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Lecture Four

Uses of Wood

The main types of wood structure


Framing
1) Balloon frame
2) Platform frame

Post and beam


Quebec frame

Exterior finishes:
1) Shingles
2) Boards
3) Sheets
Interior finishes:
1) Boards
2) Sheets
Finish carpentry:
1) Doors and windows (although these are rarely made
on site today)
2) Cabinetwork
3) Trim

Wood Frame Construction


Modularity:
· Modular sizes have been developed to take
advantages of economies of scale.
· Standard sizes of framing members, sheathing, and
insulation are designed to fit together, so that a
minimum of labor is needed on site.
Examples of modular components:
1) Studs (veritcal members in walls) and joists
(horizontal members supporting floors) are
standardized to be placed 16” (40 cm) and 24” (60 cm)
apart.
2) Batt insulation (fibreglass rolls) is also standardized
to 16” ( 40 cm) and 24”(60 cm) width, to fit between
studs.
3) Plywood sheathing. Gyprock (drywall), and
composite board are standardized to 4’ width in general
which fits into the regular spacing of studs and joists.

Floor framing

Once the foundation is finished, a platform is


constructed which will support the walls surrounding Base Plate: A 2”x4”, 2”x6” or 2”x8” set into the concrete of
the main floor, as well as supporting the decking of the the foundation, with a damproof bedding.
main floor itself.
Floor joists:
· The wood that supports the floor, joists sizes are
determined according to the span required of them.
· Joists should be laid across the shorter dimension of a Girders:
room to reduce the span, and therefore the size and cost Can be used to reduce the span required of the joists. A
of the wood needed. wood or steel girder can be laid into the foundation across
· Joists are always spaces 16” (40cm) apart with regard the long dimension, splitting the short dimension in half.
to the center of the wood. Joists are then laid from the wall to the girder in the short
· RULE OF THUMB sizes for different spans: direction.
1) 9’ span- 2x6 joists
2) 12’ span- 2x8 joists
3) 15’ span- 2x10 joists
Headers:
Are made of the same section wood as the joists and
are used to cover the open end over the sill.

Bridging:
To keep joists from buckling, a bridge is set between
adjoining joists approximately every 2m (refer to
building code). Bridging is made of a solid piece of
wood, and ‘X’ brace, steel strapping, or continuous
strapping.
Double Headers:
Where the joist span is interrupted by an opening, such
as where a stairway penetrates the floor platform, joists
are shortened and attached to double-header, which
defines and supports the edge of the opening. Double-
headers are used for stairs, chimneys, laundry chutes,
etc.

Subfloors:
Commonly the subfloor (the unfinished surface under
the tile, carpet, etc.) is plywood (one or two layers),
tongue and groove decking, or the edge of the blocking
itself.
Wall framing
The wall is usually built flat on the platform, and then
lifted into position. In platform construction walls are
only built to one story. Traditionally wall frames are
built with 2”x4”’s, but to accommodate larger batt
insulation, 2x6 construction has become common in
Canada.

Studs:
The major constituents of the wall, the studs are
vertical members placed 16” (40 cm) or 24” (60 cm)
apart. Studs are doubled up at the corners, and at the
edges of the openings.

Base plate/ header plate:


Studs are affixed at the bottom to the base plate and at
the top to the header plate. Which are affixed in turn to
the lower and upper floor platforms.
1) Base plate: a single piece of wood of the same
section as the studs.
2) Header plate: Double the thickness of the base plate
because it supports the weight of another floor or the
roof.
Double headers:
Are used above openings to support the weight of the
wall above the opening. They are generally much
deeper in section than the studs, but their depth is
determined by the width of the opening and specified
in the building code.
Horizontal blocking:
Just as bridging is done with the joists blocking is
provided between studs, but in walls, only once,
halfway up the wall.
Sheathing:
Acts as crossbracing between studs, and provides
rigidity for exterior walls. The following are different
types of sheathing:
1) Plywood sheets
2) Fibrous wall boards
3) Extruded polystyrene insulation

Partition walls: differ from exterior walls in that they


lack sheathing.

Wall corners:
Are built monolithically, with three studs attached to
one another to provide a nailing surface for the
adjoining wall.
Design Configuration of Roof Trusses:
1) Trusses are commonly made of 2x4”s in a triangle with a
combination of smaller triangles inscribed within.
2) Members are attached with steel plate fasteners: plates
Roof Construction with points (which act as nails) pushed out in a lattice on one
Roofs constructed of trusses are the most common in side.
housing today, because trusses can span very large 3) Trusses are prefabricated and delivered on site ready to
distances, but because they are made of small section install.
wood, are quite inexpensive. 4) Trusses span 20’ to 30’, often the entire length of the
house. Spacing is 24”(60 cm)) on center.
5) The lower cord of the triangle supprts the ceiling material
below.
6) Plywood sheathing provide crossbracing.
Rafters:
If the space below the roof is to be used as an attic or
cathedral ceiling, or if the roof is too complex, or too
steep, rafters (or roof joists) are used instead of trusses.
Rafters are essentially joists, on an inclined plane, and
resting on the wall plates (headers). Sheathing of
rafters is the same as that of trusses. Methods of
erection are as follows:
1) Using a ridge board
2) Using trussed rafters

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