Stick Built vs. Precut Wall Framing for New Home Construction: A comparison of framing labor hours, waste hauls, and purchase orders

Due to many trends in the construction industry (material cost increase, labor shortages, supply chain issues, pandemic, market demand outpacing supply), the homebuilding industry is looking for alternative ways to frame homes. In response to the National Housing Endowment (NHE) Request for Proposal, the researchers reviewed the literature on the housing market's current state regarding the scale and scope of the skilled construction framers shortage and the current market share of single-family framing method; stick-built vs. precut framing packages. Working with industry partners, the team analyzed time studies for multiple new home builds. It was found that precut wall framing systems save labor hours and reduce cycle times vs. stick-built framing for building homes. But due to the framing labor shortages in many markets and how homebuilders purchase framing labor ($ per sf), homebuilders struggle to see cost savings due to the increased framing efficiencies, so they are hesitant to make the switch. Due to the varying regional cost of materials, labor, and logistics, a home builder needs to fully explore the total cost of ownership for their market to switch from stick-built to a precut framing construction system.