What is a cripple in framing?

In carpentry, the term “cripple” refers to a special-purpose wall stud or roof rafter. A cripple stud is located above a door or window or below a window. A cripple rafter runs from hip to valley on a roof or is cut short to allow for an opening such as a chimney or skylight.

Why do they call it a cripple wall?

It's called a cripple wall because that section of the home is considered a “cripple zone” - in seismic events it was thought that homes should have an area that cripples/gives out so that the rest of the home would go undamaged.

What is cripple wall?

As shown in the figure, a cripple wall is a short wall that rests on the foundation and supports the floor and exterior walls. If the cripple wall is not braced, it can shift during an earthquake.

What is a cripple header?

Cripple Studs – short studs installed above a header or below a window sill or saddle. If the header is tall enough to reach the top plate no cripple studs are required.

What are cripple studs for?

While a jack stud is used to support the weight of the header, a cripple stud is cut to add additional framing above the door or window opening, and below a window.

Floor Framing Part 9: Blocking, Cripples, and Joist Hangers

How many cripple studs do I need?

How many jack studs for a 14 foot opening:– as per general rules and guidelines, for a 14 foot garage door or opening, generally you will need 3 jack studs (trimmer) and 3 king studs at both end.

What is the bottom 2x4 of a wall called?

A horizontal piece at the bottom of the wall is called the bottom plate. The studs are nailed to this plate, which is nailed to the floor. At the top of the wall is the top plate. Often a doubled 2x4, it anchors the top ends of the studs as well as ties the wall into the ceiling.

What is the maximum spacing for 2x4 studs?

In walls supporting only a roof and ceiling, 2x4 studs can be spaced up to 24 inches on-center, except for Utility grade (No. 3) studs.

Do all homes have cripple walls?

Almost all Bay Area houses built before 1940 (and many built more recently) have cripple walls. Cripple walls are the short wood stud walls that enclose a crawl space under the first floor. Non-retrofitted or "unbraced" cripple walls are known to be vulnerable to damage and even collapse in earthquakes.

How do you reinforce cripple walls?

To brace a cripple wall, add horizontal or diagonal blocking between the vertical studs at the top and bottom of the cripple wall. Plywood can also be anchored to the interior face of the cripple wall, as well as to the sill plate below the foundation to increase its strength. Effectiveness: Somewhat effective.

Do all raised foundations have cripple walls?

Cripple walls are typically found on dwellings built prior to 1960. Many newer dwellings utilize concrete perimeter walls to elevate or level the dwelling. These are not cripple walls. A dwelling built on a flat concrete slab without a crawl space beneath it will not have cripple walls.

How do I know if I have a cripple wall?

Go under the house through the crawl space, to see if there are any cripple walls. If there are cripple walls, check to see if they are braced. If you have neither of these, the cripple walls are probably insufficiently braced or unbraced. Horizontal or vertical wood siding is not strong enough to brace cripple walls.

What is the shorter stud next to the door called?

Studs cut short to fit below or above window and door openings are called cripples.

In which part of wood framing are the cripples used?

Cripples are vertical framing members that support a sill or saddle. They are installed at points where a common stud would have stood if not for the window opening. Cripples provide support for the window and the sill it rests on.

What are the pieces of wood between joists called?

Ledger – A piece of wood attached to a beam on which a joist rests. 18 - Lintel – The top piece over a door or windows which supports the walls above the opening. 19 - Load Bearing Wall – A strong wall capable of supporting weight.

What is the wood on top of foundation called?

On most homes, the sill plate is the first piece of wood in the entire house, and it essentially anchors the house to the foundation. You can see the sill plate from the inside of your house if you look along the top of the masonry walls in the basement or crawlspace.

How far apart are cripple studs?

Cripple studs are non-structural but provide a nailing base for siding or interior wall coverings. Spaced 16 or 24 inches on center, they carry the regular wall stud layout across the framed opening. Both cripple studs and cripple rafters are made from the same stock as other studs and rafters—they're just cut shorter.

How many studs can be under a beam?

Two king studs, one at each end; four jack studs, two at each end; one support beam; and peripherals, such as metal angles to tie beams in place, nails, and screws. The king stud represents the backing board for the ends of your beam.

Why is it called a jack stud?

The jack stud is sometimes called a trimmer stud. The term “jack” derives from mid–16th century England, where it referred to a lad, knave, or common man: Jack: (1) A man of the common people, a lad, fellow, chap, especially a low-bred or ill-mannered fellow, a knave.

What do shear walls do?

A shear wall is a general term for a wall that is designed and constructed to resist racking from forces such as wind using masonry, concrete, cold-formed steel, or wood framing. Shear walls significantly reduce the sway of a structure to reduce damage to the structure and its contents.

How do you reinforce raised foundation?