Footplate

nounStandard termBuilding

A horizontal timber or steel plate that distributes a concentrated load from a post.

A structural base piece placed under a vertical post, column, or stud to spread its heavy point load over a wider area of the foundation or subfloor. This prevents the vertical member from crushing the material beneath it or punching through the floor system.

Heard on the job

Make sure the jack post is sitting dead center on the steel footplate before you start cranking it up.

Also heard as

  • sole plate
  • base plate