What is called a productive day on your site? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Graham J · 03-06-2009, 08:39 PM

My boss got the framing bid on a good sized house, and one of our apprentices and I were framing exterior walls today.

We framed 75 linear feet of 2x6 wall and sheathed most of it with 1/2 inch OSB. We did not stand them, since the wind on that site could carry them into next week. I thought we did pretty good! It sure felt like we were really movin'!

I have always been under the impression that 100 linear feet of 2x6 wall sheathed and stood was a good day for a crew of three.

What do you gentlemen shoot for, as far as production goes? I should note that this is custom, not speed framing.

Graham

Warren · 03-06-2009, 08:46 PM

How tall are the walls? most of it sheathed? Tyvek? I really dont get caught up in the day to day production. As long as guys are working smartly I'm happy. When you hurry and screw something up its like doing it three times. Do it, undo it, redo it. Not to mention some guys are good at walls, some at sheathing the roof etc. Me, I like to do the decking. For one thing, you feel like you've accomplished something when you see all that decking. Also, its about the most practical thing we do because when the deck is done we can get out of the mud.

Graham J · 03-06-2009, 09:14 PM

Walls are 8 ft, with one that was 9 ft (really strange situation, trust me). I hear what you are saying about getting the deck on. This job was a real fight, since we didn't do the foundation, and things weren't square, straight or level. It took two weeks to get the deck on this place, all told, between fixing the previous mess and actually framing the thing. It is a reasonable house for this area, at 2400 sq ft. There is a lot of off-angle stuff in it, as well. Interesting design.
Thanks for the reply,

Graham

**framerman** · 03-06-2009, 09:20 PM

It all depends really. If you've got one or two long walls, then much more than you've got there. If you have a bunch of short walls all over the place, then that will slow it down considerably. 8' walls, you should be blowin' and goin'. Hump them babies! Once you start getting into boxed headers, rake walls, etc, double the time it takes ballpark. Lots of windows, more time, straight studs, get it in gear.

One needs to be doing all of the cutting, the other nailing. Do not ever switch, or help out. Saw guy should be staying way ahead of the nail guy.

MALCO.New.York · 03-06-2009, 09:32 PM

1k+ $ !!!

Ths is calculated by the TOTAL bid divided by the number of days to complete.

**loneframer** · 03-06-2009, 09:58 PM

When I was framing cookie cutter duplexes hardcore, three guys, we had one day of layout, plating and full cutlist and one day to frame and stand with no sheathing. This was pretty much average on a 1400 sq. ft. floorplan. I really don't know lineal footage total, but they were 3 bedroom, two bath with a hall laundry and open kitchen/dining/living space. Third day was rack bracing and double plate/layout. Possibly scatter out joists.

knucklehead · 03-06-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerman

It all depends really. If you've got one or two long walls, then much more than you've got there. If you have a bunch of short walls all over the place, then that will slow it down considerably. 8' walls, you should be blowin' and goin'. Hump them babies! Once you start getting into boxed headers, rake walls, etc, double the time it takes ballpark. Lots of windows, more time, straight studs, get it in gear.

One needs to be doing all of the cutting, the other nailing. Do not ever switch, or help out. Saw guy should be staying way ahead of the nail guy.

You are right, unless you are doing the same house over and over it is hard to judge. And even then there are always variables like weather , material, working around other subs, you know . Some days are better than others.

Graham J · 03-07-2009, 12:59 AM

Wow, did I ever leave out a lot of info on the original post!

The longest wall was 22 ft. Some of the studs had to be cut down, since this is a package house and all the material was pre-cut (for other things). The job is 45 minutes out of town and it is easier to bring out more material next day than go back for what we need. The foundation was a disaster and much of the main floor wall material was used to build front walls and interior bearing walls for the floor.

Anyway, I thought we had a good day, just wanted to know what you all were thinking. Thanks for the replies!

Graham

**framerman** · 03-07-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham J

The job is 45 minutes out of town and it is easier to bring out more material next day than go back for what we need.

Are you saying you make trips for material?

basswood · 03-07-2009, 09:16 AM

I built a 6" wide cookie sheet cabinet yesterday and part of a sink base cab... Oops! sorry wrong folder.

Well, they did have faceframes... that's kinda, sorta "framing."

**loneframer** · 03-07-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswood

I built a 6" wide cookie sheet cabinet yesterday and part of a sink base cab... Oops! sorry wrong folder.

Well, they did have faceframes... that's kinda, sorta "framing."

Hey swood, I ink I speek for the general populus when I say you are welcome in any folder. Why is it that the 6" cabinet will probably take longer than the sink base? Just the box, let alone the deviders.

SLSTech · 03-07-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswood

I built a 6" wide cookie sheet cabinet yesterday and part of a sink base cab... Oops! sorry wrong folder.

Well, they did have faceframes... that's kinda, sorta "framing."

Basswood - You funny guy

Graham - it depends on if you specialize in framing or not. If you don't & it doesn't sound like you do - you did ok based off your description of the site. FYI - you can't blame the foundation anymore as the deck is down. As for my production - it depends on the plans, but with two good guys anywhere from 75 to 200 LF of wall (int & / or ext - sheathed)

Now, if you are part of a professional framing crew - I would be asking about how long were you guys at lunch, or did you make enough milk for the town. (Custom or not)

hughjazz · 03-07-2009, 12:26 PM

It's impossible to say what a productive day is. especially without seeing the walls, the weather. how close the material is to the deck,etc.

I'm part of a 2 man framing crew, no telehandler, (yet)

Last week I personally built a 30' wall and a 32' ft in one day.

I packed studs and 3/8 osb. from the curb (9'precuts) Assembled the walls

and had a little help sheathing.

There were 4 windows and a garden door in the 2 walls.

My crew could easily do 100' in a day. (unless there is really funky stuff)

They crew I worked with when I was starting out could do way more than me.

If you don't specialize in framing I think you did ok.
If part of your day is picking up material, that adds up too.

I sided a house last month and it took almost 4 weeks

I was working just as hard as when I am framing, but I'm just not as good at it.
(I was being questioned about length of lunch breaks too.)

borat_borat1950 · 03-07-2009, 04:06 PM

Everyone one having fingers and toes is nice?

MALCO.New.York · 03-07-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borat_borat1950

Everyone one having fingers and toes is nice?

.You do mean the same number that they started the day with!.

Graham J · 03-08-2009, 10:40 PM

Framerman, No we don't go back to town for materials. We try to keep in mind what we need (write it down, make a list) and bring it out on the way out to the site. We had to cut down a bunch of the studs to odd sizes, which cuts down on speed, obviously.

SLS, No, we are not a pro framing crew. We do mostly start to finish homes, foundation to finish. I am sorry if I implied that we were still fighting with the deck! Things are all good, as far as the structure goes, and we are full speed ahead. As fast as a -35 degree windchill tomorrow will allow!

Thanks everyone for your input. I have learned some good tricks off this thread!

Graham

MALCO.New.York · 03-09-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham J

Framerman, No we don't go back to town for materials. We try to keep in mind what we need (write it down, make a list) and bring it out on the way out to the site. We had to cut down a bunch of the studs to odd sizes, which cuts down on speed, obviously.

SLS, No, we are not a pro framing crew. We do mostly start to finish homes, foundation to finish. I am sorry if I implied that we were still fighting with the deck! Things are all good, as far as the structure goes, and we are full speed ahead. As fast as a -35 degree windchill tomorrow will allow!

Thanks everyone for your input. I have learned some good tricks off this thread!

Graham

That was meant as a Joke!

EVERYONE, ALWAYS goes wherever to get that which they forgot.............

SLSTech · 03-09-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham J

SLS, No, we are not a pro framing crew. We do mostly start to finish homes, foundation to finish. I am sorry if I implied that we were still fighting with the deck! Things are all good, as far as the structure goes, and we are full speed ahead. As fast as a -35 degree windchill tomorrow will allow!

My production on a day like that - zero, zilch, nada, I'm not stepping outside for work purposes

Good luck & do us all a favor & put your location in your profile

Thanks

greg24k · 03-09-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham J

My boss got the framing bid on a good sized house, and one of our apprentices and I were framing exterior walls today.

We framed 75 linear feet of 2x6 wall and sheathed most of it with 1/2 inch OSB. We did not stand them, since the wind on that site could carry them into next week. I thought we did pretty good! It sure felt like we were really movin'!

I have always been under the impression that 100 linear feet of 2x6 wall sheathed and stood was a good day for a crew of three.

What do you gentlemen shoot for, as far as production goes? I should note that this is custom, not speed framing.

Graham

My framer's crew, 4 guys did the house for me, basic house 30' X 52' in first day they did the girder, deck, plywood,plates and all of the exterior walls up and framed 9' ceilings and one or 2 inside walls.
Second day, finish the walls,level and brace, second floor deck and plywood, layout plate, and most of the walls.
Third day finish the walls, brace and level, ceiling beams, strong backs, and get the ridge up.
Fourth day, finish the roof and 5th day plywood. Monday I had the roof up. The one picture of a smaller house,21' X 30' they banged that one out in 3 days 5 guys.
This is the house:

Graham J · 03-10-2009, 10:58 PM

Greg, That is amazing! There are days that I think I would love to move down the the US for a couple of seasons and learn how to really frame, complete with roofs and everything. We only ever do trusses up here, mostly due to municipal building code. Highly disappointing. Oh well

.

SLS, That was sort of a joke, about the -35 windchill bit. It was that cold, actually it was below -40 windchill, but we stay on inside projects below about -20 F or so.

On the down side, Mudding and taping is a poor substitute for framing. We do that as little as possible, but every now and again we end up doing it just to keep busy.
Thanks for the heads up. I am in Fort St John, BC, Canada.
Thanks for the replies,
Graham