INTRODUCTION TO WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION
Wood is strong and energy-efficient, and creates a living environment that is warm, healthy, safe and supremely economical. Wood has always been the durable and adaptable solution to our housing needs. In many regions of the world where temperatures vary between -40 and +40 Celsius annually, wood frame construction is a primary building choice for single and multi-family housing. The popularity of wood and wood-frame construction is growing worldwide, and Canada is at the forefront of sharing its leading wood-frame construction technologies with the world.
Wood-frame construction combines dimension lumber or engineered wood products and structural wood panel sheathing to make wall, floor and roof assemblies that can be built quickly and efficiently. The assemblies are tough, durable, easy to connect and easy to insulate. It is the most common method of residential construction in North America. Over a millions new wood-frame homes are built every year around the world.
Wood-frame construction is commonly used due to its simplicity and ease of erection. Its main advantage is that the floor assembly is built separately from the walls; therefore the preceding floor provides a surface on which to assemble and erect the walls and partitions. Generally, the wall framing is assembled and fastened together on the floor and then raised by hand into place. However, wall components can also be prefabricated off-site and then be erected in sections, thereby reducing on-site labor and ensuring quality structures.
The lumber and paneling provide rigidity, support for interior finish and exterior cladding, and a cavity for the installation of insulation. It is also a form of construction which can be used on a larger scale for commercial and public buildings.
Wood-frame construction can be adapted to any energy code requirement so wood houses, offices, schools and other commercial and industrial buildings can keep energy bills for heating and cooling low
Caption: New and imporved techniques and products reduce building costs and speed up construction such as wood trusses for roofing applications that can accommodate virutually any roof shape or loading. Designed and manufactured under exacting factory conditions, they offer quality performance and flexibility.