Double Plates and Solid Headers

The framing of your home is another topic that is not all that much fun to talk about. It’s more exciting to think about colors, fixtures and flooring however the quality and manner in which your home is framed will affect everything!

While it is not necessary for you to understand every aspect of the framing process you should be aware of the basics, some simple things that you can have done to your new home to really improve the basic structure. These tips will apply to those of your having a semi custom, or full custom, home built. Those purchasing from a volume builder will probably not have the option of adding or changing the framing all that much. 

The Plates

A “plate” the lumber that runs along the top or bottom of the framing studs. You’ve got your vertical wall studs, typically a 2×4 or 2×6, and then a bottom plate. A very simple diagram is here to the right. In many areas only a single top plate and a single bottom plate are required. I’d like you to consider asking for double top and bottom plates. The added cost is minimal while the added benefits are considerable. Many will consider the next three items overkill however I insist on these steps!

 - Double Top Plates: An additional top plate acts to “lock” together the first top plate pieces and to lock together all the abutting and perpendicular walls. In simple terms a second top plate makes your home stronger over all. An added benefit to this is your subs will have more solid material to nail to when installing sheetrock and crown molding. Byproviding more nailing material you can expect a better drywall job as well as a more solid trim install that is less likely to warp or pull away.

 - Double Bottom Plates: A double bottom plate acts much in the same way as a double top plate with more emphasis on providing more nailing material. Consider a typical 2×4 bottom plate. The actual measurement of a “2×4” is 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. When laying a 2×4 or 2×6 flat on the ground the some of your contractors will have less than 1.5 to nail to on interior work. Once the sheet rock is installed imagine a hardwood floor being put it. Some flooring material can be ½ or ¾ or more thick. If you’ve installed ¾ inch flooring that you’ll only be leaving ¾ of an inch of that bottom plate for trim to be nailed to.

 - My final bit on plates is to have your double bottom plate glued to the slab or deck with a high quality construction adhesive. This costs very little and will go a long way towards added stability of the overall framing with the added benefits of combating wind, dust and insect infiltration.

The above practices are simply are not done by many. You may find some that will frame with a double top plate and that’s a great start. Ask for double plates top and bottom and to have your bottom plate glued! Once that sheet rock is up it’s awful hard to go back and add in additional framing. Prepare for it before hand and you won’t be sorry.