Reduce Waste Option For Conventional Framing

Posted on February 14th, 2009

The last few weeks I have been involved with some training and presentation on ways to reduce waste when a conventional or stick frame home is being framed. Reducing waste is one key to all green build certifications, whether LEED® or NAHB Green Building Program®. One of the obstacles I observed from these few weeks of working with Builders and Framers is getting people to change how they do things. People are generally uncomfortable with change and the old ways are known and comfortable.

The top point brought out in our meetings was centered on the design. Proper layout and design of material is where the reduction of waste and efficiency of use of material has to begin. Reducing a stud here and there, precut headers, joists, beams and roof rafters from the supplier, optimizing on center spacing with floor joists and proper lengths of material to yield the least amount of waste are the key components needed to accomplish efficient framing. Many framers have a standard starting package delivered when they begin framing a job. A couple units of studs, small amount of pressure treated plate, a unit of 16’ plate, so many feet of header material and a unit of sheathing. Layout begins and cutting to fit is the standard process.

But if the design and layout is optimized and portions are precut to size prior to hitting the job, the reduction in waste begins. The supplier optimizes the proper lengths of material in house, precuts with minimal waste with the proper use of technology and provides a layout for the framer to follow. Sounds like a great idea, but how do I get a supplier to do this. This process is not available in to many areas, but I did get to see, during our meetings, one company that is driving this concept.

I-Level® (formerly Weyerhaeuser) and Stock Building Supply® have teamed up to create is process across the country. I understand that I-Level® has other suppliers also doing this, but I want to talk about I-Level® and Stock Building Supply® today. These two companies did presentations in several of the meeting I participated in this week. I was able to get some of there information to provide to you.

I-Level® has created a framing design software program called Javelin®. This software is a whole house solution for framing applications. It optimizes and designs the best use of material in walls, floors and roof systems. It does layouts, design loads and proper code calculations with the I-level® products. This designing can then go to a computerized saw which precuts many products going into the home. The only product not being cut to size is the plate material and the sheathing. Studs for rake walls, floor joists, headers, beams and roof rafters are all being cut to exact dimensions, with angle cuts included.

Stock Building Supply® has purchased and implanted this process in three facilities across the country. My understanding is more will be added as the housing market begins to recover. I was very impressed with this process and the feed back from the meeting was also very positive. Again the only reluctance was in the change in thinking and getting away from how this process has always been done. I could not find any information on the SBS website about this, so I contacted them and was told it would be added in the future.

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