Dictionary
of Terms |
|
| Click
on the first letter of the term you are looking for information on: |
|
| A B C D
E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
| A |
[ TOP ] |
| Air
Space |
|
| The area
between insulation facing and interior of exterior wall coverings. For best
results, manufacturers recommend filling this space with insulation and
allowing at least 3/4" air space in installing reflective faced
insulation. |
|
| Amperage |
|
| The
strength of an electric current as measured in amperes. |
|
| Ampere |
|
| A
measure of the amount of electrical current going through a circuit at any
given time. |
|
| B |
[ TOP ] |
| Back-up
system |
|
| Auxiliary
equipment that kicks in when the main unit can't handle the full load. |
|
| Balancing |
|
| Fine-tuning
the air flow of a heating/cooling system to even up the delivery through a
home. |
|
| Balusters |
|
| Spindles
that help support a staircase handrail. |
|
| Bat |
|
| A
half-brick. |
|
| Batt |
|
| A
section of fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation measuring 15 or 23 inches wide
by four to eight feet long. |
|
| Batten |
|
| A
narrow strip used to cover joints between boards or panels. |
|
| Beam |
|
| A
horizontal support member. |
|
| Bearing
wall |
|
| An
interior or exterior wall that helps support the roof or the floor joists
above. |
|
| Blankets |
|
| Fiber-glass
or rock-wool insulation that comes in long rolls 15 or 23 inches wide. |
|
| Blocking |
|
| Small
wood pieces to brace framing members or to provide a nailing base for gypsum
board or paneling. |
|
| Board
Foot |
|
| A unit
of measure for lumber equal to 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide by 12 inches
long. Examples: |
|
| 1"
x 12" x 12" = 1 board foot |
|
| 1"
x 12" x 12' = 12 board feet |
|
| 2"
x 12" x 12' = 24 board feet |
|
| Bond |
|
| The
pattern in which bricks or other masonry units are laid. Also, the cementing
action of an adhesive. |
|
| Bottom
chord |
|
| The
lower or bottom member of a truss. |
|
| Bracing |
|
| In a
stick-built roof system it is the W-shaped structural member which provides
support to the roof rafter. |
|
| A piece
of dimensional lumber or metal, used diagonally on the corner of a home. |
|
| Brick
veneer |
|
| A brick
facing used over a sub-wall to provide an exterior finish for a house. |
|
| BTU |
|
| (British
Thermal Unit). The amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one
degree Fahrenheit. Heating and cooling equipment commonly is rated by the
BTUs it can deliver or absorb. |
|
| Building
codes |
|
| Community
ordinances governing the manner in which a home may be constructed or
modified. Most codes primarily concern themselves with fire and health, with
separate sections relating to electrical, plumbing, and structural work. |
|
| Butt |
|
| To
place materials end-to-end or end-to-edge without overlapping. |
|
| Butt
hinge |
|
| The
most common type. One leaf attaches to the door's edge, the other to its
jamb. |
|
| C |
[ TOP ] |
| Cantilever |
|
| A beam
or beams projecting beyond a support member. |
|
| Casing |
|
| Trim
work around a door, window, or other opening. |
|
| Caulk |
|
| Any of
a variety of different compounds used to seal seams and joints against
infiltration of water and air. |
|
| Ceiling
joist |
|
| One of a
series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads and
supported in turn by larger beams, girders or bearing walls. |
|
| Cement |
|
| A
powder that serves as the binding element in concrete and mortar. Also, any
adhesive. |
|
| Ceramic
tile |
|
| A
man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall. |
|
| CFM |
|
| (cubic
feet per minute). A rating that expresses the amount of air a blower or fan
can move. |
|
| Chalking |
|
| The
tendency of some exterior paints to gradually erode away over a period of
time. |
|
| Circuit
breaker |
|
| A
protective switch that automatically shuts off current in the event of a
short or overload. |
|
| Class
'A' |
|
| Optimum
fire rating issued by Underwriter's Laboratories on roofing. The building
code in some areas requires this type of roofing for fire safety. |
|
| Class
'C' |
|
| Minimum
fire rating issued by the Underwriters' Laboratories for roofing materials. |
|
| Compression
web |
|
| A
member of a truss which connects the bottom and top chords and provides
downward support. |
|
| Compressor |
|
| The
part of a cooling unit or heat pump that compresses refrigerant gas so it can
absorb heat. |
|
| Concrete |
|
| A basic
building and paving material made by mixing water with sand, gravel, and
cement. |
|
| Concrete
block |
|
| A
hollow or solid unit made of concrete used in building construction. |
|
| Condensing
unit |
|
| The
outdoor segment of a cooling system. It includes a compressor and condensing
coil designed to give off heat. |
|
| Conduit |
|
| A metal
tube used to run, house or contain electrical wire. |
|
| Convection |
|
| Currents
created by heating air, which then rises and pulls cooler air behind it. |
|
| COP |
|
| (coefficient
of performance). A measure of the efficiency of any heating unit--arrived at
by dividing its output in BTUs by its input in BTUs. |
|
| Coping |
|
| A cap at
the top of a wall that's rounded or beveled to shed water. Also, a curved cut
made so that one contoured molding can join neatly with another. |
|
| Corner
bead |
|
| Lightweight,
perforated metal angle used to reinforce outside corners in drywall
construction. |
|
| Corner
assembly |
|
| The
framing members used to change direction in an interior-exterior wall. |
|
| Corner
brace |
|
| Diagonal
supports set into studs to reinforce the area where a wall changes direction
in a frame structure. In many areas plywood is used. |
|
| Cornice |
|
| The
projection from a building that crowns or finishes the edge. Horizontal
projection at the top of exterior wall which finishes the eaves of a
building. |
|
| Courses |
|
| Parallel
layers of building materials such as bricks, shingles, or siding laid up
horizontally. |
|
| Cove |
|
| A
concave curve where vertical and horizontal surfaces join. |
|
| Crawl
space |
|
| Space
between floor and ground of a house or building. |
|
| Cripples |
|
| Short
studs above or below a door or window opening. |
|
| Crown |
|
| Paving
slightly humped so that water will run off. Also a contoured molding
sometimes installed at the junctures of walls and ceilings. |
|
| Cupping |
|
| A type
of warping that causes boards to curl up at their edges. |
|
| D |
[ TOP ] |
| Damper |
|
| A valve
inside a duct or flue that can be used to slow or stop the flow of air or
smoke. |
|
| Dampproofing |
|
| The
coating applied to the exterior of a foundation wall with a waterproofing
material such as foundation coating. |
|
| Dead
bolt |
|
| A
locking device that can be activated only with a key or thumb turn. Unlike a
latch which has a beveled tongue, dead bolts have square ends. |
|
| Decking |
|
| The
material installed over the supporting framing members to which the roofing
material is applied. |
|
| Directional
Light |
|
| Light
intensity at the center of the beam. Used for flood and spot light bulbs
types. |
|
| Do-it-yourself |
|
| (DIY).
The process of doing any project by oneself. Some may traditionally have been
contracted out to a professional or in the case of a klutz done by one's
spouse or father-in-law. If necessity is the mother of invention it is also
the father of DIY. |
|
| Double
cylinder |
|
| A type
of lock that must be operated with a key from inside as well as outside. |
|
| Double
hung window |
|
| A
window that has a top sash and bottom sash, both of which move up and down. |
|
| Double
pane window |
|
| Two
panes of glass sealed at the edges to create dead air space. The sealed air
acts as an insulator. |
|
| Drain
tile |
|
| A
perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall
used to drain excess water away from the foundation. It prevents water from
seeping through the foundation wall. |
|
| Drying
in |
|
| The
construction process generally considered to be from the foundation plate up
through the application of exterior finish materials. |
|
| Dry
wall |
|
| A
masonry wall laid up without mortar. |
|
| Drywall |
|
| A basic
interior building material consisting of big sheets of pressed gypsum faced
with heavy paper on both sides. Also known as gypsum board, plasterboard, and
SheetrockTM. |
|
| DWV |
|
| (drain-waste-vent).
The section of a plumbing system that carries water and sewer gases out of a
home. |
|
| E |
[ TOP ] |
| EER |
|
| (energy
efficiency ratio). A measure of cooling efficiency computer by dividing a
cooling unit's output in BTUs by its input in watts. |
|
| EPACT |
|
| Energy
Policy Act. Government regulations promoting the use of energy efficient
lighting by prohibiting the manufacturing or importing of certain inefficient
bulb types. |
|
| Efflorescence |
|
| A
whitish powder sometimes exuded by the mortar joints in masonry work. It's
caused by salts rising to the surface. |
|
| Elbow |
|
| (ell).
A plumbing or electrical fitting that lets you change directions in runs of
pipe or conduit. |
|
| Evaporator
coil |
|
| The
part of a cooling system that absorbs heat from air in your home. |
|
| Expansion
joint |
|
| Flexible
material between two surfaces that enables joints to ride out differing rates
of expansion and contraction. |
|
| F |
[ TOP ] |
| Facing
brick |
|
| The
brick used and exposed on the outside of a wall. Usually these have a
finished texture. |
|
| Fascia
board |
|
| Horizontal
trim attached to the outside ends of rafters or to the top of an exterior
wall. |
|
| Felt or
Felt Paper |
|
| Highly
absorbent fiber material saturated and impregnated with asphalt and used as
backing for rock surfaced roofing materials. Made from organic, asbestos or
glass fibers to result in a strong, absorbent and flexible product. |
|
| Female |
|
| Any
part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another (male) part can be
inserted. Internal threads are female. |
|
| Finger
joint |
|
| A
manufacturing process of interlocking two shorter pieces of wood end to end
to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber or molding. Often used in
jambs and casings. |
|
| Finish
roof |
|
| Shingles,
asphalt, etc. used to cover the exterior of a roof. |
|
| Fire
brick |
|
| Brick
made of refractory ceramic material which will resist high temperatures. Used
in a fireplace. |
|
| Fire
blocking |
|
| Short
horizontal members sometimes nailed between studs, usually about halfway up a
wall. |
|
| Firebrick |
|
| Highly
heat-resistant brick for lining fireplaces and boilers. |
|
| Flashing |
|
| Metal or
composition strips used to seal junctions between roofing and other surfaces,
or in the valleys between different slopes. |
|
| Floating |
|
| The
next-to-last stage in concrete work, when you smooth off the job and bring
water to the surface. |
|
| Floor
girder (girder) |
|
| A
horizontal beam supporting the floor joists. |
|
| Floor
joist |
|
| One of a
series of parallel framing members used to support floor loads and supported
in turn by larger beams, girders, bearing walls or foundation. |
|
| Flue |
|
| A pipe
or other channel that carries off smoke and combustion gasses to the outside
air. |
|
| Fluorescent
lamp |
|
| A light
source that instead of "burning" as incandescent bulbs do, uses an
ionization process to produce ultraviolet radiation. This turns into visible
light when it hits a coating on the tube's inner surface. |
|
| Footing |
|
| The
base on which a masonry wall rests. It spreads out the load to prevent
settling. |
|
| Framing |
|
| The
wood skeleton of a building. |
|
| Framing
in |
|
| The
construction process generally considered to be from the foundation plate up
to the application of exterior finish materials. |
|
| Frost
line |
|
| The
depth to which the ground freezes below the surface. This varies from region
to region, and determines how deep footings must be. |
|
| Furring |
|
| Lightweight
wood or metal strips that even up a wall or ceiling for paneling or drywall.
On masonry, furring provides a surface on which to nail. |
|
| Fuse |
|
| A
safety device designed to burn out if a circuit shorts or overloads. This
protects against fire. |
|
| G |
[ TOP ] |
| Gable |
|
| The
triangular end of an exterior wall above the eaves of a pitched roof. |
|
| Gable
roof |
|
| A roof
which slopes from two sides only. |
|
| Gable
stud |
|
| The
stud at the gable of a roof where the exterior finish is applied. |
|
| Gang
nail plate |
|
| A steel
plate attached to both sides at each joint of a truss. |
|
| Gate
valve |
|
| A valve
that lets you completely stop--but not modulate--the flow within a pipe. |
|
| GFCI |
|
| (ground
fault circuit interrupter). An electrical safety device that instantly shuts
down a circuit if a leakage occurs. Codes commonly require them on bathroom
and outdoor circuits. |
|
| Girder
(floor girder) |
|
| A
horizontal beam supporting the floor joists. |
|
| Glazing |
|
| The
process of installing glass, which commonly is secured with glazier's points
and glazing compound. |
|
| Globe
valve |
|
| A valve
that lets you adjust the flow of water to any rate between fully on and fully
off. |
|
| Grade |
|
| Ground
level, or the elevation at any given point. |
|
| Grain |
|
| The
direction of fibers in lumber or other materials. |
|
| Ground |
|
| Refers
to electricity's habit of seeking the shortest route to earth. Neutral wires
carry it there in all circuits. An additional grounding wire--or the
sheathing of metal-clad cable or conduit--protects against shock if the
neutral leg is interrupted. |
|
| Grout |
|
| Thin
mortar that fills the joints between tiles or other masonry. |
|
| Gypsum
board |
|
| A basic
interior building material consisting of big sheets of pressed gypsum faced
with heavy paper on both sides. Also known as drywall, plasterboard, and
SheetrockTM. |
|
| H |
[ TOP ] |
| Hardboard |
|
| A
manufactured building material made by pressing wood fibers into sheet goods. |
|
| Header |
|
| Heavier
framing--usually doubled and laid on edge-- at the top of a window, door, or
other opening. In masonry, a header course of bricks or stones laid on edge
provides strength. |
|
| Heat
gain |
|
| Heat
coming into a home from sources other than its heating/cooling system. Most
gains come from the sun. |
|
| Heat
loss |
|
| Heat
escaping from a home usually to outside air. Heat gains and losses are
expressed in BTUs per hour. |
|
| Heat
pump |
|
| A
reversible air conditioner that can extract heat from outside as well as
inside air. |
|
| HID |
|
| (high
intensity discharge) lamp. A lamp that operates in the same way as a
fluorescent tube, but that has a bulb like incandescent lamps. |
|
| Hip
roof |
|
| A roof
with four sloping sides. |
|
| Hot
wire |
|
| The wire
that carries electrical energy to a receptacle or other device--in contrast
to a neutral,which carries electricity away again. |
|
| I |
[ TOP ] |
| Incandescent
lamp |
|
| A lamp
employing an electrically charged metal filament that glows at white heat. |
|
| Inside
corner |
|
| The
point at which two walls form an internal angle, as in the corner of a room. |
|
| Interior
finish |
|
| Any
coverings that cover the interior walls of a house. Examples are drywall,
paneling, etc. |
|
| J |
[ TOP ] |
| Jack
post |
|
| A type
of structural support made of metal, which can be raised or lowered through a
series of pins and a screw to meet the height required. Basically used as a
replacement for an old supporting member in a building. |
|
| Jambs |
|
| The top
and sides of a door, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the
frame and trim. |
|
| Joint
compound |
|
| A
synthetic-based formula used in combination with paper tape to conceal joints
between drywall panels. |
|
| Joists |
|
| Horizontal
framing members that support a floor and/or ceiling. |
|
| K |
[ TOP ] |
| Kilowatt |
|
| (kw).
One thousand watts. A kilowatt hour is the base unit used in measuring
electrical consumption. |
|
| L |
[ TOP ] |
| Laminating |
|
| Bonding
together two or more layers of materials. |
|
| Latch |
|
| A
beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue's
bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any,
without using a key. |
|
| Lath |
|
| Strips
of wood, expanded metal mesh, or a special drywall that serve as a base for
plaster or stucco. |
|
| Level |
|
| True
horizontal. Also a tool used to determine level. |
|
| Life |
|
| The
average number of hours a bulb will burn. |
|
| Lighting
Efficiency |
|
| Expressed
as Lumens per Watt. A measure of efficiency similar to miles per gallon. The
best choice is usually the highest light output Lumens for the least power
consumed (Watts). |
|
| Limit
switch |
|
| A
safety control that automatically shuts off a furnace if it gets too hot.
Most also control blower cycles. |
|
| Lineal
foot |
|
| A unit
of measure for lumber equal to any thickness by any width by 12 inches long.
Example: |
|
| 2"
x 12" x 12' = 12 lineal feet |
|
| 1"
x 12" x 12' = 12 lineal feet |
|
| Lintel |
|
| A load
bearing beam over an opening in masonry, such as a door or fireplace. |
|
| Lumens |
|
| Unit of
measure for total light output. |
|
| M |
[ TOP ] |
| Male |
|
| Any
part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another (female) part. External
threads are male. |
|
| Masonry |
|
| Brick,
tile, stone, concrete units, etc., or combinations thereof, bonded with
mortar. Something constructed using bricks or stones. |
|
| Millwork |
|
| Woodwork
such as doors, sashes and trim that have been shaped, usually by a milling
machine. |
|
| Miter |
|
| A joint
formed by beveling the edges or ends of two pieces at 45-degree angles, then
fitting them together to make a 90-degree angle. |
|
| Mortar |
|
| The
bonding agent between bricks, blocks, or other masonry units. Consists of
water, sand, and cement--but not gravel. |
|
| Mortise |
|
| A hole,
slot, groove, or other recess into which another element fits. Most hinges,
for example, are mortised so they lie flush. |
|
| Muriatic
acid |
|
| Commonly
used as a brick cleaner after masonry work is completed. |
|
| N |
[ TOP ] |
| NEC |
|
| (National
Electrical Code). A set of rules governing safe wiring methods. Local
codes(which are backed by law) may differ from the NEC in some ways. |
|
| Neutral
wire |
|
| Usually
color-coded white, this carries electricity from an outlet back to ground. |
|
| Newel
post |
|
| A post
at the bottom, landing, or top of a staircase to which the handrail is
secured. |
|
| No-hub |
|
| A
clamp-and-sleeve system for joining together cast-iron drainage pipes. Older
hub-type pipes had to be leaded at all joints. |
|
| O |
[ TOP ] |
| OC |
|
| (on-center).
The distance from the center of one regularly spaced framing member to the
next. Studs and joists are commonly 16 or 24 inches OC. |
|
| Outside
corner |
|
| The
point at which two walls form an external angle, one you usually can walk
around. |
|
| Overhang |
|
| Outward
projecting eave-soffit area of a roof; the part of the roof that hangs out or
over the outside wall. |
|
| P |
[ TOP ] |
| Panel |
|
| Wood,
glass, plastic, or other material set into a frame, such as in a door. Also,
a large, flat, rectangular building material such as plywood, hardboard, or
drywall. |
|
| Partition |
|
| An
interior dividing wall. Partitions may or may not be bearing. |
|
| Paving |
|
| Materials
(commonly asphalt or masonry) laid down to make a firm, even surface. |
|
| Payback |
|
| The
length of time before the money you save with new equipment, insulation, etc.
will equal your original investment. Commonly used in evaluating
energy-related items. |
|
| Pier |
|
| A
masonry post. Piers often serve as footings for wood or steel posts. |
|
| Pilot
hole |
|
| A
small-diameter hole that guides a nail or screw. |
|
| Pilot
light |
|
| A
small, continuous flame that ignites gas or oil burners when needed. |
|
| Pitch
(roof) |
|
| The
slope of a roof expressed in feet rise per foot of run. Example a pitch of
5/12 means that the roof raises 5 feet for every 12 feet of run. |
|
| Plenum |
|
| The
main hot-air supply duct leading from a furnace. |
|
| Plumb |
|
| True
vertical. |
|
| Plumb
bob |
|
| A lead
weight attached to a string. It is the tool used in determining plumb. |
|
| Plywood |
|
| A
building panel made by gluing together thin layers of wood. Alternating grain
directions from one layer to the next adds strength. |
|
| Post |
|
| Any
vertical support member. |
|
| Post-and-beam |
|
| A basic
building method that uses just a few hefty posts and beams to support an
entire structure. Contrasts with stud framing. |
|
| Pressure-treated
wood |
|
| Lumber
that has been saturated with a preservative. |
|
| Primer |
|
| A first
coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and hold succeeding finish coats. |
|
| PVC |
|
| (polyvinyl
chloride). A type of plastic pipe that's suitable for cold water, but not
hot. |
|
| Q |
[ TOP
] |
| Quality |
|
| What
you can expect from John's Lumber. |
|
| R |
[ TOP ] |
| Radiation |
|
| Energy
transmitted from a heat source to the air around it. So-called
``radiators" actually depend more on convection than radiation. |
|
| Rafters |
|
| Parallel
framing members that support a roof. |
|
| Rail |
|
| Any
relatively lightweight horizontal element, especially those found in fences.
Also the horizontal pieces between panels in a panel door. |
|
| Retaining
wall |
|
| A
structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion. |
|
| Ridge
board |
|
| The
topmost beam at the peak of a roof to which rafters tie. |
|
| Rise |
|
| The
vertical distance from one point to another above it; a measurement you need
in planning a stairway or ramp. |
|
| Riser |
|
| The
upright piece between two stairsteps. |
|
| Roof
decking |
|
| Subsurface
material on which roof shingles or built up roofing is applied. Some roof
decking is made with one side finished to serve as both roof deck and
finished ceiling. |
|
| Roof
sheathing |
|
| The
sheets or boards for sheathing over rafters. Also called roof decking, roof
underlayment. |
|
| Roofing
cement |
|
| A
pliable asphalt- or plastic-based compound used as an adhesive and to seal
flashings, minor leaks, etc. |
|
| Rough
opening |
|
| The
openings in walls and partitions for doors and windows as formed by the
framing members. |
|
| Rough
sill |
|
| The
framing member at the bottom of a rough opening for a window. It is attached
to the cripple studs below the rough opening. |
|
| Roughing-in |
|
| The
initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, carpentry, or other project, when
all components that won't be seen after the second finishing phase are
assembled. |
|
| Run |
|
| The
horizontal distance a ramp or stairway traverses. |
|
| R-value |
|
| A
measure of the resistance an insulating material offers to heat transfer. The
higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. |
|
| S |
[ TOP ] |
| Saddle |
|
| The
plate at the bottom of some--usually exterior--door openings. Sometimes
called a threshold. |
|
| Sash |
|
| The
openable part of a window, consisting of a frame and one or more panes of
glass. |
|
| Setback |
|
| The
distance a home must be built from property lines (this is dictated by local
zoning ordinances. Also a temporary change in a thermostat's setting. |
|
| Settlement |
|
| Shifts
in a structure, usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles underground. |
|
| Sheathing |
|
| The
first covering on a roof or exterior wall, usually fastened directly to
rafters or studs. |
|
| SheetrockTM |
|
| A type
of wall and ceiling finish made from ground gypsum covered with a paper
finish. Common sizes are 4'x8', 4'x12'. Most commonly used as a wall finish
that is then painted or wallpapered. Also, drywall, gypsum wall board. |
|
| Shim |
|
| Thin
material inserted to make adjustments in level or plumb. Tapered wood
shingles make excellent shims in carpentry work. |
|
| Shingle |
|
| A
covering used to finish the sides or the roof of a house. |
|
| Shoe
molding |
|
| Strips
of quarter round commonly used where a baseboard meets the floor. Also
sometimes known as base shoe. |
|
| Short
circuit |
|
| A
situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires come in contact with each
other. Fuses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from
a short. |
|
| Siding |
|
| The
finish material of an exterior wall. Types include wood, aluminum, vinyl and
hardboard. |
|
| Sill |
|
| The
lowest horizontal piece of window, door, or wall framework. |
|
| Sill
plate |
|
| (mudsill).
Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests atop
foundation, sometimes called mudsill. Also sole plate, bottom member of
interior wall frame. |
|
| Slab |
|
| (concrete).
A term referring to a flat area of concrete. |
|
| Slab
construction |
|
| A build
term referring to construction placed on a slab as its foundation. |
|
| Sleepers |
|
| Boards
laid directly over a masonry floor to serve as nailers for plywood, or strip
or plank flooring. |
|
| Soffit |
|
| Covering
attached to the underside of eaves or a staircase. |
|
| Soil
pipe |
|
| A large
pipe that carries liquid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank. |
|
| Sole
plate |
|
| The
bottommost horizontal part of a stud partition. When a plate rests on a
foundation, it's called a sill plate. |
|
| Spacing |
|
| The
distance between individual members or shingles in building construction. |
|
| Span |
|
| The
distance between supports, generally walls, for rafters or trusses. |
|
| Spandrel |
|
| The
space between two openings which are one above the other in a wall. |
|
| Spec
home |
|
| A house
built before it is sold. The builder speculates that he can sell it at a
profit. Sometimes he speculates that he can merely sell it. |
|
| Specifications |
|
| Written
elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods; this
supplements working drawings. |
|
| Square |
|
| A
situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other.
Also a tool for checking this. An area of roofing which is 10' square or
comprising 100 square feet. |
|
| Stick
built |
|
| A house
built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building. |
|
| Stile |
|
| The
vertical upright on either side (and sometimes the center) of a panel door. |
|
| Stringer |
|
| The
side or inclined member of a stair system used to support the treads and
risers. |
|
| Stops |
|
| Moldings
along the inner edges of a door or window frame. Also valves used to shut off
water to a fixture. |
|
| Strike |
|
| The
plate on a door frame that engages a latch or dead bolt. |
|
| Stucco |
|
| A
mixture of Portland cement, sand, lime and water used to cover cement blocks
for decoration purposes. |
|
| Stud
framing |
|
| A
building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of
relatively lightweight studs. Contrasts with post-and-beam. |
|
| Studs |
|
| Vertical
2x3, 2x4, or 2x6 framing members spaced at regular intervals within a wall. |
|
| Subfloor |
|
| Bottom
layer of plywood or boards in a two-layer floor. |
|
| T |
[ TOP ] |
| Take
off |
|
| A list
of materials developed from a set of blueprints. |
|
| Taping |
|
| The
process of covering drywall joints with paper tape and joint compound. |
|
| T or
Tee |
|
| A
T-shaped plumbing fitting. |
|
| Terra
Cotta |
|
| A
ceramic material molded into masonry units. |
|
| Three-four-five
triangle |
|
| An easy,
mathematical way to check whether a large angle is square. Measure three feet
along one side, four feet along the other; if the corner is square, the
diagonal distance between those two points will equal five feet. |
|
| Threshold |
|
| The
plate at the bottom of some--usually exterior--door openings. Sometimes
called a saddle. |
|
| Throat |
|
| The
opening at the top of a fireplace through which smoke passes enroute to the
flue. |
|
| Tie |
|
| (veneer).
A metal strip used to tie a brick or masonry wall to the wooden frame wall. |
|
| Toe-nail |
|
| To
drive nails at an angle. |
|
| Ton |
|
| A
measure of cooling power. One ton equals 12,000 BTU's. |
|
| Tongue
and groove |
|
| A style
of lumber in which the pieces interlock to form a strong solid formation. |
|
| Top
chord |
|
| The
upper or top member of a truss. |
|
| Top
plate |
|
| The
topmost horizontal element of a stud-frame wall. |
|
| Trap |
|
| A
plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air, gas, and vermin from
backing up into a fixture. |
|
| Treads |
|
| The
level parts of a staircase. |
|
| Treated
lumber |
|
| A
chemical treatment applied to dimension lumber to prevent rot or decay.
Examples are Wolmanized, salt treatment, penta wood. Used mainly in outdoor
decks and other exposed areas. |
|
| Trimmers |
|
| Studs
at either side of a door, window, or other opening that are used to support
the header. |
|
| Truss |
|
| A
prefabricated structure made of wood members designed to form a rigid
framework for supporting loads over a given span. |
|
| Trusses |
|
| Pre-engineered
and wood frames designed to support roof or floor loads. |
|
| U |
[ TOP ] |
| UL |
|
| (Underwriters'
Laboratories). An independent testing agency that checks electrical and other
components for possible safety hazards. |
|
| Underlayment |
|
| Top
layer of plywood (or other material) in a two-layer floor. Provides a smooth
base for carpet, tile or sheet flooring. |
|
| Union |
|
| A
plumbing fitting that joins pipes end-to-end so they can be dismantled. |
|
| V |
[ TOP ] |
| Valley |
|
| The
intersection of two roof slopes. |
|
| Vapor
barrier |
|
| A
waterproof membrane in a floor, wall, or ceiling that blocks the transfer of
condensation. |
|
| Volt |
|
| (V). A
measure of electrical pressure. Volts x amps = watts. |
|
| W |
[ TOP ] |
| Warping |
|
| Any
distortion in a material. |
|
| Watt |
|
| (W). A
measure of the power an electrical device consumes. Watt hours (WH) express
the quantity of energy consumed. |
|
| Wye or
Y |
|
| A
Y-shaped plumbing fitting. |
|
| X |
[ TOP ] |
| There
were no terms beginning with that letter. |
|
| Y |
[ TOP ] |
| Y or
Wye |
|
| A
Y-shaped plumbing fitting. |
|
|
|
