Framing Standards

Good framing starts at the foundation and interior pony walls, pictured here on one of the homes being built in Alexandria by Mallon Construction is one of contract framer Shane Johnsons men gluing down the mud sill for a pony wall. All mud sills are glued as well as nailed to minimize the chance of squeaks in the floor and home. This isn't standard procedure in the industry, but it is with Mallon Construction.

A quality home is only as good as its framing. In the photo below is something that is key to the quality of the framing in any home, and that is reject lumber. The pile of 2X6s on the ground has been rejected by Mallon Constructions framer, Shane Johnson. Each piece of lumber is examined for its straightness and any weaknesses it might have, and if it doesn't meet Mallon Construction or framer Shane Johnsons standards, it gets put in the rejection pile. They will use what they can of this pile for blocking or other uses where whatever caused its rejection won't matter.

Another rejection pile of lumber laying in front of the unit of OSB. Since most lumber comes from small diameter trees these days, a lot more of the lumber is twisted or warped or split than lumber from larger trees used a few years ago. It takes time to go through the lumber piece by piece, but in the end, a much better framing job is done. One might think most builders and framers would do this, that isn't the case.

OK, now you've used only the straightest and best lumber, what is the next step for a quality framing job. That would include the framing being straight and level and square. Pictured below is Shane using his "plate to plate" level that he uses on every wall in every house he frames to assure the walls are plumb. He wants them perfect as he can get them. Putting a 4 or 6 foot level on the studs doesn't do it. He says that using levels on the studs can be off as much as 1/2 an inch from bottom plate to top plate and that isn't good enough.

Making sure it's ready for trusses and sheeting. You can see some of the "reject" lumber at work, this is one place where it can make its mark on the quality of the house.

Each wall is brought into plumb with multiple braces, then rechecked and kept in place until the sheeting and framing bracing is in place.