Everything in your home is dependent on the house framing. Everything. Without the frame there are no walls to protect you from the elements, no floors on which to place furniture, no roof to keep out the rain and snow. Getting the framing right on your new home or home additions is as important as laying a strong foundation. If it’s not done right you may be sitting in the kitchen one morning several years later and suddenly notice your prized marble countertop is no longer level, or that the wall and ceiling are separating above the sofa. If you don’t want that to happen, listen up.
House Framing Essentials
Though framing materials and techniques have changed, the need for a rock solid frame underlying your home has not. With that in mind here are 7 things we believe to be crucial to the successful completion of any framing project.
- A General Contractor – On any building or renovation project scheduled to last more than a week or require multiple trades you need a general contractor. It might be tempting to think you can handle it yourself but it’s rarely the wise thing to do.
- A Contract with Teeth – Before a single nail is fired from the nail gun make sure your contract with the framer specifies both start and completion dates. Make sure there are penalties that kick in if the completion date is missed and don’t pay the framer until the work is complete.
- A Review of the Plan – If your plan entails features unique to your house you’ll want to sit down with the GC and the framing contractor before work begins to make sure everyone is on the same page.
- Securing the Jobsite – It’s an unfortunate reality that building materials sometimes disappear from construction sites. Make sure the GC has taken measures to properly secure the site and that financial responsibility for lost material is covered in the contract.
- Staying Alert – If you see things being framed out that just don’t look right, ask about them. Even if you reviewed everything before work started mistakes can still be made.
- An Understanding of the Inspector’s Job – The building inspector is not there to put his or her stamp of approval on the quality of the framer’s work any more than the excavation contractor is. They’re there to check for code violations. Don’t count on them for quality assurance.
- Beware of the Plumber – Or the electrician, or any other subcontractor who feels they have a right to hack up the house framing without clearing it first. Sometimes they’re just taking a shortcut through your home’s integrity so they can finish up early. If you see someone going to town on the framing call the GC.
The life of your home, and by extension the safety and happiness of yourself and your loved ones, depends on proper house framing. If corners are cut, design elements are missed or finished work is compromised by overzealous subcontractors you could wind up facing an expensive and time consuming redo. Follow these steps to help ensure your house framing stands the test of time.
Integrity Contracting is known for quality work, honesty and professional results that increase value to our customer’s properties. We know we can provide you with answers and solutions to your projects needs; we are qualified, licensed professionals – proven & trustworthy – who always deliver projects on time and on budget. We specialize in Home Additions, Framing, Basement Underpinning, Demolition and Excavation in Toronto. Visit us on Google+.