What is the structural wood component called that is used to span a door or window and support structures above the opening?

• A. Header
• B. Sill Plate
• C. Cripple Stud
• D. Lintel

Answer: (A)

In wood framing, the horizontal member that spans a door or window opening and carries the load from above down to the sides is a header. It sits directly above the opening and transfers the weight from the structure above to the side studs, which then carry it down to the foundation. Headers are often built up from multiple pieces of lumber to meet the required strength for the span.

The sill plate sits at the bottom of the wall, anchoring to the foundation. Cripple studs are short verticals that fill the space from the header up to the top plate. A lintel is a term more common in masonry or metal-framed openings and isn’t typically used for standard wood-framed openings.