Construction Carpentry and Wood Framing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'blocking' in wood frame construction?
- Horizontal pieces of lumber installed between framing members for support, fire stopping, or backing (Correct answer)
- The process of squaring wall frames before sheathing
- Installing temporary bracing during construction
- Sealing gaps in the wall assembly
Correct answer: Horizontal pieces of lumber installed between framing members for support, fire stopping, or backing
Blocking refers to pieces of lumber installed horizontally between studs, joists, or rafters to provide support for fixtures, prevent fire spread, or limit racking.
Question 2: What is the purpose of 'hurricane ties' (rafter ties) in roof framing?
- To prevent moisture infiltration at the roof edge
- To connect rafters to the top plates and resist uplift forces from wind (Correct answer)
- To align rafters at the ridge board
- To support ceiling joists
Correct answer: To connect rafters to the top plates and resist uplift forces from wind
Hurricane ties (metal connectors) anchor rafters to the wall top plates, providing resistance against wind uplift forces that could lift the roof off the walls.
Question 3: What is the 'span' of a floor joist?
- The depth of the joist member
- The horizontal distance between bearing points (supports) for the joist (Correct answer)
- The spacing between adjacent joists
- The length of the joist plus overhang
Correct answer: The horizontal distance between bearing points (supports) for the joist
Joist span is the clear horizontal distance between the supports (typically foundation wall, beam, or bearing wall) that carry the joist's load.
Question 4: What does 'on center' (OC) mean in framing dimensions?
- The measurement from the outside face of one member to the outside face of the next
- The measurement from the center of one framing member to the center of the adjacent member (Correct answer)
- The total distance across the framing system
- The distance from the wall center to the exterior face
Correct answer: The measurement from the center of one framing member to the center of the adjacent member
On center (OC) refers to the distance measured from the center of one framing member to the center of the next parallel member.
Question 5: What is the correct minimum nail penetration for structural connections in wood framing?
- 6 times the nail diameter
- 10 nail diameters into the main member (Correct answer)
- Half the nail length
- 1/3 of the total nail length
Correct answer: 10 nail diameters into the main member
NDS (National Design Specification) requires fasteners to penetrate the main member at least 10 times the nail diameter for full lateral load capacity.
Question 6: What is a 'header' in door or window rough opening framing?
- The finishing trim board above a door or window
- A horizontal structural member that spans the opening and transfers loads to the jack studs (Correct answer)
- The top plate above a window
- The nailing flange of a window unit
Correct answer: A horizontal structural member that spans the opening and transfers loads to the jack studs
A header is a horizontal beam placed above a door or window opening to transfer the loads from above around the opening to the jack and king studs on each side.
Construction Carpentry and Wood Framing 2
What is 'blocking' in wood frame construction?