There are some differences and some similarities in framing a single-story home and a two-story house. In a single-story dwelling you obviously don't have to worry about a floor over your head, so engineering and structural things may not be the same as what you'll need to support a second story.In a second floor, you have to build it with larger lumber to support the second floor (figure A). In addition to larger lumber, you'll need several items that give your home more support when framing for the second floor.
"All houses are engineered structurally, and on a single-floor home, you wouldn't have nearly as much structure as you have on a multi-level dwelling. There will be a lot more anchors, straps, tie-downs and beam work," Jerry Miller, a carpenter, said.While first-floor supports are needed to account for the additional weight of a second floor, the walls are pretty much the same as those of a single-story home. What this means is that your first-story ceiling joists will also serve as the floor joists for the second story (figure B). This will carry through to each subsequent story, no matter how many you might have in your home.
Stairs Add New ChallengesAlso, if you have two stories in your home, you'll need a way to move between them. That means adding stairs -- and new set of challenges to the framing process. The challenges are to make sure that all flooring materials are considered because by the time all the framing and finished materials are on the stairs, you can't have a variance of more than 3/8ths from top to bottom of each riser (figure C), which is a critical issue. Most building inspectors are very particular about this.
Crafting stairs for your second-story home is a perfect example of why we keep emphasizing "precision" when it comes to framing a home. And since stairs are a necessity for a multi-story home, you'll want to hire a sub-contractor who specializes in stairs for your home.
Construction Advice: The codes for residential stairs can vary widely from city to city -- everything from the height, width and depth of the individual steps as well as the size of your landing and handrails must follow certain guidelines. Failing to meet these requirements will cause delays in your construction. Avoid this common headache by making sure that your builder and stair sub-contractor check out the stair codes for your area -- and incorporate them into their work.
In the next segment you'll find out about the top part of your house frame -- the roof.
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