Framing is carpentry that consists of the structural elements of a building or other structure. These elements are the walls, floor, and roof. Framing is generally done with lumber and plywood. Many carpenters frame a building by himself, but it's not uncommon to have a framer and another carpenter working together. Framing can be rough or finish carpentry. Rough carpentry is just what it sounds like - framing that's done roughly so that it can be finished off by someone else. Finish carpentry is framing that's done neatly and precisely so that it doesn't require further work before it can be covered with wallboard, siding, or roofing material.

Framing is considered a rough carpentry trade. It involves the erection of the skeletal structure of buildings, which is then covered by sheathing and finished with trim. Rough carpentry is thus the first stage in building construction, and it lays the foundation for subsequent work. Carpenters who specialize in framing are known as framers.