Structural

Shear Wall

Structural · definition

A braced/sheathed wall that resists lateral wind and seismic forces. Removing or opening one without an engineered replacement compromises the structure.

Source: APA — Wall Bracing

  • Shoring

    Temporary supports that carry structural load while a permanent member is replaced or repaired (e.g., during beam or wall work).

  • Rim Joist / Band Joist

    The joist running around the perimeter of a floor frame, closing the joist ends and transferring loads. A key air-sealing and structural…

  • Sill Plate

    The pressure-treated board bolted to the top of the foundation that the framing sits on, anchored against uplift and sliding. Rot or term…

  • Ridge Beam vs. Ridge Board

    A ridge beam structurally carries rafter loads (required for vaulted/cathedral ceilings); a ridge board is only a non-structural nailing…

  • Sistering

    Fastening a new joist/rafter alongside a damaged or undersized one to restore or add capacity. A common, code-acceptable structural repai…

  • Rebar

    Steel reinforcing bar embedded in concrete to carry tensile loads concrete cannot. Size, spacing, and cover are engineered, not arbitrary.

  • Slab Jacking / Mudjacking

    Pumping grout or polyurethane beneath a sunken slab to lift and re-level it — common for driveways, walks, and garage floors.

  • Rafter

    A sloped structural member running ridge to wall that supports the roof deck in stick-framed (non-truss) roofs.

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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