California Framing Exclusivity

[AlohaBob]

I wonder is if this is proprietary, this method, or can it be used in other states as well without persecution?

Suppose this method were used in say Washington. Would it still be California Framing? Or should it now be referred to as Washington Framing?

I'm reluctant to use California Framing here for fear of reprisals from the West Coast Offense.

 

[casseopeia]

I still can't figure out why California Framing is used. I have to inspect tract home attics on a fairly regular basis and end up crawling through the access holes cut into the sheathing to get to the other sections or the attic. It's difficult, dark and hurts my knees!

If you want California framing, you can have it! Don't fear reprisals from the WCO, but you might stay away from the unfortunate engineer who has to root out A35's in an attic on a warm day.

 

[FalsePrecision]

One purpose of CA Overframing is to give the "main" roof diaphragm a direct path to the shearwall. The other is to avoid absurd truss designs- but that is within the opinion of a truss designer, which I am not.

 

[RARWOOD]

What is California Framing? I have worked in the wood industry for over ten years but have nevered heard this term used.

 

[casseopeia]

I have only seen this used in single family tract homes in CA. We have several former carpenters here, and they were unfamiliar with the term as well, until coming to California.

After the main roof is framed, the sheathing is installed, then intersecting or adjoining roof sections are framed into the main roof, on top of base plates (usually 2x6's) over the top of the sheathing on the main roof. There are requirements for perimeter and field nailing and support around access openings, blah, blah, blah. Probably more detail than you want.

I have seen attics is high wind areas outside of this state that did not utilize California framing, so I don't buy the diaphragm theory 100%. But I can't say for certain. My design background is primarily steel commercial and governmental structures. Residential construction is a whole new ballgame for me, but I've been inspecting wood-framed buildings for about 10 years.

The guys here have a theory that it's FASTER and therefore CHEAPER. They also call an alternate method of framing a corner a 'California corner' where fewer pieces of lumber are required, and it's reportedly faster.

 

[FalsePrecision]

CA overframing, in a nutshell, is 2x6 rafters at 24" oc, supported at 4' oc with 2x4 risers bearing on a roof truss top chord. The rafters are running perpendicular to the trusses.
Cassie, if you think detailing each truss differently to avoid the idea of using the CA framing, that would be a nuclear explosion to the industry. And if you don't buy the diapharagm theory, you wouldn't want to defend yourself in a lawsuit should the house fail in any way in a good ole CA seismic event!

 

[RARWOOD]

Thank you for explaining the term Cailfornia framing. I think I probably have seen something similair in Minnesota, although no specific term was used to describe it. Sort of like is it a band joist, rim joist, ect.

I would definitely reccomend keeping the framing simple and assuring that you have a clear load path to your shear walls.