Hours vary Inglewood (424) 385-4384
Atomic Renovations
Wood & Metal Framing

Inglewood Local

Wood & Metal Framing

Structural framing for remodels, ADU builds, and full gut-outs handled under one contractor.

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Wood and Metal Framing That Holds

Wood and metal framing is the structural skeleton of every renovation worth doing. Get it wrong and every finish that follows is sitting on a bad foundation: doors that won't close, drywall that cracks, walls that shift. We frame with both dimensional lumber and light-gauge steel studs, selecting the right material based on load requirements, the existing structure, and what the permit set specifies. If you're planning a remodel, an ADU build, or a gut-out that requires structural reconfiguration, contact Atomic Renovations before you start demo.

The scope of a framing job drives the cost more than the material does. A simple non-load-bearing partition wall is a straightforward afternoon. Re-framing a load-bearing wall after removing a header, sistering joists on a floor with bounce, or framing a full garage conversion to meet Title 24 envelope requirements is a different category of work entirely. Stud spacing, header sizing, blocking placement, and fire-stop requirements are all code items that vary by jurisdiction across LA County. What drives cost up: structural complexity, permit scope, access constraints, and whether existing framing has moisture or termite damage that needs to be corrected before new work goes in. Every job is different, contact Atomic Renovations for an accurate estimate.

Wood vs. Metal Framing: What Actually Decides It What Actually Decides It

The material choice follows the structural requirement, not personal preference.

Dimensional lumber is still the standard for most residential wall and roof framing in California. It's easy to modify in the field, holds fasteners well, and integrates with existing wood-framed structures without transition details. Metal stud framing dominates in commercial work and shows up in residential remodels where moisture exposure is a concern, where spans require it, or where an architect has specified light-gauge steel for fire-rating purposes. We carry experience with both systems. On a garage conversion, for example, we'll often use wood framing for the exterior walls to match the existing structure, and metal studs for interior partition walls where precision and straightness matter most. The decision isn't ideological. It follows the drawings, the load path, and the inspector's expectations for that jurisdiction.
correct stud spacing work, professional service in Inglewood, CA

Scope of Work

What Our Framing Work Covers

  1. 01

    Load-Bearing Wall Framing

    New headers, king studs, jack studs, and cripples sized to code for the span and load above. We don't guess on header sizing.

  2. 02

    Non-Load-Bearing Partitions

    Interior room divisions, closet framing, and bathroom wall layout in both wood and metal stud, with blocking pre-installed for fixtures and grab bars.

  3. 03

    ADU and Garage Conversion Framing

    Full framing packages for California ADU builds, including exterior wall assemblies, insulation bays, and ceiling framing to meet Title 24 requirements.

  4. 04

    Subfloor and Joist Work

    Sistering weak joists, replacing damaged sections, and installing new subfloor decking where an existing floor system has failed or been compromised by moisture.

How We Work

Framing Inside the Full Project Process

  1. 01

    Drawings and Permit Coordination

    Framing work on structural walls and ADU projects requires permitted drawings. We provide expedited architectural drawings in-house, which means the permit set reflects exactly what we'll build.

  2. 02

    Framing Execution

    Layout, plating, wall raise, header installation, blocking, and fire-stops completed in sequence. Inspections are coordinated so framing is approved before we close up with drywall.

  3. 03

    Integration with Downstream Trades

    Once framing passes inspection, we coordinate the transition to drywall, tile work, and finishes. No handoff chaos because we manage the schedule under one contractor.

Framing Details That Separate a Good Job From a Callback

These aren't optional upgrades. They're what a correct frame looks like.

01

Blocking for Everything That Mounts

Cabinets, grab bars, heavy fixtures, and TV mounts all need solid backing. We install blocking during framing so you're not hunting for studs or anchoring into drywall alone later.

02

Plumb, Level, Square

A wall that's 1/4 inch out of plumb over 8 feet will show in the finish tile and make cabinet installation a problem. We check all three axes before we plate and raise.

03

Correct Stud Spacing

16-inch on-center is standard residential. 12-inch for heavy tile applications. 24-inch where the drawings call for it. Spacing matters for the load path and for the drywall that goes on top.

04

Header Sizing by Span

A 4-foot opening and a 10-foot opening don't take the same header. We size to the span table and to what the inspector expects for that building type and jurisdiction.

Framing in the Context of a Full Renovation

Most homeowners and investors don't hire a framing contractor in isolation. Framing work shows up as part of a kitchen gut-out, a bathroom reconfiguration, a garage conversion, a whole-home remodel, or a new room or second-story addition that ties new structure into the existing house. That's the context where Atomic Renovations operates. We're not a framing-only subcontractor you'd bring in for one phase and then hand off to someone else. We carry the job from the demolition and grading phase through framing, drywall, and finish work, with project management and cost analysis handled under the same roof. That matters because framing decisions downstream affect what the drywaller and the tile setter can do. When those three trades are coordinated by one contractor, the sequence works. When they're not, you get callbacks and scheduling gaps that cost money.
Home renovations

Key Facts About Wood and Metal Framing

01

Metal studs don't rot or attract termites

In bathrooms, garages, and any wall adjacent to exterior conditions, light-gauge steel studs are worth specifying. Termite damage in an interior wall discovered during demo is one of the most common scope expansions we see in LA County remodels.

02

Wood holds fasteners better for finish carpentry

Metal studs require different fasteners and techniques for hanging heavy items. In rooms where millwork and cabinetry will mount to walls, wood framing or properly installed blocking in a metal-stud wall is the correct spec.

03

Fire-blocking is a code requirement, not optional

California residential code requires horizontal fire-blocking in walls over 10 feet tall and at specific floor-to-ceiling transitions. It's not visible after drywall goes up, but it's inspected before close-in and it's not optional.

04

Structural work requires engineering on some ADU projects

Garage conversions that involve removing a shear wall or altering the structure of the existing building may require a licensed structural engineer's sign-off on the drawings. We work with engineers when the scope requires it.

05

Stud depth affects wall thickness and R-value

A 2x4 wall framed at 3.5 inches holds less insulation than a 2x6 wall at 5.5 inches. For ADU exterior walls where Title 24 energy compliance matters, stud depth is a design decision, not a default.

Get Your Framing Scoped Correctly From the Start

Structural mistakes are the most expensive ones to fix after the drywall goes up.

Call (424) 385-4384 Request a Framing Estimate

Frequently asked questions

When does framing require a permit in LA County?
Any structural framing work, meaning work that touches load-bearing walls, headers, or the floor and roof system, requires a permit in LA County. Non-load-bearing interior partition walls in an existing finished space may not, depending on the scope of the broader project. Adding a room, converting a garage, or removing any wall where you're unsure of the load path should always be permitted. An unpermitted structural change discovered during a future sale or insurance claim is a serious liability.
What is the difference between metal stud framing and wood framing for a remodel?
Metal studs are light-gauge cold-formed steel channels, typically 25-gauge or 20-gauge for interior partitions. They don't shrink, warp, or attract termites, which makes them a good choice for wet areas and commercial-grade interior walls. Wood framing is dimensional lumber, typically 2x4 or 2x6, and is still standard for load-bearing residential walls, roof systems, and anywhere finish carpentry will be anchored. Most remodels use both: wood where structural capacity or fastener holding strength matters, metal studs for straight non-load-bearing partitions.
How thick are the walls in standard residential framing?
A wall framed with 2x4 studs measures 3.5 inches of actual lumber depth, plus drywall on each side. With 1/2-inch drywall on both faces, the finished wall thickness is 4.5 inches. Exterior walls are commonly framed with 2x6 studs, giving 5.5 inches of cavity depth for insulation, which matters for Title 24 compliance on new ADU construction and garage conversions in California.
Can a load-bearing wall be removed during a kitchen or bathroom remodel?
Yes, but it requires engineering. Removing a load-bearing wall means transferring the load above it to a beam, which then transfers to posts or columns that carry it to the foundation. The beam has to be sized for the span and load by calculation, not by guess. In California, this work requires a permit, stamped drawings, and an inspection before the framing is closed. We've handled this scope on kitchen and bathroom reconfigurations where opening the floor plan was part of the design intent.
How do metal stud costs compare to wood framing costs?
Material cost for metal studs fluctuates with steel prices and is often comparable to dimensional lumber on a per-linear-foot basis, though the comparison depends on gauge and stud depth. Labor for metal framing can be faster for straight partition walls because the studs don't vary in dimension the way lumber does. The total cost of a framing project depends far more on scope, structural complexity, and permit requirements than on the material choice alone. Every job is different, contact Atomic Renovations for an accurate estimate.
What happens if existing framing has termite or moisture damage when we open a wall?
Discovered damage has to be remediated before new framing goes in. That means removing the compromised lumber, treating the affected area if active infestation is present, and sistering or replacing studs and plates that have lost structural integrity. This is one of the most common scope expansions in LA County remodels, particularly in older homes and garages. We identify it during demolition and adjust the scope before the new framing is installed, not after.

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