Framing is the very bones of the house. And like the bones in your body, although you never see them (hopefully!), bones are extremely important. If done well, the framing of your house will last for well over a hundred years.
There are six guidelines to ensure that a house is framed well:
- Make sure that everything is on the level. Like a good custom home builder, a house must be “on the level.” A good custom home builder laser-levels the floor systems in good custom home building. If the floors are level, everything else follows; the house’s inherent weight is distributed evenly, and nature’s forces are handled well.
- Ensure that all framing is square: rooms and openings (windows and doors) must be built square. This ensures that furniture and appliances fit and that doors and windows open and close easily for years to come. Proper framing ensures that everything fits together seamlessly, and the unique design elements associated with custom home building can be easily incorporated and fit together seamlessly.
- Build it Solid: if a house is too last, all point loads must be supported properly, floor joists must have the correct specifications (strength, vibration, and deflection), suitable LVLs must be used, and large window walls must be engineered and built correctly to withstand (increasing) wind loads and deflection. And remember, doing it right is much more important than adding more. In fact, adding more can often add to the problem (heat loss or gain, cost of material, etc.)
- Follow instructions: The building code does not cover much of the framing required by a custom home. A good custom home builder not only reads and understands the building code requirements but also follows the truss specifications, the manufacturer’s instructions for proper window installation, the proper nailing pattern for LVLs, and the required back framing. A good framer also reads and follows the engineer’s notes.
- Follow best practices: many best practices are also not in the building code. Best practices are based on years of experience, are regional, and are learned by problems encountered and solved. There are far too many best practices to list here, but for example, does the framer slope the framed sills below windows? Is the custom home builder extremely specific about the installation sequence for the vapour barrier?
- Build economically: A good framer keeps moving, and his offcut pile is small. A good custom home builder has high standards, in practice or materials, that save money either now or in the years to come. Proper framing ensures that the house can be sealed well, leading to significant energy savings this year and for years to come. It also keeps out irritating pests, bugs, and rodents.
Get in touch with Rockhaven Homes, and ensure that your dream home is built solidly as a Rock and a Haven for years to come.