A horizontal framing member laid flat along the top of a wall structure to receive the heels of the roof rafters. It ties the vertical wall studs together and provides a solid, continuous bearing surface that distributes the downward and outward thrust of the roof across the entire wall.
Heard on the job
Notch the birdsmouths on those rafters so they sit flush on the raising plate.
Also heard as
- top plate
- wall plate
- Roof plate