Framing Carpentry

First fix - Carcassing - Structural carpentry

Framing carpentry or first fix carpentry generally includes all the big heavy jobs that take place before plastering. Such as framing walls (studwork), framing floors (joisting), and drylining (plasterboarding/tacking) for example. Framing carpenters build timber framed houses.

A Framing carpenters tools need to be strong and good quality to withstand the heavy work involved when working with heavy timbers, often outside in the rain. I use a much larger/heavier hammer and nailguns than for finish carpentry and also a better quality tape measure. A good quality pouch to keep tools handy is a must aswell, as you'll often be standing on joists or on scaffolding where you'll need to have your tools close to hand.

Click on a link below for more tips for each of the various framing carpentry jobs and pages that help with the maths needed too:

Noggins, otherwise known as blocking and bridging are used all over during framing carpentry to stiffen structures and to provide a fixing for sheet materials and more. There are a few types including herrinbone struts, click the link above for more info.

Knowing how to build a shed is not just handy for your clients. Its a great project for the weekends, and somewhere handmade to store your tools, fixings and paint etc. too. Click above for a link to over 12,000 shed plans and try and pick just one you want to build! I made my own shed last year using ideas from half a dozen of the plans available above and my brother is starting his soon.

Suffer from dry cracking hands?

If you're anything like me and you work your fingers to the bone during first fix work and get painful finger cracks, there is now a natural product on the market you should check out that gives instant relief and then helps your body to heal them up quickly. It's called CrackZapIt

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