Weight Loads of Construction

The bearing loads of any building are by far the most important details of construction. The weight loads that are transfered throughout a building are tremendous. This fact applies to all construction residential or commercial. the biggest mistake any contractor can make is not transferring the weight loads properly at any given point. The art of building is not just the beauty but also the integrity of the construction.

The building that is being constructed should be built from the top down. The contractor has to have the ability to for see any weight loads that will be at the top and be able to prepare for those loads at ground level. The weight that will be above has got to be supported below, therefor the necessity for building from the top down is very important. Should the general contractor not be able to place the weight loads from above at the foundation level then there will be no support for the weight above.

The bearing point which is the spot where the weight is actually placed should be continuous. The bearing point will follow like a straight line from the top of the building to the very bottom. The engineer will have this weight calculated into the footing to support the bearing point. The biggest mistake that contractors make is forgetting to transfer this weight load from floor to floor. the result can be minor and or catastrophic.

The bearing points are always the perimeter of a building. There are other bearing points to consider though. The placement of a beam, a two story foyer and of course the very furniture that you may be placing in a home. The water bed will require support or the extremely large fish tank or tub. These are just a few of the things that are placed in a home that can do damage if not properly prepared for.

A rule of thumb that everyone should follow when building if in doubt consult an engineer that is what they get paid for. The last thing that you want is to be sleeping in your water bed and fall through to the basement.