Structural

Bearing Capacity

Structural · definition

How much load the soil can safely support. It sizes footings; weak soils require wider footings, piers, or ground improvement.

Source: FHWA — Soils and Foundations Reference Manual (NHI-06-088)

  • Footing

    The widened concrete base below a foundation wall or post that spreads the structure's load over enough soil to prevent settling. New str…

  • Blocking / Bridging

    Short pieces between joists or studs that stabilize members against twisting and distribute load. Often required at mid-span by code.

  • Basement Foundation

    A foundation with full-height usable space below grade. Offers expansion potential but adds waterproofing and egress requirements when fi…

  • Bowing Wall

    A foundation wall pushed inward by soil or hydrostatic pressure. Severity dictates the fix — straps, anchors, bracing, or rebuild.

  • Aggregate

    The sand and gravel/stone that makes up most of concrete's volume, providing strength and bulk in the cement matrix.

  • Cantilever

    A structural member extending beyond its support, loaded at the free end (e.g., a bumped-out floor or balcony). Backspan and connection a…

  • Carbon Fiber Strap

    High-strength strips bonded to a bowing foundation wall to arrest further inward movement — a less invasive alternative to wall replaceme…

  • CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit)

    A concrete block used for foundation and structural walls, often grouted and reinforced with rebar at intervals.

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

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