Winning is not new to Rodger Ford. An accomplished and world champion cowboy who mastered speed and precision in the arena, Ford is now applying that same philosophy to one of America’s most stubborn industries: home construction. As the founder and CEO of FrameUpNow, Ford is determined to redefine how homes are built—faster, stronger, and smarter.
A Crisis in Housing
In early 2025, California faced one of the most devastating fire seasons in its history. Entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, including Altadena, were reduced to ash as more than 6,000 homes were destroyed within weeks. For families who lost everything, the tragedy did not end with flames. The reality of rebuilding is a process fraught with delays, rising costs, and outdated methods. Traditional construction often takes 18 to 24 months or longer once permitting backlogs, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions are factored in. For communities already traumatized by disaster, waiting years for a roof over their heads is a crisis.
This problem extends far beyond California. The U.S. housing shortage is estimated at more than 3.8 million units nationwide. Disasters—wildfires in the West, hurricanes along the Gulf, or tornadoes in the Midwest—expose the fragility of traditional wood-frame construction. Vulnerable to fire, termites, mold, and seismic stress, wood homes are slow to rebuild and unsustainable. The urgency has forced policymakers, insurers, and communities to rethink how homes are built. The central question is clear: Can we construct safer, stronger homes in a fraction of the time, without compromising affordability?
The FrameUpNow Breakthrough
FrameUpNow has emerged as a transformative force. With precision-engineered steel skeletons that can be erected in days and completed in months—not years, the company represents a radical rethinking of how America rebuilds. At the heart of this solution is the PRADU (Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit) library, a collection of thousands of pre-engineered, jurisdiction-approved home plans.
By working directly with housing authorities, FrameUpNow collapses the permitting process from months into days. Homeowners can select from more than 3,700 pre-approved designs (expected to surpass 5,000 by year-end 2025), each instantly convertible into a light-gauge steel skeleton ready for manufacturing and shipping. For local governments under pressure to close housing gaps, this is a breakthrough. For families, it means rebuilding their lives without years of delay.
From Sketch to Structure: NapkinCAD
At the core of FrameUpNow’s philosophy is accessibility. NapkinCAD, a tool developed by the company, allows anyone with a vision for a home to upload a hand-drawn sketch, researched floor plan, and photos of elevations. The system then applies FrameUpNow’s Algorithmic Automation (Rule-Based Automation) to generate a precise, buildable frame model in light-gauge steel. What begins as a sketch becomes a fully engineered structure, ready for permitting and assembly.
NapkinCAD embodies the democratization of construction. By lowering barriers, FrameUpNow enables homeowners, architects, and builders alike to bring ideas to life quickly. Once approved, these designs can be added to ADUplans.com or PRADUplan.com’s library, expanding affordable housing availability for entire communities.
Case in Point: From Concept to Community
When wildfire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, families faced years-long waits to rebuild. Traditional wood-frame construction required 18 to 24 months for each home. FrameUpNow stepped in with pre-engineered, permit-ready designs and steel skeletons. Homes can be rebuilt in three to four months. Every FrameUpNow skeleton carries an International Building Code (IBC) stamp, requiring only local adaptations for foundations or solar systems before construction begins.
Another milestone came in June 2025 with the launch of ADUplans.com and PRADUplan.com, platforms that now host thousands of permit-ready affordable home plans ranging from compact 499-square-foot cottages to 1,200-square-foot units. Each design can be converted instantly to steel-frame skeletons, creating the world’s most complete living archive of affordable housing.
Beyond Borders: A Global Housing Solution
FrameUpNow’s vision has always been global. The same issues—slow construction, affordability, disaster recovery—affect every continent. Its Addis Ababa engineering hub provides 24-hour development support and strengthens the company’s ability to deliver in markets with acute housing shortages. From earthquake recovery in Turkey, to modular housing in Africa, to urban affordability in India, FrameUpNow’s system adapts seamlessly to local needs.
Rodger Ford: The Vision Behind the Revolution
Every disruptive company has a driving force. For FrameUpNow, that force is Rodger Ford. A serial entrepreneur and innovator, Ford built his career on identifying inefficiencies and reinventing industries. His simple philosophy—make complex processes simple and make slow processes fast—has guided FrameUpNow’s creation.
A world champion cowboy, a seasoned CEO, and a relentless builder, Ford embodies both discipline and bold vision. At 82, his entrepreneurial energy continues to shape industries. For him, FrameUpNow is not just a company, but a movement—one that challenges outdated construction and promises homes that are stronger, safer, and ready in months, not years.
Sidebar: Rule-Based Automation
FrameUpNow’s design system is based on Algorithmic Automation (Rule-Based Automation). It follows programmed instructions, decision trees, and engineering rules across 350 pages of specifications and more than 6,000 lines of code. This deterministic process ensures speed, repeatability, and compliance while limiting human error.
Each plan set includes engineered drawings, a code compliance table, a bill of materials, and a calculations booklet. For localization to the homeowner’s site all that remains necessary is site plan and engineered foundation stamped by a licensed engineer in the state of construction.
