This article was co-authored by Mitchell Newman. TOH first used I-joists at the 1989 barn project in Concord, Mass., and Tom has been using them ever since. Building an inviting and impressive house is a complex project and one of the first steps is choosing the shape and the exterior look. Step 2. "I am a new builder trying to build a tiny house. Concern about the weakness of nailed joints, particularly in earthquake and hurricane prone regions, has made metal straps and ties a fixture in codebooks and on today's job sites, even where such natural disasters seldom occur. The second story floor joists are supported by a ribbon board set into the studs. Yes, 3/4" plywood is the most commonly used subflooring material beneath wood and laminate floors. Headers may be constructed full width by using 2-by-10’s, or they may be created by using 2-by-6’s filling in above them with cripple studs. This wall is measured to fit between the previously erected walls, measuring at the bottom. Note: Use only nails specified by the manufacturer—no substitutions! Because the sill plate will be in direct contact with the concrete foundation, it’s recommended that you go with pressure-treated wood. Load-bearing walls carry ceiling, roof, or upper-floor loads to the foundation. Shown is a typical wall with a door and window opening framed in. Mark the top of the sill by measuring down from the header. As you work, mark the location of doors, windows, and interior wall corners on the sill. This second top plate creates the final wall height of a standard 8-foot wall. I am a visual learner, so the step by step with pictures was very helpful.". Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years, as Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. The floors of most modern structures are built by arranging individual pieces of dimensional lumber in a consistent, repeating pattern. Platform framing can be used for either single or two-story and is the easier and most common method of construction. Sill plates are anchored to the foundation, then the floor joists are fastened to the sill plates and their ends boxed in with joist headers. Use the rough opening height for this dimension. A temporary brace is then installed to hold the wall square. Walls are actually constructed as one individual piece, or as sections in the case of long walls. Anchor the bracing in place with two 8d nails at each stud, and then cut the ends of the bracing off flush with the plate edges. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; Cut the lower cripples and place one under each end of the sill as a temporary support while you toenail the sill to the trimmers with a pair of 8d nails at each end. Mark an “X” outside these marks for the full-height king studs. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; For most jobs, 2 in (5.1 cm) x 10 in (25 cm) boards are an ideal size. Choosing the Right Construction Equipment for a Challenging Worksite, How Prefabricated Foundation Walls Are Poured and Installed, Top 20 Best New Home Products | Building Materials, S17 E20: Fix Foundation, Textured Ceiling. Remember, your calculations should reflect the combined length of the outer frame (multiplied by 2 to account for both the sill plate and rim joists), as well as each of the joists. Symmetry is not one of the defining characteristics of this retreat. If installing the wall on a concrete slab, slide it up to the anchor bolts, then you will have to lift the wall up and position it down on the anchor bolts. Balloon framing is sometimes used with two-story buildings.