Specification of material
Stump 100 x100 150x150
Bearer 150x75 200x75
Joist 100x50 100x75
Bottom-plate 75x40
Studs 75x40
Nogging 75x40
Braces 50x20 75x20
Trimmer 75x40
Jamb 140x25 140x30
Head 140x25 140x30
Sill 140x45
Architrave 25x50
Skirting 50x25 75x24
Flooring 100x25 75x25
Corner stud 100x100 75x75
Top-plate 75x40
Ceiling joists 1ooxd50 100x75
Rafter 100x40 100x50
Purl in 75x50 50x50
Beam or ridge 150x50
Barge board 150x25 100x25 150x30
Fascia board 150x25 100x25 150x30
Weather board 135x20
Tread 255x30
Riser 190x20
Handrail 100x50 100x40 75x75
Stringer 200x40
Parts of a Wall Frame
Procedure of making a wall frame
a) top and bottom plate;
To join the studs to the top and bottom plate, we use housing
joints. Gauge the housing joints with a marking gauge or com-
bination try square, on the top plate from the top and bottom
plate from the bottom. Using this method, we achieve the cor-
rect depth of housing joints event if the timber is not cut at a
uniform size. The depth of the housing joints is 5 mm - 10 mm
b) Studs
Mark corner studs, doors and window studs first, using the straight-
est pieces. When completed, mark all the other studs using double
studs at the corners. Nails are used to fasten studs to bottom and
top plate.
c) Noggings
Fit the noggings so that the studs are held straight
d) Trimmer
to join the trimmers to the studs use the house joint. When fitting the
trimmers allow enough space for the door and window frame.
e) Braces
before braces are fixed to the frame you must check that the frame
is square. This best done by measuring the diagonal while the frame
is lying horizontal on a flat surface. If the frame is squared and be-
fore it is erected you can be sure that the external corners are
plumb.
Erecting wall frames
a) Erecting wall frame
when the walls are ready to be erect they should be firm and strong enough
to take the weight of the ceiling and roof construction without losing their
shape before erecting the wall frames, mark the floor correct place for fitting
them on the floor joints with the aid of a string. Start with the outside frames.
Use a spirit level or plumb bob to set them correctly vertical. Fit enough brac-
es to hold them in place. Afterwards fit the inside walls.
b) Joining wall frames at the corner
To join wall frames at the corner, we may use the halving joints to the batt
joint. In both cause we have to nail the corner.
CEILING
Ceiling joints
The pieces of timber placed on top of the wall frame are called the ceiling
joist.
Purpose of the ceiling joists
a) strengthening the house construction;
if there are no ceiling joists, the weight of the roof will tend to spread the
walls.
Through the ceiling joists exist a triangle construction which is immova-
ble this means the pressure of the roof is straight downwards. Ceiling
joints are fixed across the narrow way of the house. Every second or
third ceiling joints has to be placed near a rafter and connected to that
rafter, so the ceiling joists act as ties to the bases of the rafters
b) Carrying the ceiling materials
Plywood, Masonite etc. Is nailed onto the ceiling joists. Depending on the
ceiling material being used, the distance between each ceiling joists will vary
from 500mm-700mm. When plywood is used, the distance from the centre of
one ceiling joist to the centre of the next ceiling joists is 610mm.
ROOFING
the main purpose of any roof construction is to carry the weight of the con-
verging material which prevents rainwater from entering the building and pro-
tects the inhabitants from sun and wind.
DIFFERENT ROOF SHAPES
a) Gable Roof
The ordinary roof, which has two sloping surfaces extending from
the eaves to a central ridge, and which from a triangular vertical wall
at each end above the wall plates . These triangular shapes are
known as ‘gable ends;, hence the name gable roof. The gable roof is
most commonly used for small houses because of its simplicity of
construction and low cost. This type of roof is often used as the ba-
sis of, or in combination with, other types of roofs.
b) Lean-to or skillion roof
the lean-to roof is simply a galled gable roof. It is often used in con-
struction for economical reason no ridge capping, only one of gutter.
To pitch the roof at the right angle and to support the rafters, one of
the two side walls must be build higher. Ceiling joists are as in the
gable roof. When the span is more than four metre, purloins and
struts must be fitted.
c) Hipped roof;
The hip roof has four sides all of which slope upward towards the
centre of the building. The external angle where two adjacent slop-
ing sides met is called the hip, and the inclined member at this junc-
tion is the hip rafter. The hipped roof is more expensive to build as it
requires more skilled labour because of the difficult construction. On
the other hand, if the complete job is done well, the roof should sup-
port itself.
TECHNICAL TERMS OF A ROOF
a) Barge - the inclined timbers on the gable ends which are fixed to the pur-
lins and cover the ends of the roof timbers.
b) Ceiling joisted - timber across a room to carry the ply-wood ceiling.
c) Fascia - the upright board fixed to the feed of the rafters to carry the
spouting. Any wide board fixed on edge.
d) Purlin or batten - the horizontal member supporting the rafters in a roof
which in turns is supported off the walls by struts.
e) Rafters - the inclined members of a roof between the plate and the ridge
which supports the roof covering.
f) Ridge - the top horizontal member in a roof carrying the rafters.
RAFTER AND RIDGE ROOF
The rafter and ridge roof is used when the span is short or where high ceil-
ings are desired or where rooms have been included in the design of the
roof.
a) Technical team
The rise; the rise is the height of the roof.
The span; the span is the width of the roof at the base of the roof pitch tri
-angle.
The run; the run is half the span.
The overhang; the overhang is the distance between the outside wall
and the end of the slope of the roof, which is parallel to the wall.
The roof pitch triangle; the roof pitch triangle is the slope of the roof and
is expressed in degrees.
The birds mouth; an angle cut on the edge of a piece of timber so that it
sits on the angle of a cross piece. Used at the foot of a rafter where it is
sits on the top plate.
b) Strengthening the rafter and ridge roof
If the span of the roof is up to 5m, it has to be strengthened. It is
done with a COLLAR-TIE or TIE BEAM
Roof truss
Where very large span are required or where low ceilings are designed it is normal to
use trusses which are also easier to erect. The roof trusses are made up by a series
of triangles. At the bottom cord allow camber of 12mm. The camber allows for settle-
ment of the trass when loaded. [Trusses are placed at about 3000mm intervals]
a) Rise, important about rise
-to have a sufficient slope on the roof we have to calculate the height of rise.
-if the angle is to flat the truss will not carry the weight and the truss will bend down-
perhaps breaking
Note: the ratio for Rise is 1:7
Example: 6000 : 7 = 850 rise
Straight overhang:
b) Different truss types according to the shape:
Standard Truss span up to 8 000 (8 metre )
THE ROOF FRAME
The roof frame is made up of rafter, battens, under purling, struts, ridges and
collar-ties to support the roof covering.
Note;
The tie between the feet of the rafters and the ceiling joists is the only con-
nection between the ceiling and roof frame.
ROOF FRAME
