Framing Section

A+Carpenter

I see alot of post about people asking about framing. I am worried that alot of these posters are green horns and dont even know what they are doing. Every other thread is framing cost and how to do this or that.


If your in the trade you should know your *****

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reveivl

If everyone knew everything what would be the purpose of the forum?

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From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

ProWallGuy

Yeah, like the Reverand Evil said above me, this is where people come to learn. I myself have learned plenty on these forums. Everybody has to learn somehow or somewhere, contractors just ain't born.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Peladu

What's more frighting is that they are taking the advice from here and running with it.

Four days later, looking through the phone book for a contractor.

Just like those DIY shows that tell you how to build something and they leave half of the information out. Make people think it's so easy and then they they stuck.

ProWallGuy

I used to do a 'How To Wallpaper' seminar at the local HD years ago. I was only given 1 hour to completely teach people how to install wallcovering. I got more jobs/referrals out of that gig than any other by far.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

ron schenker

Hmmm...never thought of that, make it seem so difficult that they'll want to hire you to do the job for them. Brilliant PWG

joasis

There are a multitude of ways to frame a home, some better then others, some way bad..and a lot of middle ground to preference. I have learned a lot from reading how others do it, and it is free tuition...

I will say this for sure...the day any of us gets out of bed with the idea we know it all or no one will teach us anything about our trade since we are the EXPERTS...that is the day you need to find a new line of work.....

There are a few on this board who could work with anybody, and many who could never measure up to other's standards....like PWG said..contractors aren't born..we all learn somewhere.

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maj

Every carpenter I know around here frames different. Little things here & there are done differently. Different types of headers, Different techniques for trimmers & cripples. Some nail through the bottom plate others toenail. etc....

None are wrong. Most likely, none are better than the other. It all boils down to what works for you. I am always looking for better, easier, faster ways to do things, especially framing.

I will, however, agree with your last statement Adam......

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The views expressed in this post are merely opinions of named poster and in no way shall be deemed meaningful by members of the herd. By no means does anything posted by named poster mean a damn thing for anyone else partaking in this thread.

A+Carpenter

In all reality it is all built the same in the end. I have framed for 15 years almost now and the only thing that has changed are the building codes.


Yea the last statement is right.

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wallmaxx

Let's see. I started in 1989 for two brother's in Houston who said their way was the fastest. They nailed their plates to the slab and then framed "stick framing". They cut in 1x4 let in braces in the corners of the walls where a 12' 1x4 would fit diagonally. All headers were 2x12. All floor joists were 2x12. All subfloor was 1 1/8" thick. All standard cripples were cut 81 1/4". They hand cut every roof using 2x6 rafters and 2x8 ridges and hips.

Since then I have seen and used box framing, TJI joists, 3/4" flooring, 2x8 thru 2x12 and I-joist rafters, trusses, L corners, Cali corners, clip corners, block T's, L T's, second floor stud on 24" centers.

What I'm getting at is that everyone does the job a wee bit different.

First - keep an open mind.
Second - Stay current with new products, tools and codes and integrate anything that make it all go better.
Third - Set your personal standards high enough to make your work stand out as better than the average...you will always find those customers who want YOU.

DrewD

Do you really ever stop learning? There is always someone out there who knows more than you, count on it. In this buisness there is always some new material or method to improve construction or lower costs. If your not constantly researching whats new and how it can benefit you, you'll be left behind. Think of the framers who were around when nail guns first came out. Alot of them didn't think they would ever last. You wouldn't even think of framing a house nowadays without one would you? The point is we all start on the bottom, with time and determination we slowly climb up.

Joe Carola

Drew,

That was me. I started framing in 1983 and we had no nail guns. I nailed every single piece of wood by hand and loved it. We used to have races all the time when we sheathed. You grab a handful of nails and learned how to flip them around and then bang away.

First time I ever used a gun was in 1984 when I moved to Cape Cod. My boss pulled up with a compressor, generator and two Hitachi stick framing guns. I just loaded the horses with header material and started laying out the headers and we hooked the guns up and I nailed 20' of header with that gun and though I was in heaven.

I was like a kid in toy and shot the gun like a machine gun and must have shot in 100 nails and my boss was screaming at me.



Not in my life time. There are however some guys on some if these forums that still nail by hand and say that they can frame just as fast as gun and by the time you roll out the compressor and hoses they will be done nailing. Those guys are just talking out of their a$$ and make no sense at all.

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Joe Carola

KentWhitten

You are ever so lucky Joe to start with Hitachi. My first nail gun was this old Duo Fast....CA-CHUNK! It was a tank. Still got it around here somewhere. Never busted the driver. Still works.

I don't even buy hand nails anymore. Don't use them. All nail gun.

Zoltar

Alot of young guys just starting out think framing is easy. Of course you've trained them enough that can lay-out a wall, they think " hey any idiot can frame". I've had a number of young guys go out on their own just as I start making some money off them. Week or so later what do I hear on the phone from them? How do I do this ,how doI? how do I? the anwer my friend is blowin' in the wind. Unless there is consulting fees involved.

MikeTheFramer

KentWhitten

Jack Rafter

Framerman,

I bet my Senco was a bigger tank than your Duo fast. . .

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KentWhitten

Ooooh, well now I have to dig it out! Gimme a little while, it might be tomorrow before I find it.