Advanced Framing Technique

Advanced Framing Techniques | Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) | Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) | AdobeTwo-stud Corner FramingUsed with permission of the Nebraska Energy Office

Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) simply means “construction designs that use less wood and natural resources, but deliver equal or superior strength and quality.” OVE is also sometimes called “Advanced Framing Design,” because the techniques of OVE apply primarily to stick framing in residential construction. OVE home designs use efficient construction techniques to create corners, boxes, reinforcing supports and other joists or framing with a minimum of wood. These techniques were created by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Common techniques include utilizing two-stud corner framing with inexpensive drywall clips, increasing floor joists and rafter spacing to 24", eliminating headers in non-loadbearing walls, increasing stud spacing from 16" to 24", and using single top plates with in-line framing to transfer loads directly.

One commonly used and easy to implement advanced framing technique is to use 2 x 6" studs, 24" on center to frame the exterior walls. This results in multiple benefits. Using fewer studs allows your crew to assemble the walls more quickly. Because there are fewer studs, there is less thermal bridgingRapid heat conduction resulting from direct contact between highly thermally conductive materials like metal and glass.; the wall cavities allow itself has more space for insulation and can be made more energy efficient.

Implementation of Advanced Framing Techniques

: Advanced Framing Techniques can save 23-30% on lumber, reduce labor and scraps.Check with local codes before implementing.

• Use FSC-certified wood
• Use dimensional lumber no larger than 2 x 6"
• 19.2" and 24" on-center framing, floor systems and bearing walls
• 24" on-center framing, roof systems
• 24" on-center interior partitions
• Single top plate walls
• Right-size headers or insulated (box) headers, where required
• Eliminate headers in non-bearing walls
• Doubling the rim joist in lieu of header (2 x 6" or deeper wall
• framing)
• Finger-jointed studsThis type of lumber is made by bonding shorter sections of lumber into longer lumber using structural, water-resistant adhesives. The use of shorter segments reduces warping and adds strength in addition to making the most use out of a log. on 24" centers
• Ladders at perpendicular wall intersections
• Two-stud corner framing
• Use wood framing treated with Borate for a minimum of 3' above the foundation, or sand diatomaceous earth or mechanical termite barrier in known problem areas
• Check moisture content of wood before enclosing both sides

Basic Advanced Framing Techniques

SOURCE: Department of Energy’s Building America Program. www.buildingamerica.gov

Benefits of Advanced Framing Techniques

• Save lumber (25–30 percent).
• Reduce labor.
• Reduce scrap.
• Reduce drywall cracking and simplify air sealing.
• Adopt techniques incrementally.
• Improve energy efficiency (3–5 percent per year) by allowing better insulation and minimizing the thermal effect of studs, improve buildings thermal performance.

Challenges of Advanced Framing Techniques

• More up-front planning is needed to implement; planning must start at design.
• Framers will need training on this technique.
• May be difficult to get subcontractors on board.
• May be difficult to clear some techniques with local jurisdictions.