Bearing Wall Wood

Materials & Construction Issues

Wood

 

Softwood - Pine, Spruce, Cedar

• Commonly used in stud wall construction

• Accounts for about 80% of lumber production

• Trees grow faster than hardwood trees

• Typically less expensive than hardwood lumber

• Low fire resistance

 

Hardwood - Oak, Maple, Walnut

• Not commonly used in stud wall construction

• Used more commonly in furniture, decking, and flooring

• Trees take longer to grow than softwood trees

• Typically more expensive than softwood lumber

• More fire resistant than softwood

 

Screws/ Nails

 

Screws

• Used to secure wood members

• More secure hold than nails

• Easy to remove once installed

• Longer installation time than nails

 

Nails

• Used to secure wood members

• Less secure hold than screws

• Difficult to remove once installed

• Shorter installation time than nails

 

Metal Brackets/ Braces

 

• Used to secure wood members

• Useful when wood members cannot be secured with just a screw/ nail

• Provides extra support for critcal members.