Fingeiioin{Hd traming gets thgmbs up from bbilders

ETINGERJOINTED framing lumber is gaining wide .l-' acceptance in building construction. Accepted for use under all model building codes, it is interchangeable with solid-sawn dimension lumber of the same size, grade and species.

According to manufacturer Stimson Lumber, Portland, Or.. the material makes efficient use of available wood resources and can be manufactured in long lengths. Because it is fabricated from dry material, it is dimensionally stable so it stays straight.

Stonecreek Building, Phoenix, Az., recently framed a 6,835 sq. ft. residence in Scottsdale with Stimson fingerjointed material. The five-year-old firm builds three to four homes per year in the $600,000 to $2.5 million range. Owner Joe Costello says that the framing crews were pleased with the straighter framing material which eliminated the need for sorting out bowed and twisted studs, a definite problem in Arizona's hot sun.

Tim Hiscocks, foreman for framing sub-contractor Bold Framing, explains: "The fingerjointed studs were much straighter than the kiln dried studs we normally use. We typically have to cut up 3OVo to 4OVo of the regular studs into blocking because of bowing or twisting. There was no waste with the Stimson fingerjointed lumber. Since we did not have to sort through the material, it took less time to frame the building. Working with the fingerjointed framing tumed out to be much easier."

Stonecreek used 2x6 fingerjointed studs for exterior walls and 2x4 fingerjointed studs for interior walls. Double 2x6 walls were used to create a dramatic design effect around windows on the project. 2x8 and 2xl0 fingerjointed material was also used for window and door headers.

Stimson mills in Forest Grove, Or., and Libby, Mt., produce fingerjointed framing 2x4 through 2x10. Vertical members are typically Standard & Better or Stud grade. Framing material is usually #2 & Better although other grades are available. Species classifications include FirLarch, Hem-Fir and Spruce-PineFir.

Because fingerjointed material is graded using the same rules applied to solid sawn dimension lumber, the design values for fingerjointed lumber are identical to those of conventional lumber.

There are two grades of fingerjointed lumber, with material identified as CERT EXT JNTS on the gradestamp suitable for all structural applications. This product is assembled with waterproof, exterior phenol-resorcinol adhesives cured with radio frequency heat. The adhesive meets the requirements of ASTM Product Standard D2559 and conforms to WWPA's Glued Products Procedures & they produce

Quality Control, CIQC l0I .97.

Samples are regularly selected from production for continuous quality control monitoring. The glued joints are subjected to cyclic delamination tests designed to simulate long-term end-use conditions for changes in moisture content. The samples are then subjected to bending and tension forces equal to or exceeding the published design values for solid sawn lumber.

Stimson fingerjointed lumber is graded under the National Grading Rule for Dimension Lumber (NGR) with additional stricter limitations on characteristics in the joint area. Section 1.70 of the AlSC-approv ed WW P A W e st e r n Lumber Grade Rules defines these limitations.

Fingerjointed framing is an engineered product requiring lllTth the energy needed to produce steel framing. Fingerjointed material not only improves on nature's work, it also makes better utilization of the wood fiber available, making it an environmentally friendly product.

Stonecreek Building owner Joe Costello was so impressed with the product, he'll use it for future jobsincluding framing his own home.