Framing that sets every other trade up to succeed

Framing in Everett, Cambridge and Somerville

Framing is the skeleton of a renovation. If walls are out of plumb, floors are out of level or an opening is a half inch off, every trade that follows inherits the problem: tile setters fight crooked walls, cabinet installers shim endlessly and doors never close quite right. Because we are also the crew that sets tile and installs trim, we frame with the finish in mind.

In the dense two- and three-family homes of Cambridge, Somerville and Everett, framing work is often about adapting old structure to modern living. That means removing or relocating walls, adding headers for wider openings, reinforcing floors under heavy tile or stone, and correcting sags left by a century of settling and past remodels.

For load-bearing changes we work from engineered sizing for beams and headers and coordinate with the building department. Temporary shoring keeps the house supported while openings are cut, and posts carry loads all the way down to proper bearing rather than ending on a floor that was never designed for them.

New construction framing includes small additions, dormers, porch enclosures, basement partition walls and attic conversions. We lay out stud and joist spacing for drywall and sheathing efficiency, add blocking for cabinets, grab bars, TVs and railings while the walls are open, and leave clean, labeled work for electricians and plumbers.

Subfloors deserve their own mention. A stiff, flat, well-fastened subfloor prevents squeaks and is the foundation for long-lasting tile and hardwood. We sister weak joists, add blocking and glue and screw new plywood before finishes go down, which is also critical in a basement renovation.