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Stesso

Corner Framing and Header Sizing

2:30
14:50
435.6K views

At 2:30 in

Learn House Framing and Why it Fails

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What happens here

The builder presents two methods for framing corners: the California corner (also known as a 3-stud corner) and the 4-stud corner. He explains that a California corner uses less material but creates a 'cold spot' as it doesn't provide space for insulation, leading to thermal bridging. Conversely, a 4-stud corner allows for insulation, significantly improving thermal performance, though it requires more lumber. He then discusses header sizing for wall openings, noting that the required depth of the header depends on factors such as local snow load, the roof span, and the width of the opening. Wider openings typically necessitate taller headers (e.g., 2x10, 2x12, or even engineered lumber like LVL) to adequately support the load.

Goal: Choose appropriate corner framing for insulation and size headers correctly

Tools and materials

  • Corner Models — Demonstrating the construction and characteristics of different corner framing types
  • Header Lumber — Demonstrating and discussing various header sizes and their applications
  • Insulation — Illustrating insulation placement within corner framing

What they say

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gets a lot of snow and your roof span is longer, the sizing might be a 2 by 10, 2 by 12, an LVL, or even bigger. The spacing's usually 12 to 16 on center and you can either stack your nails or offset them. You'll double up with a jack and a king stud for doors and windows. If our rough opening is 82 to the bottom of the header, all you need to do is take your jack, take the rough opening height, and subtract the bottom plate. So, we'll go 82 and 1/2 and then subtract your inch and a half, and this is where we'll mark these to cut our jack. Install your jacks and your header. When you nail your jack studs, you want to be sure that they're flush and then you can join these together. If you only nail a header up without the jacks, the nails are all that support the header. But if you install jacks, give the header support. When you put in this header and go to nail it, you want to be sure it's pulled fully tight, so you don't end up with some crazy gap. The header can be installed at any height. You can go up to the top plate

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