Framed Members and Building Structures – Introduction to Construction
As part of construction education this article discusses framing versus solid construction.
For example the timber framing of a house that is clad with an external and internal covering such as timber boarding and drywall versus the construction of solid concrete walls.
Framed members and structures are often used in lieu of solid structure for economic, cost saving, or weight saving benefits.
An solid external wall may be too heavy for the ground and sink, or a solid floor slab may be too heavy and fail under its own weight.
In other situations such as tilt panel or precast concrete walls the cladding framing and structural elements may be all as one with a reinforced concrete wall.
To reduce the weight of the element we use a frame. Vertical uses of frames may be buildings, walls, or that of a cabinet. The frame will probably consist of at least two horizontal members, top and bottom, and two supporting members, one in each end to create a rectangle.
If the rectangle is left without cladding and/or bracing then it will be subject to lateral movement because of the weakness of its joints. This is over come by increasing the strength of the joints with gussets or with diagonal bracing or sheet bracing.
Learn about interior walls and how they are constructed
