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Traditional and advanced framing of windows and doors

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Guide describing how to minimize framing around doors and windows to reduce heat losses and gains through structural framing.

Advanced framing details include minimal framing at windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Window has additional non-structural king stud

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Window framing has appropriate number of king studs

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - Double-stud wall are boxed with plywood around windows and doors

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Appropriate use of framing members to support double windows and additional cripples for drywall purposes

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

In areas prone to high winds and hurricanes, double vertical “jack trim” and horizontal “header” and “sill” studs are recommended on all sides of window and door openings.

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2019 - 12:00

Instead of solid timber headers over windows, insulated headers can be used consisting of prefabricated structural insulated panels or site-fabricated with two sheets of plywood sandwiching a layer of rigid foam.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Conceptual stack framing drawing

DWG

PDF

Manufactured insulated header

DWG

PDF

Site-built insulated header

DWG

PDF

Mini truss header - section

DWG

PDF

Outset header with head plate

DWG

PDF

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Imagine Homes: Stillwater Ranch, San Antonio, TX

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing a new home builder that strives to address health, safety, and durability issues in a hot and humid climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Insight Homes: Deep Creek, Seaford, Delaware

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing a home builder that has refined its home designs to achieve HERS scores of 49 to 56 on 40 to 70 homes per year.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Nelson Construction: Hamilton Way, Farmington, CT

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing the design and testing of 10 high-performance homes in Farmington, Connecticut.

Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight: David Weekley Homes, Houston, Texas

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

December, 2009

Case study describing new home construction in the hot-humid climate, optimizing thermal enclosure, HVAC, water heating and lighting measures.

Traditional and advanced framing of windows and doors

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Advanced framing details include minimal framing at windows and doors.

Wrong – Window has additional non-structural king stud

Right – Window framing has appropriate number of king studs

Right - Double-stud wall are boxed with plywood around windows and doors

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Right – Appropriate use of framing members to support double windows and additional cripples for drywall purposes

In areas prone to high winds and hurricanes, double vertical “jack trim” and horizontal “header” and “sill” studs are recommended on all sides of window and door openings.

Instead of solid timber headers over windows, insulated headers can be used consisting of prefabricated structural insulated panels or site-fabricated with two sheets of plywood sandwiching a layer of rigid foam.

Conceptual stack framing drawing

Manufactured insulated header

Site-built insulated header

Mini truss header - section

Outset header with head plate

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Imagine Homes: Stillwater Ranch, San Antonio, TX

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Insight Homes: Deep Creek, Seaford, Delaware

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Nelson Construction: Hamilton Way, Farmington, CT

Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight: David Weekley Homes, Houston, Texas

Advanced framing showing open headers

Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage

Structural headers are not needed on nonbearing walls

Insulated header made of one piece of plywood aligned with exterior wall, with room for insulation to inside

Right – Appropriate door framing installed

Insulated header made of two pieces of plywood that sandwich a layer of rigid foam insulation

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Right – Verify SIP headers are installed

Wrong – Excessive and structurally unnecessary framing at door

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation to insulate truss-joist headers.