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Site-building of homes has been the standard procedure of the American homebuilding industry since its inception. There are four basic systems of site-building homes. Each can be clad in a number of finish or veneer materials, although clapboard siding is less appropriate on masonry structural walls, just as brick veneer is less appropriate (although still very popular... for the moment) on stick-framed walls. Both are possible, but they are mis-matched with the material that supports them. The underlying four systems, then, are as follows:

Stick-framed structures build walls, floors, and roofs out of thin lumber studs, joists, and rafters. This is by far the most common type of construction in the USA today, although other systems are making noticeable inroads. Stick-framing originated in the 19th century as balloon-framing, where the studs went from the foundation to the roof. Today, almost all wood structures are platform-framed, where the studs run sit on the floor below and support the floor above.

Steel-framed structures build walls, floors, and roofs out of lightgauge steel studs, joists, and rafters. Lightgauge steel framing is gaining popularity because, as opposed to wood which can warp, cup, and twist, steel-framed walls can be almost perfectly straight. Steel also does not rot and is not susceptible to termite damage. The downside to lightgauge steel is that, as opposed to wood construction where any builder can determine visually whether a stud is a 2x4 or a 2x6, lightgauge steel structures vary not only in width and depth, but also in gauge. Because a person cannot visually tell the difference between a 14 gauge stud and a 16 gauge stud, it can be in our opinion risky to use lightgauge steel framing. A solution to this problem is to use a system that is engineered. The best solution (and one that assembles much more quickly) is to use steel wall, floor, or roof panel systems that are both engineered and assembled in the factory. Another advantage to factory-assembling lightgauge steel framing is because factory-based, properly-trained lightgauge steel assemblers are much more common than site-based, properly-trained lightgauge steel framers.

Timber-framed structures are the oldest of all. The primitive hut was almost certainly a timber frame, with the earliest of them being nothing more than a tent-shaped assembly of sticks. Timber framing is distinguished from lumber, or stick-framing by the size of the members: timber is thicker (4" or more) than lumber (thinner than 4".) Timber framing originally was erected with no metal connectors; joints were made either with intricate shaped notches and ends, or pegged through tenons set in mortises. Timber-framed structures have had a bit of resurgence in recent years, although they are still quite rare due to their high cost. They are most commonly found on high-end country houses because they are the commissions most likely to combine higher budgets with a more rustic setting.

Masonry structures typically include a framed (typically stick- or occasionally timber-framed) roof because masonry is very strong when compressed, like in a wall, but much weaker when bent, like in a roof. Masonry walls today are most commonly built of concrete block, which can be insulated and reinforced as required, but they are occasionally still built of brick or stone with reinforced concrete poured into the center of the wall. Originally, most masonry walls were built of solid brick or solid stone, although it was common to put dressed stone on the outside of the wall where it could be seen and rough stone in the center of the wall where it was mortared in solid.