Framing: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What framing is

Framing builds the structural skeleton of a wall, floor or roof from lumber, setting studs, joists, headers and rafters to the plan so the structure is straight, plumb and strong. People need framing for new rooms, additions, openings in walls and roof repairs, and it must follow engineered plans and building code.

Signs you need it

  • You are adding a new room, a dormer, a porch or a second story that needs new walls and a roof
  • A wall needs a new door or window opening, which requires a header sized to the load above
  • A floor or roof is sagging, and the joists or rafters need repair or sistering
  • A wall needs to be moved or a new partition added, which changes how the house carries load
  • Water or insect damage has destroyed part of the framing, and the members need to be replaced

What the pro does

  • Review the engineered plans and check the existing structure, including the load path, the foundation and the bearing points
  • Lay out the walls or the roof on the floor or the foundation, marking each stud, joist and rafter location
  • Cut and assemble the wall panels or the trusses, then raise them into place and brace them plumb
  • Install the headers, the blocking and the top plates, and nail or bolt the connections to the code requirements
  • Sheathe the walls and the roof, install the house wrap or the roofing underlayment, and tie the new work into the old
  • Schedule the framing inspection with the building department, and correct any items the inspector notes before the walls are closed

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the structure, including the square footage and the number of walls, floors or roof planes
  • Lumber grade and species, including engineered lumber such as LVL or glulam where the plan calls for it
  • Header and beam sizes, which depend on the span and the load carried above
  • Connection hardware, such as hangers, straps, hold-downs and anchors, and their number
  • Condition of the existing structure and how much of it must be removed or repaired
  • Site access, height of the work and the need for temporary shoring while the structure is changed

What a written quote should spell out

  • Plan set and the engineer's or designer's name and scope, with the permit package listed
  • Lumber sizes, grades and species, and the engineered products named with their size
  • Header and beam schedule with the size and the bearing details
  • Connection hardware and the fastener types, with the number of each listed
  • Shoring, demolition, inspections and disposal steps, with the warranty on the work

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Who designed the framing, and is an engineer reviewing the header and beam sizes?
  • How do you support the existing structure while the wall or the roof is changed?
  • What lumber grade and species do you use, and where does the engineered lumber go?
  • How are the connections made to the foundation and the existing framing?
  • What inspections does the framing need, and who schedules them?
  • Can you show me a framing job you finished with a similar span and load?

Red flags

  • The framer removes a wall or a beam with no shoring and no engineered plan
  • The framer uses undersized headers or joists without an engineer's sizing
  • The framer skips the hangers, straps or hold-downs and says the nails will hold
  • The framer says no permit or inspection is needed for the framing

What you can do yourself

Framing is structural work, and a homeowner should not cut, remove or change load-bearing framing, headers, beams or roof members on their own. A homeowner can help clear the site, carry lumber and handle non-structural tasks under the direction of a licensed framer, while the structural work is designed and inspected.

Licenses and permits

Framing often requires a building permit, inspections at several stages and, for load-bearing or larger work, engineered drawings. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before any framing begins.

Framing questions

How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?

A load-bearing wall carries weight from floors or a roof above. It is often perpendicular to the joists and near the middle of the house. Ask an engineer or the building department to confirm before any cut is made.

What is a header?

A header is the beam over a door or window opening that carries the load above it to the wall on either side. Its size depends on the span and the load, so it should be set by an engineered schedule.

Can I frame an addition myself?

Framing an addition is a structural job that often requires permits and inspections. Ask a licensed framer or contractor to design, build and inspect it, and to show the engineering for the new loads.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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