WALL FRAMING to CLADDING

Also see exterior wall moisture barrier and rain screen

A few basics..

 the string line and a chalk line are musts for laying out straight walls, the string line is more accurate than a chalk line... the chalk line will pick up bows and imperfections and transfer them into the snapped line ...

NOTE: On a windy day your string line will be bowed sometimes considerably...

tape measures are more accurate than levels 

plumbing a stud with a level as you build will give a decent wall but the level will pick up any bows or twists in the stud and the wall will not be perfect

when placing studs always pull your numbers from same end of wall and layout accurate marks on your plates... 

Start at one corner layout all your sixteen inch centres for the whole wall

come back to the same corner and layout all your wall openings in the same wall

the studs under windows become jack studs... 

Layout your door and window trimmers(aka Jack studs) to carry the lintels (aka Headers)

Now layout the plates on your work deck... I like to tack the bottom plate to the floor to hold it in place while building and squaring walls

Place your full size studs bows or crowns down and nail off three wire gun nails per stud from top of plate

Diagonals are always equal in any rectangle,,, when building your walls always ensure all measurements are equal re plate lengths and stud heights, wall openings... then when wall is built check your diagonals to make sure your walls are square .. again your tape measure is  more accurate than any building square or even sheets of plywood

Note when building your lintel/header the blocking for sheathing goes under the header, but the trimmer goes straight to the header... this is because of shrinkage, once wall is built, sheath it with your plywood, keep1/8" space between sheets for expansion

NOTES:

go to Wall moisture barrier

Four ways to connect
exterior wall  to interior wall

Interior wall meets exterior wall can be joined four ways re drywall backing:

#1-horizontal blocking across stud bay top, bottom and middle

#2-a 2x6 flat IN EXTERIOR WALL  attached to 2x4 INTERIOR stud,

#3- multiple 2x4 s on flat in  exterior stud bay spread to accept one from interior, interior top plate over laps

 through and interior fitted to, interior top plate over laps`

Numbers framing

-nailing through plates into stud end  ...  two 82’s nails or  toenail studs...  using four 63’s nails at each end 

-double studs forming a post... require 76’s nails at 750 on centre

- doubled top wall plates 76’s nails at 600 on centre

-sole plates nailed to joists through sub floor 82’s nails at 400on centre

-PETS... precision end trimmed studs

-lintels are nailed together with two rows of 82’s at 450 on centre

-lintels are attached to studs with two 82’s at each end

-when the lintel span is too great for 235 a 286 is used and the top plate is omitted and a 19 is stacked under the 286 this maintains the same depth as a 235

-jack studs are used under the roughed in sill of windows

minimum size stud for exterior wall with or with out attic space and supporting a roof is 38x64

-184 lumber for exterior sheathing is nailed with 51’s two per support wider lumber use three/support note diagonal bracing is required

-sheathing can butt subfloor or over lap and be nailed to the box joist

- when building wall on floor pull diaganols from corner to corner to insure framing is square before you nail sheathing

-nail upright  kickers on box joist before tilt up of the wall.. this blocks it in place for nailing

-studs at 600 minimum plywood size is 7.5 ... good practice use 12.5

-fiber or gyprock must use a nail head of 11

-backing is used when ever a fixture is attached to a wall with out a stud for the fastener

-when prefabbing interior partitions do the longest first

-as a fire block studs are doubled around interior openings

-staggered stud construction the end stud is the same thickness as the plate

sound transmission and duplex homes party  wall construction

“STC” sound transmission class

-the higher the “STC number the more resistance to sound

-heat loss designs also reduce noise transmission

best:  50 STC .. double walls with air space 12 sound deadening board  and 12 gyprock both sides

stand -off

-vertical wall truss system

-stand off wall system house built and then a truss system,(hanging from roof trusses and nailed to horizontal blocking,) is used to build a non bearing insulated wall on the out side note the polyethylene vapor barrier goes on the inside of the plywood  sheathing of the outside interior wall

-vapor barrier is applied over sheathing of exterior load bearing wall

-the width of poly  between top plates at least 600

vapor

air and 

moisture

-when furring out studs on walls the polyethylene .15 vapor barrier goes between  the stud and the strapping

-vapor barriers are installed on the warm side of the wall.. condensation takes place at the dew point temperature

-air barriers are used to prevent the passage of air.. . they are lapped a minimum of 100 mm and taped.. can be any where in wall system  

-moisture barrier sheathing paper must be edge nailed every 150  mm

protection from thermal contact heat loss:

-wall plates, studs use wider studs at larger centers 89 to 140 increases RSI from 2.1 to 3.5; eliminate some corner studs and studs at wall intersection and use drywall clips

-furred out interior wall with horizontal furring leaves space for electrical with out damaging vapor barrier

-double stud wall construction use  an interior or exterior load bearing wall/ interior load bearing from outside in: siding, weather barrier, framing with batt insulation, cavity filled with insulation, plywood sheathing, polyethylene ..15, framing with batt insulation gyprock (note must have special trust design to support roof exterior wall is supported on plywood connector and diagonal bracing to foundation make poly contiguous with out breaks, exterior bearing double wall construction is similar to standard practices from outside  in: siding,  weather barrier, sheathing, load bearing wall with batt insulation cavity with batt insulation, polyethylene ..15,  framed wall with batt insulation

-stand off wall system house built and a truss system, hanging from roof trusses and nailed to horizontal blocking, is used to build a non bearing insulated wall on the outside note the polyethylene vapor barrier goes on the inside of the sheathing

note in all double wall constructions the polyethylene ..15 is placed on the outside of the studs of the inner wall before the batt insulation is installed

-no to single pane windows

protection from thermal contact heat loss:

-wall plates, studs use wider studs at larger centers 89 to 140 increases RSI from 2.1 to 3.5; eliminate some corner studs and studs at wall intersection and use drywall clips

-furred out interior wall with horizontal furring leaves space for electrical with out damaging vapor barrier

-double stud wall construction use  an interior or exterior load bearing wall/ interior load bearing from outside in: siding, weather barrier, framing with batt insulation, cavity filled with insulation, plywood sheathing, polyethylene ..15, framing with batt insulation gyprock (note must have special trust design to support roof exterior wall is supported on plywood connector and diagonal bracing to foundation make poly contiguous with out breaks, exterior bearing double wall construction is similar to standard practices from outside  in: siding,  weather barrier, sheathing, load bearing wall with batt insulation cavity with batt insulation, polyethylene ..15,  framed wall with batt insulation

-stand off wall system house built and a truss system, hanging from roof trusses and nailed to horizontal blocking, is used to build a non bearing insulated wall on the outside note the polyethylene vapor barrier goes on the inside of the sheathing

note in all double wall constructions the polyethylene ..15 is placed on the outside of the studs of the inner wall before the batt insulation is installed

-no to single pane windows

heat

heat transfer: conduction .. by material /

convection .. by air  / radiation .by waves

-solar energy gains... face larger windows to the south

-when efficiently sealed a fresh air exchanger will be needed... to conserve energy use an air to air heat exchanger

-air must be exchanged at the rate of .5 per hour during heating season

-kitchens require an air exchange of 50 liters per second

-polystyrene foam insulation cannot be attached with adhesives containing solvents or hydro carbons

-expanded polystyrene foam insulation is known as bead board

-thermal breaks prevent heat lost due to conduction

-rigid fiberglass insulation and extruded polystyrene foam can be used instead of plywood sheathing .. .must use a head diameter of 19 mm

-header insulation bags must be perforated on inside face

-degree days = total number of days times the number of degrees below 18C

-moisture leaks below grade: concrete walls coated with two coats of asphalt emulsion,

-underside concrete floors should have polyethylene  vapor barrier (up walls 150)

-under slab can be insulated with polystyrene before slab is placed

-concrete basement wall polyethylene on wall must not go to 1 foot from  top  then a studded wall insulated , ..15 polyethylene and then gyprock

size and shape

-building size smaller more energy efficient

-layout of rooms with out using unnecessary halls

-extra large utility rooms

-poorly designed entrances

-poorly designed stairwell openings

-permeation of water vapor is called the” Perm” value = nanogram/pascal second/meter squared,  perm value of 15 is good

-note in all double wall constructions the polyethylene ..15 is placed on the outside of the studs of the inner wall before the batt insulation is installed all joints of polyethylene are overlapped 100 and caulked, stapled to door and window frames and taped to any wires and pipes

-ideally it is best not to locate any electrical boxes in outside wall

- at double plate where wall meets roof truss the polyethylene 400 strip  is fed between the plates so that it can be sealed to the ceiling polyethylene

-plywood window boxes are installed in truss walls through the structural wall as a continuous unit, plywood liner sealed to vapor barrier and to flashing and to window frame drywall over plywood with a  plastic “j” bead against window frame

-air pan for electric boxes

fire stops

-3 meter height for blocking

-fire stops for dropped ceiling

-fire stop 12.7 gypsum wallboard behind stair stringers and landings

-Douglas fir plywood fire rated at 150

blocking

-fire breaks

-blocking behind hand rails

-behind skirting on stairs

drywall finishing

- fasteners cover with joint compound

- prefill joints greater than 12

-prefilled v grooved eased edge

-fill recess.. . center tape.. .embed tape in center.. . smooth out air bubbles

- joints compound tape compound start with 150 blade  after drying layer with 250 blade feather edges

-wet sponge after set up

- outside corner use a corner bead

-compounds: tape compound, topping compound, all purpose, setting type

tapes: paper or fiberglass

numbers installation

-nail heads 1/4 inch dimpled

- nails penetrate  20 into wood 18 ring nail

-screws: w, s, s 12, g, .. .s and s12 are self tapping.. w has deeper thread

-adhesives: stud or laminate adhesives or contact

-nail ceiling at 175

-nail walls at 200

- nails at 12 from edge

-double nail at 50 apart ...spaced 175 at edge 300 in field

-screws 300 on ceiling 400 on walls

-adhesives  6 single bead double bead at joints fasteners at 400 on outside perimeter and 400 on outside perimeter of ceilings and 600 in field of ceiling

Order of assembly: drywall ceilings.. . top of wall.. . bottom of wall, with steel stud direction of layout is into the channel, cutouts chalk box push to mark and cut out or use a cut out tool

SHEAR WALLS


Shear walls are designed to resist lateral forces such as wind.. or siesmic activity.. they correspond with the opener concepts of interior design and the large openings for windows and doors... so often seen in today's house designs.. shear walls work together with floor diaphrams (floor systems) to stabalize the structure

8 manufactured houses

10 repair remodeling

12 to .15 single application residential

drywall types

-regular, eased edged,

-type X...fireguard 5/8"

-water resistant, green board

-(fire stop) backing board backing board is the first layer of any two layer system,

-coreboard fits into special design metal studs used for fire resistant applications (elevators, stairs), -predecorated,

-liner board,

-blue board , -exterior yellow,

-cement or concrete board, showers, behind tiling

steel studs

-studs, runners and channels

studs:

-25 gauge non  load bearing partition

-20 gauge non load bearing curtain wall

-16 gauge for load bearing partitions

-punch outs to allow for stiffeners and for electrical wiring

1 5/8, 2 1/2, 3 5/8, 4 and 6 with legs of 1 and 1 1/4

-stock lengths of 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, and custom lengths up to 28

-runners or tracks:

-top and bottom horizontal members

- steel track also called runner toed in for a friction grip to studs

-track or runner attachment to floor :

2 inches from each end and at 24 inches on centre at corners butt channels or overlap

at intersections butt or lapped

-concrete  powder actuated, adhesive

-tile and stone , adhesive or predrilled holes and expansion anchors

-track or runner to ceiling: into furring,

-concrete ceiling same fasteners as floor

-to install studs cut them about 1/4 inch short

-install first studs at corners and partition intersections, at corners place the stud about 50 away from intersecting wall to allow for room to use drill

-run dry wall pass intersecting walls were possible

-insert studs into runner and twist into place screw or crimp bottom... plumb and clamp top then screw top.. lay out the stud spacing from this top stud

-place all studs in position with the channels pointing in the same direction web punchouts aligned

-fasten all studs except the sides at door jambs

-a one piece door frame may be applied before gyprock or a knock down  three piece may be applied after gyprocking

- doors and windows frame three piece by starting a rough opening with two vertical studs, -cut headers from short length of track or runner, make about 300 longer than opening snip and bend each end to run down the stud, install jack studs over the opening

 bottom to floor then sides to studs and studs to top and bottom runners for large doors the steel studs should be made from a heavier gauge 20

are formed from 16 guage 7/8 by 2 9/16

-lengths of 10, 16, 20 feet channels are used in walls and suspended ceilings

-when used for lateral bracing of walls they are slipped through the stud punchout and welded or clipped to steel stud

-girt are wall stiffeners that go between studs they are applied the same as the header

-girt are used behind drywall joints or for electrical chases

-pass through holes, every 24 inches, must line up in studs to allow for the services

-double wall and chases for many services a double wall is built  the studs must face the same direction and be lined up together for attachment purposes

if the space is under 300 the second wall may have smaller stud sizes and be reinforced with dry wall across the 300 space

-if a partition does not go to the ceiling it must be stiffened at 3000 intervals with studs to ceiling, reinforce the partition with a wood stiffener across the top

-use toggle bolts through steel frame to fasten objects for heavy objects wood blocking is required

-splicing of steel studs lapped for 200 maximum extension is 300

-chase wall formed by screwing the backs of two studs together to get a thicker wall

-staggered wall is made by using a larger channel and crimping studs to alternate sides

-furring channel:

-drywall furring  are hat shaped pieces with a knurled face made from 20 or 25 gauge steel size 7/8 by 2 9/16 available in lengths of 12 feet

they are attached to walls and ceilings at 24 inch centres on opposite sides of furring channel, used   for screw attachment of gypsum panels and plaster bases furring pieces may be lapped and tied together

-wall furring is preferred vertically at 24 inch centres, when placed horizontally start from 4 inches off floor and ceiling

-resilient bar is similar to furring only one side is attached to studs reduces the transmission of noise

suspended ceilings are formed with a carrying channel and steel studs channel is supported from wire hangers at 1200 on centre

-furring and track around pipes

-wall furring

-furred columns

-dropped ceilings or bulkheads use cross furring members

-resilient furring to walls and ceiling and 150 from the corners, use 12.7  gypsum backing 75 deep along floor and first resilient furring piece 600 up from floor and spaced at 600

-seal partition walls with two beads of acoustic caulk to improve “STC”

tools: aviation shears, guillotine,, hacksaw , straight edge, circle cutter wall board ripper

-saws, rasps, crimpers, corner bead clinch ons

-lifters and electric screw drivers

-cutoff saw

-gypsum board edges: beveled, chamfer, tongue and groove, square edge and bull nose

-gypsum board comes in standard or fire resistant which has glass fiber that holds board together