The side girts are by in section. Bending members are also known as beams, girders, joists, spandrels, purlins, lintels, and girts. It used housed joints in main timbers to allow for interchangeable braces and girts. The side girts are by in section at the ends, thickening to at the crosstree. Girts provide lateral support to the wall panel, primarily, to resist wind loads. Girts are stabilized by (sag) rods/angles/straps and by the wall cladding.