Framing Basics

When reviewing a quote or discussing your building design with a salesperson, you’ll often hear terms like “clear span”, “flush girts”, and “cable bracing”. Our goal with this page is to provide visual depictions and a brief description to help customer’s visualize their building or determine why certain feature were selected in their design.

Roof Shape

  • pre-engineered metal building gable frame

    Gable

    The most common type of metal building. Typically, lower pitches (1:12 & 2:12) are more economical while higher pitches (5:12 & 6:12) provide more architectural detail (and taller ceilings).

  • pre-engineered metal building single slope frame

    Single Slope

    Single slope buildings are often used in commercial storefronts and buildings going for a more modern look.

  • pre-engineered metal building custom frame

    Custom

    Clear span monitor barns and gambrel buildings are the two most common type of custom shapes, but the possibilities are nearly endless.

Primary Framing

  • Clear span pre-engineered metal building frame

    Clear Span

    Have the highest amount of usable interior space.

  • Pre-engineered metal building frame with interior columns

    Multi-Span

    The most economical cost per square foot for buildings over 80′ wide. Ideal design when interior columns will not impact building usage.

Secondary Framing

  • Zee shaped red iron roof purlin

    Roof Purlin

    Spans between frames and provide surface for mounting roof sheeting

  • Red iron roof eave strut

    Eave Strut

    Spans between frames and provides a surface for the wall sheeting to meet the roof sheeting on the sidewall of a building

  • Red iron zee wall girt

    Wall Girt

    Provide structural rigidity of the wall member. Cees are typically used for door openings and zees are used as standard wall members.

Girt Layout

  • Bypass wall girt configuration

    Bypass Girt

    Girts are attached to the outside of the wall columns. This is the most common layout because it provides additional strength to the girt.

  • Flush wall girt configuration

    Flush Girt

    Girts attach between the columns. Flush girts are often used in smaller buildings (<30 ft wide) where space is at a premium and buildings that require an interior build out like offices and barndominiums.

Base

  • Red iron metal building base angle

    Angle

    Angle is the most common way to connect the bottom of the sheeting to the building frame.

  • Red iron metal building base channel cee

    Channel

    Channel is used when interior panels will be installed on a building

Wind Bracing

  • Pre-engineered metal building system x bracing

    X Bracing

    The most economical method of bracing used to transfer loads such as wind, seismic and crane thrusts to the foundation. Cables, rods or angles may be used depending upon the design requirements.

  • Pre-engineered metal building system portal frame wind bent

    Portal Frame

    Cable bracing alternative on larger buildings when cable “X” bracing is not permitted. Often used when windows/doors are present in every sidewall bay.

  • Pre-engineered metal building system wind column

    Wind Columns

    Vertical members designed to withstand horizontal wind loads on smaller buildings when cable “X” bracing cannot be used. Often required when windows and/or doors are used in every sidewall bay. They require anchor bolts mounted in the foundation in order to work properly

Architectural Features

  • Pre-engineered metal building system interior wall studs

    Interior Studs

    This is a common method of building out the interior of a metal building for an office or barndominium.

  • Pre-engineered metal building system brick stone wainscot

    Brick/Stone Wainscoting

    A girt is provided midway up the wall to provide the partition between the sheeting and wainscoting. Studs are used to secure the wainscoting to the building.

  • Pre-engineered metal building system exterior wall stud

    Brick/Hardie/Wood Exterior Walls

    Sidewall is open with no girts and wood/steel studs are used to secure the exterior sheathing to the building.

  • Pre-engineered metal building system concrete tilt wall

    Concrete Tilt Wall

    Sidewall is open and no girts are provided for concrete tilt walls.