framing details, such as 24-inch on-center framing, header pockets, and the use of double top plates. Emphasis is placed on the importance of insulation, with strategies like using a slider to elevate the heel height for better insulation and combining closed-cell foam with blown fiberglass. The goal is to demonstrate that even a commodity house can be built with high performance and energy efficiency without excessive costs.

Takeaways

• 🏠 **Advanced Framing vs. Traditional Framing**: The discussion differentiates between advanced framing and traditional framing, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right framing technique for a specific project.
• 👷‍♂️ **Smart Framing**: Framing is considered a crucial system within a house, and 'advanced framing' is referred to as 'smart framing' to highlight the intelligent design choices made from the start.
• 🔍 **24-inch On-Center Framing**: The project uses a 24-inch on-center framing system, which aligns with the overall design and functionality of the house.
• 🏗️ **Clear Spanning with Trusses**: The garage features clear spanning trusses, eliminating the need for posts within the garage for a more open space.
• 🧱 **Outside Wall Framing**: The decision to frame the outside walls first and then add the roof allows for quick enclosure and weather protection, facilitating indoor work in a controlled environment.
• 🛠️ **Efficient Header Construction**: The use of appropriately-sized headers and header plates ensures a flush finish for trim and windows, streamlining the construction process.
• 🔝 **Insulation Strategy**: The script discusses the importance of insulation, particularly the use of a 'slider' to elevate the heel height for better insulation above the wall.
• 📏 **Double Top Plates**: Despite advanced framing often advocating for single top plates, the project uses double top plates for ease of construction and to maintain a traditional framing mindset.
• 🛑 **Sheathing Breaks for Accessibility**: The decision to break sheathing at a convenient level ensures that work is done efficiently and safely, without the need for ladders or scaffolding.
• 🔩 **Header Hangers for Support**: The use of header hangers provides additional support for headers, especially in window openings that would otherwise require double jacks.

Q & A

What is the main difference between advanced framing and traditional framing discussed in the script?

Advanced framing, also referred to as smart framing, focuses on making decisions appropriate for the overall project rather than just saving lumber or money. It's about designing the framing system from the start that best suits the house's overall package.

Why did the architect choose a 24-inch on-center framing system for the house?

The 24-inch on-center framing system was chosen because it worked well with the overall system package of the house, allowing for clear spanning of the garage without posts and bringing the entire house load down to the outside walls.

What is the significance of having no posts in the garage and house?

Having no posts in the garage and house allows for a clear span and more open space. It also means the entire house load is brought down to the outside walls, which is beneficial for the structural integrity and design of the building.

Why is the framing referred to as 'advanced' or 'smart' framing in the context of this project?

The framing is referred to as 'advanced' or 'smart' because it's not just about saving material; it's about making thoughtful decisions that align with the overall design and structural needs of the house, creating a more efficient and effective building system.

How does the decision to frame the outside walls first impact the construction process?

Framing the outside walls first allows the house to be closed in quickly with a roof and sheathing, making it weather-tight. This creates a controlled environment for further construction work, similar to a factory setting, which can improve the quality and efficiency of the construction process.

What is the purpose of the header pocket mentioned in the script?

The header pocket is created by using an appropriately-sized header with a 2 by 6 plate underneath. This setup allows for the trim and other finishing elements to sit flush with the header, ensuring a neat and professional finish.

Why is the 'slider' used in the trusses above the garage?

The 'slider' is used to elevate the heel height of the trusses, allowing for more insulation to be added above the wall plate. This increases the insulation value and overall energy efficiency of the wall system.

What is the reasoning behind using double top plates in the framing?

Double top plates are used to help straighten out the walls and maintain a traditional framing approach that the framer is comfortable with. This also allows for better alignment and finishing of the walls without compromising the thermal efficiency of the house.

How does the placement of the sheathing breaks impact the construction process?

Placing the sheathing breaks in the middle of the wall allows the framers to work at a comfortable level without the need for ladders or scaffolding. This makes the construction process more efficient and safer for the workers.

What is the strategy for insulation in the walls of this house?

The strategy involves using an inch of closed cell foam on the inside and filling the rest of the cavity with blown fiberglass. The key focus is on the insulation on the outside of the house, as it significantly improves the R-value of both the cavity and the framing.

Why is it important to have the exterior sheathing on the outside of the house?

Having the exterior sheathing on the outside of the house improves the thermal efficiency by providing a continuous insulation layer without any breakage. This effectively more than doubles the R-value at the opaque framing areas, enhancing the overall energy performance of the house.

Outlines

00:00

🏠 Advanced Framing vs. Traditional Framing

The video script discusses the concept of 'good bones' in a house, which refers to its framing. The build show focuses on comparing advanced framing to traditional framing, moving beyond the standard debate of 16-inch or 24-inch centers. The guest, Steve Basic, an architect, explains his choice of advanced framing for a specific project, emphasizing it as a 'smart framing' decision. He discusses the benefits of a 24-inch on-center framing system, which aligns with the overall project goals. The script also touches on the importance of the framing system in relation to the entire house structure, including the absence of posts in the garage and house, allowing for clear spanning and efficient load distribution to the outside walls. The conversation highlights the idea of advanced framing as a smart design choice rather than merely a cost-saving measure.

05:02

🛠️ Framing Techniques and Insulation Strategies

This section delves into the specifics of advanced framing, with a focus on the 24-inch on-center framing for the outside walls and the alignment with trusses. The script mentions the absence of extra jack studs, the use of a header plate, and the creation of a header pocket for better trim alignment. The discussion also covers the sequence of construction, allowing each trade to perform their tasks at the appropriate time, such as framers framing and insulators insulating. The script introduces the concept of a 'slider' in truss design, which elevates the heel height for better insulation. The conversation contrasts single and double top plates, with the latter chosen for ease of construction and traditional framing familiarity. The script also discusses the decision to place sheathing breaks at a convenient height to facilitate blocking and other tasks. Lastly, the use of a header hanger is mentioned as a way to support headers without needing additional jack studs.

10:03

🌡️ Insulation and Building Efficiency

The final paragraph discusses the insulation strategy for the house, which includes using an inch of closed-cell foam on the inside and blown fiberglass to fill the cavity, in addition to the one-inch zip sheathing on the outside. The script emphasizes the importance of the exterior sheathing in improving thermal efficiency, as it affects both the framing and the cavity's R-value. The conversation highlights the significance of the framing, cavity, and windows as the three major components of a wall's thermal performance. The script also mentions the use of triple-glazed windows with a higher R-value than standard windows. The discussion concludes with advice from a building scientist on the best wall construction, which is to maximize insulation on the exterior of the house. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to follow the project, subscribe to the channel, and explore more content related to the house and its builder.

Keywords

💡Advanced Framing

Advanced framing, also referred to as smart framing in the script, is a construction technique that optimizes the use of materials and labor in building the structural framework of a house. It's not just about saving lumber or money, but about making smart design decisions from the start. In the video, advanced framing is chosen for a particular house project because it aligns well with the overall system of the house, allowing for better insulation and a more efficient construction process.

💡Traditional Framing

Traditional framing is the conventional method of constructing the skeleton of a building, typically using 2x4 or 2x6 lumber spaced 16 or 24 inches on center. The video script contrasts advanced framing with traditional framing, highlighting that advanced framing is not just about cost-saving but about making strategic decisions that enhance the building's performance and construction efficiency.

💡Framing System

A framing system refers to the structural framework of a building, which includes the arrangement of studs, joists, and other components that support the building's weight and provide a base for enclosing materials. The script discusses how the choice of a 24-inch on-center framing system was appropriate for the house project, emphasizing the importance of selecting a framing system that aligns with the overall design and functionality of the building.

💡Trusses

Trusses are pre-engineered structural components used to span long distances in a building, often in roofs or bridges. In the video, trusses are mentioned as being used to clear span the garage, meaning they support the roof without the need for intermediate support posts, which is a feature of advanced framing that contributes to the open space and efficiency of the building.

💡Insulation

Insulation is a material used to reduce the transfer of heat, and it's crucial in building construction for energy efficiency and comfort. The script discusses the use of insulation in the advanced framing project, highlighting how proper insulation placement can significantly improve a building's thermal performance. The video mentions using a combination of rigid foam and blown fiberglass insulation to maximize the R-value of the walls.

💡R-Value

R-Value is a measure of a material's resistance to heat flow and is used to indicate the insulating effectiveness of building materials. The higher the R-Value, the better the insulation. The script explains how the placement of sheathing on the outside of the house and the use of insulation can increase the R-Value of the walls, making the house more energy-efficient.

💡Sheathing

Sheathing is the material, usually plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), that is fastened to the exterior of the framing to provide a stable surface for siding and to help hold the structure together. The video script mentions the use of zip sheathing, which is a type of sheathing that contributes to the weather-tightness of the building and is part of the advanced framing technique discussed.

💡Header

A header is a horizontal structural member that supports loads over an opening, such as a door or window. In the script, the use of an appropriately-sized header is discussed as part of the advanced framing technique, which allows for better alignment and support of the structure above openings without unnecessary additional framing.

💡Double Top Plates

Double top plates refer to the use of two layers of lumber at the top of a wall frame to provide additional support and rigidity. The script contrasts this with the single top plate often promoted in advanced framing for material savings. However, the decision to use double top plates in this project was made to maintain the framers' traditional mindset while still achieving a high-performance wall system.

💡Continuous Insulation

Continuous insulation, or ci, is insulation that is applied continuously over the entire exterior of a building, without interruptions. The script emphasizes the importance of continuous insulation on the outside of the house for improving the thermal performance of the building. This is achieved by using sheathing materials like zip sheathing and is a key aspect of the advanced framing discussed.

💡Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency refers to the ability of a building or system to use energy in the most effective way possible, minimizing waste and maximizing performance. The video script discusses various advanced framing techniques and materials that contribute to the energy efficiency of the house, such as proper insulation, continuous sheathing, and high-performance windows.

Highlights

Advanced framing, also known as smart framing, is a method that focuses on making appropriate decisions for the overall project rather than just saving lumber or money.

A 24-inch on-center framing system was chosen for its compatibility with the overall system package of the house.

The house features clear spanning trusses, eliminating the need for posts in the garage and house, allowing for an open layout.

The decision to frame the outside walls first and quickly weatherproof the house creates a controlled environment for indoor construction.

Studs are aligned with the trusses, and headers are appropriately sized to create header pockets for better trim alignment.

The use of an LVL header and a 2x6 plate underneath enhances the structural integrity of the headers.

A 'slider' is used to elevate the heel height for better insulation, increasing the insulation space from 4 inches to 10 inches.

Double top plates are used instead of single to aid in wall straightening and maintain a traditional framing approach.

Sheathing is placed on the outside of the house to improve thermal efficiency, which affects both the framing and the cavity.

The framer's choice to use double top plates is driven by ease of use and traditional framing practices, despite advanced framing techniques.

Sheathing breaks are strategically placed for worker convenience, avoiding the need for ladders or scaffolding.

A simple header hanger is used to assist in carrying the header load, eliminating the need for a double jack in the framing.

Insulation plans include an inch of closed-cell foam and blown fiberglass to fill the cavity, ensuring high thermal performance.

The importance of the continuous insulation on the outside of the house is emphasized, as it significantly improves the R-value.

Windows are triple glazed with a U-value closer to 0.7 or 0.8, which is better than the usual 0.3, enhancing the overall wall performance.

The house is designed to be energy-efficient and well-built without being overly expensive, demonstrating that commodity houses can be built to high standards.

The house is built on a reasonable budget, showcasing that advanced framing techniques can be cost-effective.

The project is called the Hybrid House, and it incorporates smart design and building practices for optimal performance.

Transcripts

have you ever heard someone say that

house has good bones what are they

talking about of course it's the framing

super important for a well-built house

to start with a well framed house on the

build show today we're gonna talk about

advanced framing versus traditional

framing and go beyond the typical

discussion which is just should I frame

my house on 16 inch or 24 inch centers

like you see here I've got a special

guest for today's build show it let's

get going

alright guys let me introduce you to my

friend Steve basic Steve you're the

architect on this project and I want you

to tell us a little bit about why you

chose to do advanced framing on this

particular house all right so we're

gonna start out with a little pet peeve

because you already pushed a button oh

yeah so advance framing let's just call

it smart framing because there's

traditional framing advanced framing all

these different kinds of framing

packages but I like to look at it is the

framing is just one of the systems in

the house and for particular projects

you need a particular system and so in

this case here you know a 24 inch on

center framing system worked in just

really good with what the system overall

package was here so we can call it

advanced framing call or whatever you

want but it's really about making

decisions that are appropriate to the

overall decision being made on the

project I love that so you know when I

hear advanced framing sometimes I think

oh we're trying to save lumber or save

money but in reality it's being smart

and designing it from the start

now let's talk about this how Steve this

is what a 2,400 square foot house yep

yep plus we're actually in the garage

I've 600 square feet of garage here good

side okay so 3,000 or so feet under roof

on this house and in this particular

case we've got trusses above us here

which are actually landing front to back

on the house so we're clear spanning the

garage there we've got no posts in the

garage no posts in the garage no posts

in the house so the whole house load is

brought down to the outside walls which

is where the outside foundation wall

system is so it was inevitably the

decision when I were you know working

with the Builder Jake and we came up

with the idea that's let's framing up

those outside walls let's throw the roof

on there get it closed in with some zip

sheathing get us nice and weather tight

real quick but now we have a factory to

do everything else inside here sometimes

when guys talk about oh you know it's

better to do things off-site and you get

better quality well if we build a little

warehouse here then we can control the

environment and get good quality on

everything we do inside I so true it's

like a little barn isn't it all right so

then talk to me about some of the

details on this framing so we've got 24

inch on

on these outside walls 24-inch aunts on

Center framing right all the studs

aligned with the trusses up above okay

we have our trimmers come down notice we

don't throw the extra jack in here they

actually take the time to cut the

set the sill okay and then run

the trimmer up above that so it

eliminates a little inside of that

gotcha and then that goes up to our

header

I always insert a header plate on the

bottom that helps us catch all the trim

and stuff on the windows gotcha but then

notice that we do an appropriately-sized

header and then that creates a header

pocket yep so lvl header right there and

then that plate right there that's your

2 by 6 that you're using underneath that

header so now our trim and everything's

gonna sit well flush but the beauty of

this is you know I always talk about the

framer gets to do what the framer does

when the framer should do it so we're

not out of sequence and any insulator

when he comes he can insulate that

pocket when it's time for an insulation

to go in and the insulator does what the

insulator does when he needs to do it

yeah so we're not asking somebody to

come and just spray that we're not

asking the framer to mess around with

two inches of rigid foam and build

insulated headers we get what we get

through the normal sequence of stuff now

Steve I'm also noticing now it looks

like the insulator is coming a little

early but your your trust is seen to be

quite a bit higher over that top plate

what's what's the theory behind so the

what you see up there is the trust

industry calls that a slider so you

notice that we basically took a two by

six and we slid it down in between the

joint of the bottom cord and upper cord

and what it does is it basically splits

those cords and it elevates the heel

height so we get a little bit more

insulation above the wall which is

traditionally you know the bad decision

of just having that little throat

dimension of like four inches is now 10

inches so we get really good adequate

insulation so now of our wall plate yeah

all right now I'm noticing you've got

double top plates here and a lot of

times when I read about advanced framing

they're preaching single top plate as

little lumber as possible what's the

difference between the single and the

double up there

so again when we look at this the system

as a whole we will come to understand

that the sheathing on the outside is our

shilling right so that means we have a

one inch poly so panels like this but it

sits on the outside of the house

okay and because of that then we've

picked up some of the losses of the

thermal efficiency in the house by

simply having that our sheathing on the

outside of the house gotcha

so because we do that then I don't have

to nickel and dime the framing package

and beat up the framers this particular

framer who does an exceptional job

he likes the double top plate because it

does it helps him straighten out his

walls and it keeps him in you know a

traditional mindset but we're still

building a wall that's better than

what's traditionally built got it so

these walls in here are what 10 foot

tall is that right yeah they're well

they're nine foot walls ten nine foot

ceilings from the plate to their Gaucho

and then I'm seeing these two sheathing

breaks here I don't normally see those

in this location what's going on with

that yeah so we we couldn't get the 10

foot zip art panels here so what the

framer chose to do is to keep that

blocking in a comfort range right so

they're not working off of ladders or

scaffolding to deal with the joints so

they railroaded the lower piece they

railroaded the upper piece and then they

put that joint in the middle so now all

of the blocking and stuff is done in a

very convenient level gotta that makes

sense now tell me about this hardware

I'm seeing over this big header on this

window no no this window just for

clarity it hasn't been cut out yet check

out our other videos about why but talk

to me about that clip right there Steve

so that's just a simple header hanger if

you notice that we went down to a single

jack here in the code and you know

window openings over 3 feet would

require a double jack okay but one way

we eliminated that other jack was to

simply put in a header hanger there

which adds assistance to carrying that

header gotcha that makes sense

and then tell me about insulation for

these cavities later because you've got

this big five and a half inch deep

cavity plus we talked about this zip R

which is one inch thick that's going to

give you our six point six on the

outside then what are you gonna do

inside the so on the inside we're gonna

splash it with an inch of closed cell

foam okay we're probably bringing that

up a little bit and then we're just

going to fill the rest with a blown

fiberglass blown in back H I mean this

this is a house that you know we care

about the decisions but it's still a

house that's kind of in that commodity

realm where we're showing people that

you can build the average

house really well yeah right that you

don't have to go over the top to build

it to get a really good house and

honestly the the are six outside is more

important than anything we put in the

cavity right right because he's got a

you've got all that continuous on the

outside without any breakage because

each one of these thuds is probably

around are one per inch well yeah are

one either of our sorry two by six stud

is about our 5.5 okay right so when you

look at a wall system if we were able to

take all of the exterior walls in this

house and make them one wall all right

that would suggest that about twenty

percent well probably about eighteen

percent is framing okay and that's our

five ish right right

sixty three sixty four percent is cavity

so that's your true r-value in the wall

and then another 20 percent ish is

windows and these these windows are

better than your usual

you know point three windows these are

going to be closer to our seven our

eight ones

they're triple glazed so we elevate that

but understand that those three major

components that make up a wall the

minute I put our sheathing on the

outside it improves the sixty percent of

the cavity area but it also improves the

20% of the opaque area where the framing

is and ineffectively more than doubles

the r-value at the opaque framing so

when you normalize those values it

brings your our value way up right I had

one of the the best building scientists

I've ever met and I sat down at lunch

with him one day and I said hey Gus what

what's the best wall we can build you

know what give me the skinny here I'm a

young architect I want the secrets right

he said it's real simple put as much

insulation as you can afford on the

outside of the house you'll never go

wrong smart really smart Steve anything

I missed on the topic of framing in

particular in this house that you wanted

to mention no I mean but you know as we

look at the expanse you know again you

can see that the because we're carrying

it from wall to wall it gives you this

factory environment and do everything

you know and we were able to do some

good air sealing details and all this

stuff you're going to pick up in some

later videos but it's just kind of

creating that enclosure so that we take

in

on site construction project and make it

more like a factory built environment as

we inevitably built our on-site factory

here so awesome guys for more on this

project this is called the hybrid house

right sure Steve's the architect my

buddy Jake Bruton with Aero builders in

Columbia Missouri is the Builder here

and Jake is brand new on our network

that we've just come out with so if you

don't know about that go to build show

network.com gonna have several videos

including several with Steve telling you

the behind the scenes on this house

there's a lot of technology behind this

house it's not expensive it's just smart

and Steve and Jake did an amazing job in

designing and building this house in

doing it on a really reasonable budget

of under two hundred and fifty dollars a

square foot for this house for some

amazing both scores and performance and

products going in here but really

off-the-shelf stuff so go to build show

network comm follow Steve on Instagram

we'll put a link in the description if

you want to see more of Steve's work too

we've actually shot a bunch of videos

with Steve from Boston where Steve is

based out of so I'll put a link in the

description to those as well Steve built

several passive houses and some amazing

projects if you're not already a

subscriber though hit that subscribe

button below we've got content every

Tuesday and every Friday follow us on

Twitter Instagram otherwise we'll see

you next time a little show

[Music]