9 Types of Wood Framing To Know

The frame of your house is what gives it structure and support. You
can tell a lot about a house by how it was framed. If you have an
older home, it's probably framed differently than a modern house. 

When you're remodeling or constructing an addition to your house,

it's important to know how it was framed so you don't run into any
unwelcome surprises. If you're building a new house, you need to
make sure the framing is the right type for your area. 

Everyone has seen photos after a severe storm where one house has
had its roof ripped off while the one right beside it is seems
untouched. The difference between the two houses was probably the
framing. So what type of framing is best for you? Read on to find out
as we look closely at nine types of light and heavy wood framing
options, including roof frames. 

Light Frame Construction

Light framing is the most common type of framing you'll see in
modern homes. There are several types of light framing, and each
has its benefits and drawbacks. Light framing uses smaller, more
closely spaced beams for support. Light framing allows builders to
use minimal materials to support a maximum amount of space. 

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1. Platform or Western Framing

Platform framing is the most widely used type of framing used in

residential construction. It's also referred to as western framing.
Buildings with this type of framing have support posts called studs
that run from the bottom of one story to the top of that story.
Essentially, each story is framed as a separate unit. 

This type of framing is almost modular in nature. The advantage of

this type of framing is that it makes it easier to position studs where
they're needed. It makes it possible to use smaller beams and less
wood overall. Platform framing is safer for workers because it uses
simple tools. It can also be done with fewer workers, cutting labor
costs. 

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2. Balloon Framing

Before platform framing became the norm, balloon framing was

frequently used in building houses. In balloon framing, the studs
from the height of the building, from the floor to where the roof
begins. This type of framing became popular during the mid-1800s. 

It's name has nothing to do with the structural method used. Instead,
it was a negative term used to describe this light way of framing at a
time when most construction framing was done with heavy timbers.
It was the predominant method of framing in the US from the 1890s
until the 1930s. 

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The biggest drawback to balloon framing is that it leaves an open
cavity between the bottom of the floor and the roof. Since many
houses using this type of framing were built before insulation was
common, these cavities provided a way for fire to spread very quickly
between floors. Moder buildings that use balloon framing have a fire
stop installed to prevent this. 

There are several advantages to balloon framing, however. You're

less likely to have cracks develop on your interior or exterior surfaces
because the longer studs don't shrink as much. With balloon
framing, you're also able to have large openings in the wall, which
you may want for an open foyer or large picture windows. Balloon
framing is also better able to withstand high wind speeds. 

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Heavy Frame Construction
Heavy framing involves using few but larger support beams. This was
the predominant type of framing used before the 1890s. It uses
mortise and tenon joints or metal plates instead of nails for joining
beams. It's a much more labor-intensive and expensive type of
framing. However, it's beautiful and durable. 

3. Timber Framing

Timber framing is the gold standard of heavy framing. Beams are

joined using mortise and tenon joints and secured with wooden
pegs. This type of framing can last for centuries. It requires a skilled
craftsman to make the joints. It's also more expensive to design. 

Timber framing is no longer widely used. However, there are still

people who do this type of construction if you're custom building
your home. 

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4. Post and Beam Framing

Post and beam framing is very similar to timber framing. Instead of

using mortise and tenon joints, post and beam framing uses metal
plates for joints. The disadvantage of this is that condensation can
collect on the metal joints and cause the wood to decay.  Because
the joints are different materials, it's easier for the wood and metal to
work loose from each other. 

5. Plank and Beam Framing

Plank and beam framing is another elegant and historic method of

framing. It uses large beams with planks of wood in between them.
The planks are at least two inches wide but often wider. Several
different methods can be used to join the planks. 

The planks can be tongue-in-groove or grooved with a spline. This is

still a popular method of framing ceilings since it allows the ceiling to
be exposed. This aesthetic is very popular in the modern farmhouse
aesthetic. It can be used for just the ceiling if you want to add a
custom touch but don't want to invest in plank and beam framing in
your entire house. 

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6. Round Wood Timber Framing

This iconic type of framing is used in log cabins. It's been used for
centuries to build structurally sound houses. It uses the entire tree,
cutting down on waste. Round wood timber framing is immediately
recognizable. It may not fit into a suburban neighborhood, but if you
love the look of log cabins, this can be a great option for you. 

Round wood timber framing results in less waste than modern

construction methods. Since you're using the whole tree, you don't
have as much wood to discard. It also lets you use smaller trees.
Trees that may be too small to use to produce a traditional beam can
be used in round wood timber framing. 

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Your house will be much stronger. This is obvious just looking at log
cabins. The support beams are massive compared to some of today's
lighter frames. Round wood timbers are less likely to warp than
traditional beams. If you're up to the challenge and have some help,
there are a lot of resources to help you build your own round wood
timber frame house. 

7. Braced Framing

Braced framing is most often used in buildings that need to

withstand high winds or seismic pressure. Bracing is done by adding
a support to the studs so that the building doesn't sway side-to-side.
This can be done in a number of ways. 

One method of bracing involves placing beams in an X-pattern

across the wall. Bracing can also be done by placing beams in a
sideways or upside down V-pattern. 

Roof Framing
When it comes to roof framing you have two basic choices, rafters or
trusses. There are pros and cons to each. Most modern houses are
built with trusses, but sometimes rafters are a better choice. 
8. Trusses

Trusses are prefabricated sections of roof structures used to frame

the roof and tie it in with the house. Trusses use a web of triangular
supports. They are designed to distribute the weight of the roof over
a large area. You will use multiple trusses from one end of the house
to the other. 

Because they are built in a factory, the quality of the trusses is highly
regulated. They don't have to be stored on-site, and can be delivered
whenever you need them. You can frame a roof more quickly with a
truss, so they won't slow down your construction. 

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Trusses also have some drawbacks, though. They are more expensive
than stick-built framing. Because they're evenly spaced throughout
the roof, they cut down on the available attic space. Trusses make it
almost impossible to later convert the attic to a room. They also limit
your ability to store stuff in your attic. 

9. Rafters

Rafters are also called stick framing. It's built on-site. This involves
building beams that run from the peak of the roof to the outside
walls. These support the roof. Ceiling joists run horizontally across
the floor of the attic and tie into the beams that support the roof. 

Rafters allow you have to more open space in your attic, so it's a
great option if you plan to convert your attic into a room later or if
you just want more storage space. Rafters also allow you to
customize your ceiling. You have more design options with rafters
than with trusses. 

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Rafters require more skill to build than trusses, so they may increase
your cost. They're also more time-consuming to build compared to
trusses that can just be ordered. As trusses become more common in
modern buildings, building rafters is becoming a sought-after skill. 

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