Component Framing vs. Stick Framing: Results From the SBCA Side-by-Side Study

In 2015, the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) framed two identical 2,900 square foot ranch-style homes with walk-out basements side by side. One was stick-built. The other used trusses and wall panels. The 45-second reel above walks through the results of the Framing the American Dream field study.

The Numbers

• Labor: 375.5 man-hours stick-framed vs. 152.1 man-hours with components. That is 2.5x faster to frame.
• Material: 20,643 board feet of lumber and engineered wood products stick-framed vs. 15,052 board feet with components. That is 25% less wood product.
• Jobsite waste: 15 cubic yards stick-framed vs. 0.5 cubic yards with components. That is 30x less jobsite waste.

Every figure comes from the SBCA study. Frame Forward Systems™ brings that same component-built approach to every project, with wall panels, trusses, and floor systems built offsite for precision and delivered ready to install.

Read the full study: SBCA, Framing the American Dream (2015).

Video Transcript

This video has no spoken audio. The transcript below is the on-screen text, in order.

Framing the American Dream · SBCA Field Study

Same house. Two ways to frame it. Two identical 2,900 sq ft ranch homes, framed side by side. One stick-built, one with trusses and wall panels. Source: SBCA, Framing the American Dream (2015), sbcacomponents.com/fad.

01 · Labor: Framing Man-Hours

Stick-framed: 375.5 hrs. Components: 152.1 hrs. 2.5x faster to frame with components.

02 · Material: Lumber + EWP Used

Stick-framed: 20,643 bd ft. Components: 15,052 bd ft. 25% less wood product.

03 · Jobsite Waste: What Went in the Dumpster

Stick-framed: 15 cu yd. Components: 0.5 cu yd. 30x less jobsite waste.

Closing

Frame Forward Systems™, a brand by UFP Site Built. Offsite precision, onsite execution. There is always a better way. frameforwardsystems.com. Source: SBCA, Framing the American Dream (2015). Two 2,900 sq ft homes framed side by side.