- Wall plate
A Wall plate, a structural element in the "Light frame construction" method known as
platform framing , is a horizontally laid structural element at right angles to the load bearing part of the vertical load (weight ) of a building. It serves as a very localizedlintel ("header" in North America) structurally but its primary purpose is to expedite construction by allowing walls to be built laying down to set the interval between parallelwall stud s then tipped up into position. The studs and plates are oriented at ninety degrees to one another.There are three types of wall plates and are located at the top and bottom of a wall section, and the two hold the
wall stud s parallel and spaced at the correct interval. Each type continues in a piecewise fashion around the whole perimeter of the structure.*
Sill plate s — a lower wall plate which is bolted or strapped securely to the top of a foundation wall or concrete slab. These hold the house down against heavy winds. Normally, "J-bolts" are placed in the curing concrete after the mason levels the foundation and finishes dressing the concrete. Newer systems of galvanized strapping with a J-bolt like anchor placed in the concrete allows the builder to avoid the mating step of drilling the sill plates for the bolts. 1
* Lower wall plates or "base plate" or "floor plate" — a second lower wall plate to which the wall studs are through nailed and which is the bottom of the wall section when assembled as a rectangular assembly. On an upper story, the lower wall plate is nailed to the platform of the supporting floor. The supporting platform is being supported by the wall studs of the even lower walls below.1
* Upper wall plate or "Top plate" or "Ceiling plate" — upper wall plate which is nailed along the top of the wall studs, before the wall is lifted into position and on which the platform of the next story or the ceiling and roof assembly rest and are attached.References and notes
External links
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* [http://www.modern-construction.info/mmc_glossary_2008.html The MMC Glossary 2008] - The Modern Construction Glossary of MMC and offsite terms including Framed Construction.
* [http://www.cwc.ca/ Canadian Wood Council] - Wood building design tools, case studies and references.
* [http://www.hometips.com/hyhw/structure/structure1.html How Your House Works House Framing and Structure overview.]
* [http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/document-lists/1-publication-list.html USDA Forest Products Laboratory Lists of Publications]
** [http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.htm Wood handbook] --Wood as an engineering material
* [http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/bpn/30_e.pdf Design and Construction of Low Energy Houses in Saskatchewan]Notes
cat also|PAGENAME| Architectural elements | Building | Woodworking | Structural system
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