Content

• Steps
• Tips
• What do you need

Today, many private low-rise buildings are built on the basis of a timber frame, which is built according to certain rules and standards. These designs are economical and lightweight. When building a frame house, first of all, a floor frame is created, resting either on the main foundation of the building, or on supporting posts. If you want to make your own floor frame, check out our recommendations.

Steps

1. 1 Check with your local government building codes. As a rule, each city has its own standards and requirements for architectural structures. If your building does not meet the standards, you can be fined and ordered to rebuild it in accordance with the established norms. Before you start planning a building, familiarize yourself with these codes and standards, as they can affect the entire construction process - from the choice of materials, to sizes and dimensions. You may even need to get official documentation to prove that your floor design is up to standards!
2. 2 Make a plan for the construction of your floor. Before you start building, draw a plan for the construction of your floor on paper. The plan will help you carefully calculate all dimensions and determine the required amount of materials. Spans, staircases and internal retaining walls that are too long will make the floor frame more difficult to plan, as cross connections and additional support posts will have to be made. If your design is very complex, it may be better to go to a professional builder.
   • The logs should be laid in increments of about 40 cm so that the floor is strong and secure. Their length will depend on the size of the rooms and the quality of the materials used, but very long boards are usually reinforced from below with additional support posts or transverse boards.
3. 3 Cut the boards to size. When you have prepared a frame plan, check the lengths of the lumber along it. On each board or block, write the part number with a pencil to make it easier for you to put each in its place.
4. 4 Install the beds. Beds are planks that are laid on top of the foundation. The boards are laid horizontally and aligned with the outer edge of the foundation. For this, boards with a section of 50x150 mm or 50x200 mm are suitable. Since the wood will be in direct contact with concrete, you need to use sawn timber treated with preservatives. Holes must be drilled in the planks to secure them to the foundation using anchor bolts, washers and nuts.
   • To avoid moisture and ventilation problems, lay a layer of insulating material on the foundation before laying the beds.
5. 5 Install the strapping board. The strapping board is installed vertically on the bed. Use a board that is the same size as the log for the strapping board. Usually a board with a section of 50x250 mm is used for this. The board is installed on the end, aligned with the outer edge of the foundation and attached to the beds with screws.
   • For a more reliable fastening of the strapping board to the legs, you can use metal brackets. One end of the bracket is fixed in the wood and the other in the foundation.
6. 6 Mark the location of the lag. For the floor to be strong and reliable, the logs should be located strictly parallel to each other at the same distance in increments of no more than 40 cm. Use a measuring tape and a pencil for marking.
7. 7 Install lags. Install the logs on the beds according to the markings. They should be flush with the strapping board. After laying each log, attach it with screws to the bed and the strapping board.
   • If you want to fix the joists more securely and simplify the installation process, use steel brackets.
8. 8 Add cross braces between the purlins. If the length of the joists exceeds 2.5 - 3 meters, you will have to install cross-braces between the joists. There are different opinions about the effectiveness of this or that method of installing spacers, but their importance is not in doubt. If you intend to run a lot of wires or communications under the floor, then cross-braces will be very appropriate.
9. 9 Lay the sub-floor. Once you're done with the spacers, you can start laying the floor. Try to firmly glue plywood or other sub-floor material to the joists. Apply glue to small areas. If you glue the entire area with glue, it will begin to dry out in distant areas while you work on other fragments. Sheets of flooring material must be laid perpendicular to the direction of the log.
   • Use a tongue-and-groove plank with a thickness of at least 2 cm to make the floor safe and sound.

Tips

• Always wear safety goggles and work gloves when using the circular saw.

What do you need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Timber
• Measuring tape
• A circular saw
• Drill
• Anchor bolts
• Nuts
• Washers
• A hammer
• Wood screws
• Protective glasses
• Work gloves