Building Construction Technology

Once the site is ready for the building (Building Construction classes use pier and beam foundations), the building frame begins to take shape.
Photos of class building new pier and beam supports | Photos of raising the walls

Students begin by adding the joists (floor supports)	All joists are installed
Joist ends must be even; a string line is run to check this	The rim (end) joists are added...
Blocking gives the joists extra support and helps keep them in place...	...while the subfloor is installed and nailed to the joists.
The top and bottom plates (2x4 lumber which will be nailed to the top and bottom of the wall studs) are laid out where the walls will eventually be positioned.	The top and bottom plates are marked where the studs are to be added. K (king), T (trimmer) studs and C (cripple) studs are marked on both the top and bottom plates
King and Trimmer studs are placed on both sides of doors and windows - the header rests on the trimmer studs. Cripple studs are over and under the windows and over the doors at standard intervals. These are used when nailing sheetrock to the studs.	Doors and window openings are built as part of the appropriate wall frames as indicated on the blueprints.
Wherever two walls meet, they are attached via a "tee" intersection. The intersected wall has two studs joined by blocking ( short pieces of 2 x 4s). The intersecting wall fits snugly between these blocks.

Once the wall frames are assembled, it is time to raise the walls