The walls of a building define the spaces withing the building to provide privacy and zoning, and they enclose the building itself, keeping the weather out and the heat or cold in. Walls provide the vertical structure that supports the upper floors and roof of the building, and the lateral structure that stiffens the building. Walls also encase the mechanical systems (electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating. To incorporate all of this within a 4-in. or 6-n. deep wood-framed panel is quite an achievement.
In this excerpt from Graphic Guide to Frame Construction, author Rob Thallon provides a visual guide to the information you'll need for constructing headers, window and door openings, wall intersections, corners, rake and cantilevered walls, along with insulation details.
