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
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