1. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Wood Framing Systems
Common Components of a Traditional Wood Framed Building
Floor Joists
Subfloor
Wall studs
Top Plate
Sole Plate
Header
Roof Trusses
Sill
Insulation
Sheathing
Vapor Barrier
Siding
Underlayment
Asphalt Shingles

2. Floor Joists
Wood Frame Systems
Subfloor
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Joists are horizontal structural members used to carry the floor and ceiling loads.
The structural floor joined to the joists supports the finish flooring.

3. Walls Stud: The vertical framing member in frame wall construction.
Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Walls
Stud: The vertical framing member in frame wall construction.
The walls shown are made up of wood 2x4s spaced at 16 in. on center.
Walls are often constructed on a flat surface and then raised into place and fastened.
The corners have extra studs to ensure that exterior and interior points have attachment points.

4. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Top Plate
A horizontal structure member located on top of the studs used to hold the wall together.
The image represents a double top plate. The bottom is part of the preassembled wall. The top holds the walls together. The horizontal board on the bottom is called a sole plate.

5. Sole Plate (Sill Plate)
Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Sole Plate (Sill Plate)
A horizontal structure member located at the bottom the studs used to hold the wall together.
A sole plate also provides a surface for attaching the wall to its supporting structure.
The image represents a double top plate. The bottom is part of the preassembled wall. The top holds the walls together. The horizontal board on the bottom is called a sole plate.

6. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Window Opening
Header: A horizontal structural member used to support other structural members over openings, such as doors and windows.
Sill: A horizontal wood member placed at the bottom of walls and openings in walls.

7. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Roof Trusses
Truss: An assembly of structural members joined to form a rigid framework, usually connected to form triangles.

8. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 –Building Design and Construction
Insulation
Material used to restrict the flow of heat or sound from one surface to another.

9. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Sheathing
A covering placed over exterior studs or rafters that serves as a base below the exterior finish materials.

10. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Vapor Barrier
Engineered materials designed to keep out liquid water and prevent air infiltration while allowing water vapor to escape from inside the home.
The vapor barrier is often called “house wrap” or referred to as Tyvek, a trade name.

11. Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Siding
Material, such as boards or shingles, used for surfacing the outside walls of a frame building.
Other examples include plywood, hardboard, plastic, vinyl, stucco, brick, or stone.

12. Underlayment Asphalt Shingles
Wood Frame Systems
Civil Engineering and Architecture®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.1 – Building Design and Construction
Roof Felt: A tar-impermeable paper used for water protection under roofing materials.
Asphalt Shingles
Underlayment is often called “felt” or “paper”.
Roof shingles made of asphalt-saturated felt and covered with mineral granules.