How do I handle framing in Buildxact?

Learn how to do framing in Buildxact.

Matt Govett avatar
Written by Matt Govett
Updated over a week ago

Framing is one of those things that can be done a couple of different ways in Buildxact. The way you choose to do it depends how much detail you want.

Option 1: A basic lineal meter/foot rate for frame and measure around all the walls

Option 2: Broken down into the parts of the frame.

This article covers both, in both metric and imperial units.


Metric

Option 1 - LM Rate

This is the quickest and easiest way and is good if:

  • you're contracting out the framing to someone who works off a simple LM rate.

  • you're working with prefab/prebuilt frame.

  • you know roughly what the frame is worth per LM and just want to get a dollar allowance for the whole frame.

To do this, simply have a single line in your estimate (as shown below). It's up to you if you want to have that line include labor or have a separate line for labor.

Option 2 - Broken down

There is more than one way to do this, however we use the method below when demonstrating. You can change the way you do this to suit your needs.

This method requires three lines in your estimate, two are recipes and one is not.

Note that most people will either save these recipes and use them each time or save them all in their estimate templates.

  1. Covers the main frame.

  2. Used for junction studs and jamb studs.

  3. Used where we need an additional top plate.

Now we can go through each recipe, starting with the frame.

1. In point 1 on the image above there is some calculation behind the quantity. In the same way that you would measure a wall of 150LM and divide by the spacing of the studs we need to tell Buildxact how many studs fit in 1LM of wall. 

In this example the math we did was for studs at 450mm centers

            Length of wall                    1 LM
            -------------------------   =      ------------    =  2.2222 stud/LM
            Spacing of Studs             .450 LM 

            However you may have 600mm centres

             Length of wall                    1 LM
            -------------------------   =      ------------    =  1.667 stud/LM
            Spacing of Studs             .600 LM 

Next, the junctions/jambs

2. The thinking in point 2 is that a junction will have three studs but we only need to allow for two extra. See image below.

The reason this recipe is called "Junctions/Jambs" is to allow you to also click on a window which will add two extra studs, which will be the jamb studs.

Note on studs:

In all the examples above we're adding studs as number of studs. It is also perfectly fine to do studs as LM. The maths in the framing recipe would then become

            Length of wall                                          
            -------------------------    x Stud Height  
           Spacing of Studs                   

          EG: 450 centres with 2.7m studs 

            Length of wall                                          1 LM
            ------------------------- x Stud Height  =      ------------   x 2.7 LM =  6LM/LM of wall
            Spacing of Studs                                  .450 LM


More info on recipes can be found here:

  • INTRO: See the video below

  • ADVANCED: Click the button below


Imperial

Option 1 - LF Rate

This is the quicker and easier way and is good if:

  • you're contracting out the framing to someone who works off a simple LF rate

  • you're working with prefab frame

  • you know roughly what frame is worth per LF and just want to get a dollar allowance for the whole frame

To do this one you'd simply have a single line in your estimate as shown below, up to you if you want to have that line including labour or have a separate line for labour.

Option 2 - Broken down

Although there is more than one way to do this, when demonstrating this we stick to the single method as below, obviously change it as you need.

This method requires 3 lines in your estimate, 2 are recipes and 1 is not. Note that most people will either save these recipes and grab them every time or save the whole lot in their estimate templates

In the image above:

  1. Will cover the main frame

  2. Will be used for junction studs and jamb studs

  3. Will be used where we need an additional top plate
    Now lets go through each recipe, first the frame

  1. In point 1 on the image above there is some calculation behind the quantity. In the same way that you would measure a wall of 50ft and divide by the spacing of the studs we need to tell Buildxact how many studs fit in 1LF of wall. 

In this example the maths we did was for studs 1' on centre

            Length of wall                  1'
            -------------------------   =      -----    =  1 stud/LF
            Spacing of Studs             1'


            However you may have 16" on centre which we will have as 1.333'

            Length of wall                  1'
            -------------------------   =     --------    =  .75 stud/LF
            Spacing of Studs           1.333'


Then the junctions

2. The thinking in point 2 is that a junction will have 3 studs but we only need to allow for 2 extra. See image below.

The reason this recipe is called "Junctions/Jambs" is to allow you to also click on a window which will add two extra studs, which will be the jamb studs.

Note on studs: In all the examples above we're adding studs as number of studs. It is also perfectly fine to do studs as LF. The maths in the framing recipe would then become:

            Length of wall                                
            -------------------------  x Stud Height  
            Spacing of Studs                            

     EG: 16" on centre with 9' studs would be

            Length of wall                                             1'
            -------------------------  x Stud Height   =      -------    x 9'  =  6.75'/LF of wall
            Spacing of Studs                                    1.333'


More info on recipes

More info on recipes can be found here

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