With such advancement in modern technology, construction methods are also witnessing revolution, with methods coming up that are making construction more sturdy and faster at the same time. If you are in the market you build a house or a bigger project, check out construction companies in Westminster or other areas and they will sit don with you and explain all available options to you so you choose what’s best. To better help you with this decision, below are detailed out some top construction methods to better help with that decision.
Platform or Stick Framing with Wood
By far the most common way to build a house, ‘stick built’ as it is called popularly is the leading choice for construction companies and homeowners alike. Platform framing uses individual pieces of wood which are customized according to the requirements and assembled piece by piece to form a frame of a home. In this method, the frame or foundation is built first, post which the walls of the first level of the house and then additional platforms for second floor walls which are anchored into the second platform. The whole structure frame rests on a concrete foundation which is installed prior to the frame being built. The wooden frame that sits atop it is built piece by piece by connecting these pieces together on site.
Platform framing requires stud to be installed every 12, 16 or 24 inches to raise the walls. Evenly placed stud ensure that the walls designed to act as structural supports han are weight bearing. But this does lead to a limitation on other aspects such as length of the windows and size of the open spaces.
Once the framing is complete, wiring, insulation and paneling are all installed which is followed by the exterior elements being finished first and then the interior.
Usually, platform wood homes are constructed using all load bearing walls and with the rafters providing support for a pitched roof. Building codes have been established which strictly regulate all aspects of platform framed wood homes, making homes with different architectural elements a challenge for this type of construction.
Engineered Wood Products
This particular construction type entails materials manufacture by building particles, fibers or even veneers of wood together with adhesives are often used in framed home construction. The most commonly known and used EWP’s include plywood and oriented strand board. These wood panels are attached to the studs or a framed wall to provide additional structural support and the surfaces for walls. EWP’s can also come in the form of engineered posts and beams that are stronger than beams cut from timber and are mostly used for specialty projects.
Another form of EWPs is Structural Insulated panels which are made of an inner layer of insulating foam core sandwiched between two sheets of EWPs, usually OSBs. SIP panels can be used to cover a home’s framing, but can also be used in place of a frame which makes up the whole structural support of the house. The strength and size can provide advantages over standard platform framing for certain design types.
Steel Framing
Steel has been in use for construction for centuries now, most commonly used in commercial construction. There are two types of steel,namely hot rolled and cold formed. Hot rolled steel is produced in an industrial process using high heat. The beams and columns produced are very strong and thick at the same time. This particular type is mostly used in commercial construction, but the beams in question are also used at a small scale in residential construction that have large spans and require the added strength of steel. Hot rolled steel is expensive which makes it cost prohibitive for most residential projects.
Cold formed steel, also known as light gauge steel is exceptionally strong and gives the added benefit of being able to be used in thinner pieces. This particular form of steel can be folded, punched and laser cut as well which allows the user for more customization and better precision. Steel framed homes are built in a similar way to that of platform wood homes wit individual steel beams being assembled on site to form the house’s skeletal structure. The big difference between wood platform and steel framing is the amount of on site customization required and needed. With wood framing, dimensional wood is cut to fit at the job site, where as steel components are created precisely according to the requirement which in turn leads to less work on site. Construction companies in Westminster and other places will gladly tell you what will be suited for you based on your needs and budget.