Wood Light-Frame

ConstructionII
(Exterior Wall finishes, sidings etc.)
As the European settlers colonized America and built on the new land, they tried to re-create
the ambience and spirit of their original countries. Early American buildings and construction
systems were, therefore, derived mainly from European practices. Wood light-frame
construction, on the other hand, was invented in the United States and is uniquely American.
The WLF system has evolved over nearly two centuries and has adapted marvelously to several
technical innovations in buildings, such as insulation, electricity, piped water supply, and sewage
disposal. The systems adaptability and the ease with which it could be used led to its success
and popularity. So successful has the system been that it is now the dominant system for
contemporary residential and light commercial construction in the United States and several
other countries.
Wood light frame construction WLF can be sub divided
into:
Exterior wall finishes in a WLF Building
Horizontal sidings
Vertical sidings
Finishing the eaves, rakes, and ridge
Fire-resistance ratings of WLF assemblies
 EXTERIOR WALL FINISHES IN A WLF
BUILDING
Various exterior wall finishes can be applied to a WLF building. the more commonly used finishes
are
Horizontal siding
Vertical siding (diagonal siding, used occasionally)
Shingles
Masonry veneer
Portland cement stucco
Exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS),
Commonly used finishes on WLF exterior walls.
also called synthetic stucco
 HORIZONTAL SIDINGS
Horizontal siding, a commonly used exterior wall finish in WLF buildings, consists of long
overlapping strips of material nailed to the studs. Some siding manufacturers also allow their
siding to be nailed to a nailable wall sheathing such as OSB or plywood. Because the siding
strips overlap, they shed water, and the horizontal lines on the facade are accentuated under
direct sunlight. Commonly used materials for horizontal siding are.
HORIZONTAL SIDINGS cntd
Wood
Plywood
Hardboard
Fiber-cement
Vinyl
Metal (aluminum and steel are common)
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HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING PROFILES

Wood siding is available in various profiles and

several widths (from 6 in. to 12 in. nominal) and in a
thickness that generally increases with the width of
the siding, Lengths of up to 16 ft. are common.
A few of the several horizontal wood siding profiles.
 HORIZONTAL SIDINGS cntd

BEVELED WOOD SIDING

The cross section of a piece of beveled wood

siding (also called clapboard ) is tapered, so that
one end is thicker than the other. It is generally
made by sawing a rectangular piece of lumber
into two pieces. Typical siding widths range from
6 in. to 10 in. Typical section at the foundation level of a wall with beveled wood siding as
exterior wall finish.
HORIZONTAL SIDINGS cntd
HORIZONTAL SIDING WITH DRAINAGE
LAYER

A method of applying horizontal siding with an air

space between the siding and the sheathing. This space
is created by nailing 38mm wide and almost 13mm
thick. vertical wood or plywood strips over the studs.

Horizontal wood siding with a drainage layer behind it.

HORIZONTAL SIDINGS cntd
PLYWOOD AND HARDBOARD SIDINGS

Plywood siding is more commonly used as vertical siding panels , but strips of plywood for use
as horizontal siding are available. Plywood siding strips are available as smooth-face veneers or
rough-sawn face veneers to mimic rough-sawn lumber.
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FIBER-CEMENT SIDING

Fiber-cement siding is made from Portland cement, sand, and wood fibers. It is
noncombustible

and is not prone to decay like wood, plywood, or hardboard.

VERTICAL SIDINGS
Wood boards can be used as vertical siding.
The most commonly used vertical siding, however, is either plywood or hardboard panels.
The panels are available in 4-ft width and heights of either 8 ft. or 9 ft.
The panels can be used either over wall sheathing or directly over the studs.
If they are used directly over the studs, the span rating of siding panels should not be exceeded.
Several vertical plywood or hardboard siding varieties have vertical grooves to mimic wood
siding boards.
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Vertical plywood or hardboard siding details.

FINISHING THE EAVES, RAKES, AND RIDGE.

The eave is the horizontal edge of the low side of a sloping roof.

A hip roof has eaves on all four sides.

A gable roof has eaves on two opposite sides. The sloping sides of a gable roof are referred to
as rakes.

The eave may be almost flush with the underlying wall or project over it.
FINISHING THE EAVES, RAKES, AND RIDGE. cntd

Details of wide and narrow eave projections.