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Lecture Four

Uses of Wood

The main types of wood structure

Framing 1) Balloon frame 2) Platform frame

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Post and beam

Quebec frame

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Exterior finishes: 1) Shingles 2) Boards 3) Sheets

Interior finishes: 1) Boards 2) Sheets

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Finish carpentry: 1) Doors and windows (although these are rarely made on site today) 2) Cabinetwork 3) Trim

Wood Frame Construction

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Modularity: Modular sizes have been developed to take advantages of economies of scale. Standard sizes of framing members, sheathing, and insulation are designed to fit together, so that a minimum of labor is needed on site.

Examples of modular components: 1) Studs (veritcal members in walls) and joists (horizontal members supporting floors) are standardized to be placed 16 (40 cm) and 24 (60 cm) apart. 2) Batt insulation (fibreglass rolls) is also standardized to 16 ( 40 cm) and 24(60 cm) width, to fit between studs. 3) Plywood sheathing. Gyprock (drywall), and composite board are standardized to 4 width in general which fits into the regular spacing of studs and joists.

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Floor framing

Once the foundation is finished, a platform is constructed which will support the walls surrounding the main floor, as well as supporting the decking of the main floor itself.

Base Plate: A 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 set into the concrete of the foundation, with a damproof bedding.

Floor joists: The wood that supports the floor, joists sizes are determined according to the span required of them. Joists should be laid across the shorter

Girders: Can be used to reduce the span required of the joists. A wood or steel girder can be laid into the foundation across the long dimension, splitting the short dimension in half. Joists are then laid from the wall to the girder in the short direction.

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dimension of a room to reduce the span, and therefore the size and cost of the wood needed. Joists are always spaces 16 (40cm) apart with regard to the center of the wood. RULE OF THUMB sizes for different spans: 1) 9 span- 2x6 joists 2) 12 span- 2x8 joists 3) 15 span- 2x10 joists

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Headers: Are made of the same section wood as the joists and are used to cover the open end over the sill.

Bridging: To keep joists from buckling, a bridge is set between adjoining joists approximately every 2m (refer to building code). Bridging is made of a solid piece of wood, and X brace, steel strapping, or continuous strapping.

Double Headers: Where the joist span is interrupted by an opening, such as where a stairway penetrates the floor platform, joists are shortened and attached to double-header, which defines and supports the edge of the opening. Double-headers are used for stairs, chimneys, laundry chutes, etc.

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Subfloors: Commonly the subfloor (the unfinished surface under the tile, carpet, etc.) is plywood (one or two layers), tongue and groove decking, or the edge of the blocking itself.

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Wall framing
The wall is usually built flat on the platform, and then lifted into position. In platform construction walls are only built to one story. Traditionally wall frames are built with 2x4s, but to accommodate larger batt insulation, 2x6 construction has become common in Canada.

Studs: The major constituents of the wall, the studs are vertical members placed 16 (40 cm) or 24 (60 cm) apart. Studs are doubled up at the corners, and at the edges of the openings.

Base plate/ header plate: Studs are affixed at the bottom to the base plate and at the top to the header plate. Which are affixed in turn to the lower and upper floor platforms. 1) Base plate: a single piece of wood of the same section as the studs. 2) Header plate: Double the thickness of the base plate because it supports the weight of another floor or the roof.

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Double headers: Are used above openings to support the weight of the wall above the opening. They are generally much deeper in section than the studs, but their depth is determined by the width of the opening and specified in the building code. Horizontal blocking: Just as bridging is done with the joists blocking is provided between studs, but in walls, only once, halfway up the wall.

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Sheathing: Acts as crossbracing between studs, and provides rigidity for exterior walls. The following are different types of sheathing: 1) Plywood sheets 2) Fibrous wall boards 3) Extruded polystyrene insulation

Partition walls: differ from exterior walls in that they lack sheathing.

Wall corners: Are built monolithically, with three studs attached to one another to provide a nailing surface for the adjoining wall.

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Design Configuration of Roof Trusses: 1) Trusses are commonly made of 2x4s in a triangle with a combination of smaller triangles inscribed within. 2) Members are attached with steel plate fasteners: plates with points (which act as nails) pushed out in a lattice on one side. 3) Trusses are prefabricated and delivered on site ready to install. 4) Trusses span 20 to 30, often the entire length of the house. Spacing is 24(60 cm)) on center. 5) The lower cord of the triangle supprts the ceiling material below. 6) Plywood sheathing provide crossbracing.

Roof Construction Roofs constructed of trusses are the most common in housing today, because trusses can span very large distances, but because they are made of small section wood, are quite inexpensive.

Rafters: If the space below the roof is to be used as an attic or cathedral ceiling, or if the roof is too complex, or too steep, rafters (or roof joists) are used instead of trusses. Rafters are essentially joists, on an inclined plane, and resting on the wall plates (headers). Sheathing of rafters is the same as that of trusses. Methods of erection are as follows: 1) Using a ridge board 2) Using trussed rafters

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