![]() Remember when your science teacher said: every action has an opposite and equal reaction? Well every building load has an equal “reaction load”. ![]() ![]() The structural goal of a house is to safely transfer building loads (weights) through the foundation to the supporting soil. A complete analysis of wood’s mechanical properties is complex, but understanding a few basics of lumber strength will allow you to size joists and rafters with the use of span tables. Wood is naturally engineered to serve as a structural material: The stem of a tree is fastened to the earth at its base (foundation), supports the weight of its branches (column) and bends as it is loaded by the wind (cantilever beam). Using span tables to size joists and rafters is a straight-forward process when you understand the structural principles that govern their use.
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