Green That Saves Green 101: Corner Framing
There are several ways we can improve the efficiences in the framing of outside corners. A California Corner is one designation for a wood framing pattern that rotates one of the three studs in exterior corners. On exterior walls this allows insulation to proceed all the way to the corner rather than creating an insulation void.
Both the California Corner and standard framing create a solid inside and outside corner. This provides a fastening point for both the exterior sheathing or finish material and the interior finish material. For example in home construction, there is a stud which forms the outside corner where the sheathing is nailed and there are two studs, one in either direction from the outside corner stud, which form an inside corner allowing drywall to be nailed along the edge in both directions.
Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) uses only two studs in the corner eliminating one stud. There are two basic benefits to this. 1) One stud is saved, translated to labor savings and fastener savings. 2) Where standard framing creates an uninsulated void in exterior corners and the California Corner allows insulation to fill this cavity, OVE further increases the insulation value of the wall system by eliminating one more stud that transfers heat through the wall and allows the full depth cavity for insulation.
Drywall Clip
If the interior is to be finished, it is necessary to address a fastening point for drywall or other finish material. (Note: In some cases this corner is being allowed to “float”. This option depends on the type of finish material and local code requirements.) This can be addressed by installing blocking. There are always cut-offs available for this on the job site. In the case of drywall, drywall clips can be used.
Easterday Construction Co., Inc. will be making every effort to use either California Corners or preferably OVE corners on projects as we go forward. This is Green that saves Green!
Summary
- Reduction in materials required for the job. One less stud and associated fasteners at each corner. This includes interior partition walls as well as exterior walls.
- Reduction in labor necessary for material installation.
- Increase in energy efficiency by increasing the accessible wall cavity and eliminating the heat transfer through the additional studs.
By Green That Saves Green 101: T-Wall Intersections « Easterday Construction August 13, 2010 - 3:41 pm
[…] […]
By Culver Garden Court – What a Difference a Day Makes! :: Easterday Construction July 7, 2011 - 3:28 pm
[…] We are constantly trying to improve the framing on these structures to be more efficient, both in the use of lumber and in insulation barriers. Thus the change to insulated sheathing from 100% OSB sheathing used on previous Garden Court projects, the use of laddered T- wall corner connections at interior walls and the use of California Corners. […]
By Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass… | alachuawomenbuild October 4, 2013 - 12:01 am
[…] framing techniques involve putting insulating board in between the headers, ladder framing and California corners. As a green build, this house construction uses recycled materials wherever possible and the yard […]
By Mike Rosenberger November 5, 2015 - 4:27 pm
Your corner ideas is interesting. Do you have anything similar for interior wall to exterior wall intersections?
By Kevin Berger November 6, 2015 - 4:37 pm
Mike,
For interior, non-bearing walls our preferred method is to install the interior wall without the last stud at the corner and hold the top and bottom plates just short of the intersecting wall. This allows the drywall to be installed continuously on the exterior wall. The corner stud is then installed. The corner stud can be attached to the drywall with screws and toe-nailed to the top and bottom plate. This also improves the situation with the vapor barrier as it can continue through the wall connection without a gap as well.
This can be done at the ceiling as well where the ceiling drywall is installed first and then the partition wall top plate ends against the ceiling drywall. This only works with non-bearing walls where solid connections are not required. This speeds up ceiling drywall installation as well, eliminating cuts at walls.
Kevin
By Sand Hill Farm Apartment Soundproofing - Sand Hill Farm April 6, 2018 - 10:28 am
[…] were removed from the project through this reduction of studs as well as doing things like using California Corners. Sound travels more easily through hard surfaces. By eliminating the number of studs we’ve […]