Definition of Load-Bearing Point

Load-Bearing Point

A point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation.

Point

A point equals 1 percent of a mortgage loan. Lenders charge points as a way to make a profit.

Load-Bearing Wall

Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate.

Nonbearing Wall

A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

Pointing

Treatment of joints in masonry by filling with mortar to improve appearance or protect against weather.

Area Walls

Corrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold back the earth.

Balloon Framed Wall

Framed walls (generally over 10' tall) that run the entire vertical length from the floor sill plate to the roof. This is done to eliminate the need for a gable end truss.

Bull Nose Drywall

Rounded drywall corners.

Gable End Wall

The triangular end of an exterior wall above the eaves formed under a gable roof.

aterial used to cover the interior framed areas of walls and ceilings

Knee Wall

A wall-like structure that supports roof rafters.

Nonbearing Wall

A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

Trombe Wall

A passive solar wall, usually masonry or concrete, used for passing heat from one room (like a sun room or solar garden room) to another.

Wall Out

When a painter spray paints the interior of a home.

Townhouse

One of a row of houses connected with common side walls.

Villa

Smaller home on a small lot, may share side wall with another home.

Air Space

The area between insulation facing and interior of exterior wall coverings. Normally a 1" air gap.

Anchor Bolt

Bolt to secure a wooden sill plate to concrete, masonry floor or wall.

Attic Access

An opening that is placed in the drywalled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic. Sometimes found in halls, closets or garages.

Backfill

The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement or crawlspace foundation wall.

Backing

Frame lumber installed between the wall studs to give additional support for drywall or an interior trim related item, such as handrail brackets, cabinets, and towel bars. In this way, items are screwed and mounted into solid wood rather than weak drywall that may allow the item to break loose from the wall. Carpet backing holds the pile fabric in place.

Baseboard

Any board or molding found at the bottom of an interior wall.

Bottom Plate

The lowest horizontal member of a wall which rests on the rough floor, to which the studding is nailed.

Brick Veneer

A vertical facing of brick laid against and fastened to sheathing of a framed wall or tile wall construction.

Clerestory

An outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows.

Collar Beam

A horizontal tie beam in a roof truss that connects two opposite rafters at a level considerably above the wall plate.

Crown Molding

A molding used on cornice or wherever an interior angle is to be covered, especially at the roof and wall corner.

Flashing

The building component used to connect portions of a roof, deck, or siding material to another surface such as a chimney, wall, or vent pipe. Often made out of various metals, rubber or tar and is mostly intended to prevent water entry.

Framer

The carpenter contractor that installs the lumber and erects the frame, flooring system, interior walls, backing, trusses, rafters, decking, installs all beams, stairs, soffits and all work related to the wood structure of the home. The framer builds the home according to the blueprints and must comply with local building codes and regulations.

Furring Strip

Flat piece of lumber used to build up an irregular framing to an even surface, either the leveling of a part of a wall or ceiling.

Gable Roof

A roof that consists of two sloping planes that meet at the ridge or peak. The planes are supported at their ends by triangular, upward extensions of walls known as gables.

Lath and Plaster

The most common wall finish prior to the introduction of drywall. Thin wood strips (lath) were nailed onto the framing as a base for the sand/lime plaster (see diagram).

Niche

A recess in a wall, usually designed to contain ornamental statues or other decorations.

Overhang

Part of the roof that hangs over the wall.

Parging

A rough coat of mortar applied over a masonry wall as protection or finish; may also serve as a base for an asphaltic waterproofing compound below grade.

Partition

A wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room.

Pilaster

A projection or the foundation wall used to support a floor girder or stiffen the wall.

Plates

Pieces of wood placed on wall surfaces as fastening devices. The bottom member of the wall is the sole plate and the top member is the rafter plate.

Porte-cochere

A carriage entrance leading through a building or wall into an inner courtyard. Also, a roofed structure covering a driveway at the entrance of a building to provide shelter while entering or leaving a vehicle.

Post-And-Beam

wall construction in which beams are supported by heavy posts rather than many smaller studs.

Quarry Tile

A man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generally 6" X 6" X 1/4" thick.

R Value

A measure of insulation. A measure of a material's resistance to the passage of heat. The higher the R value, the more insulating "power" it has. For example, typical new home's walls are usually insulated with 4" of batt insulation with an R value of R-13, and a ceiling insulation of R-30.

Radiant Heat

A heating system which uses hot water, steam pipes or electric resistance coils to heat the floors, walls or the ceilings of a room.

Rebar

Ribbed steel bars installed in foundation concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures designed to strengthen concrete. Comes in various thickness' and strength grade.

Resilient Channels

Metal channels used to further inhibit sound transmission through wall and ceiling framing. Create a break in the vibration path from drywall to the framing.

Slab Foundation

For a slab foundation, the site is leveled off, and a trench is dug around the perimeter of the home site. Gravel is then spread across the site, and concrete is poured approximately four inches thick over wire mesh and a moisture barrier. In areas of load bearing walls, trenches need to be dug to allow for additional thickness at this location. Slab foundations have no piers or floor joists, and the concrete slab is the floor system.

Stud

An upright piece of lumber or steel in a wall, to which panels, siding, drywall, or other coverings are attached.

Top Plate

The horizontal member nailed to the top of the studding of a wall.

Vapor Retarder

Helps control the amount of moisture passing through the insulation and collecting inside exterior walls, ceilings and floors.

Veneer

Extremely thin sheets of wood. Also a thin slice of wood or brick or stone covering a framed wall.

Wafer Board

A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing.

Window Buck

Square or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall. A window will eventually be installed in this "buck" during the siding stage of construction.

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