Home > Video Channel > First Floor Framing

First Floor Framing

Bob reviews the construction layout of the first floor. The old kitchen was ripped out for a staircase to the second floor and a foyer with coat closet. Bob points out a new header into the living room. In the dining room Bob points out the conversion of the old ceiling to a new ceiling and floor for the second story. Bob heads out to the garage where a new steel beam (girt) has been placed to support the weight of the second floor across the 24-foot expanse. Bob and GC Larry Landers point out the framing work and bracing to keep the walls plumb and true.
Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Chapters from this episode

Clip Transcript For:

First Floor Framing

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" What was once the kitchen door has been blocked up. And the old kitchen has been ripped out we've now -- in an opening here for staircase that will go to the existing basement. And if you look up at this two by four on a slant that indicates the line of the staircase that goes to the second floor. Is speaking of floors if it's interesting that the 35 year old house and the sheathing of the old floor the deck as we call it is made out of one by -- and nowadays obviously everything is made out of plywood. We've framed in for a coat closet here in this end and we have framed a new opening into the living room you'll notice that the header is in place here this of the proper way to do -- you got two by tens doubled up with some plywood in between to make up the width of -- actual two by -- And we have involved the Jack stud and the regular stud going through boot to the top plate. This is the way you distribute the weight from whatever is bearing down there off to the sides and now the living room space obviously want. No roof -- it that -- it does get finish rain will have a cathedral ceiling here so we'll have soaring height. If you see this chimney existing chimney and looks crooked to you asked the way it was built it was called pulled out so that it would end up coming up. Through the roof right at the peak of the ridge and yet down here the fireplace is where wants to be on the center of the room it's a nicely built chimney. The job the area over here which used to be the dining room doesn't have too many changes but one of the important changes -- overhead. The former structure just. Was made of two by six's because after all you had was a ceiling that was -- Hung from these one by threes and now in order to put a second floor up here and have people walking around we've added a full two by ten. Sistered on to the side of each old two by six and that's where the structure comes from. Now it. In the garage where I've never showed you before -- we had to tear out the entire ceiling here and in order to put up a second floor of the spans the whole 24 foot depth of the garage you're looking at another big piece of steel. It acts as a girt and carries that whole load so that we don't need a post in the middle. Another framing detail that's unusual is what we call a cantilever this is all a structural wall here and all of these new. Joists that you see overhead are cantilever date. Fly out beyond the bearing wall an additional three feet and that's what creates a bridge or hallway that goes from one end to the other now let's interrupt Larry Landers are framing contractor I don't book I'm good. And the other story about what you're worrying about what's this do."

" Well it's important to check these braces. Throughout construction because they they help to keep the walls plumb and true until we get the rule with the weight of the roof system in the second floor wall exactly that the frame itself right now is relatively fragile. And this kind of bracing is very important. This wall that we were just talking about is a bearing wall you can see them both load that it's bearing is. Right here at the end of all of these I joists you always taught to Barret Wallace got double plate. And it well for example if you look at this perpendicular wall which is not a bearing law. It as a single plate and you'll notice that these scraping comes right through. That's one of the ways that you can distinguish but you always want to make sure you're if you're doing demolition and remodeling that you don't. Take out a bearing wall all that's absolutely true yet so you got it made lots of progress since last week he got the steel in place. As you can see our I beam right here. Now Larry this supports similar weight from the second floor doesn't -- us as a bearing wall above which supports the roof system above that it has two rafters on it so that steel was absolutely necessary -- strip yeah very important structural member. What about these spring -- can you take them out. I'm on right now we have to wait -- we get the weight of the roof and the shingles above as I mentioned. If it keeps the walls plumb and true and yeah so that -- always know exactly there and they're really holding the exterior and inside -- of the house here and they're keeping that sidewalk clown yeah yeah. One nailed to a lot that's right you could lose it. I've heard of sidewalk going out and intercept. So these stay in place and how we doing -- there are flow chart over here are you on schedule well we lost a little bit -- time last week because of."

" Some rain we've had some pesky rainstorms around here as you know India. So the green indicates that setbacks we've had. Through the course of the last week or so I would say to your -- hope and a through the -- adding more labor and working over the weekend for day to I think we'll be back on track next week -- rain is a special problem we have here is you're not doing new construction. No we have some floors that we have to protect the that the customer has some storage. Down in the basement they have. Existing two bedrooms Bob that virtually still have the furniture right. So it's complicated when it starts to --"

" green indicates that you're off the schedule in terms of roof demolition of the -- second -- you're almost done with. Are all done the deck is."

" John it was done and completed a few days ago when we're now working on the gable end walls and and the bearing walls upstairs in order to it's -- beginning of next week we're gonna start framing. The roof right and the plywood and -- and then the shingles one of the -- started. They indicate inspections rough inspections for the plumber and electrical because of course I can't get my rough inspection without. There is. There inspection firm -- exactly."

 [-]


More Videos »Related Videos

Creating a Low-Maintenance Front Yard
Creating a Low-Maintenance Front Yard

In the last couple of weeks, the landscape on the front of the yard has been replaced. It used to be somewhat scruffy and sloped right to the sidewalk. A beautiful recycled stone curb has been installed along the front of the house and acts as a retaining wall. Bob talks with Ruth Foster, a landscape designer, and Nick Christy of Atlantic View Landscape Construction. A low-maintenance garden was put in place because this a busy household with two young children. The lawn was taken out because mowing lawns requires a lot of time. Pachysandra is being installed as ground cover because it does not require a lot of care. Pachysandra takes a year or two to develop but once it does, the ground will be completely covered. The pachysandra grows by sending out roots and sending up little plantlets. The plant requires no fertilization or watering. The front yard was filled in with eighteen inches of loam to reduce the slope to the curb and enrich the plant bed. A red Japanese maple that can grow to around 30 feet in height is at the center of the new yard. This tree will also need limbing in the future. Holly and rhododendron were also added to the front yard for low-maintenance bloom ing bushes. Daffodils and blue muscari were also put in, providing a blue and yellow accent in the spring.

Laying Down a Cobblestone Driveway Apron
Laying Down a Cobblestone Driveway Apron

Bob joins Jay Seminara of Seminara Construction who is in the process of laying down a new cobblestone apron at the edge of the driveway. The apron serves two purposes: as an aesthetic feature, and also to act as a barrier for the seashells in the rest of the driveway. Before the stones can be put in place, Seminara digs a trench and lays in stone dust. The dust acts as an adhesive, holding the stones in place. Next, Seminara dry-fits the cobblestones, making sure he gets a nice fit. To finish the installation, he taps the stones into place with a 20-pound hammer and fills in the gaps with more stone dust.

The Architect's Design for the Warehouse Rehab
The Architect's Design for the Warehouse Rehab

In the recent past many of New York's historical landmarks have had facelifts to keep them both structurally and aesthetically sound as well as true to their roots. One of the architectural firms behind several of these projects, the New York and Washington, D.C.-based Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners, has joined the Home Again crew to lend their expertise in the architectural restoration. Bob meets with Jack Beyer in front of the old Pepper Mill to get up to speed on the exterior design plans for the rehab project. Beyer discusses some of the pitfalls with landmark buildings, including the multiple overlapping regulatory agencies which approve changes to a buildings structure, mechanics, and style. Bob discovers that the building is being converted for at least the second time. It was originally a three-floor residential building, but was later converted to commercial use. Beyer observes that while the building is in need of extensive repair it is structurally sound and stable. HE shows Bob sketches of the proposed renovations, which include two entrances, commercial space on the ground floor with a show window, and a possible added story set back from the fa�ade. Beyer is cautiously optimistic that the addition will gain Landmarks' approval since the building is a contributing landmark, not a specially designated landmark.

Hurricane Protection for Porches, Windows, and Doors
Hurricane Protection for Porches, Windows, and Doors

Ted Gower from Armor Screen is installing the hurricane-protection fabric that will make the lanai a hurricane shelter in case of a storm. There are bolts and clips at the top with clips along the side. The sides are locked down along the sides and bottom to resist the enormous wind pressure during a storm. This geosynthetic fabric serves in stead of plywood or other storm protection coverings. The fabric reduces 100 mile per hour (mph) winds to 3 mph and reduces it to 0 mph if rain sheets on the fabric, causing a complete wind barrier. This fabric stands up to winds and wind-borne debris, making the enclosed lanai a hurricane-safe shelter by code and by design. Armor Screen can be used on any door, window, or porch openings to protect homes from damaging winds and flying debris.

Related Products & Services Showrooms

Research & buy radiant barrier and save energy
Research & buy radiant barrier and save energy

… INSTALLATION Instructions INSTALLATION Tips How Much Do You Need BEST Attic Installation Method OSB Plywood Sheathing Results You Can Expect Savings You Can Expect Radiant Barrier Reviews About RadiantGUARD | Buy Radiant…

More Content »More Content

exterior sheathing not plywood

…stucco but I have noticed that under the stucco is not plywood sheathing but something that looks like a drywall (not same…
…will that cause any problems? (I will be using plywood for the new addition. BTW, the house is in CA and…

exterior sheathing not plywood

This is probably a 5/8" TypeX firecode gypsum board. It has minor structural capabilities. there may be special local requirements for walls with it because of your seismic conditions and shear-wall requirements out there.

Structural Adhesives to Strengthen Roof Sheathing
Structural Adhesives to Strengthen Roof Sheathing

…sizes and spacing used to attach the sheathing to the roof's structural members…
…not provide enough strength to keep the sheathing on during an intense windstorm. Before…
…devastated South Florida in 1992, roof sheathing was generally attached using 6d nails…

Enhanced Plywood and Subfloor Products
Enhanced Plywood and Subfloor Products

…place of ordinary plywood or OSB. Plywood vs. OSB When plywood was developed to replace solid-board sheathing, there was general reluctance among…
…switch to a new product. Since then, plywood has become the standard for subfloor…

Browse Topics

Click on a letter to browse content by topic alphabetically.



About  | FAQ  | Contact  | Sitemap  | Privacy Policy  | Terms of Use  | Help

© BobVila.com 2009