Difference between carpenter and framer

Wildie · 09-18-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterw

About $20

I thought it was about 1/8 of an inch!

framerman · 09-19-2009, 08:06 PM

Good Lord, I need to straighten this thread out. I consider myself in the highest regard a framer. Not a rough framer, but a framer. 1/16" accuracy. I do not sit around and do just framing, it's just what I prefer to do (or had preferred, getting a little sore in the knees) I have been doing custom carpentry for the last few years and my tolerances are 32nds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin Gardens

Don't let a framer do any finish work. Their idea of a finish nail is a 12d and a trim piece is a 2x2.

This is absolutely one of the most presumptuous statements I have ever heard. In every trade, there are going to be hacks. If you hire Bob, with a few teeth missing, wearing last weeks shirt, rolling up in a Pinto, and cutting with a 12 tooth general purpose blade on a worm drive, then you get exactly what you pay for, whether a framer or a carpenter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluefitness

Thanks for the comments. I have one more question. I noticed that different terminology is used for framing. For example with the header assembly, I have heard the supporting studs called jacks and trimmers. The adjacent stud is referred to as king or common stud. Does it just depend on the person you are speaking to? What is the proper terminology, or is there no difference?

There are regional differences. It's a king stud yes, but it's also simply a stud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin Gardens

Exactly.

Framers do a great job at putting up a building.

I look at a carpenter as an all around woodworker who can do a lot of different kinds of wood work especially in remodeling. Framers get lost when they have to tear apart something and alter a wall to put in a door or window and then replace the siding in the new opening.

Well, I thank you for that first comment, but I don't agree one bit with your last comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promontoryrider

A carpenter hand nails while framing to have the control offered by hand nailing the lumber and will use finishing nailers for trim. The framer will use a nail gun to frame and hand nail the trim!

I don't know if I dare make a comment about that. That's just ridiculous and untrue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterw

About $20

Now we have a winner!

II Weeks · 09-25-2009, 09:45 PM

I do all types of home remodeling and theres a huge difference between carpenters like me and framers. I have a lot of respect for those guys and what they do. They make framing look easy and its not.

NailedIt · 11-29-2009, 10:29 PM

I wish I'd have gotten in on this thread while it was still active... Anyway, I am a framer when I'm subcontracting rough framing from a builder or contractor, I'm a remodeler when I'm remodeling, and I'm a carpenter when I'm working with trim/finish work. I don't consider "framer" a derogatory title, but it IS used that way sometimes. There are lots of "production framers", mostly toothless wretches that you'd find drinking beer in the porta-johns all over the country, they mostly can't cut conventional roofs, build acceptable stairs, or solve any problem they encounter without wasting a truckload of material. I specialize in framing new construction, window and door replacement, structural repairs, remodeling etc... I do stucco demo and repair, rot repair, whatever else somebody believes I can do and approaches me with that I believe I can do, I do that. Sometimes I do part of it and hire someone else who specializes in the aspect of the job I don't know. That's how things get done most of the time. I work with engineers, building officials, contractors, builders, homeowners, realtors, vendors, etc... What does that make me? I'm a _______ . I don't know. I build multiple pitch roofs from scratch, then next job replace 200 windows/sliding glass doors, then install interior trim, then back to framing a 3-story Comfort Inn... What am I?

You guys leave out the woodworkers that build furniture with knives and chisels, they're carpenters too, eh? I get bent out of shape when my wife tells her friends I'm a construction worker...

Wildie · 11-30-2009, 11:08 AM

I'm a retired electrician! I did build my own house when I was younger and the most enjoyable part of doing this was the framing!
I formed up the footings for this house! I laid the concrete blocks for the basement! I framed and sheeted the structure. I shingled the roof! I finished the interior.
An as an electrician, I installed the electrical. (plumbing also)!
Having done this, I think that my true calling was to be a 'framer'. Its probably the most challenging and satisfying of the trades.
Me thinks, that if I were to live life over, I would be a framing carpenter!

cellophane · 11-30-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARI001

To OP:
Cripple: A stud that does not extend all the way from the the bottom plate to the top plate, due to an opening in the wall.
Header: A horizontal member carrying loads from other members and directing the loads around an opening.
Jack/ Trimmer stud: A short beam or stud that supports the header over a opening to transfer structural loads from header top bottom plate. Terminology is interchangeable and somewhat geographical in nature.
King stud: Full length stud on either side of opening.
Stud: A vertical framing member. Conventional construction commonly uses 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 spaced 16" or 24" O.C.
Plate: A horizontal framing member used to tie together interior and exterior wall framing. The width of the plate corresponds to the thickness of the wall. Typically each wall has three plates: a bottom (may be called a sole plate or sill plate) and two top plates.
I think the definition of a carpenter and the various aspects of what they do has been fairly well covered and as this thread is nearly a year old this is probably a useless post.

http://www.architectionary.com/DoorFraming

that has a nice illustration showing all the different framing pieces, other than a sill plate.

Kevin M. · 11-30-2009, 08:57 PM

HMMM!

At one time, many moons ago, men who built structures out of wood were referred to as carpenters. You would frame, install sheet rock, install doors, trim, cabinets roof and even paint. Apparently the building culture advanced to a place where a specific function is designated and designed to offer a more repetitious endeavor resulting in more productivity, which is important in our greedy go for gain culture.

A real carpenter can frame and finish and even more. OK, doesn't make sense in the bottom line culture we live in, but who really cares about that anyway. A carpenter builds because it is in his blood.

My 2 cents.

carpenter377 · 12-26-2009, 02:48 AM

check with your local building trades local and get a qualified carpenter for your project.Union Carpenter are highly skilled and trained people who do the job right .

Ron6519 · 12-26-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluefitness

What is the difference between the two? Do framers just construct housing (install walls, trusses, etc)? Are all framers considered carpenters? I need to replace a header and I'm not sure of the correct terminology.

You can do a search for header terminology and get all the answers yuo need, with pictures.
I don't understand the need to know who does what if you're doing it yourself. If your as inexperienced as your posts suggests and are about to consider structural changes in a wall, you will not get anywhere the total knowlege you need from a web site. It's a lot more then being familiar with the proper terms.
To do this safely, you need onsite guidance.
Ron

framerman · 12-26-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpenter377

check with your local building trades local and get a qualified carpenter for your project.Union Carpenter are highly skilled and trained people who do the job right .

Unions have zero to do with finding qualified carpenters. Qualified carpenters are best found from referral, whether union or not.