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Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Framing

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  • Introduction to Framing
  • Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Framing Floors
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How-To

Rake-Wall Framing

Framing the second-floor gable walls on the second-floor deck from bottom plate to ridge simplifies the steps.

By Mike Guertin
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The second-floor deck became a canvas for a full-scale roof framing layout. A few of the fine details like precise beam hanger positions and ridge height were hard to pinpoint from the plans. So we snapped chalklines on the floor deck to orient all of the major framing elements.

From the layout we could build the gable-end rake walls. There are a couple of methods for rake-wall framing I’ve used over the years. One is to position rafters at the rake wall and frame infill studs beneath. It’s effective but leaves a hinge line where the wall plate meets the underside of the rafter; plus you end up needing a couple of rafters. The alternative is to position the top plates with the top of the rafters and stud up to the plate. No hinge point and the rafters just need to be a few inches longer.

Rake-wall framing made sense for this house since the north (front) wall is only a couple of feet tall and the rear wall is 8 ft. tall—in the fashion of a saltbox. We started by tacking the bottom plate to a line snapped 5-1/2 in. inside of the gable end and tacking top plates along the roof plane lines. We marked the layout on the plates then measured, cut and installed studs. Since the wall is non-supporting we didn’t need structural headers for the windows. The only structural element is a 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 PSL post from plate to peak needed to support the structural ridge.

Rake wall

Air-Sealing Built Into the Framing

The IRC calls for blocking between studs on any walls taller than 10 ft. So we blocked the wall at 8 ft. These blocks not only stiffen the wall but also become part of our air sealing process. The Zip System wall sheathing is our primary wall air barrier and we have to transition to a ceiling air barrier at the attic floor line. The top plates on the north and south walls provide that transition at bearing walls but at the rake walls the blocking will do the job. So we cut tight blocks fit in a straight line to match the ceiling line.  As the wall sheathing was placed, we ran a bead of TiteBond acoustical sealant on the edge of the blocks and across the studs. Later we’ll seal the blocks to the studs so the MemBrain vapor retarder and drywall can be sealed around the ceiling perimeter to complete the air barrier.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Portable Wall Jack

Raise walls safely with the Guardian wall jack — we’ve personally seen small teams raise large walls with these devices, and they work great.
Buy at Amazon

Guardian Fall Protection Pee Vee

This tool is a gem! You can use it to align plates with your snapped lines, and it’s especially helpful when working alone.
Buy at Amazon

Sledge Hammer

Used to tap walls or sheathing into position, we all this the “persuader” on the job site. This is a demo model, so it can survive the job site and the back of the truck — a true must-have.
Buy at Amazon
Previous: Working With ZIP R-Sheathing Next: Garage-Wall Framing: Gable

Guide

Framing

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Framing Walls

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Framing

Framing

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Introduction to Framing
  • House Framing Concepts, Tips, and More
Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Tools
  • Techniques
  • Framing Lumber
  • Steel
Framing Floors
  • Floor Framing
  • Engineered Floors
  • Floor Sheathing
Framing Walls
  • Wall Framing Basics
  • Layout
  • Wall Assembly
  • Raising and Straightening Walls
  • Framing Rough Openings
  • Blocking
Framing Stairs
  • Stair Layout
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Framing Roofs
  • Roof-Framing Basics
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  • Laying Out and Cutting Rafters
  • Framing Valleys
  • Working with Trusses
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Efficient Framing Methods
  • Advanced Framing
  • Double-Stud Walls
Timber Framing
  • Timber-Frame Construction
  • Timber-Frame Design

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