Understanding Framing Terms in Construction

Introduction to Framing Terms

Today, we’re talking about framing terms in construction. If you’re new to the building industry or outside of it, a lot of these terms might seem like complete gibberish to you. So, what I’m going to do today is go over some of the most commonly used terms so that if you’re a new builder, an architect, a designer, a homeowner, or just anyone that wants to be part of the conversation, you will be better informed.

Framing Term: 2×4 and 2×6

First, let’s start with the most basic and commonly used terms: 2X4 and 2X6. These are primarily what you’re going to see being used as studs in new construction. In the old school, they only used 2×4 really for exterior walls.

Why do we call it a 2×4? Because you measure the width (2 inches) by the length (4 inches). Back in the old days, it was a true 2 inches by 4 inches. Nowadays, we’ve skimped and shrunk it down to an inch and a half by three and a half, but we still call it a 2×4.

In a new construction, most applications use a 2×6 for exterior walls. They’re deeper, can fit more plumbing, and more insulation. When people talk about “tuby,” that just means a 2-inch thick piece of wood by any length, which can go all the way up to 2×24 and above. Just know, when you’re talking about 2x, you’re talking about a thicker piece of framing.

Framing Term: Studs

A stud is one of the most common terms in construction. A stud is a “tuby” that makes up a wall assembly. Studs come in pre-cut lengths depending on your ceiling height, primarily 8, 10, and 12 feet, though you can cut them to any length you need or pre-order them in different lengths.

Stud Packs

Anytime you have a group of two or more studs, we call that a stud pack. The king stud is the longest stud that goes from the bottom plate (the bottom piece) all the way to the top plate continuously.

In the middle, there are two king studs with a trimmer stud on each side. The trimmer stud goes from the bottom plate to underneath the header; it doesn’t go all the way to the top plate. Above the top plate in our header, we have our cripple studs, which are cut at random lengths as necessary to continue the wall all the way to the ceiling or roof.

Framing Term: Bottom Plate

The bottom plate is the stud that is laid longways on the ground, to which you attach your other studs. It’s called the bottom plate because it’s at the bottom. Instead of coming in pre-cut lengths for ceiling size, you order your bottom plates in 16-foot lengths because they go around the entire perimeter of your structure.

If this was sitting on the slab, it would be called a sill plate, and you want to use treated lumber for that. It’s pressure-treated to hold up much better to potential moisture contact because you’re much closer to the ground.

Framing Term: Top Plate

Your top plate is always going to be a double top plate. There’s a bottom plate, a double top plate, and the studs go in between. The top plate can also be known as your ceiling height. If you have an 8-foot ceiling, your top plate is going to be right above 8 feet. The other function of the top plate is to allow the roof framing to sit on top of the wall.

Framing Term: Header

A header is simply a piece of lumber that spans the opening of a door or window frame. In this case, our engineer specified a double 2×12 header, meaning there are two pieces of lumber. The header carries the load of the opening. The wider the opening, the beefier the header has to be. The more weight it’s carrying, the stronger it has to be. For very wide openings, you might need to use a steel header.

Framing Term: Beams

Another common term you’ll hear is an LVL, which stands for laminated veneer lumber. Unlike standard lumber, which is a solid piece cut directly from a tree, LVLs are made by cutting thin slices or veneers from the tree, drying them out, gluing them, and then pressing them tightly together. This process makes the strength of an LVL about two to almost three times that of standard lumber. You’ll see LVLs used in big spans for headers, when removing load-bearing walls, and sometimes as joists, which hold up a second floor.

Framing Term: Joists

A joist is a structural element that supports a floor. In this case, we’re using a 2X12 as a joist to hold the floor above it. You can find joists in decks or subfloors. Here we have a joist between our first and second floor. Similarly, we use floor trusses, which are manufactured offsite and designed by a truss designer to carry specific loads. Floor trusses are installed on-site and support floors just like joists do.

Framing Term: Trusses

Trusses are another key component in framing. They can be floor trusses or roof trusses. Roof trusses make up the roof system. We can design trusses in various shapes and slopes to fit specific roof designs. Scissor trusses, for example, create a lofted ceiling by spanning the distance from one side of the room to the other with full height.

Framing Term: Rafters

Rafters are similar to joists but are used in roof construction. When the roof is directly above these elements, they are called rafters. These rafters can make up ceilings when you loft them, they can form the eaves (sulit), and the overhangs on the outside are called rafter tails.

Framing Term: Sheathing

Another very commonly used term is sheathing, which is the plywood skin on the outside of the house. There are two primary applications: zip sheathing, which is plywood with a water vapor barrier on top, and OSB (oriented strand board), which is particle board wrapped in Tyvek (a water vapor barrier). Both serve the same purpose; the choice between them is mostly a matter of preference. The same sheathing is used on the roof deck, but when applied there, it’s called decking.

Framing Term: Hangers

Hangers are hardware components that support trusses. They are cradles that hold the truss and bolt it onto the header. When modifying existing structures, hangers play a crucial role in maintaining structural integrity, especially when load-bearing walls are removed. They ensure that the trusses remain supported even when the span changes.

Framing Term: Subfloor

The subfloor is the layer of material that goes on top of the joists or trusses. It fills the gaps between the joists or trusses, providing a continuous surface. We typically use inch-and-an-eighth thick subfloor material like Advantech. The subfloor is glued down to the joists or trusses using adhesive.

Learning Framing Terms in Construction

Knowing these framing terms in construction is not the end-all, be-all. I know it’s overwhelming—there are tons of terms to learn, and you don’t want to sound ignorant. But just like anything, the more you’re exposed to it, the more you’ll learn. The more you see what these actual things are, the more they will make sense in your head. Ultimately, if you want to walk the walk, you’ve got to talk the talk. So, I’ll be releasing a series of videos covering not just framing terms in construction, but terms across the broad spectrum of construction.

Our dedication to transparency and customer education by explaining framing terms in construction means that we won’t just build your home; we’ll help you understand the process every step of the way. Trust Revent Builds to turn your vision into reality, using the highest standards of construction practices and materials.

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