Licensed & insured Calgary contractor City of Calgary Licence #BL305276 WCB-covered · $5M liability

Open 7 days, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Calgary Framers
Call the crew (587) 355-2799 Get a free quote
Framing contractor · Calgary, Alberta

Calgary Framing Contractors: House, Wood and Commercial Framing

Calgary Framers is a licensed framing contractor. We build the structural shell of houses and commercial buildings across Calgary and the surrounding towns (floor systems, walls, roof structure) and we carry that shell through to weather-tight: windows and doors installed in the openings we frame, house wrap and vapour barrier on before the siders arrive, and the roof on before the first snow.

That is the part most framing companies hand off. We do not. One crew takes the building from a bare foundation to a locked-up, dried-in structure, and one contractor is accountable for every connection in between.

Request a free framing quote (587) 355-2799

City of Calgary Business Licence #BL305276 · WCB-Alberta account #11046842 · $5,000,000 commercial general liability, Intact Insurance

A fully framed home with Hardie board, trims and windows installed
7am–7pm Seven days a week
  • Licensed City of Calgary #BL305276
  • WCB-covered Account #11046842
  • Insured $5M liability, Intact
  • Open 7 days 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The trade, defined

What a Framing Contractor Does

A framing contractor builds the load-bearing skeleton of a building after the foundation is poured and before the finishing trades arrive. The frame carries every load in the structure (the roof, the floors, the snow, the wind, and everything the occupants put inside) and transfers it down through the walls and posts to the footings.

Framing is the trade that decides whether the floors are level, the walls are plumb, the doors close in year ten, and the roof carries a Calgary snow load without deflecting. Every trade that follows (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall, cabinetry) installs into what the framer built. Work that is out of square or out of level at the framing stage stays out of square for the life of the building.

LVL beam and floor joists viewed from below with column support
An engineered LVL beam carrying floor joists down to a column, the load path that everything above it depends on.
Scope

What We Frame

Everything between the foundation and the finishing trades, on one contract.

ScopeWhat we build
Floor systemsRim board, joists, I-joists and engineered floor systems, blocking, subfloor
Wall framingExterior and interior walls, top and bottom plates, studs, headers, lintels, shear walls
Roof structureEngineered truss setting, stick-framed rafters, ridge beams, roof sheathing
Beams and postsLVL, PSL, LSL and steel beams, point loads carried through to footing
StairsStringers, landings, structural stair openings
SheathingWall and roof OSB or plywood, nailed to the schedule the engineer specifies
Blocking and backingBacking for cabinets, railings, grab bars and fixtures, installed before drywall

Building types

  • Single-family houses

    New build, from foundation to lock-up.

  • Duplexes, triplexes and multi-family

    Including party wall and fire separation framing.

  • Commercial framing

    Wood and steel-stud interior and exterior framing for commercial buildings.

  • Garages and detached structures

    Detached, attached, oversized and garage suites.

  • Renovation and infill framing

    Tying new framing into existing structures.

  • Log home framing

    Gable ends, roof structure and additions framed into existing log walls.

  • Rough carpentry packages

    Labour-only or supply-and-install.

Custom home framing in Calgary at the rough framing stage
A fully framed home with Hardie board, trims and windows installed
Framed single family home fully wrapped in house wrap, lit at night in Calgary
Log home with newly framed roof and gable structure
New gable framing meeting an existing log wall
Framed gable end on a log home in winter
The differentiator

Framing Through to Weather-Tight

This is what separates our scope from a framing-only crew. Once the frame is standing, the building is still open to the weather. In Calgary, an open frame that sits through a wet week or an early snow is a warranty problem waiting to happen. We close it in.

Window and door installation

We install windows and exterior doors into the openings we framed, as part of the same package. That matters because the rough opening and the unit that goes into it are the same problem: openings sized correctly, sills sloped and flashed, units shimmed square, plumb and level, fastened to the manufacturer’s schedule, and sealed to the wall assembly.

When the framer frames the opening and a separate contractor installs the window three weeks later, every discrepancy becomes an argument. When it is one crew, the opening is right because the same people are installing into it.

Windows installed into the framed openings of a Calgary duplex, with house wrap lapped around each opening

House wrap and vapour barrier

Before the siding trades arrive, we wrap the building. Weather-resistive barrier applied over the sheathing, lapped shingle-style so water sheds down and out, taped at the seams, and integrated with the window and door flashings so the drainage plane is continuous.

This is the layer that keeps the frame dry between lock-up and cladding, a window that can stretch for weeks depending on the siding crew’s schedule. A frame left unwrapped through that gap absorbs moisture into sheathing and studs, and that moisture is still in the assembly when it gets closed in.

Vapour barrier and air sealing are installed to the assembly the building requires, coordinated with the insulation scope.

Framed single family home fully wrapped in house wrap, lit at night in Calgary

Roofing

We roof the house. Roof sheathing, underlayment and shingles, so the structure is covered rather than tarped while a separate roofer is scheduled.

Getting the roof on immediately after the trusses are set is the single most effective thing you can do to protect a new frame in this climate. Every day between roof structure and roof covering is a day the floor system is exposed to whatever the sky does.

Log home with newly framed roof and gable structure

The outcome: you get a dried-in building from one contractor, on one schedule, with one point of responsibility, instead of four trades each waiting on the one before them and each blaming the last one for the gap.

The part of that wrap nobody ever sees again is the tie-ins the framer has to place before the roof, the fascia and the steps close the wall off: read our guide to framer rough-in WRB tie-ins.

Same crews, same standard

Our Other Services

Framing is the core trade. These grew out of it, and the same crews do them.

In their words

What Our Customers Say

They recently did a fantastic custom framing job for my new deck, and I couldn’t be happier. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were top-notch. Not only did they deliver a sturdy and beautiful frame, but they also took the time to understand my vision and bring it to life.
Martin Arbour Lake, Calgary
They transformed my outdoor space, and the framing work they did was absolutely flawless. From the initial consultation to the final touches, their team was professional and efficient. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled deck builder, look no further than Calgary Framers.
Bryan Edgemont, Calgary
They recently built a fence for my property, and I’m beyond impressed with the quality of their workmanship. The framing of the fence is solid and durable, providing both privacy and security for my home. The team was friendly, professional, and completed the project in a timely manner.
Jane Bowness, Calgary
Procedural

How a Framing Job Runs

Twelve stages, in the order they happen on site. Nothing gets covered before it has been inspected.

Framed gable end on a log home in winter

  1. Drawings and takeoff.

    We review the structural drawings, do the material takeoff and price the scope. You get a fixed-scope quote: labour-only or supply-and-install, itemised.

  2. Scheduling against the foundation.

    Framing starts when the foundation is stripped, backfilled and surveyed. We coordinate our start against the concrete schedule rather than showing up and waiting.

  3. Floor system.

    Sill plates and anchors, rim board, joists or engineered floor system, blocking, subfloor glued and fastened.

  4. Wall framing.

    Walls built, sheathed, stood, plumbed and lined. Shear walls nailed to the engineered schedule.

  5. Upper floors,

    where applicable, then the process repeats.

  6. Roof structure.

    Engineered trusses set and braced, or rafters stick-framed. Roof sheathing on.

  7. Roofing.

    Underlayment and shingles, so the building is covered.

  8. Windows and exterior doors

    installed, shimmed, fastened and sealed.

  9. House wrap and vapour barrier.

    Lapped, taped and integrated with the opening flashings.

  10. Framing inspection.

    Called and passed. The frame is inspected before anything covers it.

  11. Backing and blocking.

    Backing for fixtures installed before the finishing trades arrive.

  12. Handover.

    Site cleaned, deficiencies closed out, written workmanship warranty issued.

Reference

Materials and Systems We Work With

For builders and homeowners comparing quotes.

Material or systemWhat we use it for
Dimensional lumberSPF, kiln-dried, in the grades the drawings specify
Engineered lumberLVL, PSL and LSL beams, headers and rim board
Engineered floor systemsI-joists and open-web floor trusses
Roof trussesEngineered, delivered and set to the truss layout
SheathingOSB and plywood, wall and roof, fastened to the nailing schedule
Steel stud framingFor commercial interior partitions and where the drawings call for it
ConnectorsJoist hangers, hurricane and truss ties, post caps and bases, structural screws and anchors
Weather barrierHouse wrap, seam tape, sill pan and opening flashings, vapour barrier and air-sealing membranes

On engineered versus dimensional: engineered members cost more per piece and buy you longer clear spans, straighter walls and floors that do not bounce. Where the drawings allow either, we will tell you what the difference actually gets you on your building rather than defaulting to whichever is easier to install.

Accountability

Why Builders and Homeowners Hire Calgary Framers

One contractor from foundation to weather-tight

Framing, windows and doors, house wrap, roof. Fewer trades to schedule, fewer gaps between them, and nobody to point at when a detail falls between two scopes.

WCB coverage matters more than most people realise

Framing is worked at height. If a crew on your property is not covered, exposure can land on the property owner or the general contractor. Ours is verifiable by account number.

Fixed-scope written quotes

The number on the quote is the number on the invoice unless the scope changes in writing.

Written workmanship warranty

Issued on handover, in addition to any manufacturer warranty on the products used.

Verifiable credentials, on file

City of Calgary Business Licence
#BL305276 Licensed contractor, issued by The City of Calgary
WCB-Alberta account
#11046842 Active coverage, clearance letters on request
Commercial general liability
$5,000,000 Through Intact Insurance Company
GST registration
71279 1433 RT0001 Incorporated in Alberta
Safety association
ACSA member Alberta Construction Safety Association
Availability
7am – 7pm Seven days a week, including weekends

Clearance letters and certificates of insurance are available on request. Call (587) 355-2799 or email [email protected].

Coverage

Service Area

Calgary (all quadrants, inner-city infill through new suburban development) plus the surrounding communities:

  • Airdrie
  • Chestermere
  • Cochrane
  • Okotoks
  • Strathmore
  • High River
  • Langdon
  • De Winton
  • Bragg Creek
  • Redwood Meadows
  • Rocky View County
  • Foothills County
Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Still unsure? Call (587) 355-2799, 7am–7pm, 7 days. We would rather answer a question now than quote the wrong scope later.

What does a framing contractor do?

A framing contractor builds the structural skeleton of a building after the foundation is poured: the floor system, the walls, the beams and posts, and the roof structure, plus the sheathing that ties it together. Every trade that follows installs into that frame, which is why level, plumb and square at the framing stage determines the quality of everything after it.

Do you install windows and doors, or just frame the openings?

We install them. Windows and exterior doors go into the openings we framed, as part of the same package: sills flashed, units shimmed square and plumb, fastened and sealed. One crew framing and installing means the opening and the unit match.

Do you wrap the house?

Yes. Weather-resistive barrier over the sheathing, lapped to shed water, taped at the seams and integrated with the window and door flashings, plus vapour barrier and air sealing as the assembly requires. The building is wrapped before the siding trades arrive rather than left open waiting on them.

Do you do the roofing too?

Yes. Roof sheathing, underlayment and shingles, so the structure is covered rather than tarped. Getting the roof on right after the trusses are set is the most effective protection a new frame gets in this climate.

Do you do labour-only framing, or supply and install?

Both. Builders working with their own lumber supply usually take labour-only. Homeowners and smaller builders usually take supply-and-install. Either is quoted with the scope itemised.

Do you frame commercial buildings?

Yes. Wood and steel-stud framing for commercial structures and interior partitions, alongside residential work.

How long does framing a house take?

It depends on square footage, storey count and roof complexity. A typical single-family house is framed in two to four weeks on site with a full crew. Weather, truss delivery and the foundation schedule are the variables that move it.

Can you tie new framing into an existing house?

Yes. That is renovation and infill framing, and it is a different skill from framing on a clean foundation. The existing structure has already settled, so the new framing has to be tied in to match, not to nominal. See home additions and structural repairs.

Do you frame outside Calgary?

Yes. Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding counties.

Do you pull the permits?

On homeowner-direct work, yes. On builder work, the permit is usually held by the general contractor and we frame to the issued drawings.

Get started

Request a Framing Quote

Free assessment. Fixed-scope written quote, labour-only or supply-and-install.

  • Structural drawings reviewed and materials taken off before we price
  • Scope itemised, so you can see exactly what moves the number
  • Framing inspection called and passed before anything is covered
  • Written workmanship warranty on handover

(587) 355-2799 [email protected]

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Ready when you are

Get a framing contractor who finishes the shell

Framing, windows and doors, house wrap and roof: quoted as one scope, built by one crew, on one schedule.

Request a free quote (587) 355-2799

Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week