Överliggers

Överliggers is a Swedish term that translates to "overlayer" or "lintel" in English. In construction and architecture, an överliggare is a structural beam that spans an opening, such as a door or window, to support the weight of the material above. It distributes the load from the wall or roof to the adjacent supports on either side of the opening.

Traditionally, överliggare were made of stone or heavy timber. Modern construction often utilizes concrete, steel, or engineered wood products for these load-bearing elements. The material and size of the överliggare are determined by the span of the opening, the weight it needs to support, and the building codes and standards in place.

The term can also be used more broadly to refer to any horizontal structural member that carries a load, even if it's not directly over an opening. For instance, in some roofing systems, horizontal beams that support purlins might be referred to as överliggare. The primary function remains consistent: to provide structural integrity and transfer loads effectively. The aesthetic appearance of an överliggare can also be a design consideration, with exposed beams sometimes serving as decorative features in addition to their structural role.