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Moisture and warm air are catalysts of fungus, which causes dry rot that can destroy a building. In addition to calling for ventilation to control moisture, the code also requires decay-resistant wood wherever moisture can come in contact with structural wood. Some areas of the country are more conducive to decay than others. The code […]

The width of stairs must be a minimum of 36” from finish to finish. Handrails may project into the 36” a maximum of 4%" on each side. (See “Stairs" illustration.) Two sets of tread and riser dimensions apply to minimum and maximum requirement. One set is for Group R-3, Group R-2, and Group 4 (houses, […]

Ceiling joists must have bearing support similar to that of rafters. The bearing must be Ш" on wood or metal, and not less than 3" on masonry or concrete. The most important thing to remember about ceiling joists is that if they are used to tie the rafter­bearing walls at opposite ends of the building, […]

Wall bracing is needed to keep buildings from falling. Sheathing the exterior walls is a typical way to provide bracing. The architect, engineer, or whoever creates the plans will specify when any special bracing is needed. Although you don’t need to know everything about wall bracing, it is good to have a basic understanding of […]

Stud spacing should be shown on the plans, but it is still good to be familiar with the code limitations. For 2 x 4 studs less than 10 feet tall, the maximum stud spacing is 24" O. C., provided the wall is supporting one floor or a roof and ceiling only. For the support of […]

Floor Framing Following are the code requirements and instructions related to floor framing: • Double joists are required under parallel bearing walls. • If pipes penetrate floors where double joists are required, the joists must be separated and have full-depth, solid blocks at least every 4′ along their length. • Bearing for joists must be […]

Framers, builders, architects, engineers, and building inspectors alike have contributed to the system of building codes we use today. You should be aware of the codes that apply to the part of the country you are working in, as well as the important features of those codes. This chapter will discuss what you should know […]

Earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados continue to wreak havoc on our wood frame houses and buildings. We will never be able to completely protect against the worst case scenario, however our codes are continually improving so that we can make our buildings stronger. A big part of this improvement has been the addition of connection hardware. […]

Hold-downs are connections commonly used for foundations, wall-to-wall connections, wall-to — concrete connections, and wall or floor-to-drag strut. Hold-downs are also called anchor downs and tie-downs. They can be difficult to install, but if you plan ahead and install as you go, the job is more manageable. Hold-downs that attach walls to the concrete foundation […]

• Nail spacing—The nailing pattern for nailing the sheathing to the intermediate framing members is usually the standard 12" O. C. It is the edge nailing that changes to increase the strength. • Penetration—The nail must not penetrate the sheathing’s outside veneer. Nail Penetration 3/8" minimum from nail to edge of sheathing /8" minimum gap […]