A sill plate or sole plate in construction

Construction

In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...

 and architecture

Architecture

Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 is the bottom horizontal member of a wall

Wall

A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...

 or building

Building

In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...

 to which vertical members are attached. Sill plates are usually composed of lumber

Lumber

Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....

. It usually comes in sizes of 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, and 2×10. In the platform framing method

Framing (construction)

Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...

 the sill plate is made of treated lumber

Wood preservation

All measures that are taken to ensure a long life of wood fall under the definition wood preservation . Apart from structural wood preservation measures, there are a number of different preservatives and processes that can extend the life of wood, timber, wood structures or engineered wood...

 and is anchored to the foundation wall, often with J-bolts

Screw

A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or an object that has the...

. The bottom of the sill plate is kept 6 inches above the finished grade. This is to hinder termites and prevent the sill plate from rotting as the finished grade contains chemicals.

In automobiles, the sill plate is located underneath the door and sometimes displays the make or model of the vehicle.

External links

• http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca - Official Government Website regarding the above referenced book.