What Are Load-Bearing Structures, and How Do They Work?

Walls are not the only load-bearing structures in the entire building. Each wall or beam or any other part of the structure has some weight to bear.  And the weight of all of these parts of the structure is on the foundation. Without the structure, a building cannot exist. This article is a detailed discussion on these structures along with their working. 

Professional Construction Takeoff Services can help the clients in this regard. They analyze the sections of the project first. Then, according to the demand of the client, they calculate how much material will be required. For example, if the structure is to be made by lumber, they help you calculate the cost and amount of lumber that you will need. Or they can help you with all types of material that will be used throughout the project, depending on the choice of client. 

Load-Bearing Structures Explained:

Load-bearing structures are not used very often these days because reinforced concrete or steel framing is taking over their usage. But it does not mean that it is not used at all. Small houses or the ones made with wood still use the wooden framing method to support the structure.

But in modern infrastructure, where tall buildings are made or reinforced concrete is used to make buildings, just framing is not enough. The weight is too much, which means the structure that has to bear it should also have enough strength. This is why steel and reinforced concrete structures are preferred in those cases. 

Types of Loads:

Imagine a pile of 3 books. The book that is below all bears the weight of the books on top. This is also how the structures in the construction work. The weight is divided into two types:

1. Dead Load:

This is the complete weight of the structure that is on the foundation. This includes the weight of:

• Walls 
• Beams 
• Columns 
• Fixtures like electrical or HVAC systems

So, in short, everything that has a weight that will permanently stay there is a dead load. 

2. Live Load:

Weight that keeps moving, such as furniture or people in the house, is included in this category. So, this is the type where the weight is temporarily on the foundation.

Important Load-Bearing Structures:

Both of these loads are transferred by the components of the building to the foundation. The foundation further transfers it on the ground. Here is the list of main components:

1. Walls: They are vertical and carry most of the weight of the building. 
2. Beams: They are the horizontal part of the structure. They basically transfer weight from horizontal structures to walls.
3. Floors and Roofs: They carry their own weight. This weight is automatically shifted to the foundation through the walls.   
4. Foundation: It is also a load-bearing structure. It is the one that takes all the load from structures above it.  It then distributes it evenly into the ground below the foundation.

Materials Used in Load-Bearing Structures:

The choice of materials depends a lot. The more dead weight the building has, the more important it is that the structure is strong. Small buildings can be managed with wooden framing, but for bigger ones, it is a no. 

1. Brick: These can be used for small or medium-sized buildings, such as a residential building.  
2. Stone: It is heavy and difficult to handle. It is also expensive and is seen in heritage buildings. 
3. Concrete Blocks: These are easy to work with. And unlike bricks, their application is quicker. 
4. Timber: It can be used for small and light structures. 

These materials, when bought in large quantities, become very costly. It is only wise to buy the very precise amounts to avoid overspending. This is why Construction Estimating Company helps you calculate a very accurate amount of material along with its cost. 

Pros and Cons of These Structures:

1.  Pros:

• Architects can be more creative with their work. This is because weight is divided very efficiently.   
• These structural elements keep the structure safe in case of an earthquake.  

2.  Cons:

• The cost of installing this big structure is high. 
• Only skilled labor can execute the process that can actually deliver what it’s made for. 

Conclusion:

Load-bearing structures are very important for any building because a building cannot stand tall without them. If there is no proper structure in your house that divides the weight, then there will be safety concerns for the residents living in that building. Because you never know when the billing faces a minor issue, and it collapses. Which is why hiring a good contractor is also important, because in the end, he is the one who will execute your project. A construction cost estimating company can be helpful in planning projects because it can help with costing and the project itself. Their suggestions are valuable because they are experts in the field.