The Genius of 2x4 Framing

Stewart Hicks
3 HN recommenders · recommended in 2 months, 2022
YouTube
2.7M views · 4 years ago · explainer · evergreen

Architect Stewart Hicks explains why the 2x4 and light wood framing became the dominant way of building houses in North America. He covers the history behind balloon and platform framing and why the system works so well.

HN people recommend it as an architect's take on the 2x4 and balloon framing, alongside the argument that light wood framing is the hamburger of construction.

ArchitectureDesign history
#2x4#woodframing#balloonframing#construction#architecture

3 comments from Hacker News

w
@wardedVibe2022 · in “Balloon framing is worse-is-better (2021)”
A discussion of this and the 2x4 from an architect that I found interesting ▶ this video
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a
@adolph2022 · in “Balloon framing is worse-is-better (2021)”
This video is worth watching on the topic: The Genius of 2x4 Framing by Stewart Hicks It covers similar ground and has a thesis that “what allowed the hamburger to take over as the quintessential American cuisine and get exported everywhere are the same historical, cultural and economic confluences that contribute to the proliferation of the light wood frame for construction. . . . Light wood framing is the hamburger of the building industry” ▶ this video
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b
@bane2022 · in “The Genius of 2x4 Framing”
Submitted the video to Hacker News.
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