Framing Products Meet the Challenge of Building Tall Walls - 11/15/2004 - Home Foundation Structure Framing

Framing Products Meet the Challenge of Building Tall Walls

Products from Trus Joist offer home builders wood-framed tall walls 10-30 feet high designed to meet the growing popularity of large windows and vaulted ceilings that provide home owners with scenic views and natural light.

Headquartered in Boise, ID, Trus Joist is a Weyerhaeuser business and a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — the Supplier 100 of NAHB.

The design and construction of tall walls present unique challenges to builders and code officials. Conventional framing practices do not apply to walls that are taller than 10 feet, even though some builders continue to use them for that purpose, says the manufacturer. Other builders use platform framing, stacking 8- to 10-foot-high walls on top of each other — creating a “hinge” effect and wall instability to wind pressures perpendicular to the wall.

Trus Joist says that its wall framing design methodology factors in both perpendicular wind load pressure and vertical loads, which are outlined in its easy-to-use specifier’s guide. By meeting structural demands, its tall walls eliminate under- or overbuilding.

Using the patented TimberStrand® laminated strand lumber (LSL) and Parallam® parallel strand lumber (PSL) technologies, Trus Joist’s engineered lumber is longer, straighter and stronger than conventional options, the company says.

By providing builders with consistent, predictable product performance,and easy design specifications, sliding doors will slide, windows will open and close and walls will not vibrate with every slammed door, according to Trus Joist.

A skilled team of representatives and engineers is available to help customers understand the tall wall products and answer any questions.

To learn more, click here or call 800-628-3997.