Construction Carpentry and Wood Framing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard spacing for wall studs in residential wood-frame construction in the US?
- 12 inches on center
- 16 inches on center (Correct answer)
- 24 inches on center
- 32 inches on center
Correct answer: 16 inches on center
Standard residential wall framing uses 2×4 or 2×6 studs spaced 16 inches on center, though 24-inch spacing is also permitted by code for some applications.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'cripple stud' in wall framing?
- A full-height stud cut due to damage
- A short stud above or below a window or door opening (Correct answer)
- A diagonal brace in a wall assembly
- A stud used at building corners
Correct answer: A short stud above or below a window or door opening
Cripple studs are short studs installed above window headers or below rough sills to complete the stud pattern and support the framing members.
Question 3: In roof framing, what is the 'ridge board' or 'ridge beam'?
- The bottom chord of a roof truss
- The horizontal member at the peak of a sloped roof (Correct answer)
- The fascia board at the roof edge
- The blocking between rafters
Correct answer: The horizontal member at the peak of a sloped roof
The ridge board is the horizontal member running along the peak of a sloped roof to which the tops of common rafters are fastened.
Question 4: What is the 'rise over run' in roof framing terminology?
- The total roof height over total building width
- The vertical rise in inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run — the roof pitch (Correct answer)
- The angle of the rafter cut at the ridge
- The ratio of roof span to eave height
Correct answer: The vertical rise in inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run — the roof pitch
Roof pitch (rise over run) expresses how many inches the roof rises vertically for every 12 inches of horizontal run, such as 6:12 or 8:12.
Question 5: What is the function of a 'king stud' in window and door framing?
- A decorative stud at the entrance
- A full-height stud on each side of an opening that runs from bottom plate to top plate (Correct answer)
- The center stud in a wall
- The first stud installed in a wall frame
Correct answer: A full-height stud on each side of an opening that runs from bottom plate to top plate
King studs run the full height of the wall alongside an opening, supporting the trimmer studs and transferring loads from the header to the plates.
Question 6: What lumber grade is commonly used for structural wall framing in residential construction?
- Select Structural
- No. 1
- No. 2 (Correct answer)
- Utility Grade
Correct answer: No. 2
No. 2 grade lumber (or Stud grade for walls) is the most commonly specified and economically available grade for structural wall, floor, and roof framing.
Construction Carpentry and Wood Framing 1
What is the standard spacing for wall studs in residential wood-frame construction in the US?