Which component acts as a stud above and below window headers and sills, and above door openings?

• A. Header
• B. Jack Stud
• C. Stud
• D. Cripple

Answer: (D)

Cripple studs are the short vertical members that fill the space above door and window openings, extending from the top of the header up to the top plate (and, in some layouts, filling any short gap near the sill). Their job is to maintain a continuous load path in the wall by carrying some of the weight from above the opening down to the header and then into the regular wall framing. They’re shorter than full-height studs, which is what sets them apart from the standard studs and from the jack studs that support the header on the sides. The other components have different roles: a header is the horizontal beam across the opening; a king stud runs full height beside the opening; a jack (trimmer) stud supports the header itself.