Framing Documents To Die For - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 12:36 AM

Framer Friends,

I have created a frame document called Avalue. I tried to develop a straight forward visual frame doc along with the standard plan set for illustration framing. Yes good framers like yourself know how to frame a house but under Leed and Earth Craft green certifications these documents are needed in order to obtain the points under material efficiencies.

That said they also prove well for material drop counts as the material list is on each page so you know what is in the lumber package on the ground. It helps for cutting the right beam for the right area.

Being an ex framer I really tried to work out the way all framers would best like to see the plans. I was wondering if anyone had some feed back on things I could add or delete to make them better.

Another great thing about these documents is they can feed into Precision End Trim saws like the Hundinger which can then cut, mark and stack each member of the home for quick, easy and efficient framing. I really think this could revolutionize the way homes are framed and framers can be more efficient and make more money.

This file is exportable in Sketchup and 3D PDF file formats to make for easy fly or walk thorough for simple illustration.

I am open for your comments. See below,

Bill Elliott

This home is sized and engineered for 40/10 live and dead loads for Carolina region. They frame roofs with 2 x 6's down her believe it or not.

Cover Sheet: A full color rendering of the entire home framing system lets builders know that these are no ordinary house plans.

Sill Plate and Girder Layout: The upper right corner of this sheet shows proper girder construction used to support the entire house. This detail is used to describe every size and position on the large overall layout. A simple graphic shows the size of each girder component [shown in the drawing’s upper left legend]. Next to the girder detail, every sill plate cut is shown in a cut pattern diagram. The only wasted material is depicted in the small grey region at the end of the beam cut. Each sill plate is numbered and referenced in the large layout. The large layout also shows flush piers and drop piers, loads paths and accurate dimensions. Three dimensional graphics are used to show the overall construction and help describe difficult construction areas of the structure. A detailed material take-off is included for accurate quoting and material accounting.

First Floor Systems: Every floor joist length is clearly labeled on this sheet along with blocking details, plumbing references, girder locations and wall positions. Three dimensional graphics show difficult construction areas like plumbing drops and staggered joist connections. An accurate material take off allows for accurate quoting and ordering. An overall 3D model shows the entire job progression.

Subfloor Layout: 4x8 T&G sheets are expensive. Maximizing product yield is essential for material savings. Both first and second floor sheathing layouts are detailed in plan view and referenced by an alphanumberic label on the cut pattern graphic. The grey areas shown on each graphic depict the minimal amount of waste generated when this system is used. A material take-off provides accurate quoting and tracking of all materials.

First Floor Framing: This simple drawing labels every wall in the home plan. Construction details of each wall follows in the Floor Wall Panel drawings.

First Floor Wall Panels: The wall panels, labeled in the previous sheet, are shown in full detail with bracing, reinforcing, beam pockets, headers, cripples, and jacks. So detailed, each wall could be built offsite and assembled on the job site. Mistakes and errors in framing are eliminated as each wall shows where every member is installed. A header and sill grid allows the builder to calculate the size of each header or sill by inputing the rough opening sizes specific to a particular window or door manufacturer. This effort eliminates framing rework or "header tearouts" due to sizing errors during construction. An accurate material take off is included for quoting and material tracking.

Had to delete Some Sheets (too many images)

First Floor Ceiling / Second Floor Systems: Detailed cut diagrams for LVL [Laminated Veneer Lumber] and 2x10's used in the first floor ceiling are shown. The minimized waste is depicted by the grey shaded areas at the end of each graphic. The top view layout shows the length and position of each framing member while three dimensional graphics highlight areas that may be challenging during construction. An accurate material list is included for quoting and tracking purposes while a 3D model tracks the progression of this structure.

Second Floor Framing: Just like the first floor framing drawing, this drawing labels each second floor wall panel.

Had to delete Sheets (too many images)

Second Floor Wall Panels: Referenced in the previous drawing, these graphics show the construction of every second floor wall panel. Header and sill charts create easy references for cutting for each rough opening. An accurate material list is included for quoting and material tracking.

Had to delete Sheets (too many images)

Second Floor Ceiling: Similar to the first floor ceiling details, this drawing shows how to cut, size and position each LVL and 2x10 for maximum material optimization. Grey areas on the cut graphics show the small amount of left over material while three dimensional full color graphics show challenging construction scenarios. The large 3D model tracks the building progression and an accurate material take off are included for quoting and material tracking.

Roof Framing: Every framing member of the roof is shown in this detailed drawing. Labeled for size, this plan shows the position of hogs and braces required to ensure structural integrity and adequate support. 2x10's, 2x8' and 2x6's are color coded to show the location of each component. An accurate material take off is included to ensure accurate quoting and material handling.

wallmaxx · 02-28-2009, 12:56 AM

Awesome.

This is exactly how framing documentation should look. If your numbers are accurate (9'-1 1/8" for 9' walls) then

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 01:07 AM

WallMaxx,

Down here they use 105" studs for a 9'-1 1/2" plate height on 9 ft walls. Same with ten and eight.

93" - 8' 1-1/2"
105" - 9'-1 1/2"
117" - 10'-1 1/2

Thanks for the comments. The philosophy is to modify the field documents for any town USA. Once you capture the building materials and methods of the framers/builders needs and the local engineering requirements the document can be updated quickly.

Do you use 92 5/8” studs? What other sizes do you use and what part of the country do you frame?
I'm from NY then NJ now live in NC. I have seen so many different ways to frame I am partial to the northern methods and terminoligy. They make stuff up down here.

EPD · 02-28-2009, 01:18 AM

how did we ever do without ? lol

you are going to create a whole new generation of DIY homeowners ....

"sure i can build it hunny, look at these plans"

no disrespect they look great, but you should see a set of framing plans after they bounce around in my pouch after a week....

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 01:47 AM

EPD

No disrespect taken. I too am a long standing framer. That said; they may appear to give DYI's a "I can do that confidence" however as you and I know they can't. Yes maybe a large shed or very small house with roof trusses and do it yourselfer may want to tackle with this document however it was not meant for that. It's a green conscious plan set to save time, money and material.

I would really like to laminate one plan set for framing. This way they will last in the back seat and on top of the compressor of most pick ups at least for the several week build. I too have destroyed many home plans within hours however I would like to move them to a heavy duty computer monitor like the ebook screen Amazon has. Have you seen it? Then you could download the drawings, zoom in and out and even drop the screen and it will not break.

One day you'll put on eye protection goggles with the plan in the corner of your eye to view as you layout walls and plates. NO MORE PAPER. Call me crazy. I have old school framing values with today’s technology thinking.

I would like to see a homeowner takle this home. That would be fun to watch.

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 01:58 AM

I'm still trying to work this out. There are some errors in the framing model when it exports but I'll get it. It works better in Sketchup from Google.

A-Walk™ works only with Adobe Acrobat 9.0.
Once loaded, click in the center of the image to activate the interactive controls.

Click on the Adobe logo to download the latest version of Adobe Reader - Adobe Reader 9 (includes Acrobat.com on Adobe AIR)

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 02:08 AM

Actually the PDF is dropping out some of the beams. I don't know if it's the PDF or the conversion to PDF thats destroying some of the file information but I'll get it worked out.

It's cool playing around with the 3D PDF however with my software it works much better and has the wood grain and color properties. I can even put knots on the wood.

**framerman** · 02-28-2009, 07:49 AM

Nice to see you back in the forums NC. You dropped off for awhile. It seems you have been busy.....preparing!

Nice plans. I sent you a PM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NC2X4

A-Walk works only with Adobe Acrobat 9.0.

I got it to work in 8.0

Warren · 02-28-2009, 08:37 AM

Would love to have a digital copy like that on laptop. Paper copy would probably be too large and would get destroyed. We usually get a set of plans from the engineer which is similar but not quite as detailed.A great set of plans are only as good as the carpenters who put the house together.You can spend a lot for great plans but if you hire hacks to save money you just wasted your time and money.

Mitchell Const. · 02-28-2009, 08:49 AM

Looks Pretty Cool!

NC2X4 · 02-28-2009, 09:45 AM

[quote=framerman;622817]Nice to see you back in the forums NC. You dropped off for awhile. It seems you have been busy.....preparing!

I knew it would not take long to hear from you. Hows it going. You holding your head above water? I have been slammed. I have never worked so hard for such little money in my life. LOL