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Structuralaka: lintel

Header

In Plain English

A horizontal beam above a door or window opening that carries the load around the gap.

Definition

A horizontal structural member placed above a door, window, or other opening to span the gap and carry loads from above. Headers transfer the loads that would otherwise be carried by the interrupted studs or masonry around the opening. They are sized based on the span of the opening and the loads they must carry.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Headers are a takeoff item where missed quantities or wrong sizing ripple into both material and labor costs across every opening in a structure. Estimators counting openings and sizing headers from the structural drawings ensure framing quantities, engineered lumber, and connection hardware are all captured before the bid goes out.

Example

Doing a framing takeoff, the estimator counts each window and door opening and prices the specified LVL headers and their hangers from the structural schedule.

Related Terms

LintelBearing WallBeamSpan

Frequently Asked Questions

They count every door, window, and opening, then size headers from the structural drawings or header schedule, capturing member type, dimension, and connection hardware. Engineered lumber such as LVL or glulam is priced separately from dimensional lumber, since cost and lead time differ significantly from standard stud and plate material.
Span across the opening and the load carried from above, including roof, floor, and tributary loads, drive the structural sizing, which the engineer specifies. Larger spans or heavier loads call for engineered members like LVL or steel, raising both material cost and the labor and hardware needed to set them.
Openings are easy to miscount on busy plans, and assuming dimensional lumber when the structural schedule calls for engineered members understates cost. Connection hardware and the labor to install larger headers are also commonly overlooked, so cross-checking the framing takeoff against the structural drawings prevents these gaps.

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