What are small rectangular sections of wood that run parallel from wall to wall and support ceilings and floors?

What are small rectangular sections of wood that run parallel from wall to wall and support ceilings and floors?

• A. Beams
• B. Joists
• C. Plates
• D. Bridging

Answer: (B)

Joists are the horizontal framing members that form the floor or ceiling. They run from one wall to the opposite wall, laid in parallel with regular spacing, and they carry the load from the floor above or the ceiling below down to the walls and supporting beams. They’re typically smaller pieces of lumber (like 2x8 to 2x12) and are spaced evenly, such as 16 inches on center. This setup provides the structural grid that keeps the floor stable and distributes weight. The other terms describe different parts of framing: plates are the horizontal pieces at the tops and bottoms of walls that tie studs together, bridging refers to cross-bracing between joists to prevent twisting, and beams are larger primary supports that carry loads over longer spans. The description clearly identifies joists.

Joists are the horizontal framing members that form the floor or ceiling. They run from one wall to the opposite wall, laid in parallel with regular spacing, and they carry the load from the floor above or the ceiling below down to the walls and supporting beams. They’re typically smaller pieces of lumber (like 2x8 to 2x12) and are spaced evenly, such as 16 inches on center. This setup provides the structural grid that keeps the floor stable and distributes weight. The other terms describe different parts of framing: plates are the horizontal pieces at the tops and bottoms of walls that tie studs together, bridging refers to cross-bracing between joists to prevent twisting, and beams are larger primary supports that carry loads over longer spans. The description clearly identifies joists.