Framing a house using engineered wood has many advantages. Glue laminated beams are stronger than their conventional solid sawn counterparts. (Laminated veneer lumber comes in smaller dimensions for headers and ridge beams.) Engineered I-joists span greater distances and their stiffness prevents squeaky floors. Oriented strand board sheathing prevents racking and provides good nailer for siding.

Bob outlines the steps involved in framing up the house. Once the first floor joists were in place, the crew started in on the subfloor using ToughPly, a thicker plywood product from Georgia-Pacific. A single layer of ToughPly can be used under hardwood, tile, or carpet, and its quick-fit tongue and groove design saves time fitting the panels together. Next the crew framed the sidewalls with Riverside CDX plywood sheathing harvested from sustainable forests in British Columbia. While only slightly thicker than standard OSB or plywood, it's three times as stiff for a greater load carrying capacity and its favorable weight to strength ratio makes its easier to work with.

Bob and Ryley meet up with framing contractor Kevin Parquette of Timberline Building Specialists. Kevin comments on the advantages of working with the 28 ft. long engineered wood All-Joists from Boise Cascade. Designed for high performance and stiffness, All-Joists significantly speed up the framing process. Next Kevin points out the 1 1/8" engineered wood rim board. For fastening Kevin's crew used 12-penny nails covered with a glue which is activated by the speed of the nail coming out of the gun.

Bob tours the newly opened up first floor of the house and the turns his attention to the little family room addition. The wall has been bumped out a couple of feet and at an angle. Bob flashes back to the construction of the new addition. The carpenters began by framing the deck with pressure-treated 2 x 10s anchored to the existing frame and set on concrete footings in the ground. The framed the walls with conventional 2 x 4s and attaching plywood to stabilize the structure. Then they framed knee walls to supports the windows that will fill in the corner of the addition. The second floor is now supported using LVLs attached to a 6 x 6 clear fir post which transfers the weight of the upper floors to a new footing directly below with the addition is framed around it. The effect when finished is similar to a greenhouse.

…when they are not in use, you have an insulated air tight seal between your attic and…
…center rafters. Internal motorized and insulated doors open into the fan chamber when…
…is available as a standard with R-22 insulated doors. There is an option for R-38…

…Carved Exterior Mahogany Doors $699 Hand Carved Mahogany Exterior Door Iron Doors $499 Clear Insulated Glass with Iron Design 2 Panel Bottom Door Interior Knotty Alder Doors $219 Interior Solid Knotty Alder Door …

…looking for a good quality, super-insulated and super-strong house, a Photo…
…WV modular home using structural insulated panels (or SIPs ) may be the right choice…
…SIP home is two to three times better insulated than a traditionally built modular home…

…exterior illustrates the versatility of insulated concrete forms. The curved turret and arched windows were shaped with insulated forms before concrete was poured…
…wood frame, Trudeau opted for insulated concrete forms, or ICFs. Built…

A Structural Insulated Panel, or SIP, is an engineered wood building material with a reputation for saving labor for the contractor while providing…

R-Control has created building systems for walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings.