Structural

I-Joist

Structural · definition

An engineered floor joist with a tall web and flanges (I-shaped) that spans far with little deflection. Web holes must follow the manufacturer's chart.

Source: APA — I-Joists

  • Deflection

    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 ri…

  • Joist

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

  • Span

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

  • Interior Drain System

    A perforated channel installed inside the footing under the basement slab, feeding a sump — the common retrofit for chronic basement water.

  • Hydrostatic Pressure

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

  • Joist Hanger

    A metal bracket that supports a joist or beam end at a flush connection. Correct hanger and the specified nails/screws are load-critical.

  • 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…

  • Lally Column

    A steel pipe column (often concrete-filled) supporting a girder in a basement. Adjustable types are temporary only; permanent columns mus…

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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