Structural

Grade Beam

Structural · definition

A reinforced concrete beam at or below grade that spans between piers or footings to distribute structural loads.

Source: American Concrete Institute — ACI Concrete Terminology

  • 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…

  • Concrete

    A mix of cement, aggregate, and water that cures into a hard structural material used for footings, slabs, and foundations. Curing time a…

  • 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…

  • Span

    The clear distance a member bridges between supports. Span tables (or an engineer) set the size and spacing required for a given load.

  • Helical Pier

    A screw-in steel pile driven to stable soil to underpin or support a foundation. A common engineered fix for settlement without large exc…

  • Glulam

    Glued-laminated timber — a structural beam of bonded dimensional lumber, often used where the beam is exposed for appearance.

  • Hydrostatic Pressure

    Water-table pressure pushing against foundation walls and slabs — the driving force behind most basement leaks and wall bowing.

  • Girder

    A large primary beam that carries other beams or joists. The main load-collecting member, often mid-span under a floor down to columns.

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.

Remodeling guides → Contact the publisher →