Gen B Framing & Sheathing

According to typical building codes, what is the standard edge nail spacing for wood structural panel wall sheathing?

6 inches

What is the standard field (intermediate) nailing spacing for 1/2-inch roof sheathing?

12 inches

When nailing the bottom plate of a wall to a wood joist or blocking, what is the standard fastening requirement?

16d nails at 16 inches on center

How many 16d common nails are required to end-nail a top plate to a stud?

2

When framing a double top plate, what is the required face nailing schedule to splice the plates together?

10d nails at 16 inches o.c.

Which fastener is generally required to attach a roof rafter to a top plate to resist wind uplift (without hurricane ties)?

Three 8d common toe nails

What is the standard spacing for wood studs in a typical load-bearing residential wall?

16 inches on center

In wall framing, what is the primary purpose of a 'king stud'?

To support the header and span the full height of the wall

What is the maximum allowed distance between fireblocking in concealed wall spaces?

10 feet horizontally and vertically

A stud located directly beneath a window opening is called a:

Cripple stud

When framing a bearing wall, what must the top plates overlap at corners and intersections by at least?

The width of the plate

What is the minimum nominal thickness for a wood stud used in standard residential wall framing?

2 inches

According to the code, holes bored in a non-bearing wood stud cannot exceed what percentage of the stud's depth?

60%

What is the maximum allowed size of a notch in a load-bearing wood stud?

25% of the stud width

When framing a floor, what is the minimum bearing length required for wood joists resting on wood or metal?

1.5 inches

What is the primary function of blocking installed between floor joists?

To prevent the joists from twisting and distribute loads

For roof sheathing, what does the panel span rating '24/16' mean?

24 inches maximum span for roofs, 16 inches for floors

Wood structural panels used for subflooring should be installed with their long dimension:

Perpendicular to the joists

When installing subflooring, what gap is typically recommended between structural wood panels to allow for expansion?

1/8 inch

What is the advantage of using a 'glued and nailed' floor system over a 'nailed-only' system?

It increases floor stiffness and reduces squeaks

What type of nail is generally preferred for installing subflooring to prevent squeaks and nail pop?

Ring-shank or screw-shank nails

What is the minimum thickness of wood structural panel roof sheathing allowed when rafters are spaced 24 inches on center?

What is the minimum thickness of wood structural panel roof sheathing allowed when rafters are spaced 24 inches on center?

When framing a roof, what is a 'collar tie'?

A horizontal board connecting opposite rafters in the upper third of the attic

What is the purpose of 'H-clips' (edge clips) in roof sheathing?

To support unsupported panel edges between rafters and maintain proper gapping

A typical wall framed with 2x6 studs at 16 inches on center can be built to a maximum unsupported height of what (prescriptively) before requiring engineering?

12 feet

What is 'Advanced Framing' (also known as Optimum Value Engineering)?

Framing techniques designed to reduce lumber use and improve energy efficiency

Under code, where are double trimmer (jack) studs generally required in wall framing?

Under headers supporting very wide openings or heavy point loads

What defines the 'deflection limit' (e.g., L/360) in floor framing?

The amount the joist is allowed to bend under a live load

If an engineered I-joist is used for floor framing, where can you typically cut holes for plumbing or HVAC?

Only in the OSB web, strictly according to manufacturer hole charts

What is the primary difference between OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and Plywood when used for sheathing?

Plywood is made of cross-laminated veneers, OSB is compressed wood strands and adhesive

When framing a stairwell opening in a floor, the double joists that run parallel to the span and border the opening are called:

Trimmers

A shear wall is designed to resist what type of force?

Lateral forces such as wind or seismic activity

What hardware is strictly required at the base of a high-load shear wall to prevent the wall from lifting off the foundation during an earthquake?

Hold-downs

When installing roof sheathing, the panels must be installed with their long axis:

Perpendicular to the rafters

What is the standard spacing for foundation anchor bolts on a single-story wood framed structure?

Maximum 6 feet on center

How deep must a standard foundation anchor bolt be embedded into concrete?

7 inches

Treated lumber must be used for a sill plate when it rests directly on:

Concrete or masonry

What fastener is typically required when fastening treated sill plates to avoid corrosion?

Hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel fasteners

When building a floor system, a 'cantilever' refers to:

A joist that extends beyond its support over open space

What is the general prescriptive rule for the back-span ratio of a cantilevered floor joist supporting a balcony?

2:1 (backspan is twice the overhang)

When staggering seams in wall sheathing, how far apart must the end joints be offset in adjacent rows?

At least 1 stud bay (usually 16 inches) or 24 inches

Which of the following is an acceptable alternative to wood structural panel sheathing for bracing a wall (under specific prescriptive methods)?

Let-in bracing (1x4 wood or metal T-bracing) cut into the studs at an angle

What size nail is specifically referenced as the standard for 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch wood structural panel wall sheathing?

6d common or 8d box/cooler

When framing a roof opening for a skylight, what dictates whether the header must be doubled?

If the header span exceeds 4 feet

What is 'blocking' in a roof framing system often used for at the eave?

To close the space between rafters, provide a nailing surface for sheathing, and resist rafter rolling

For structural panel roof sheathing, which edge of the panel typically features a tongue-and-groove profile?

The long edges (8-foot sides) on subflooring, but roof sheathing is typically square-edge

When framing a load-bearing wall, what must align directly under the floor joists above if single top plates are used?

The wall studs must align directly under the floor joists (within 1 inch)

If framing a non-bearing interior partition wall parallel to the floor joists above, how is the top plate secured?

It is attached to solid blocking installed perpendicular between the joists

The cut in a rafter that allows it to sit flat on the top plate is called a:

Birdsmouth

The ridge board in a standard stick-framed roof must be what size compared to the rafters?

At least one nominal size larger than the rafter (e.g., 2x8 ridge for 2x6 rafters)

What is the minimum overlap for plywood or OSB subfloor panels over a floor joist?

Center of the joist (3/4 inch bearing)

What is a 'strongback' in ceiling framing?

An L-shaped assembly of lumber laid across ceilings joists

In standard framing, what is the 'rough opening' size for a standard 36-inch by 80-inch (3'0" x 6'8") door?

38 inches wide by 82-1/2 inches high

When constructing a fire-resistance-rated wall assembly, what is typically done with electrical boxes on opposite sides of the wall?

They must be separated horizontally by at least 24 inches

What does a structural panel span rating of '32/16' indicate?

Max roof span is 32 inches, max floor span is 16 inches

What kind of framing creates a sloped ceiling directly under the roof rafters?

Vaulted or Cathedral ceiling framing

What is a 'cripple wall' in foundation framing?

A short stud wall between the foundation sill and the first floor framing

In a severe seismic zone, what must be done to cripple walls?

They must be heavily braced with structural panel sheathing

According to typical building codes, a vapor retarder is required on which side of an exterior wall assembly in cold climates?

The warm interior side (directly under the drywall)

What is the primary function of a 'drip edge' installed on roof sheathing?

To direct water away from the fascia and prevent it from wicking under the roofing material