light-frame construction: Quick Facts

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House of simple wood-frame construction. The frame's most important elements are the studs (uprights to which sheathing, paneling, or laths are fastened), joists (small horizontal timbers that support a floor or ceiling), and rafters (parallel beams that support a roof). The frame is usually built from 2 in. × 4 in. (5 cm × 10 cm) pieces of lumber known in North America as “two-by-fours.” Heavier lumber is used for joists and other supporting timbers.

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