Table of Contents

Section One: Structural Design

Chapter 1. Sizing joists, Beams, and Columns

Beyond Code: Preventing Floor Vibration
Frank Woeste and Dan Dolan, 6

Calculating Loads on Beams and Headers
Paul Fisette, 8

Sizing Simple Beams
Harris Hyman, 10

Simple Approach to Sizing Built-Up Headers
Robert Randall, 14

Sizing Stiff Floor Girders
Frank Woeste and Dan Dolan, 17

When Columns Buckle
John Siegenthaler, 19

Misplaced Load Paths
Robert Randall, 22

Chapter 2. Materials and Connections

Structural Sheathing: Plywood vs. OSB
Paul Fisette, 24

Strength of Nails
Harris Hyman, 26

Box vs. Common Nails
Frank Woeste, 28

Using Metal Connectors
Robert Randall, 29

Frequently Asked Framing Questions
Christopher DeBlois, Scott McVicker, Robert Randall, and Frank Woeste, 32

Chapter 3. Roof Structure

Holding the Roof Up
Robert Randall, 42

Framing With a Raised Rafter Plate
Robert Randall, 43

Resisting Wind Uplift
Robert Randall, 45

Straight Talk About Hips and Valleys
Robert Randall, 47

Chapter 4. Seismic Framing and Wind Bracing

Plywood vs. Let-In Bracing
Philip Westover, 54

Stiffening Garage Door Openings
Harris Hyman, 56

Earthquake Design
Richard Mayo, 58

Shear Wall Construction Basics
Jim Hart, 60

Installing Seismic Framing Connectors
Jim Hart, 64

Hold Down Problems and Solutions
Scott McVicker, 70

Fixing Shear Wall Nailing Errors
Scott McVicker, 73

Chapter 5. Exterior Decks

Deck Support: Making the Crucial Connections
Christopher DeBlois, 78

Overhanging Decks: How Far Can You Go?
Harris Hyman, 79

Section Two: Field Techniques

Chapter 6. Floor Framing

Leveling the Deck
Ron and Roger Whitaker, 82

Floor Framing With Wood Hoists
Ned Murphy, 85

Floor Framing With Open-Web Trusses
Charles Wardell, 87

A Fix for Bouncy Floors
Robert Randall, 93

Chapter 7. Wall Framing

Layout Tricks for Rough Openings
Carl Hagstrom, 98

Framing Rake Walls
Eric Dickerson, 102

Site-Built Panelized Walls
Bill Nebeker, 105

Building Stiff Two-Story Window Walls
Christopher DeBlois, 109

Bracing Foam-Sheathed Walls
Paul Fisette, 113

Framing for Corner Windows
Robert Randall, 116

Chapter 8. Roof Framing

Layout Basics for Common, Hip, and Jack Rafters
Rob Dale Gilbert, 122

Laying Out Unequally-Sloped Gables
Carl Hagstrom, 127

Joining Unequally Pitched Hips and Valleys
Carl Hagstrom, 131

Stacking Supported Valleys
Will Holladay, 136

Building Doghouse Donners
Carl Hagstrom, 142

Roof Framing With Wood Hoists
Curtis Eck, 145

Flat Roof Framing Options
Don Gordon, 151

Chapter 9. Remodelers' Specialties

Roughing In for Kitchens and Baths
Jim Hart, 158

Tying Into Existing Framing
David Schwartz, 162

A Second Story in Five Days
Chuck Green, 166

Case Study: A Retrofit Ridge Beam
Silas Towler and Rick Schneider, 169

Jacking Old Houses
Mike Shannahan, 172

Chapter 10. Pickup Work

Fast Fascia Techniques
Mike Stary, 178

Framing Recessed Ceilings
Don Dunkley, 181

Framing a Simple Radius Stair
Robert Thompson, 183

Section Three: Engineered Lumber

Chapter 11. Trusses

Installing Gable Roof Trusses
Rick Arnold and Mike Guertill, 188

Installing Hip Roof Trusses
Paul Bartholomew, 193

Truss Bracing Tips
Paul DeBaggis, 197

Critical Bracing for Piggyback Trusses
Frank Woeste, 199

Making Room at the Top
Gary Rowland, 202

Site-Built King Truss for Ridge Beam Support
Robert Randall, 205

Chapter 12. Engineered Lumber

Wood Hoist Fundamentals
John Siegenthaler, 210

Sizing Engineered Beams
Paul Fisette, 211

Working With Laminated Veneer Lumber
Ned Murphy, 214

On Site With Parallam
Patricia Hamilton, 217

Building With Glulams
Eliot Goldstein, 220

Engineered Studs for Tall Walls
JLC Staff, 224

Chapter 13. Steel Framing

Steel Beam Options
Harris Hymall, 230

Strengthening Beams With Flitchplates
Robert Randall, 232

Attaching Steel Beams and Columns
Stuart Jacobson, 234

Installing a Steel Moment Frame
Patricia Hamilton, 236

Hybrid Framing With Wood and Steel
Tim Duff, 238