FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
Tools & Materials

Site-Built Portal Frame Solution

The Strong-Wall Site-Built Portal Frame System from Simpson allows framers to build their own portal frame to code in as little as 9-1⁄4 in. of wall width.

By Justin Fink Issue 299 - June 2021

A typical stud wall relies on properly fastened sheathing for lateral resistance to racking. But when walls are skinny, such as on a facade with a garage door or big windows, those skinny walls have to pick up the slack. There’s a broad spectrum of options to deal with this issue, from expensive factory-built shear panels to the affordable but limited approach of following the IRC’s prescriptive Portal Frame with Hold-Downs (PFH) method. Now Simpson Strong-Tie has a solution somewhere in the middle, and with some impressive capabilities.

The Strong-Wall Site-Built Portal Frame System (PFS) is a kit that allows framers to build their own portal frame, similar to the PFH method—but the new Simpson Strong-Tie system can meet code in as little as 9-1⁄4 in. of wall width. The kit includes hold-downs, metal straps, structural screws, and standoff bases to accommodate built-up 2×10 or 2×12 posts. Yes, you read that right—this system is designed to rely on sandwiches of wide dimensional lumber and sheathing spacers or double LVLs as the posts. The headers are made of two plies of either LVL or solid-sawn lumber, with spacers required in some configurations spelled out in the product’s ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-4455. PFS is available in single and double kits, for about $75 and $120 respectively.

 


RELATED LINKS

  • 4 Options for Shear Bracing Foam-Sheathed Walls
  • Wall Bracing
  • Wall-Framing Tools I Love: Form Aligner Turnbuckle

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

View Comments

  1. ct_yankee | Apr 26, 2021 01:13pm | #1

    Pictures guys, pictures.

    1. bobbomax | Nov 28, 2021 05:28pm | #2

      Amen!

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Practical and Sustainable Prefab Home

Two boxes make up the plan for this modular house: One has the kitchen and common area, while the other includes two bedrooms and two baths.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Make Mudsills Square and Level
  • Nail-Set Upgrade
  • Podcast 596: Broken Trusses, Frost-Protected Foundations, and Air Control Methods
  • Podcast 591: Members-only Aftershow—Hidden Costs of Construction

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • Podcast 596: Broken Trusses, Frost-Protected Foundations, and Air Control Methods
  • Podcast 589: Members-only Aftershow—Advanced Framing
  • Framing a Second Story on an Existing House
  • Podcast 586: PRO TALK With Timber Framer Will Gusakov
View All

Sheathing

View All Sheathing Articles
  • Combat Extreme Weather With a FORTIFIED Roof
  • Strategies for Venting a Roof Valley
  • Cómo Revestir y Encintar Una Pared Exterior Con el ZIP System
  • Liquid Flashing for WeatherLogic Integrated-WRB Sheathing
View All Sheathing Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Complete 3rd Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 318 - October 2023
    • Make Mudsills Square and Level
    • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Lloyd Alter
  • Issue 317 - Aug/Sept 2023
    • Finishing Drywall With Seamless Results
    • A Flat Roof in a Cold Climate
    • Compact Cordless Shop Vacs
  • Issue 316 - July 2023
    • Timber-Framed Solar Canopies
    • Build a Transom Above a Stock Door
    • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency
  • Issue 315 - June 2023
    • How to Craft a Copper Roof
    • 5 Lessons from Building in a Cold Climate
    • The Advantages of Cellular PVC Siding
  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in