The Homecents Master Glossary

ABRASIVE. Material such as sandpaper pumice, and emery, used for polishing, sanding, and grinding. 

ABSORPTANCE: ratio of energy absorbed by a surface to the amount striking it.

ABSORPTION: weight of water absorbed, expressed as percentage of dry weight; interception of radiant energy or sound waves.

ABSORPTIVITY: (see absorptance).

ACCELERATOR: chemical added to concrete to speed setting.

ACTIVE SOLAR COLLECTOR: mechanical system for collecting solar heat.

ACCESS Access refers to the freedom to move to and around a building, or the ease with which a person can obtain admission to a building site.

ACROSS THE GRAIN. At right angles to the run of the wood grain.

ACOUSTICAL Acoustical This refers to the ability of tiles on a ceiling to absorb or deaden sound.

ACOUSTICS. Having to do with the transmission of sound through air and building materials.

ADJACENT. Close to, next to. 

ADMIXTURE: substance added to mortar to change its properties

AGGREGATES . The materials, sand and gravel, mixed with Portland cement to produce • concrete.

AIR BARRIER: material or surface de-signed to prevent passage of air, but not water vapor.

AIR-ENTRAINED CONCRETE: concrete containing microscopic air bubbles to make it less susceptible to freeze damage.

AIR DRY. Lumber that has been allowed to season in the air rather than in a kiln.

AIR POCKET . In concrete, a cavity in a concrete mass.

AIR SPACE. The area between the inner and outer wall . Any cavity. 

ALKYD: synthetic resin paint base. Alkyd resin has largely replaced linseed oil.

ALL LENGTHS. Lumber cut in many different lengths.

ALL WIDTHS. Lumber cut in different widths.

ALLIGATORING This occurs when paint cracks and resembles the skin of an alligator.

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC): electrical current which reverses direction regularly (60 hertz, or cycles per second, in the US).

ALTITUDE: vertical angle of the sun above the horizon.

ANGLE IRON. A piece of iron or metal in the shape of a right angle ; used

AMMETER. This is an instrument for indicating the number of amperes of electricity flowing through a circuit in which it is placed, as distinguished from a voltmeter (q.v.), which indicates the E.M .F. (electro-motive force) of the current.

AMPACITY: ampere-carrying capacity of a wire.

AMPERE. Unit used to measure the rate of flow of electrical current. 

ANCHOR. To secure one object to another ; a device used to attach two objects together.

ANCHOR BOLT An anchor bolt is a steel pin that 1as a threaded end with a nut and an end with a 90° angle in it. The angled end is pushed into the wet concrete and becomes part of the foundation for anchoring the flooring or sill plates.

ANNEALING, a heat treatment that alters the microstructure of a material causing changes in properties such as strength and hardness

ANNULAR RING There are two colored rings that indicate the growth of a tree . The colors indicate the growth of spring wood and summerwood.

APRON A piece of window trim that is located beneath the window sill . Also used to designate the front of a building such as the concrete apron in front of a garage.

AREA. The total surface of a floor or wall.

ARMORED CABLE. Electric wires encased in metal.

ARRIS. The sharp point formed by two surfaces joining, such as the corner of a board.

ASBESTOS. A fireproof mineral.  Inhalation of some kinds of asbestos fibers, can cause various serious illnesses, including cancer. Many uses of asbestos are banned in many countries.

ASBESTOS SHINGLES. Roof or siding shingles made of Portland cement and asbestos.

ASH DROP: opening in the floor of a fireplace for ash disposal.

ASHLAR. A type of stonework.

ASPHALT PLASTIC CEMENT: asphalt used to seal roofing materials together.

ASPHALT SHINGLE This is a composition-type shingle used on roof. It is made of a saturated felt paper with ground-up pieces of stone embedded and held in place by asphaltum.

AUXILIARY LOCKS Auxiliary locks are placed on exterior doors to prevent burglaries.

AWL An awl is a tool used to mark wood with a scratch mark. It can be used to produce pilot holes for screws.

AWNING PICTURE WINDOW This type of window has a bottom panel that swings outward ; a crank operates the moving window. As the window swings outward, it has a tendency to create an awning effect.

AZIMUTH ANGLE: direction to the sun, usually measured from true north. Solar azimuth is measured east or west from true south.

BABBITT. A soft metal used for bearings.

BACKER ROD: foam rope used to fill large gaps before caulking.

BACKFILL: material used to fill excavation around a foundation.

BACK PAINTING. Painting the back side or unexposed surface of lumber to prevent the wood from absorbing moisture.

BACK PUTTY. A thin layer of putty placed between the glass and the rabbet of the window.

BACKSAW. A fine-toothed saw with thin blade, reinforced with a steel back, used for chamfering, mitering, etc. Also called a tenon saw.

BACKSPLASH A backsplash is the vertical part of a countertop that runs along the wall to prevent splashes from marring the wall.

BALLOON FRAME. This type of framing is used on two-story buildings . Wall studs rest on the sill . The joists and studs are nailed together, and the end joists are nailed to the wall studs.

BALLISTERS. The vertical posts on stair railing.

BALUSTRADE A complete handrail assembly . This includes the rails, the balusters, subrails, and fillets.

BANNISTER The banister is that part of the staircase which fits on top of the balusters.

BASEBOARD Molding covering the joint between a finished wall and the floor.

BASE SHOE Quarter round A molding added at the bottom of a baseboard. It is used to cover the edge of finish flooring or carpeting.

BATTEN A batten is the narrow piece of wood used to cover a joint.

BATTER BOARDS These are boards used to frame in the corners of a proposed building while the layout and excavating work takes place.

BATTS Batts are thick pieces of Fiberglas that can be inserted into a wall between the studs to provide insulation.

BAY WINDOW Bay windows stick out from the main part of the house . They add to the architectural qualities of a house and are used mostly for decoration.

BEAM A horizontal framing member. It may be made of steel or wood. Usually the term is used to refer to a wooden beam that is at least 5 inches thick and at least 2 inches wider than it is thick.

BEARING PARTITION An interior divider or wall that supports the weight of the structure above it .

BEARING WALL A bearing wall has weight-bearing properties associated with holding up a building's roof or second floor.

BENCHMARK A point from which other measurements are made.

BEVEL A bevel is a tool that can be adjusted to any angle . It helps make cuts at the number of degrees that is desired and is a good device for transferring angles from one place to another.
See Beveling

BIFOLD A bifold is a folding door used to cover a closet. It has two panels that hinge in the middle and fold to allow entrance.

BLISTERING Blistering refers to the condition that paint presents when air or moisture is trapped underneath and makes bubbles that break into flaky particles and ragged edges.

BITUMIN: substance containing oil or coal-based compounds; asphalt.

BLOCKING Corners and wall intersections are made the same as outside walls . The size and amount of blocking can be reduced. The purpose of blocking is to provide nail surfaces at the corners . These are needed at inside and outside nail surfaces . They are a base for nailing wall covering.

BLOCKOUT A form for pouring concrete is blocked out by a frame or other insertion to allow for an opening once the concrete has cured.

BLOCKS This refers to a type of flooring made of wood. Wide pieces of boards are fastened to the floor, usually in squares and by adhesives.

BOARD AND BATTEN A finished wall surface consisting of vertical board with gaps between them . The battens or small strips of wood cover the gaps.

BOARD FOOT A unit of lumber measure equaling 144 cubic inches . The base unit (B .F.) is 1 inch thick and 12 inches square, or 1 x 12 x 12 = 144 cubic inches.

BOILER: central heating appliance that generates either hot water or steam.

BOND: strength of adhesion. Also one of several patterns in which masonry units may be laid.

BONDING This is another word for gluing together wood or plastics and wood.

BOTTOM OR HEEL CUT This refers to the cutout of the rafter end which rests against the plate . The bottom cut is also called the foot or seat cut.

BOW A term used to indicate an upward warp along the length of a piece of lumber that is laid.

BOW WINDOW A window unit that projects from an exterior wall. It has a number of windowpanes that form a curve.

BRACE A brace is an inclined piece of lumber applied to a wall or to roof rafters to add strength.

BRACED FRAME heavy-timber frame braced in the corners by lighter members.

BRANCH CIRCUIT: one of several circuits in a building, originating at the service entrance panel and protected by a separate circuit breaker or fuse.

BRACE SCALE A brace scale is a table that is found along the center of the back of the tongue and gives the exact lengths of common braces.

BRICK: rectangular masonry unit hardened by firing in a kiln.

BRICK MOLD: standard wood molding used as outside casing around doors and windows.

BRICK VENEER: brick facing over wood or masonry.

BRIDGING Bridging is used to keep joists from twisting or bending.

BUCK A buck is the same as a blockout.

BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (BTU): amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1F°.

BROWN COAT: next-to-last plaster or stucco coat.

BUILDER'S LEVEL This is a tripod-mounted device that uses optical sighting to make sure that a straight line is sighted and that the reference point is level .

BUILDING CODES Building codes are rules and regulations which are formulated in a code by a local housing authority or governing body.

BUILT-UP ROOF: roofing consisting of many alternating layers of asphalt and felt.

BUILDING PAPER Also called tar paper, roofing paper, and a number of other terms . It has a black coating of asphalt for use in weatherproofing.

BUILDING PERMITS Most incorporated cities or towns have a series of permits that must be obtained for building . This allows for inspections of the work and for placing the house on the tax roles.

BULL NOSE: rounded masonry unit for use in corners.

BUNDLE: package of shingles.

BUILT-INS This is a term used to describe the cabinets and other small appliances that are built into the kitchen, bathroom, or family room by a carpenter. They may be custom cabinets or may be made on the site. bundle This term refers to the packaging of shingles . A bundle of shingles is usually a handy method for shipment. See-Built in cup board

BUS BAR: rectangular metal (usually copper) bar for carrying large electrical current.

BUTT A term that can be used a couple of ways : A bun hinge is one where the two parts meet edge-to-edge, allowing movement of the two parts when held together by a pin ; to butt means to meet edge to edge, such as in a joining of wooden edges.

BUTT CHISEL differs from other chisels only in that it has a shorter blade and, therefore, can be used in more inaccessible places . Commonly used in chiseling gains for hinges. The above-named chisels are made in widths of from 1/8 to 2 in .

BUTT JOINT: joint in which two members meet without overlap or miter.

CAICIUM CHLORIDE: a white deliquescent salt used as concrete accelerator, ice melting and water softening..

CANTILEVER Overhangs are called cantilevers ; they are used for special effects on porches, decks, or balconies.

CANT STRIP: beveled strip around the perimeter of a roof.

CAPILLARITY: movement of water through small gaps due to adhesion and surface tension

CARPENTER'S SQUARE This steel tool can be used to check for right angles, to lay out rafters and studs, and to perform any number of measuring jobs.

CARPET STRIPS These are wooden or metal strips with nails or pins sticking out. They are nailed around the perimeter of a room, and the carpet is pulled tight and fastened to the exposed nails.

CARPET TAPE This is a tape used to seam carpet where it fits together.

CARRIAGE A notched stair frame is called a carriage.

CASEMENT This is a type of window hinged to swing outward.

CASING A door casing refers to the trim that goes on around the edge of a door opening and also to the trim around a window.

CAULK: material used to fill building joints and cracks.

CAVITY WALL: masonry wall with a continuous space between the in-side and outside bricks that acts as a capillary break.

CELLULOSE INSULATION: loose-fill insulation consisting of shredded and treated newspaper.

CERAMIC MOSAIC: sheet of small ceramic tiles.

CEMENT PLASTER. A mixture of Portland cement and sand used as a finish coat.

CHALK LINE: straight line made by snapping a taut string coated by colored chalk.

CHAMFER. To cut off a corner to form a bevel . To cut a groove or channel in. Also, the surface formed when the angle made by adjacent faces of a piece- of timber, masonry, metal, etc., is cut away.

CHECK: cracks in the surface of wood resulting from drying (and shrinking) of the surface faster than of the interior.

CHECK VALVE. A valve used in plumbing to prevent a reverse flow of water in a pipe.

CHIMNEY: vertical tube for venting flue gases by natural convection.

CHIMNEY FIRE: burning of creosote and other deposits within a chimney.

CHORDS: framing members that make up the two sides of the roof and the base of a triangular truss.

CINDERS. Ashes from coal used as fill or mixed with cement to produce cinder blocks.

CINDER BLOCK. While concrete blocks are made of Portland cement, sand, and gravel, cinder blocks contain cinders in place of the other aggregate and are consequently lighter in weight than concrete blocks and have greater insulating qualities.

CLAPBOARD . Boards with one edge thicker than the other, used for house exterior siding.

CLINCH. To bend over.

CLINCH NAIL. Nails made of soft metal for clinching.

CLOCKWISE. To turn in the same direction in which the hands of a clock move.

COLLAR BEAM. A piece of lumber running horizontally between two rafters to provide additional support. 

COLLAR TIE: a horizontal framing member installed between rafters to add stiffness.

COMMON BOARDS. Boards one inch thick and up to 12 inches wide.  Also, a grade of lumber. See Table of Standard Lumber Sizes.

COMMON BRICKS. Ordinary red bricks of standard size.

COMPASS SAW. A saw with narrow, tapering blade used to cut curves, circles, and fine cuts.

CONCRETE. A mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water. 

CONCRETE PAINT. A mixture composed of cement, water, and coloring matter, for use on concrete and cement surfaces. Any paint formulated for use on concrete or cement.

CONDUIT.(EMT) A pipe carrying electric wires.

COPING. In masonry, the top finish of a wall.

COPING SAW. A saw with an extremely narrow blade which can be turned in the frame to saw at various angles.

CORNICE. Usually, the portion of a wall directly under the eaves.

COUNTER FLASHING. Flashing applied over flashing.

COUPLING. In plumbing, a device used to join sections of pipe or hose.

COURSE. In masonry, a layer of bricks . Also a layer of shingles. 

CREOSOTE. Wood or coal tar used as a wood preservative.

CRIPPLE STUDS: short vertical studs installed between a header and a top plate or between the bottom of a rough sill and the sole plate.

CROWNING. To raise the center of a flat surface so that water will drain off.

DADO. A rectangular, flat-bottomed grove cut in wood.

DADO JOINT . A joint made by cutting a tongue on the end of one member to fit into a dado cut in the other member.

DADO PLANE. A plane used to cut dados or grooves ; a narrow rabbet plane.

DDT. Dichlorodiphenyl trichlorethane.
A strong insecticide.

DECALCOMAINAS. A device used to transfer decorative designs onto painted surfaces.

DENATURED ALCOHOL . In painting, a a liquid used for thinning shellac. 

DEW POINT. Temperature at which moisture in air condenses.

DIMENSION STUFF . Lumber 2 inches thick and up to 12 inches wide. 

DORMER: a shed like structure that projects out from a roof to provide additional attic space.

DORMER WINDOW . A window built into the side of a roof.

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW. A window consisting of an upper and lower sash in a frame.

DOUBLE TOP PLATE: a double layer of 2-by material running horizontally on top of, and nailed to, the wall studs.

DOUBLE STUDDING. Two pieces of studding spiked together to form the openings for doors and windows. 

DOWEL. A round piece of wood.

DOWEL JOINT. A joint made by gluing a dowel into ‘two pieces of wood.

DRIP EDGE: a bent metal strip that fits over the edge of the roof to direct rain away from the roof edge and underlying walls.

DRY ROT. A decay of wood usually caused by alternative dryness and dampness.

DRY WELL. A hole in the earth filled with stones or gravel used to collect water from house roof.

D. S. GLASS. Double strength glass used for glazing large windows. 

EAVES. Portion of roof extending beyond walls.

EFFLORESCENCE . A white crust appearing on bricks caused by mineral salts.

EMERY PAPER. An. abrasive paper used on metal.

END-MATCH LUMBER. Boards with the ends tongued and grooved as well as the sides.

ENGLISH BOND. A bond or pattern used in brickwork.

ESCUTCHEON. The metal plate on doors around the knobs and keyhole. 

EXCAVATE. To dig out.

EXPANSION BOLT. A bolt designed for anchoring in masonry .

EXPANSION JOINT . Open joints between sections of concrete to allow for expansion and contraction. 

EXTERIOR. The outside or outer surface. 

FACE. The front, as the face of a wall or the face of a brick. The exposed portion.

FASCIA: a trim piece fastened to the ends of the rafters to form part of the cornice.

FELT PAPER. Heavy paper used in construction work to deaden sound and for insulating purposes.

FERRULE. The metal portion of a paint brush at the base of the bristles.

FIELD STONES . Rough, uncut local stones.

Fn.- um. In painting, a material used to fill the wood pores. Also gravel or cinders used as a base for laying concrete.

FINISH. The final surface when completed. 

FIRE BRICK. Special bricks, used in fireplaces and furnaces, that withstand heat.

FIRE CLAY . A special heat-resisting cement used to bond fire bricks. 

FIREPROOF. A material that will not burn.

FIRE RESISTANT. A material that will resist fire but is not absolutely fireproof.

FIRE STOP. A piece of studding used in wall construction to prevent fire from rising through the air space between inner and outer wall.

FLAGSTONES. Stone or concrete slabs used for walks . These can be made by the handyman.

FLASHING . Strips of metal used to make exterior house joints watertight. 

FLOW OUT. In painting, the ability of some paints to dry without brush marks.

FLUSH. A flat or even surface. 

FLUX. A composition used in soldering to clean the metal and help the solder to flow.

FOOTING. The lower portion of a foundation that rests on the ground. The base.

FRENCH DOOR. A door with panes of glass used instead of wood panels.

FRIEZE BOARD: trims pieces installed directly beneath the rafters to provide a nailing surface for the soffits and corner trim.

FROST LINE. The depth to which the earth freezes.

FURRING. Strips of wood nailed to masonry walls to serve as a base of laths or wallboard.

GABLE. The triangular portion at the end of a building.

GALVANIZED. To coat a metal with zinc to prevent rusting.

GALVANIZED NAILS. Zinc-coated nails for use when exposed to weather. 

GIRDER: a horizontal steel or wood member used to sup-port part of a structure's load.

GLASS BLOCKS . Translucent or transparent blocks of glass used in building.

GLAZED BRICKS . Bricks with a glazed surface.

GLAZING. The process of putting a pane of window glass into the sash.

GRADE. The slope or pitch of the ground.

GRAIN. The lines in wood caused by the annual growth.

GRAVEL. Small stones used in making concrete or used as fill.

GREEN LUMBER. Lumber that has not been properly seasoned.

GROUT. A thin cement mortar used for pointing.

HANGER. An iron support used for attaching beams.

HARDWARE. The metal work in a house, such as hinges, locks, etc. 

HARDWOOD FLOORS. Floors made out of hardwoods, such as oak and maple, as opposed to those made of softwoods.

HEAD. The top portion of a door or window opening.

HEADER : a horizontal framing member that runs above rough openings to take on the load that would have been carried by the wall studs; may be solid wood, be built up from 2-by material, or be an engineered beam such as Wood I Beam™ Joists or Panelam®

HIP RAFTER: any rafter that runs at a 45-degree angle from the end of the ridge to a corner of the structure.

HEARTH. The portion of a fireplace that extends into the room.

HOT WIRE. An electric wire with current passing through . A live wire. 

INSULATION. Any material that is a poor conductor of heat or electricity. 

INTERIOR. The inside of a house or building.

JACK. A mechanism used for lifting heavy objects.

JACK RAFTER: short rafters that run between two rafters or a rafter and a top plate.

JACK STUD : a stud that runs between the sole plate and the bottom of the header; also referred to as a trimmer stud

JAMB. Casing or side post of a doorway. 

JOINT. To fit two pieces of material together.

JOIST. The timber used to support or frame a floor or ceiling.

JOIST HANGER: often referred to as metal framing connectors, these are designed for use on 2-by projects where you need to quickly attach framing members together. Connector manufacturers offer an unbelievable assortment of anchors and ties for almost every conceivable application.

KEYHOLE SAW. A keyhole saw resembles a compass saw (which see) but has an even more narrow and tapering blade. It is designed for cutting out keyholes and for other fine work.

KILN DRIED. Wood that has been seasoned in a kiln oven rather than in the air.

KING STUD: the wall stud to which the jack stud is attached to create a rough opening for a window or door.

KNUCKLES OF A HINGE. The rounded portion of a hinge plate that takes the hinge pin.

LATH. Thin strips of wood 4 feet long nailed to studding as supports for plaster. Also can be wire mesh or composition plaster board . 

LEADER. The pipe from the gutter to the ground ; a downspout.

LIGHT. A plane of glass in a window sash.

LOAD BEARING WALL: a load-bearing wall helps support the weight of a house; all of the exterior walls that run perpendicular to the floor and ceiling joists in a structure are load-bearing walls, and any interior wall that's located directly above a girder or interior foundation wall is load-bearing.

LOUVRE. An opening with boards set at an angle across it to provide ventilation but prevent rain from entering.

MASKING TAPE. A tape with an adhesive on one side used for painting and decorating . The tape can be removed without damage to a painted surface.

MASTIC. A type of composition cement used for linoleum and asphalt flooring.

MATCHED BOARDS. Boards cut with tongue and groove.

MILDEW. A fungus growth.

MITER JOINT. A joint made by cut - ting each piece of wood at, usually, a 45-degree angle.

MINERAL OIL An oil of mineral origin, refined petroleum oil. Used for oiling cutting boards. And as a pump lubricant.

MOLDING. Wood that has been milled into special shapes and designs for use as trim.

MORTAR. A mixture of cement and sand used for bonding bricks and stone.

MORTICE. A hole cut into a piece of wood to receive a tenon or tongue shaped at the end of another
piece of wood. The resulting fit is called a mortise and tenon joint. Also MORTISE.

MURIATIC ACID. Hydrochloric acid used for cleaning concrete.

NATURAL FINISH . Wood that is left with the natural coloring.

NON-LOAD-BEARING WALL: a non-load-bearing wall does not help support the weight of the structure; also referred to as partition walls, they have relaxed design parameters and code requirements, such as wider stud spacing (24" vs. 16" on center) and smaller headers.

NOVELTY SIDING . Wood siding cut into special designs.

OAKUM. A hemp fiber used for caulking.

ON CENTER. From center to center. 

ORANGE SHELLEC. Shellac with natural coloring.

OUT OF PLUMB . Not plumb ; in other words, not level or vertical.

OVERHANG: the end of the rafter that projects beyond the building line; typically enclosed by a soffit.

PANE: piece of glass that, when in-stalled in a window, becomes a light.

PANEL: thin, flat piece.

PARGET: a surface coat of cement over masonry. Also known as parge.

PARQUET: thin strips of wood applied in geometric patterns on floors and furniture.

PARALLEL . Running side by side in the same direction.

PARAPET . A small low wall.

PARTING STRIP. A thin strip of wood nailed between the upper and lower sashes in a double hung window.

PARTITION. An inside wall, as between two rooms.

PARTITION WALL: nonbearing wall.

PARTY WALL: common wall that separates two properties.

PASSIVE SOLAR COLLECTOR: system for collecting solar energy without use of mechanical devices such as fans or pumps.

PENETRATING FINISH: finish that sinks into wood grain and does not leave a hard skin.

PERLITE: expanded volcanic glass. Used as an insulator and as a light-weight additive to concrete.

PERM: 1 grain of water vapor per square foot per hour per inch of mercury difference in water vapor pressure.

PERMEABILITY: ability to transmit water vapor, measured in perms.

PENNY: formerly the price in pennies of 100 nails of a certain size; now a measure of length. A 6-penny (6d) nail is approximately 2 inches long.

PERPENDICULAR . A line running at right angles to another line, such as a wall to a floor . A vertical line. 

PICTURE MOLDING . Special molding attached to the walls and from which pictures are hung. Can be either wood or plaster.

PICTURE WINDOW: large fixed window.

PIER: isolated masonry column. Pigment: powdered dye added to stain or paint.

PITCH: ratio of rise in feet to span in feet of a roof.

PITH: soft core of a tree that represents the original shoot.

PIGMENT. In painting, the material in the paint that provides the color.

PITCH. The slope of a surface, such as a roof or the ground.

PIT SAND. Sand taken directly from the pit.

PLANK. A heavy board.

PLASTER: mortar-like material that hardens after application. Stucco is simply exterior plaster.

PLASTERBOARD: term for gypsum drywall.

PLATE: horizontal member at the top or bottom of a wall. The top plate supports the rafter ends. The bottom or sill plate supports studs and posts.

PLATFORM FRAMING: a platform-framed structure is built one story at a time; each story is built upon a platform that consists of joists and a subfloor.

PLATES. Usually the 2 x 4 inch timbers running horizontally on the top of wall studding.

PLATE GLASS. Heavy glass used for large areas, such as store display windows.

PLENUM: ductwork chamber that serves as a distribution point.

PLUMB. To be in a perfectly upright position.

PLYWOOD: wood panel made of three or more veneers of wood alternating in direction of grain.

POCKET DOOR: door that slides into a wall.

POINTING. Filling joints in masonry with mortar and striking, or troweling, the joint with the point of the trowel to give a finished appearance. Also, the material used for pointing.

PORES: large-diameter wood cells that open to the surface.

POST-AND-BEAM FRAMING: Post-and-beam construction is easily identified by its use of large, widely spaced load-carrying timbers; also referred to as post-and-girt or post and lintel.

PORTLAND CEMENT: strong, water-resistant cement consisting of silica lime, and alumina.

PRESERVATIVE: water repellent liquid containing fungicide.

PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD: wood that has been injected with preservative under pressure.

PRIMER: first coating, applied prior to regular paint.

PSYCHROMETRIC CHART: graph showing the properties of water vapor in air.

PURLIN: a horizontal member perpendicular to, and supporting, rafters.

PUMICE STONE. A finely ground stone used for polishing.

PUNCH LIST: A list of items incorrectly done or remaining to be finished on a construction job.

PUTTY plastic made of powdered whiting and linseed oil.

QUARTER ROUND: molding whose section is that of a quarter of a circle.

RABBET. A groove cut in wood along the edge, particularly to receive the edge of another piece of wood and form a rabbet joint.

RABBET PLANE . A plane used for cutting rabbets on the edges of timber and also for cutting grooves in wood.

RADIUS. The distance from the center of a circle to the outside edge. 

RACKING: distortion of a building surface from the rectangular in its plane.

RADIANT HEATING: method of heating whereby much of the heat transfer is accomplished by radiation through space from warm building surfaces such as floors, walls, or ceilings.

RAFTER: roof beam running in the direction of the slope.

RAIL: horizontal member of a door or window sash. Also the top member of a balustrade.

RAKE JOINT. Type of mortar joint between bricks. The mortar is raked out of the joint to a certain depth before it sets.

RASP. A coarse file used mainly for filing rough surfaces . Like files, rasps are classified from rough to smooth.

REBAR: abbreviation for reinforcing bar. Usually applied to steel bars used in concrete.

REBATE. A groove or channel cut in wood. A rabbet.

RECEPTACLE: electrical device into which a plug may be connected.

REFLECTANCE: decimal fraction of light incident on a surface that is reflected and not absorbed. Absorptance equals 1 minus reflectance.

REFLECTIVE GLASS: glass treated to reflect a fraction (the reflectance) of incident light.

REFLECTIVITY: (see reflectance).

RED LEAD. A paint primer used on metal.

REINFORCED CONCRETE. Concrete that is strengthened internally by the use of steel bars (Rebar) or heavy wire mesh.

REGISTER: grill or grate covering the outlet of a duct.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY. The ratio of the amount of moisture present in the air to the maximum amount possible at a given temperature. 

RESORCINOL GLUE: plastic resin glue that withstands water.

RETROFIT: to upgrade a structure using modern materials.

RETURN: general term for a right-angle turn.

REVERBERATION TIME: measure of the length of time a sound wave will bounce around a space before being absorbed.

RIBBON: horizontal strip (usually 1x4) let into studs to support joist ends. Also called a ribband.

RIDGE: junction of the top of op-posing roof planes.

RIDGE BOARD: vertical board between the upper ends of rafters.

RIDGE VENT: continuous, pre-fabricated outlet ventilator placed over an opening at the ridge.

RISE: vertical increase in one step of a stair. Also the total vertical span of a stairway from landing to landing, or any vertical change.

RISER. The board that forms the front of the stair step.

ROLL ROOFING: low-cost asphalt roofing in roll form.

ROOF OVERHANG: horizontal projection of the roof beyond the wall.

ROUGH OPENING: an opening that's sized to accept a window or door; a horizontal framing member called a header is installed to assume the load of the wall studs that were removed. The header is supported by jack studs that are attached to full-length wall studs.

ROUGH SILL: a horizontal framing member that defines the bottom of a window's rough opening.

RUN: horizontal span of a flight of stairs.

R-VALUE: measure of resistance to heat flow.

ROTTENSTONE. A fine abrasive powder used for polishing furniture.

R.P.M. Revolutions per minute . 

ROUGH LUMBER. Lumber that has not been surfaced or dressed.

RUBBLE. Rough stone construction. 

RUST. A reddish coating on iron caused by oxidation.

SADDLE: pitched section of roof be-hind a chimney or between a roof and the wall toward which it slopes. Its purpose is to avoid trapped water.

SADDLE BOARD. Boards nailed along the ridge of a roof.

SAFETY GLASS: one of a number of types of glass that have been strengthened or reinforced for safety,

SAPWOOD: wood between the heartwood and the bark, in which the sap runs.

SASH. Portion of the window that moves and holds the panes of glass. 

SASH WEIGHT. Metal bar attached to end of window sash cord and used to balance sash.

SATURATED FELT: felt impregnated with asphalt in order to make it water resistant.

SCANTLING. Small pieces of dimension lumber . Often applied to 2 x 4’s and 2 x 6’s.

SCRIBING: a layout technique used to copy the imperfections of a wall to flooring so the flooring can be cut to butt snugly against the wall.

SHEATHING. Boards nailed over rafters or studding to serve as a base for roofing or siding.

SHIM. A strip of material used to fill a small space.

SHIPLAP. Boards cut along the edge in such a fashion that when nailed alongside one another they form a half-lap joint.

SHRINK. To become smaller due to the loss of moisture.

SIDING. The boards used as the exterior walls.

SILEX Finely ground quartz used as a filler.

SILL. The wood portion of a house that rests on the foundations.

S. S. GLASS. Single strength glass used in ordinary window panes. 

SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) are high-performance building panels for floors, walls and roofs.. Each panel is typically made using expanded polystyrene (EPS), or polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). These panels are made in a factory and erected on-site. Properly built, a house made of panels can be sturdier and more energy efficient than one conventionally framed with sticks of lumber. Additional information here.

SIZE. A coating applied to plaster or wallboard before paint or paste to prevent uneven absorption.

SKIRTING. Trim used between floor and walls. The baseboard.

SMOKE CHAMBER. Portion of a fireplace directly over the damper.

SOFFIT: the board that runs the length of a wall, spanning between the wall and the fascia on the underside of the rafters.

SOLE PLATE: a horizontal 2-by framing member that is attached directly to the masonry foundation or flooring; also referred to as a sill plate or mud sill.

SORT, PIPE. Pipe used for the sewer system.  appearance. Also, the material used for pointing.

STUD: a vertical 2-by framing member that extends from the bottom plate to the top plate in a stud wall.

SUBFLOOR: the first layer of a floor structure fastened directly to the joists or to a concrete slab.

TEMPORARY SUPPORTS: temporary supports bear the weight a wall normally would until a new support system can be installed (such as a new header or beam).

TOP PLATE a horizontal 2-by framing member that's nailed to the tops of the wall studs.

UNDERLAYMENT: a smooth surface laid on top of the subfloor to accept flooring; can be sheets of plywood, foam or cork, or cement board.

UNFACED INSULATION: This type of insulation does not have a facing or plastic membrane over one side of it . It has to be placed on top of existing insulation . If used in a wall, it has to be covered by a plastic film to ensure a vapor barrier.

UNION: A union is a group of people with the same interests and with proper representation for achieving their objectives.

UTILITIES: Utilities are the things needed to make a house a home. They include electricity, water, gas, and phone service . Sewage is a utility that is usually determined to be part of the water installation.

UTILITY KNIFE: This type of knife is used to cut the underlayment or the shingles to make sure they fit the area assigned to them . It is also used to cut the saturated felt paper over a deck.

VALLEY: This refers to the area of a roof where two sections come together and form a depression.

VALLEY RAFTERS: A valley rafter is a rafter which extends diagonally from the plate to the ridge at the line of intersection of two roof surfaces.

VAPOR BARRIER: plastic sheeting installed between walls to prevent moisture from entering and damaging the structure.

VENEER: A veneer is a thin layer or sheet of wood.

VENT: A vent is usually a hole in the eaves or soffit to allow the circulation of air over an insulated ceiling . It is usually covered with a piece of metal or screen.

VENTILATION; Ventilation refers to the exchange of air, or the movement of air through a building . This may be done naturally through doors and windows or mechanically by motor-driven fans.

VERNIER: This is a fine adjustment on a transit that allows for greater accuracy in the device when it is used for layout or leveling jobs at a construction site.

VINYL: Vinyl is a plastic material . The term usually refers to polyvinyl chloride . It is used in weather stripping and in making floor tile.

VINYL-ASBESTOS TILE: This is a floor covering made from vinyl with an asbestos filling.

WATER HAMMER: The pounding sound produced when the water is turned off quickly . It can be reduced by placing short pieces of pipe, capped off at one end, above the most likely causes of quick turnoffs, usually the dishwasher and clothes washing machine.

WATER TABLES: This refers to the amount of water that is present in any area . The moisture may be from rain or snow.

WEATHERSTRIPPING: This refers to adding insulating material around windows and doors to prevent the heat loss associated with cracks.

WINDER: This refers to the fan-shaped steps that allow the stairway to change direction without a landing.

WINDOW APRON: The window apron is the flat part of the interior trim of a window. It is located next to the wall and directly beneath the window stool.

WINDOW STOOL: A window stool is the flat narrow shelf which forms the top member of the interior trim at the bottom of a window.

WRECKING BAR: This tool has a number of names. It is used to pry boards loose or to extract nails . It is a specially treated steel bar that provides leverage.

ZONING: laws Zoning laws determine what type of structure can be placed in a given area . Most communities now have a master plan which recognizes residential, commercial, and industrial zones for building