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.

Bob discusses the home's framing with Ryley. Since much of the framing will be exposed special care is taken with the construction. Ryley demostrates a few of the techniques and raises a large section of the cabin.

Kevin Parquette's crew is making swift work of the framing using traditional practices such as 2-by-4 construction with 1/2 inch CDX plywood sheathing. The partitions are constructed on the ground and then raised into place. Kevin and Bob discuss the steps involved in laying out the individual partitions. First the crew tacks the bottom plate into place temporarily. Next the top plate is pulled out for the back, studs are put into place and nailed, and the sheathing is attached. Finally, the crew stands the wall in place.

Bob and Ryley demonstrate step by step how to frame up a 6' x 12' walk-in closet for the master bedroom. The framing crew installed partition backers to receive the partitions and a ledger board on top for the top plate. First Ryley lays out the top and bottom plates and begins to build the first partition. On the next partition Ryley carefully measures for the door opening and then together Bob and Ryley construct and raise the remaining partitions.

Berky and the crew remove the old horsehair plaster in the existing 1890 kitchen. The framing and sheathing are original to the house. They are creating an opening for a 6-foot French door using a double laminated header to carry the weight across the opening. The plywood sandwiched in the middle of the header adds to its strength. The header is nailed in place and will carry the weight of the second floor to the jack studs on the side. There is some excess board sheathing to cut around the opening. Bob remarks that it is not as strong as clapboards and must be cut carefully. The remaining boards are firmly attached to the outside and filler pieces are added to equalize the sheathing thickness across the face of the house. The sill will be level once the added layers of particle board that were later installed are removed. Berky applies butyl tape to the base of the opening for the weathertight installation of the French doors.

Bob confers with framing contractor Larry Landers, as Larry and his crew assemble the front porch framework on the ranch house remodel at Lake Cochituate, Mass. Larry explains the type of roof and framing required to hold it up. He shows how the fascia board and how the roof is adhered to it. Bob reviews the earlier framing and beam placements to support the porch roof. The porch is thirty-two feet long and seven feet deep. Larry then explains how to marry the old roof with the new one.

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.