The Genius of 2x4 Framing

Quick note. Firstly, I wanted to clarify a statement in the video about the skill of framers. That was a product of bad writing on my part. I absolutely believe that rough carpentry is a skilled profession. I was trying to take the position of someone in the late 1800s appreciating the efficiency of the new technology. I had a quote in there, but ended up taking it out. Apologies for the way it comes across now. Secondly, thanks for the comments about the hamburger metaphor, I will take that into future advisement!

I think it’s important to consider the importance of nails as well as wood. Originally, nails were handcrafted, one at a time, by a blacksmith. They were labor-intensive and extremely expensive (hence the importance of joinery techniques in old furniture - it reduced the need for nails). Around 1800 (in the US), the first factory-made nails came about, greatly reducing the cost. This was modernized into the wire nail we all know today around 1860. These dirt-cheap nails, even more than the 2x4, were responsible for the rise of 2x4 framing. Constructing a building from small boards fastened together went from mind-bogglingly expensive to the cheapest and lowest-skilled approach, because boards could just be nailed together, rather than needing elaborate carved joints.

My grandfather was a lifelong carpenter in New England. When they bid a house they always asked if there were any feature they wanted in the future but couldn’t afford now, like bay windows or garage in the basement of a ranch house They would frame them in, which didn’t cost much more, so that when the day came, the headers and supports were already there Just cut out the outer and inner areas and the bay window or garage door could be installed He also, by default, ran 3 instead of 2 carrier beam 2x12’s to insure the house wouldn’t settle My uncles house was built this way almost 40 years ago and no door has stuck in the winter and has never settled My grandfather always promoted 4’ entry doors to facilitate furniture moving, etc Costs spent up front save headaches in 20 years

I've always had a soft spot for "scribe rule" timber framing. We didn't use it much in the USA because we had a healthy supply of straight timber, but it was used a lot in Europe when it became underforested. It allows you to timber frame with crooked, twisted, or otherwise irregular timber, by lining laying them out and lining them up where they will join. As long as a timber is joined at the ends, you don't care how much it waves or meanders in between the joints, and can actually use these irregularities to your advantage. In the hands of a skilled framer, the results can be quite beautiful.

Very nice insights. Sawdust doesn't make OSB it makes MDF. It takes a chipping process to turn wood into the right type of material for OSB.

the reason for the development of light wood framing was the reduced cost and increased availability of nails... particularly wire nails. These are essential to this type of construction, different than the cut joinery used with timber framing. This is a good example of how the innovation of one product can completely change an industry.

I have NEVER seen studs that straight on a jobsite. That's an impressive exhibition!

Great video. I’ve been selling lumber for new home construction for 20+ years. The part that still blows me away is how understood the entire process is by the people involved. I produce a list of material based off a blueprint. The load pullers gather the materials and load them in a manner that makes sense to the framers on the job site. The truck drivers know where to put the material on site so not to block access to the other tradesman. Finally the framing crew builds the structure. In 7-10 days a house is under roof. It all happens so fast! Good framers are awesome. This is all done with the no written instructions. IKEA furniture has more direction than the construction of your home. It’s just dimensions and a picture on a 2D blueprint.

I really enjoyed this video. I spent my whole life in the homebuilding business starting in 1973. I retired in 2012, but came out of retirement 5 or 6 times to do interior trimwork for my son the homebuilder. This is my 50th year in the business. I retired for good this year and miss it so much. It's sad that time goes by so fast.

Great burger video, I really loved the framing metaphors.

As someone who’s worked in framing for 2 decades I found this vid very informative and awesome. However, it must be said that framing carpenters are very much skilled tradesmen much like their colleges who do Timber/clear span/ pole barn framing. Tho they are different, there are many commonalities and real tradesman can do all equally as well.

I was not prepared for how far this burger analogy actually went.

Great argument and very thorough. When it comes to the genius of light wood framing, you can't ignore the network effect created by all the downstream commodities that perfectly integrate into the resulting structure. For instance, drywall comes in 4x8 sheets that exactly span three 2x4 stud bays, and reach an 8' ceiling. Lap siding comes in 12' lengths, again exactly spanning multiple stud bays. Insulation comes in 14-1/2" widths, which nest precisely between 2 studs. Breaker boxes also come in widths that slot neatly into a single stud bay. If all of these things had to be specially sized on site, the value of light wood framing would diminish greatly.

My house was originally built in 1916 and utilizes balloon framing. I’m actually in the middle of a complete bathroom renovation and you can see from the second floor to the basement in the wall space. I was already aware of this style, but that is because my father is a retired carpenter. Great video by the way. I really enjoyed it!

Balloon framing used to be confusing to me because in many ways its more difficult than platform framing...until you remove the tape measure. You don't have to guess or measure where lower support structures are with balloon framing.

And from the modest 2x4 came the ability to build trusses which is an amazing tech all by itself.

My father (the architect) had a favorite story about his grandfather (the carpenter). A point of pride for him was showing off a wood frame building he'd built solo. With just a hammer, hand saw and a framing square he built a building 120' on one side. You could sight down that side and see no board out of line. "Sa fin som snus".

Another important difference between balloon framing and platform framing is the way platform framing transfers loads down onto structure below whereas balloon framing often times relied on the nails themselves to hold the load to the wall.

light wood framing is also up near the top for building styles that are easy to modify and change after the fact to suit the needs of the people living there. adding more power or networking into the walls, dividing or combining rooms, and adding extensions is all very accessible to the homeowner to do themselves

the trend for a lot of post framing is to use laminated members in the same capacity as their unitary counterparts, and to utilize fabricated stamped steel brackets attached with bolts or lag screws where ever possible to avoid having to do any joinery. very large overhead doors still require hand joinery, but most of the structures that use those are built from steel beams now.