Wall framing system using prefabricated panels

Claim 1

The method of fabricating a frame building comprising: a. forming a floor structure; b. fabricating window and door panels of desired sizes and apertured to receive respectively window and door assemblies; c. fabricating a plurality of wall panels free of window and door openings and of substantially uniform dimension; d. marking the floor to provide locating lines for walls and locating marks for windows and doors; and, e. positioning panels along said lines and securing the panels in place in aligned and abutting relationship, selected ones of the wall panels being positioned after cutting to lengths appropriate to permit positioning of the door and window panels at desired locations.

Claim 2

The method of fabricating a frame building comprising: a. forming a floor structure; b. fabricating window and door panels of desired sizes and apertured to receive respectively window and door assemblies; c. fabricating a plurality of wall panels free of window and door openings and of substantially uniform dimension; d. marking the floor to provide locating lines for walls and locating marks for windows and doors; and, e. positioning panels along said lines and securing the panels in place in aligned and abutting relationship, selected ones of the wall panels being positioned after cutting to lengths appropriate to permit positioning of the door and window panels at desired locations.

Claim 3

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure by using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating wall, window and door panel sections; b. positioning the window sectiOns and door sections in predetermined locations on an existing sub-floor structure; c. securing the positioned window sections and door sections to the sub-floor structure; and, d. framing the wall regions between the window sections and door sections by using said wall sections and cut-off portions thereof as required, and minimizing wall section waste by constructing wall regions on one side of said door and window sections, from such wall section portion as may have been cut off the wall panel section on the other side of the respective door and window sections.

Claim 4

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure by using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating wall, window and door panel sections; b. positioning the window sectiOns and door sections in predetermined locations on an existing sub-floor structure; c. securing the positioned window sections and door sections to the sub-floor structure; and, d. framing the wall regions between the window sections and door sections by using said wall sections and cut-off portions thereof as required, and minimizing wall section waste by constructing wall regions on one side of said door and window sections, from such wall section portion as may have been cut off the wall panel section on the other side of the respective door and window sections.

Claim 8

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three types of panel sections including: i. wall panels each being of substantially the same height and of repetitive widths and including a wall panel top plate, a wall panel bottom plate, a plurality of spaced wall panel studs extending between said plates and connected thereto at opposite ends of said wall panel studs, and wall panel sheathing secured to said wall panel plates and said wall panel studs; ii. window panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the window structure to be supported in each particular window panel, said window panels each including a pair of spaced window panel studs defining the width of the window panel, a window panel framework interposed between and connected to said window panel studs defining a window opening therein adapted to receive a window structure of predetermined size, a window panel top plate and a window panel bottom plate, said window panel plates being connected to said window panel framework; and, iii. door panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the door structure to be supported in each particular door panel, said door panels each including a pair of spaced door panel studs defining the width of the door panel, a door panel framework interposed between and connected to said door panel studs defining a door opening therein adapted to receive a door structure of predetermined size, and a door panel top plate connected to said door panel framework; b. erecting a sub-floor structure having planar, upwardly facing surface portions adapted to receive and support exterior walls thereon; and, c. erecting said panel sections to form exterior walls comprising the steps of: i. positioning said door panels anD said window panels in their proper predetermined positions on said sub-floor surface portions and securing said door and window panels to said sub-floor surface portions; ii. framing the exterior wall regions between said door and window panels with said wall panels.

Claim 9

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three types of panel sections including: i. wall panels each being of substantially the same height and of repetitive widths and including a wall panel top plate, a wall panel bottom plate, a plurality of spaced wall panel studs extending between said plates and connected thereto at opposite ends of said wall panel studs, and wall panel sheathing secured to said wall panel plates and said wall panel studs; ii. window panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the window structure to be supported in each particular window panel, said window panels each including a pair of spaced window panel studs defining the width of the window panel, a window panel framework interposed between and connected to said window panel studs defining a window opening therein adapted to receive a window structure of predetermined size, a window panel top plate and a window panel bottom plate, said window panel plates being connected to said window panel framework; and, iii. door panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the door structure to be supported in each particular door panel, said door panels each including a pair of spaced door panel studs defining the width of the door panel, a door panel framework interposed between and connected to said door panel studs defining a door opening therein adapted to receive a door structure of predetermined size, and a door panel top plate connected to said door panel framework; b. erecting a sub-floor structure having planar, upwardly facing surface portions adapted to receive and support exterior walls thereon; and, c. erecting said panel sections to form exterior walls comprising the steps of: i. positioning said door panels anD said window panels in their proper predetermined positions on said sub-floor surface portions and securing said door and window panels to said sub-floor surface portions; ii. framing the exterior wall regions between said door and window panels with said wall panels.

Claim 12

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three basic types of panel sections adapted to be secured together in side-by-side relationship to form exterior walls of uniform height, the panel sections including: i. a plurality of dimensionally identical wall sections each having a top plate, a bottom plate, spaced studs extending between and secured to the plates, and sheathing secured to one side of the stud and plate assemblage; ii. a plurality of window sections each having a framework defining an opening of such size as will receive a window structure of predetermined size; iii. a plurality of door sections each having a framework defining an opening of such size as will receive a door structure of predetermined size; b. erecting the panel sections on an existing subfloor structure in accordance with a predetermined plan defining the position of the various door and window sections, the erection procedure including the steps of positioning said door sections and said window sections in their predetermined positions and securing these sections to the sub-floor structure; and, c. framing the wall regions between said door and window sections with said wall sections and minimizing the wall section waste by constructing the wall region in part with cut wall section portions.

Claim 13

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three basic types of panel sections adapted to be secured together in side-by-side relationship to form exterior walls of uniform height, the panel sections including: i. a plurality of dimensionally identical wall sections each having a top plate, a bottom plate, spaced studs extending between and secured to the plates, and sheathing secured to one side of the stud and plate assemblage; ii. a plurality of window sections each having a framework defining an opening of such size as will receive a window structure of predetermined size; iii. a plurality of door sections each having a framework defining an opening of such size as will receive a door structure of predetermined size; b. erecting the panel sections on an existing subfloor structure in accordance with a predetermined plan defining the position of the various door and window sections, the erection procedure including the steps of positioning said door sections and said window sections in their predetermined positions and securing these sections to the sub-floor structure; and, c. framing the wall regions between said door and window sections with said wall sections and minimizing the wall section waste by constructing the wall region in part with cut wall section portions.

Claim 16

A method of framing the walls of a building structure from prefabricated wall panel sections comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating a series of window panels and door panels each having a framework defining an opening adapted to receive window structures and door structures, respectively, of predetermined sizes, the width of said window panels and said door panels not substantially exceeding the width of the framed openings therein; b. prefabricating a plurality of substantially dimensionally identical wall panels each having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of spaced studs extending between and connected to said plates; c. securing the door and window panels in place on a flooring Deck; and, d. framing the remaining wall regions by installing wall panels one at a time, cutting each wall panel for length as required, and minimizing wall panel waste by continuing the framing operation, where practicable, by installing previously cut-off wall panel portions.

Claim 17

A method of framing the walls of a building structure from prefabricated wall panel sections comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating a series of window panels and door panels each having a framework defining an opening adapted to receive window structures and door structures, respectively, of predetermined sizes, the width of said window panels and said door panels not substantially exceeding the width of the framed openings therein; b. prefabricating a plurality of substantially dimensionally identical wall panels each having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of spaced studs extending between and connected to said plates; c. securing the door and window panels in place on a flooring Deck; and, d. framing the remaining wall regions by installing wall panels one at a time, cutting each wall panel for length as required, and minimizing wall panel waste by continuing the framing operation, where practicable, by installing previously cut-off wall panel portions.

Claim 18

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three types of panel sections including: i. wall panels each being of substantially the same height and of repetitive widths and including a wall panel top plate, a wall panel bottom plate, a plurality of spaced wall panel studs extending between said plates and connected thereto at opposite ends of said wall panel studs, and wall panel sheathing secured to said wall panel plates and said wall panel studs; ii. Window panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the window structure to be supported in each particular window panel, said window panels each including a pair of spaced window panel studs defining the width of the window panel, a window panel framework interposed between and connected to said window panel studs defining a window opening therein adpated to receive a window structure of predetermined size, a window panel top plate and a window panel bottom plate, said window panel plates being connected to said window panel framework; and, iii. door panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the door structure to be supported in each particular door panel, said door panels each including a pair of spaced door panel studs defining the width of the door panel, a door panel framework interposed between and connected to said door panel studs defining a door opening therein adapted to receive a door structure of predetermined size, and a door panel top plate connected to said door panel framework; b. erecting a sub-floor structure having planar upwardly facing surfacing portions adapted to receive and support exterior walls thereon; and, c. erecting said panel sections to form exterior walls comprising the steps of: i. positioning said door panels and said window panels in their proper predetermined positions on said sub-floor surface portions and securing said door and window panels to said sub-floor surface portions; ii. framing the exterior wall regions between said door and window panels with said wall panels and minimizing the waste wall panel material by forming the wall region on one side of the door and window panels from the material which was cut off a wall panel to frame the other side of the respective door and window panels.

Claim 19

A method of framing the exterior walls of a building structure using preformed panel sections, comprising the steps of: a. prefabricating three types of panel sections including: i. wall panels each being of substantially the same height and of repetitive widths and including a wall panel top plate, a wall panel bottom plate, a plurality of spaced wall panel studs extending between said plates and connected thereto at opposite ends of said wall panel studs, and wall panel sheathing secured to said wall panel plates and said wall panel studs; ii. Window panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the window structure to be supported in each particular window panel, said window panels each including a pair of spaced window panel studs defining the width of the window panel, a window panel framework interposed between and connected to said window panel studs defining a window opening therein adpated to receive a window structure of predetermined size, a window panel top plate and a window panel bottom plate, said window panel plates being connected to said window panel framework; and, iii. door panels each being of substantially the same height and of a width determined in accordance with the width of the door structure to be supported in each particular door panel, said door panels each including a pair of spaced door panel studs defining the width of the door panel, a door panel framework interposed between and connected to said door panel studs defining a door opening therein adapted to receive a door structure of predetermined size, and a door panel top plate connected to said door panel framework; b. erecting a sub-floor structure having planar upwardly facing surfacing portions adapted to receive and support exterior walls thereon; and, c. erecting said panel sections to form exterior walls comprising the steps of: i. positioning said door panels and said window panels in their proper predetermined positions on said sub-floor surface portions and securing said door and window panels to said sub-floor surface portions; ii. framing the exterior wall regions between said door and window panels with said wall panels and minimizing the waste wall panel material by forming the wall region on one side of the door and window panels from the material which was cut off a wall panel to frame the other side of the respective door and window panels.