raising piece

A raising piece is a horizontal length of timber bedded on top of a brick wall, concrete course, or structural frame, serving as an intermediate support for beams and joists. It distributes concentrated loads across a wider bearing surface and raises the beam height to the required level without adding depth to the primary structure.

The timber itself is typically softwood such as pine or spruce, sized according to the load it must carry and the span it must bridge. Common cross sections range from 75 mm × 50 mm to 225 mm × 75 mm, depending on the span and loading. It sits entirely on top of the supporting wall or frame, bedded in mortar (on masonry) or directly on concrete, rather than being built into the wall itself. This distinction matters: a raising piece is temporary in nature compared to a structural wall element.

Load distribution and bearing

The raising piece works by spreading a concentrated point load from a beam across a longer line, reducing bearing pressure on the wall below. A beam bearing directly on a thin brick edge would crush the mortar joint and risk settlement; a raising piece increases the bearing length and allows the wall to share the load across multiple courses. The mortar bed under the raising piece must be solid and level; soft or weak mortar will compress under load and cause the beams above to settle unevenly.

Raising pieces appear in timber-framed buildings, in masonry construction where beams must sit above wall plate level, and in modern hybrid structures combining timber and concrete. They are also used to raise floor joists above damp-prone masonry, creating an air gap for ventilation. In these cases, the raising piece performs a dual role: structural support and damp-proof separation.

The term arises from its function: it literally raises the beam up from the wall surface. It is distinct from a wall plate, which is embedded into the masonry as it is built, and from a bearing pad, which is a thin intermediate layer of material rather than a substantial timber member. The raising piece appears in building schedules and beam design calculations as a discrete structural component that must be sized, specified, and inspected independently.