Optimum value engineering (OVE) sometime also called advanced house framing, refers to framing techniques designed to reduce the amount of lumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wooden framed houses. These techniques boost energy efficiency by replacing lumber with insulation material while maintaining the structural integrity of the home. Advanced framing improves the whole wall R-value by reducing thermal bridging through the framing and maximizing the insulated wall area. This is the thermal flow that occurs when materials that are poor insulators displace insulation.
Advanced framing techniques may include but not limited to:
Designing on two foot modules to make the best use of common sheet sizes and reduce waste and labour.
- Spacing wall studs up to 24 inches on center.
- Spacing floor joists and roof rafters up to 24 inches on center.
- Using two stud corner framing and inexpensive drywall clips or scrap lumber for drywall backing instead of studs.
- Eliminating headers in non-load-bearing walls.
- Using in-line framing in which floor, wall, and roof framing members are vertically in line with one another and loads are transferred directly downward.
- Using single lumber headers and top plates when appropriate.
This approach results in a structurally sound home with lower material and labour costs than a traditionally framed home. Optimum value engineering can be implemented individually or as a complete package. Fully implementing optimum value engineering can result in materials cost savings of up to 2% to 5%, labour cost savings of between 3% and 5%, and annual heating and cooling cost savings of up to 5%.
Check with local building officials early in the design process to ensure that optimum value engineering meet wind, seismic, and other codes in your area. Also, choose a contractor familiar with this approach. Otherwise, the framing carpenters’ learning process may slow down your job.
For Ontario contact Mayfair home to know more about the optimum value engineering or check Ontario building code and local zoning bylaws.
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