A continuous horizontal framing member anchored to the top of a masonry or stud wall. It distributes the concentrated loads from the rafters, roof trusses, or floor joists evenly across the wall below, and provides a solid fastening surface for the upper framing.
Heard on the job
Check the wall plate for level before we start lifting the roof trusses into place.
Also heard as
- top plate
- raising plate
Do not mix it up with
- Sill: A wall plate sits at the top of a wall to support the roof, while a sill sits at the bottom to anchor the wall to the foundation.