Post+&+Lintel

Post & Lintel:
== Is a structure consisting of vertical beams (posts) supporting a horizontal beam (lintel). Its principal fuction is support the weight of the structure located above the openings in bearing wall created by windows and doors. Post and lintel construction can incorporate wood, metal and stone. When used in doorways, wood and steel are the most common materials. The most important detail about post and lintel construction is the pieces must fit together exactly. The biggest disadvantage to a post and lintel construction is the limited weight that can be held up, and the small distances required between the posts.==



== One of the earliest and most renowned post and lintel example is the prehistoric Stonehenge monument in England, where massive stone blocks were placed in a circle in the support-and-overhead design. Pure post and lintel construction also can be found in a variety of early shelters, including huts, cottages and stables. The Romans developed a variation of post and lintel construction with the arch, which added stability and support, and by the Catholic Church in Europe with the introduction of buttresses to support massive cathedral walls. ==

Modern Uses:
== Today, most post and lintel construction has a third component---the wall---which adds additional support and hides the post and lintel design within the framework. It can still be seen in doorways and columns, in which the space between the vertical supports is open. Variations on post and lintel design can be found in bridges, complex archways and crossbeams, sometimes with cable support adding extra stability. ==