Best Way to Frame Calculator

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This calculator is based on construction data collected during the 2015 Framing the American Dream project. The homes in that study had the following specs:

• 2900 square foot, ranch-style home with unfinished basement
• Floor system: 16" o.c. 16" deep panelized floor system
• Low-complexity gable roof

Please note that calculations were made to adjust the FAD walls panels from 24" o.c to 16" o.c and the FAD exterior walls panels from 2x4 to 2x6. Stick-built material assumptions are taken from invoices received from the lumber yard.

This calculator is based on one example and some baseline judgments and assumptions. It does not take into count equipment required at the jobsite to handle materials or components, nor does it include labor/materials for soffits, bulkheads, draft stopping or windows.

Personnel

Field Labor Rate ($/hr)

Component Package Prices

Your Wall Panel Package Price

Your Floor Truss Package Price

Your Roof Truss Package Price

Material

2x4 #2 (/m)

2x6 #2 (/m)

2x8 #2 (/m)

2x10 #2 (/m)

I-Joist (LF)

11 7/8" LVL (LF)

7/16" OSB (PCS)

3/4" T&G OSB (PCS)

15/32" OSB (PCS)

General

Interior Walls (LFT)

Material

Exterior Walls (LFT)

Material

Conventional Framing

Interior Wall Stud Spacing

Exterior Wall Stud Spacing

Interior Wall Very Top (Double-Top) Plates

Wall Sheathing

Fire Blocking

Wall Panels

Interior Wall Stud Spacing

Exterior Wall Stud Spacing

Interior Wall Very Top Plates

Wall Sheathing

Fire Blocking

Blocking Installed

Doors and Windows Installed

Doors and Windows (QTY)

General

Floors (SQFT)

# of Floors

# of Stairways

Conventional Framing

Floor Joist Spacing

Material

Floor Components

Material

Floor Truss Spacing

Floors panelized

Stair Package supplied

Ribbon and Strongback Material supplied

Floor Sheathing supplied

General

Roof (SQFT)

Roof main pitch

# of Hip ends

LFT of Gable Ends

Attic Room

Conventional Framing

Roof Rafter Spacing

Material

Roof Trusses

Gable Sheathing applied

Roof Sheathing supplied

Laydown Gables supplied

Bracing Material supplied

Ladder or Box Frames supplied

Totals
Item	Stick Built	Componentized
Total Framer Labor and Material/Component Package Cost	${{ fad.out.total.estimate.conventional | toWhole }}	${{ fad.out.total.estimate.components | toWhole }}
Material Cost / SQFT	${{ fad.out.total.material.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.total.material.components | toCents }}
Labor Cost / SQFT	${{ fad.out.total.labor.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.total.labor.components | toCents }}
Component Packages Save You	${{ fad.out.savings.walls + fad.out.savings.roof + fad.out.savings.floors | toCents }}

Walls
Item	Stick Built	Componentized
Exterior Walls	{{ fad.out.walls.exterior.conventional | toWhole }} hours	{{ fad.out.walls.exterior.components | toWhole }} hours
Interior Walls	{{ fad.out.walls.interior.conventional | toWhole }} hours	{{ fad.out.walls.interior.components | toWhole }} hours
Exterior Walls BDFT	{{ fad.out.walls.exteriorBDFT.conventional | toWhole }}	{{ fad.out.walls.exteriorBDFT.components | toWhole }}
Interior Walls BDFT	{{ fad.out.walls.interiorBDFT.conventional | toWhole }}	{{ fad.out.walls.interiorBDFT.components | toWhole }}
Wall Material	${{ fad.out.walls.material.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.walls.material.components | toCents }}
Wall Labor	${{ fad.out.walls.labor.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.walls.labor.components | toCents }}
Wall Panel Package	-	${{ fad.out.walls.package.components | toCents }}
Component Packages Save You:	${{ fad.out.savings.walls | toCents }}

Floors
Item	Stick Built	Componentized
Floors	{{ fad.out.floors.hours.conventional | toWhole }} hours	{{ fad.out.floors.hours.components | toWhole }} hours
Floors BDFT	{{ fad.out.floors.bdft.conventional | toWhole }}	{{ fad.out.floors.bdft.components | toWhole }}
Floor Material	${{ fad.out.floors.material.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.floors.material.components | toCents }}
Floor Labor	${{ fad.out.floors.labor.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.floors.labor.components | toCents }}
Floor Truss Package	-	${{ fad.out.floors.package.components | toCents }}
Component Packages Save You:	${{ fad.out.savings.floors | toCents }}

Roof
Item	Stick Built	Componentized
Roof	{{ fad.out.roof.hours.conventional | toWhole }} hours	{{ fad.out.roof.hours.components | toWhole }} hours
Roof BDFT	{{ fad.out.roof.bdft.conventional | toCents }}	{{ fad.out.roof.bdft.components | toCents }}
Roof Material	${{ fad.out.roof.material.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.roof.material.components | toCents }}
Roof Labor	${{ fad.out.roof.labor.conventional | toCents }}	${{ fad.out.roof.labor.components | toCents }}
Roof Truss Package	-	${{ fad.out.roof.package.components | toCents }}
Component Packages Save You:	${{ fad.out.savings.roof | toCents }}