The invoice from your Alameda County residential framing company should include the following information:

• The contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A complete list of all work performed.
• An itemized list of all materials used.
• The total cost for the house framing services, including the itemized amount charged for labor.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees provided by the product manufacturers and the contractors.

The following items should be included in any written guarantee document:

• The Alameda County framing contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A description of what exactly the warranty covers. This should include whether the contractor will repair or replace faulty materials or workmanship.
• Any exclusions must be explicitly stated.
• Your responsibility in the case of a problem and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or is prorated (meaning, the warranty coverage and amount owed for repair or replacement diminishes over time).
• If the warranty coverage is transferable to the new owner if you sell the home or commercial building in which the work was done.
• Any actions on your part that may invalidate the warranty.

Framing services available in Contra Costa County, including those for residential and commercial buildings, new construction, and additions, in Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Richmond and Brentwood and beyond, include the following:

Residential Framing / House Framing Services in Contra Costa County
Residential framing contractors are those who specialize in building framing for homes, including single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-family homes. The classification for most residential framing construction is for or fewer units. House framing contractors build the frame of residential homes over the completed foundation, install the sill plate, construct the walls and roof structure (including the trusses), install any subflooring and exterior subsurface, and roof deck base.

New Construction Framing Services
New construction framing services in Contra Costa County are those that build new homes and commercial buildings from the ground up. They often coordinate with foundation contractors and general contractors, and they must coordinate with architects and designers to stay true to the original plans.

Room Addition Framing
Framing contractors can add framing for room additions and add-ons for garages, new bedrooms, sun rooms, and other home additions, or commercial building additions. These framing jobs can be complicated because the contractor has to add a new structure to an existing structure. Once a new section of foundation is poured, the framing contractors work off of architectural plans to build the frame for the new room or addition.

Framing Services for Window Replacement
Existing homes that are getting new windows may need a framing contractor to open up walls to increase, shrink, or move the windows from their current size or position. These framing services allow homeowners and business owners to install new windows, or windows that are a different size, or to move windows without adversely affecting the structure and safety of the home or business.

Basement Framing Services
Unfinished basements can be finished through the expertise of local framing contractors who add room divisions and frame the interior walls of the basement. This can be done on new construction or existing homes.

Commercial Framing Contractor Services
Commercial framing construction services in Contra Costa County, including those in Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg, Clayton, Byron, Los Medanos, San Pablo, Rodeo, Martinez, Crockett, Discovery Bay and beyond, deal with large apartment complexes, stores, restaurants, commercial facilities, business park buildings, manufacturing facilities, industrial facilities, schools, public and civic buildings, and other large-scale projects. Most framing contractors who offer commercial framing are licensed as commercial contractors. Commercial framing can be done with wood or metal, and often involves steel framing and specialty methods.

Steel Framing
Steel framing is most often used during commercial construction in larger scale buildings. This involves using steel beams, trusses, joists, studs, and other features to construct the floor, wall, and roof systems. Steel framing isn’t often done by residential framing contractors.

Wood Framing
Wood framing is most often used in residential framing work. This method of framing uses wood as the main substrate for wall and roof structures, subflooring, roof trusses and sheathing, and other surfaces. Most Contra Costa County framing companies provide wood framing services.

Stick Framing
Stick framing is a traditional way of building homes, and it’s used almost exclusively in single-family homes and custom homes. Stick framing uses individual pieces of lumber to build the framing, roof trusses, floor trusses and supports, and other features of the home framing. Stick framing is in contrast to engineered framing, in which larger sections of wood are used. Stick framed buildings are built onsite instead of off-site or using prefabricated walls and trusses as a single piece.

Truss Setting
A large part of framing contractors’ jobs is setting trusses, the supports most often found under floors and roofs. Truss setting can include building and placing trusses in the correct position during the framing process.

These terms and their definitions can help you better understand commercial and residential framing work and better communicate with your framing contractor. As with any trade and working relationship, it’s important that you understand the terms your contractor is using. If you aren’t familiar with framing and don’t understand some of the terms used, ask your framing contractor for clarification.

basement framing services
Unfinished basements can be finished through the expertise of local framing contractors who add room divisions and frame the interior walls of the basement. This can be done on new construction or existing homes.

Also known as: basement framing, residential basement framing, basement addition framing, finished basement framing

bottom plate
The bottom horizontal section of a framed wall is known as the bottom plate. The bottom plate sits on the subfloor and is attached using nails that run through the subfloor into the main floor joists.

Also known as: framed wall bottom plate

bridging
Small pieces of wood or metal that form an X-pattern between floor joists to prevent the joists from twisting, warping, and squeaking.

Also known as: bridge framing, framed bridging, floor joist bridging

corner braces
Diagonal braces installed at the corners of framed walls are known as corner braces. These stiffen the walls at the corners, which stiffens them and makes them stronger.

Also known as: wall bracing

commercial framing contractor services
Commercial framing construction services deal with large apartment complexes, stores, restaurants, commercial facilities, business park buildings, manufacturing facilities, industrial facilities, schools, public and civic buildings, and other large-scale projects. Most framing contractors who offer commercial framing are licensed as commercial contractors. Commercial framing can be done with wood or metal, and often involves steel framing and specialty methods.

Also known as: commercial building framing, framing for commercial buildings, apartment framing, business framing, shopping center framing services, school framing, industrial framing construction

floor joists
The main subfloor framing sections that support the span of the floor are known as floor joists.

Also known as: floor joist installation

framing window replacements
Existing homes where new windows are being installed may need a framing contractor to open up walls to increase, shrink, or move the windows from their current size or position. These framing services allow homeowners and business owners to install new windows, or windows that are a different size, or to move windows without adversely affecting the structure and safety of the home or business.

Also known as: new window framing, window reframing, window replacement framing

girder
A large beam, usually made of wood or steel, that is the main support beam for buildings.\

Also known as: metal girders, industrial girder installation, girder beams

load-bearing wall
A wall that supports the structural weight above it, including upper floors, ceilings, and the roof.

Also known as: necessary wall, load wall, bearing wall, weight bearing wall

new construction framing services
New construction framing companies build new homes and commercial buildings from the ground up. They often coordinate with foundation contractors and general contractors, and they must coordinate with architects and designers to stay true to the original plans.

Also known as: new construction framing, new home construction, commercial building construction

non load-bearing wall
A wall that supports no load other than its own weight.

Also known as: non-bearing wall

plumb
A vertical element, usually a piece of wood or section of framing or wall, that is exactly perpendicular to the level surfaces above and/or below.

Also known as: true

residential framing services
Residential framing contractors specialize in building framing for homes, including single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-family homes. The classification for most residential framing construction is for or fewer units. House framing contractors build the frame of residential homes over the completed foundation, install the sill plate, construct the walls and roof structure (including the trusses), install any subflooring and exterior subsurface, and roof deck base.

Also known as: house framing

room addition framing
Framing contractors can add framing for room additions and add-ons for garages, new bedrooms, sun rooms, and other home additions, or commercial building additions. These framing jobs can be complicated because the contractor has to add a new structure to an existing structure. Once a new section of foundation is poured, the framing contractors work off of architectural plans to build the frame for the new room or addition.

Also known as: framing for home additions, addition framing services

sill plate
The horizontal wood section of home or commercial building framing that is anchored to the foundation. This provides a surface for floors or walls above to be affixed to.

Also known as: sill, foundation sill

steel framing
Steel framing is most often used during commercial construction in larger scale buildings. This involves using steel beams, trusses, joists, studs, and other features to construct the floor, wall, and roof systems. Steel framing isn’t often done by residential framing contractors.

Also known as: commercial framing, industrial framing, steel framing system

stick framing
Stick framing is a traditional way of building homes, and it’s used almost exclusively in single-family homes and custom homes. Stick framing uses individual pieces of lumber to build the framing, roof trusses, floor trusses and supports, and other features of the home framing. Stick framing is in contrast to engineered framing, in which larger sections of wood are used. Stick framed buildings are built onsite instead of off-site or using prefabricated walls and trusses as a single piece.

Also known as: hand framing, custom framing

stud
A 2×4 or 2×6 vertical piece of framing used when framing contractors are building exterior walls and interior walls and room partitions.

Also known as: framing stud

subfloor
Boards or plywood sheets installed over flooring joists are known as subfloor or subflooring. The finish floor is laid over the top of the subfloor, which gives the finish floor structure and support.

Also known as: subflooring, sub

truss setting
A large part of framing contractors’ jobs is setting trusses, the supports most often found under floors and roofs. Truss setting can include building and placing trusses in the correct position during the framing process.

Also known as: new trusses, truss installation, roof truss placement

wood framing
Wood framing is most often used in residential framing work. This method of framing uses wood as the main substrate for wall and roof structures, subflooring, roof trusses and sheathing, and other surfaces. Most good framing companies provide wood framing services.

Also known as: wooden framing, wood building framing, residential framing services

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified framing contractor?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a residential or commercial framing contractor with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only house framing contractors rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified framing contractor in the Greater Bay Area or near you to frame your new home, home addition, or commercial building.

Q: How long will my framing construction job take?
A: Depending on whether you’re hiring a commercial framing company or residential framing construction expert, the size and other specifics of your job, timing is a factor that will have to be decided by your contractor and you during the contracting and planning phase. Some homes can be framed in as little as one to two days; others take a week or more. Commercial framing, including steel framing services, can take much longer, depending on the building size and location. Your contractor should be able to give you expected start and end dates specific to your project.

Q: What can framing contractors do for me?
A: Depending on their qualifications, experience, and ability, most local framing contractors can provide the following services:

• New construction framing
• Residential framing / home framing services
• Commercial framing
• Framing for home remodels
• Room addition framing services
• Framing carpentry
• Basement framing
• New garage framing and framing for garage additions
• Custom framing services
• Steel framing services (usually commercial framing construction)
• Wood framing (usually as part of residential framing construction services)
• Joist, beam, and truss placement
• Subfloor installation
• Roof sheathing installation

 Q: What does it cost to hire a framing contractor?
A: That depends on the contractor’s rates, materials chosen, square footage of your new home/ home addition or commercial building, location of the building, scope of work you’re contracting, and other factors. The national average for a wood framing job for a single-family home is between $15 and $30 per square foot for materials and labor. Talk with your local framing contractor about your job and the expected fees and costs associated with it.

Q: Will I have to hire my own framing contractor?
A: In most cases, general contractors are the ones who hire framing companies to complete the framing construction services. However, you may be involved in that process. If you are acting as your own project manager or are coordinating your building project on your own or with another contractor, you may be the one to hire a framing company. If that task is left to you, see the helpful articles above for information on finding, interviewing, choosing, and working with local framing contractors.