8. Frame II

Second floor framing is like putting a one story on top of your sub floor. Things to look for; triple blocked corners and T's, deadwood, header sizes, cripples, double cripples on headers 6 feet or larger. Look for tub studs, and don't forget to kick your door jambs (door bucks) at the bottom plate. This will make sure that they are nailed. If they aren't properly secured, as time goes by your doors will not close properly and it is not an easy homeowner fix. On your frame walk ask the CM (construction manager) or CSR (customer service representative) to explain and show you a few of these things. As stated previously, Framing and Finishing are the two most difficult things to do on a home. The quality of the frame punch will have significant impact on your finished home. Doors are framed 2 1/2 inches larger than the door rough opening. Tubs in secondary baths are 60" (sixty inches), all hallways are rough framed a minimum of 38 1/2 inches wide. Framer and/or CM must have a six foot level on the job site. All sub floor is tongue and groove. seams should not line up on your sub-floor. If you tongue and/or groove are cut off during installation there needs to be a block installed at that joint. We could go on and on and on about what needs to be punched. If you a with a good builder they should be pretty good at it. The main reason that I have spent so much time on framing is that I want to impress upon you how important it is to your home. One eighth inch out of plumb in 32 inches is excessive. You want 1/8 inch in six feet. Understand that in almost all cases when the code book, which there are several, (you have to check and see which one is being used in your area ), is talking about the bear minimum. So if you were to build your home to 'the code' you would not have an exceptional frame. Arm yourself with some of the terminology and come to your walk with questions. If your CM does a good job explaining it to you, then you know he will be able to explain it to his framer. Next we need to have a short conversation about your roof framing