Advanced Framing - the details

[John Raabe]

Advanced framing is a set of related framing techniques that saves wood, reduces costs, and improves energy efficiency. But things must line up right for this to work as advertised. Here are the details. PS - any of the house plans available here that are framed with 2x6s can use these advanced techniques. Where joists are 16" o/c stick with a double top plate to provide the short span beam to the next stud.

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-030-advanced-framing.

[glenn kangiser]

Thanks, John.  Great info.  I checked this out a bit more and found this:

Here is the 1883 version of the American Cottage Builder available for free download from Google Books. It is where this article says this info came from - it includes Cob and mud wall info - tons of stuff that doesn't make money for the building/code industry so may not apply - but excellent info.

Download the book in PDF form with the link at the top right of the online version of the book - it's free.

http://books.google.com/books?id=TMG3AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+American+Cottage+Builder,%E2%80%9D+John+Bullock&ei=dYWIS662B5iskATujv2ZDQ&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false




and

Here is a link to the Advanced Framing article in PDF form to save on your computer.

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-030-advanced-framing/files/bsi-030_advanced_framing.pdf

[SouthernTier]

Coincidentally, I just ran across this exact figure last night when I was starting to read a book I found lying around the office here (I work in an engineering firm).  It is called "Builder's Guide to Cold Climate" by Joseph Stiburek.  It's published by the Energ and Environmental Building Association.  Despite the book's name, it's got a ton of good stuff in it about building structures in general, not just in cold climates.  Basically a lot of details on how to make sure the building stays dry and warm.  Tons of little details you may not think about but can make a big difference.

As for the "advanced framing", that's pretty similar to what I have planned, except I was still going to go with double top plate.  Pretty soon, I'll start a topic in owner-builder projects.  It will be the longest-ever (duration) thread I;m afraid, though, since work and family committments mean progress is slow.  But the delay in starting the main cabin will mean I'll get lots of suggestions from the folks here before I start.

[John Raabe]

I think for most people, especially owner builders, the double top plate is well worth the slight energy hit. It allows the joist and rafter framing to vary from the strict 24" o/c alignment needed for the single plate.