Common Terms:
- Uniform Load: Force evenly distributed over a relatively large area (i.e. a waterbed).
- Concentrated (Point) Load: Force localized over a relatively small area (i.e. a load-bearing post or a woman’s spike-heel shoe).
- Dead Load: Weight of permanent components such as roofs, walls, floor, etc.
- Live Load: Loads superimposed by use and occupancy such as people, furniture, etc.
Common Problems:
- Improper design does not account for all load the floor must support.
- Improper construction that increases span of framing or decreases size of framing members.
- User applies more load than anticipated for type of occupancy.
- Structural weakening by wood rot due to water intrusion and ponding.
Potential Damage:
- Ponding of water on exterior surfaces such as balconies or roofs.
- Cracking of finishes such as stucco or gypsum board.
- Walking surface excessively sloped and springy.
- Squeaking floors.
Typical Solutions:
- Add full-depth blocking between framing members to help spread out concentrated loads to adjacent members (does not help for uniform loads).
- Add additional framing members to reduce the amount of load to each member.
- Provide additional points of support beneath the floor to reduce the span.