Yeah, engineered studs around windows and doors are definitely worth the extra bucks. I remember one job a few years back—client insisted on regular dimensional lumber to keep costs down. Fair enough, budgets matter. But man, that framing lumber was all over the place. Even after sorting through the pile, we still ended up with a couple of bowed studs around the big picture window in the living room. Spent way too much time shimming drywall and adjusting trim to hide the imperfections. It turned out okay in the end, but the hassle just wasn't worth the savings.
Next build I did, I convinced the homeowner to spring for engineered studs around all the openings. Night and day difference. Everything stayed straight and true—even after the house sat through a full winter of drying out. Didn't have to fight with drywall, didn't have to custom-cut trim pieces to hide gaps...just smooth sailing.
One other thing I'll mention—if keeping walls straight is a constant struggle, double-check your lumber storage setup. Early in my career, I used to stack lumber directly on the ground or uneven surfaces, and that can warp boards pretty quick. Now, I always make sure to store lumber flat and level, off the ground, with proper airflow. Makes a huge difference when you're ready to frame.
And yeah, nails over screws for framing every time. Learned that lesson myself the hard way too. Screws seem great until the wood moves just a little and snaps 'em clean off. Nails flex and move with the wood—exactly what you want in framing.
Interesting points about engineered studs—I hadn't really considered how much lumber storage could affect straightness. Makes sense though. I'm curious, aside from engineered studs, has anyone tried kiln-dried lumber for framing? Wondering if the extra drying process helps significantly with warping issues, or if it's not worth the added cost compared to standard dimensional lumber...
