Structural

Deflection

Structural · definition

How much a beam or joist bends under load. Code limits it (e.g., L/360) so floors don't feel bouncy or crack finishes even when not at risk of failure.

Source: HUD — Residential Structural Design Guide, Second Edition

Where this comes up

  • Beam

    A primary horizontal member that carries loads from joists or framing across a span to posts or walls. Opening up a floor plan usually me…

  • Joist

    One of the repetitive horizontal members that support a floor or ceiling, spanning between beams or walls. Joist size, spacing, and direc…

  • Differential Settlement

    Uneven sinking of parts of a foundation, the cause of most serious structural cracking, sticking doors, and sloping floors.

  • Dead Load

    The permanent weight of the structure itself — framing, finishes, roofing. The baseline load every member is sized for.

  • Efflorescence

    White mineral deposits left on masonry or concrete as water migrates through and evaporates. A sign of moisture movement to investigate,…

  • Damp Proofing

    An asphaltic coating that resists soil moisture (not liquid water pressure). The minimum builder treatment — less protective than true wa…

  • Egress Window Well

    An excavated, retained, and drained well allowing a code-compliant egress window below grade — required to make a basement bedroom legal.

  • Curing

    Maintaining moisture and temperature while concrete gains strength. Concrete reaches most of its strength over ~28 days; rushing it weake…

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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