When you use traditional framing, what can you do to increase durability, beauty and strength? In this video, Matt Risinger, master builder, takes us to a super well-built house using traditional methods and materials. Beginning with durability, we see that there are recessed windows throughout, providing a very thick wall feeling. When you build recessed windows with traditional materials and wood framing you need to be really cautious. Wood is moisture sensitive and recessed windows require waterproofing details. In this house, we use Poly-Walls Alumina Flash Plus so that we can wrap that all the way into the opening and use their detail sealant, called blue barrier 2200. The outside recessed windows look super waterproof. Durability also takes in the beautiful deep overhangs on this house, gorgeous rafter tails some Doug Fir used outside that really gives us that sense of durability of and long-term traditional looks. The house is framed with traditional lumber, SPF on 16-inch centers and on the outside walls we have double-thick walls. The outside outer wall is a 2x6 wall and we framed a 2x4 on the inside . There are some steel headers, some LVL and some traditional. I like using LVLs and also timber strand headers. In this case, we chose LDLs and used traditional sheathing. We use CDX sheathing that's a half-inch thick plywood and then there is two feet of pressure-treated plywood on the outside. This house can actually absorb quite a bit of water and release it and absorb it over time. Using real wood from a tree, it has the ability to soak up moisture just as a tree would and bring that moisture all the way up the 2x4. A traditional framed house is capable of absorbing between 50 and 75 gallons of water, a huge buffer capacity. In warm climates, the vapor barrier is on the outside we're drying to the inside 9 to 11 months of the year with the air conditioner. In cold climates you don't want a zero-perm vapor barrier, but a vapor permeable one such as Delta Vent SA on the outside," which is 50 perms. Safety is another topic. This product is going to make a temporary safety rail on any balcony area or staircases. Bolt the plastic down to the framing and drop two 2 x 4s and then we nail or screw on a safety rail. It is very strong and reusable. Floor truss systems are also important. Switching to a man-made product should be a consideration. It is very strong and straight and open.