Wood Frame Systems © 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Civil Engineering and Architecture Common Components of a Traditional Wood Framed Building.

Wood Frame Systems

© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Civil Engineering and Architecture

Common Components of a Traditional Wood Framed Building

Wood Framing Systems

•Floor Joists•Subfloor•Walls•Top Plate•Window Opening•Roof Trusses

• Insulation• Sheathing• Vapor Barrier• Siding• Underlayment• Asphalt Shingles

Floor Joists

Joists are horizontal structural members used to carry the floor and ceiling loads.

Joist are often spaced at 16 inches or 24 inches apart.

Subfloor

The structural floor joined to the joists that supports the finish flooring.

Typically subfloor is constructed of plywood or OSB (oriented strand board).

Plywood

OSB

Walls

Stud: The vertical framing member in frame wall construction.

Wall are often constructed of 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s and are spaced at 16 inches or 24 inches apart.

2 x 4 studs @ 16” O.C.

Top Plate

A horizontal structural member located on top of the studs used to hold the wall together.

Typically two horizontal members are included at the top of the wall - double top plate.

Sole Plate (Sill Plate)

A horizontal structure member located at the bottom the studs used to hold the wall together.

A sole plate also provides a surface for attaching the wall to its supporting structure.

Window Opening

Header: A horizontal structural member used to support other structural members over openings, such as doors and windows.

Sill: A horizontal wood member placed at the bottom of walls and openings in walls.

Roof Trusses

Truss: An assembly of structural members joined to form a rigid framework, usually connected to form triangles.

Trusses are typically spaced at 16” or 24” on center.

Insulation

Material used to restrict the flow of heat or sound from one surface to another.

SheathingA covering placed over exterior studs or rafters that serves as a base below the exterior finish materials.

Plywood or OSB are common materials for wall and roof sheathing. Alternatively, wall sheathing may consist of rigid insulation.

Vapor Barrier

Engineered materials designed to keep out liquid water and prevent air infiltration while allowing water vapor to escape from inside the home.

Siding

Material, such as boards or shingles, used for surfacing the outside walls of a frame building.

Other examples of exterior wall finish materials include plywood, hardboard, plastic, vinyl, stucco, brick, or stone.

Underlayment

Roof Felt: A tar-impregnated paper used for water protection under roofing materials.

Asphalt Shingles

Roof shingles made of asphalt-saturated felt and covered with mineral granules.

Other examples of exterior roof finish materials include slate, wood shakes, clay or concrete tiles, and metal sheets.

Wood Framing Systems

•Floor Joists•Subfloor•Walls•Top Plate•Window Opening•Roof Trusses

• Insulation• Sheathing• Vapor Barrier• Siding• Underlayment• Asphalt Shingles