Framing Walls – Reference Guides

Framing Walls

Before I begin please note that my dad (standing on top of that step ladder) is breaking a major ladder safety rule! This photo was taken when my father and I started framing our new home.

Lately we’ve had quite a few emails and questions about framing walls and more specifically if we could recommend some decent reference books. Learning to frame walls isn’t very difficult if you spend some time reading and learning the basics of house framing. There are several books that I’ve read and used over the years including the following three framing resources:

Graphic Guide To Frame Construction

One of the most popular and recommended framing references is the Graphic Guide To Frame Construction. This framing reference book has been around for more than 20 years yet it’s up to date with all the latest framing materials and techniques. One of the best features of this book are the great visual diagrams and sketches that make it very easy to understand. If you only buy one framing book then this is certainly at the top of the list.

Ultimate Guide To House Framing

The Ultimate Guide To House Framing, 3rd Edition is a great resource for homeowners that have no experience with framing. This beginners guide to framing covers everything from design to construction as well as new green building techniques and materials. The book go over load paths and how to properly frame a house from the foundation up to the roof. This is a must have for anyone that’s new to framing.

Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder’s Guide

Probably one of the most important parts of framing a house is being able to properly measure and layout the building. Measuring, Marking and Layout: A Builder’s Guide is a great resource and teaching tool for learning this important phase of house framing. Every carpenter will tell you to measure twice and cut once which points to the importance of this topic. Complicated concepts are simplified and explained so that they are easy to understand.

Do you have a favorite framing book? If so leave a comment and share it with us!