Footings do not directly support which of the following?

Footings are structural elements that provide support for various components of a building, specifically designed to distribute the weight of the structure to prevent settling or shifting. They are typically placed below the ground level and serve as the base for supporting walls, columns, and other loads directly resting on them.

When considering roofing systems, while they exert loads on the walls, the footings themselves do not support them directly. Instead, the load from the roofing is transmitted through the walls down to the footings. Lintels, which are horizontal supports placed above openings like doors and windows, are supported by the walls resting on the footings. Columns, being vertical structural elements, are similarly supported directly by footings.

Thus, while footings are crucial for the overall stability of a structure, they do not directly support roofing systems. Instead, the roof is part of a load path that includes walls and other structural elements that rely on footings for support.