5 proven ways to optimize framing

3. Ladder Junction Tee Intersections

Advanced framing ladder junctions are used at wall intersections with 2x blocking at 24 inches o.c. vertical spacing (Figure 4). This method requires less than 6 feet of blocking material in a typical 8-foot-tall wall. In conventional walls, interior wall intersections include a stud at each side of the intersecting wall, which can require as much as 16 feet of stud lumber, plus additional blocking material. Blocking can also often be made up of lower-grade lumber or lumber scraps (cutoffs from plates or other framing), thus reducing waste and disposal costs.

FIGURE 4

The advanced framing ladder junction method, when used at junctions between interior and exterior walls, provides a cavity that can be easily insulated, versus conventional, three-stud interior wall intersections that may contain voids that are rarely insulated.

Wall intersections that feature a continuous drywall application minimize air infiltration by reducing the amount of joints in the drywall.

Drywall clips can be used in place of ladder blocking. Drywall is not fastened to the clips; it is held against the clips by the installation of drywall to the adjacent wall. In all cases, it is recommended to install at least one ladder block at the mid-height of the wall to restrain the adjacent stud in a straight plain.