What in the world is APA Narrow Wall Design? The International Code Council for the State of Virginia prescribes how a garage, accessory structure or home is built, CORRECTLY. The consumer has no idea how a wall, a roof assembly or a floor system is affected by Mother Nature. When framing a garage, wind shear is a serious concern. There are lateral, vertical and horizontal uplift that can cause the roof assembly to be ripped off of the building. There is lateral and horizontal force that is created by wind speed that affects the walls and therefore the floor systems. Reinforcement of each component of a building project has to take into consideration these natural forces that push and pull up on a new construction garage, accessory building, home or light commercial storage building.

If the trusses aren’t properly secured, the roof assembly is compromised and at risk to uplift forces. While garages and habitable buildings are built with a thermal envelope concept, those places that are required to have ventilation are letting air circulate and conversely, that can work against the stability of the construction project. The roof assembly is supported by the walls and floor systems. If the walls of a garage or other new construction projects are not properly framed, they can bow, shift or collapse in turbulent weather.

APA NARROW WALL DESIGN is a systematic approach to securing a building and providing a quality product that will remain in place for years to come. The reinforcement of framing walls with braced wall panels help secure the building even more so than headers. When you have openings in walls, for windows, garage doors or other entrance applications, the walls must be reinforced from the sole plate to the ridge. Utilizing the proper fasteners and framing technique for the building help to ensure the force of wind and shifting of the ground beneath the new garage, home or accessory structure.

The walls must have an approved band joist. This joist is a rim board that goes above the foundation all the way around the building. The joist is fastened with nails, anchor bolts, washers, blocking and fastening plates to that band joist. The sole plate is fastened both to the band and through it to the footing of the garage. That holds the walls down. It also must support the weight transfer from the roof to the walls. Continuous structural panel sheathing is required to build a garage door opening. The span of the opening is reinforced with a header, jack studs, blocking and the sheathing technique which will support the header and the walls from blow-out. This type of wall framing is essential to building a garage without concern to the natural forces that can wreak havoc on a wall or roof system.

An experienced building contractor along with these prescribed guidelines will know of this application. Proper execution of the APA Narrow Wall system will be guided by the support of the local building inspector. Call H.W. Enterprises, Inc. for your next project. We take great pride in our perfection of application and these results, every time, in an incredibly well built garage. Visit us at: www.hwenterprisesinc.com or at 757-595-4562 or 757-696-1927. We will be honored to build your next garage, shell home, accessory building or light commercial storage facility. And our quality and attention to detail will show in every aspect of your project.

Any wood or wood-based product that comes into contact with earth must be pressure-treated with some type of preservative. If not, the wood will decay at a rapid rate due to moisture and lack of ventilation. If the wood is compromised, it can affect a building’s stability. The topography of each piece of property is unique and largely uncontrollable. Erosion and water run-off change our properties every day. Flood zones change. When we construct a new building, garage, barn or addition, the Contractor should build your project with that in mind.

In residential work, homes have basements, crawl spaces, garages are normally built at grade, and addition projects are faced with the challenge of building decay-resistant structures. Residential construction is normally done with lumber not steel. Steel framing is used primarily in commercial construction for projects like apartments and skyscrapers. Wood is cheaper than steel and easier to work with for 3 story homes or smaller. This keeps material and labor costs at a minimum.

The International Building Code has prescriptive guidelines regarding protection of wood and wood based products against decay. Wood joists or wood based structural floor products must be treated if they are closer than 18” to the earth. Any wood that rests on a concrete floor that is 8” from grade must be treated for decay. Wood structural members supporting moisture-permeable floors and roofs that are exposed to weather, such as concrete slabs must be separated by an imperious moisture barrier. And lastly, wood furring strips or other wood framing members attached directly to the interior of exterior masonry walls below grade must have a vapor retarder, like poly, applied between the walls and furring strips or any framing members must be treated.

There is a standard for treated wood products that is specific, containing identifying information. These seals must identify the origin of the treatment, the type of preservative, stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper. Any fasteners must be zinc-coated. Zinc doesn’t react to the chemicals used in treated wood framing products that are used in garages. Therefore, it makes sense that copper conducting rods used to ground the slabs and footers in garages are copper. Plastic composite products used in exterior decking, stair treads, handrails and guardrail systems must also be labeled.

Moisture retention and subterranean termites or insects are the greatest barriers to foundations for garages, homes, shell homes, barns and additions. Talk with your Contractor about your pest control issues and the grade in which your property and your garage project will be built. Experienced, responsible building Contractors know to use salt or pressure-treated wood products for your mudsill and sole plates. In certain building situations, the framing members used for the walls must also be treated.

Call H.W. Enterprises, Inc. for expert advice and planning for your next garage, barn, shell home or addition. We have buildings that are standing that are over 50 years old. Who else would you want to build for you? www.hwenterprisesinc.com or call us at 757-595-4562 office or 757-696-1927 cell. We would love to earn your business.

When you are thinking about a new garage, accessory building or light commercial storage building you don’t think about framing. You think about what you are going to put in the garage. You think about how large a garage you want. You think about what color siding and what type of shingles you want. You think about what type and how many windows you want in your garage. You think about what size garage doors and entry door you want to put in the garage, accessory building or light commercial building. What a homeowner does not think about or knowledge of is the framing of that garage. Most people do not know anything about how a building is built – how it is framed. That is understandable as most consumers do not have any framing experience. It is a gray area that the consumer has to step out in faith after interviewing a company. The consumer comes to a point where they believe that the building contractor knows what they are doing. There are ways to check on the integrity of the building contractor: the local BBB, the local principalities and today, on-line reviews. Oh, the wonder of the Internet!

Depending on what part of the country you live in dictates what local building and Zoning codes are necessary. Why does geography matter? Certain areas have shrink-swell problems with the soil. Certain parcels of land have drainage issues. Some properties have wind speeds that can affect the integrity of the garage. Certain areas have frost lines that are more significant than other areas. And, the topography of a parcel of land can greatly affect any building project. Property elevations affect the foundation of any new structure.

The International Code Council dictates which new construction building codes are applicable for certain building projects. A home has some different building code requirements than residential garages or accessory buildings have. There is risk when a homeowner elects to run a job. The local building inspectors and principalities provide support, but they can’t build the project for the consumer. An experienced building contractor should know all the building codes applicable to the garage, accessory building or habitable space.

Framing a garage is much like framing a home IF you have a building contractor who is dedicated to both his trade and willingly compliant with building codes. There are specific requirements as to how corners are framed. There are specific codes on how the wall are to be secured. Ladder framing for second story garages is also an important part of framing a two story garage. Openings in the walls, whether for a garage door, an entry door or window all have header support and that proper support affects how the walls are built.

Call H.W. ENTERPRISES, INC. or visit H.W. Enterprises for your building needs. H.W. Enterprises, Inc. has been building garages and shell homes for over 59years. What other building contractor could you want to put your faith in? Call 757-595-4562 for a free estimate or visit http://www.hwenterprisesinc.com. We would be honored to build the garage, accessory building or home for you.