Chapter 1: Gravity Load Path, Roof to Subgrade

Six-stage gravity load path diagram showing loads flowing from the roof system through exterior bearing walls, the floor system, foundation walls, and a continuous strip footing into the subgrade

Isometric diagram distinguishing load-bearing walls, which carry the roof truss and bearing beam to the foundation, from non-load-bearing partition walls that only support their own weight

Isometric floor framing detail showing floor joists spanning between a sill plate and rim joist atop a foundation wall, spaced at 400 mm on center

Floor joist span verification calculation sheet for a 2x10 SPF No. 2 joist at 16 in. on center, showing design loads, uniform load calculation, bending stress check, and deflection check, all passing

Corner framing detail from side and front views showing the top plate of one wall lapping over the top plate of the intersecting wall at an exterior corner

Floor framing opening detail showing header, double trimmer blocking, double trimmers, double header, partition supports, and tail joists framing a rectangular floor opening

Simple anchor bolt detail showing a nut, washer, sill plate, and threaded anchor bolt embedded into a concrete foundation

Photo comparison of four concrete crack types side by side: hairline cracks, shrinkage cracks, settlement cracks, and structural cracks, with a description of the likely cause of each

Two side-by-side photographs of foundation wall cracks labeled as not shrinkage cracks, showing irregular crack paths and staining inconsistent with simple curing shrinkage

Interior wall crack photograph showing a vertical crack running down from a ceiling-to-wall corner in an unfinished interior space

Photograph of a crack near a window opening on an interior or exterior wall, illustrating stress concentration around wall penetrations

Photograph of step cracking in brick veneer at a house corner near a window and downspout

Interior photograph of a drywall corner crack near a door and window, annotated with circles marking the crack as not continuous across the corner joint

Photograph of a drywall crack originating near a fireplace or masonry feature, illustrating differential movement between independently founded elements

Annotated house elevation showing a leaning wall, a sagging garage door lintel, a frieze board pulling away from the wall, and a gap in a butted frieze joint filled with caulk

Diagram of typical foundation conditions and their repair extents: crawlspace stem wall, independent stem wall, basement wall, pile and grade beam, thickened edge slab, and elevated post-and-pier

Interior foundation underpinning typical section showing existing foundation wall, new underpinning concrete, original floor level, new interior slab over gravel base, and backfill

Helical pier underpinning concept schematic showing a pier bracket transferring load from an existing footing through a weak soil zone into helical plates bearing on a competent stratum

Illustration of a house being retrofitted onto driven piles, showing bolt-and-plate connections and hold-down devices connecting the existing foundation to new piers driven into stable soil

Ground bracing diagrams at the first truss line showing exterior and interior diagonal ground brace connections with lateral restraint points stabilizing roof trusses during construction or repair

Retaining wall front and rear elevation drawing showing wall heights, compacted backfill, perforated drain pipe, washed gravel drain mat, and filter fabric envelope referenced to a common datum

Retaining wall structural details showing dowel detail, reinforced wall toe detail, section through the stem and footing, and drainage details at the base of a residential retaining wall

Typical shear wall details showing exterior and interior wall construction with sheathing nailing schedules, hold-downs, mudsill connections, and rim joist details for a residential seismic retrofit

Close-up photograph of fire and water damaged wood roof framing showing charred surfaces and water staining on rafters and sheathing

Fire-cut floor joist detail showing an angled cut at the end of a wood floor joist bearing in a masonry wall pocket with a metal tie for lateral restraint

Char depth analysis diagram comparing an original 2x10 ceiling joist cross-section against its charred, reduced-depth cross-section, calculating a 16 percent reduction in effective section modulus

Post-renovation load path diagram showing a new 3-ply LVL beam replacing a removed bearing wall, supporting sistered floor joists and bearing on new steel columns and concrete footings