Site Measures – Part 3: Capturing Structural Systems

by Sarah Crouse • May 03, 2022

Exposed framing and structural members during the transformation of an existing garage into an ADU.

We often hear people say, “this house has good bones”, but what does this mean? This refers to all the structural members of the home coming together to make a strong skeleton that supports the building, giving it structural integrity. During site measures it is important to collect as much data as possible on how the home is built and supported so that we, and our engineers, can properly plan changes.


When planning structural changes to a home, we have a top-down and outside-in approach. You can’t take a wall out without thinking first about what is above and below it. This is because loads transfer down through gravity, becoming heavier as they travel toward the foundation.


Other aspects we consider are wind and earthquake forces, which put sideways pressure on a home. These were considered much less in older Portland homes but need to be addressed today. Capturing the size, spacing, and layout of each structural component helps us to determine if additional support is needed to make changes for a remodel.



Let’s start at the top:

Rafters: Rafters are the structural members that support the roof of a building. Since roofs are generally pitched, and we do not get much snow in Portland, they were, on average, not sized very large in old Portland homes. The lower the roof pitch or the longer the span, the bigger they get and/or the closer they are spaced together. Sometimes, there are intermittent walls that transfer onto the floor or ceiling joists if the span gets too long. The rest of the load gets transferred onto the perimeter walls.

In this 1920 garage, trusses were redesigned to accommodate a grading issue that caused the garage door to impede the plane of conventional truss design. Framing members were upsized, and we created a vaulted scissor truss.

Ceiling / Floor Joists: Joists are the horizontal framing members between different levels. Sometimes joists are easy to see and measure, such as in unfinished basements and attics; other times, they are completely hidden within the structure. There are a couple of tricks to measure joists when they are concealed:New paragraph

Joists above the kitchen were fully exposed during this remodel and addition

If a stairwell has an open side, with no wall below, you can measure the thickness of the floor platform, subtracting average flooring, subfloor, and ceiling drywall sizes from this measurement to get the joist size. 


If a stairwell is enclosed, you can add up the stair risers and subtract the ceiling height of the floor below and the floor, subfloor, and ceiling surface depths.

Post & Beams: Old Portland homes often have unfinished basements. Posts with footings and beams or walls with continuous footings support the long spans of joists above. The ends of the beams are supported by the perimeter concrete walls. The beams run perpendicular to the joists. Locating posts and beams is crucial for basement remodels since it is more cost effective to plan around their locations.

Before (left), a large beam ran down the middle of this kitchen, cutting the room in two above the island. After (right), two beams, set perpendicular to the original, open the space, provide structural support, and create a more harmonious feel.

Foundation: Foundations transfer loads from the structure to the soil, similar to the roots of a tree. It is important to investigate the condition of a foundation in order to find any cracks or crumbling areas that might compromise the strength of the structure.

Sheathing:  And last, but by no means least, is the sheathing that holds all of the framing together and prevents the structure from racking and shimmying. While the bones were nicely sized in old Portland homes, sheathing did not quite catch on until the mid to late 1920’s. Often siding was directly attached to framing, and then horizontal shiplap provided some stiffness. Better stiffness was affected by diagonal shiplap, and, ultimately, with the invention of plywood, our current shear systems became standards.

Left: horizontal sheathing in a 1920s home. Right: diagonal sheathing in a 1960s home

Kitchen before (left) and after (right). Box beams were added to the ceiling in this 1911 home. Some of the beams are structural and some are decorative, creating a pleasing pattern.

Making changes to a structure requires the work of an engineer to get permits. Capturing all the structural information of the home during the site measure ensures that, once the engineer is brought in to do their calculations, they have all the information they need. It is our job to work with the engineer to guarantee that a house with “good bones” remains a house with good bones. 😊

Portland's Architecture
By Anne De Wolf 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter
By Marty Hegg 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
The Harlow Hotel
By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.
Show More
Portland's Architecture
By Anne De Wolf 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter
By Marty Hegg 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
The Harlow Hotel
By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.
By Sarah Crouse 03 May, 2023
Measuring a home is more than sizing and locating walls, windows, and doors. There are many more complex parts of a home that need to be captured in order to set our design team up for success during the design process. With remodeling comes moving openings, walls and fixtures, which inevitably means moving systems. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are typically hidden within walls and between floors, requiring a bit of know-how and experience to properly document, which is crucial for helping our design team to determine the feasibility and cost implications of our choices. Mechanical Systems:
By Sarah Crouse 04 Oct, 2022
Remodeling is an art that requires many talents – of course craftsmanship and technical knowledge – but also creativity AND organizational skills. No other step in the process taps into all of those trades quite like as-built documentation. When we pull out a tape measure, we do not only document distances, but how pieces are put together. Knowing why a post is in a particular location, or noting that a duct bisects a space helps the team document the as-built properly and makes communication during all phases of construction clearer and more concise. While measuring a house might sound simple and straightforward, it takes a seasoned crew to be efficient! Our team has a well-vetted checklist of things to measure and note, in addition to an order of operations that helps ensure nothing is missed and our client’s time is well-spent. Here is a peek into how we go about collecting this data: HOT TIP: Make sure to take breaks and have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Making mistakes during site measures can waste a lot of time, so making sure everyone is energized is key!
By Snow Blackwood 09 Jul, 2022
As I walk to the door of Gretchen Newmark and Jim Gerber’s 1910 Craftsman Bungalow, painted in a pale yellow with cream and periwinkle trim, I notice I’m feeling a little nervous, but I’m not sure why. Jim is a nutritionist who spent 40 years as a professor, teaching nutrition and supervising interns. Gretchen was a dietitian in private practice, collaborating with other health professionals to help people recover from eating disorders. Now she focuses on her passion—spiritual direction. They’ve spent many years helping people find healthy paths in life. I decide my nervousness is just an artifact of this long pandemic as I notice their garden, full of vivid blooms that settle my nerves. My photographer Christine and I mask up as I knock on their door. When Gretchen opens the door, she immediately puts us at ease. “No masks, unless you prefer; we’re fully vaccinated,” she says. We are, too, so we gratefully remove the cloths. I remark on the lovely garden, and how nicely it complements their home.
By Marty Hegg & Sarah Crouse 09 Jul, 2022
Quiz time: which ARCIFORM employee was raised in Detroit, Michigan, has held jobs as a fine woodworker, a stay-at-home-Dad and sailing instructor before his current job at ARCIFORM?  The one and only dependable, often-goofy and incredibly patient Joe Hoffman! As one of two Joes and one of two Hoffmans at ARCIFORM, Joe definitely knows how to set himself apart and make a lasting impression on staff and clients alike.
By ARCIFORM 09 Jul, 2022
Building Trusting Relationships by Design Arciform has been a premier design-build renovation and remodeling company for older buildings and homes in the greater Portland Metro area since 1997. From the very beginning, we set out to be the designers and craftspeople you could trust to achieve your vision. We aim to create a smooth, transparent process that involves you from start to end, and to deliver zero surprises – except the delighted surprise you feel when you see your finished project. For decades we’ve partnered with hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest to bring their dreams to life. We believe that it is the relationships we build in the process of designing for you that are the real foundation of our success. Over time we’ve found that our relationships with our clients are similar to successful relationships we have with partners, good friends and family. They rest on trust engendered by the integrity of open communication, doing what you say, following up, and quickly making good if anything goes awry. So we thought we’d write a little about the ingredients that we think go into creating great relationships that, like our designs and work, endure. 
Fried Durkheimer House
By Holly Cullom 09 Jul, 2022
The ARCIFORM team has been hard at work restoring the historic Fried-Durkheimer House , also known locally as the first Morris Marks House, and the extensive renovations are nearing completion. Recently, we were able to take a look at the progress and talk to project manager Joe McAlester and the ARCIFORM crew about this impressive Italianate structure.
More Posts
Share by: