Glossary

View our Lumber and Building Glossary of Terms Below - Type in a "keyword" if you are looking for a specific topic.

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Question : Appearance Lumber
Answer  : A variety of non-structural grades intended for applications where strength is not the primary consideration.  

Question : Adjustable Shelf Standard
Answer  :  Metal pieces, often 6’ long, into which shelf brackets or clips are inserted so you can adjust shelf spacings.

Question : Allowances (In Estimating)
Answer  : When an exact item is not specified the estimator often “allows” a reasonable amount of money so the owner can pick out a style, color, etc. later. If the owner picks something cheaper than the allowance they get a refund or a credit. If they pick something more expensive they pay the difference.

Question : Anchor Bolt
Answer  : Bolts with an angle on the end, used to fasten the sill plate to a foundation wall. (FIG 4-2)
 

Question : Angle Trim
Answer  : Sheet metal bent in the proper shape to “finish” corners, junctions, etc. in a metal building or with metal siding.
 

Question : Apron
Answer  : Interior wood member that goes under a window stool For A finished look. (Many windows are trimmed all around with casing. (Picture cased.) No sill is used and therefore no apron.)
 

Question : Ash Dump
Answer  : A rectangular metal item placed in a masonry fireplace floor, that can be “opened” allowing ashes to fall down into an ash dump area in the base of the fireplace. (Not all fireplaces have this.)
(FIG 4-11)

Question : Asphalt Shingles
Answer  : Individual pieces of roofing overlapped to form a watertight covering. The “old “ style is to hve an “organic” (heavy felt) base covered with granules. Newer styles have a fiberglass mat saturated with asphalt and covered with granules. Various weights and shapes are available.

Question : Attic Access Panel
Answer  : An opening is placed in the ceiling or gable end of a home providing access to the attic. This is closed with the attic access panel to which can be bought ready made or built by a carpenter.
 

Question : Awning Window
Answer  : A window hinged at the top, swinging outside.
 

Question : Baluster
Answer  : Small vertical members of a wood stair or railing that support the top rail.

Question : Baustrade
Answer  : A unit made up of balusters, top rail, corner posts, and possibly a bottom rail. Used as the edge of porches, stairs, etc.

Question : Base
Answer  : A “finish” trim member often used at the junction of wall and floor. Wood and vinyl are common.

Question : Base Shoe
Answer  : A trim member used at junction of floor and wall.  Often in conjunction with the base trim.

Question : Batt
Answer  : Fiberglass insulation cut to length to fit in a wall or between ceiling joist or lower truss chords.

Question : Batten
Answer  : Narrow strips of wood or metal used to cover joints in siding or paneling.
 

Question : Batter Boards
Answer  : A pair of boards, nailed to stakes, at right angles to each other at the corners of a building. These assist in locating the corners of the building for excavation and layout purposes.

Question : Beam
Answer  : A structural member carrying guilding loads from one support to another. Sometimes called “girder”. (FIG 4-1; 4-4)

Question : Bearing Partition
Answer  : The partitions in a building that support loads from above and transfer them to a support below. (FIG 4-4)

Question : Bevel Siding
Answer  : Siding that is tapered from thin to thicker. Usually redwood or cedar and applied horizontally.

Question : Bifold Door
Answer  : Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than the standard swinging door. Often used for closet doors.
 

Question : Blandex
Answer  : A brand name for a wafer board type sheet plywood substitute.
 

Question : Blinds
Answer  : “Shutters” foor outside window decoration.

Question : Block Reinforcing
Answer  : Wire reinforcing laid horizaontally in the bed joint of mortar between blocks to help tie the blocks together.  Placed every 3 or 4 courses or however specified.
 

Question : Blocking
Answer  : A general term for blocks of wood used to strengthen or support different areas of construction.

Question : Butts
Answer  : Another name for hinges. Generally those hinges used for hanging larger doors, like those separating rooms, and sized for 3”x3” or larger, are called butts. Those smaller are called hinges.

Question : Board Feet
Answer  : A common unit of measure of lumber quantity.  It is one square foot of lumber at one inch in thickness. (Or equivalent)
(SEE TABLE 3)

Question : Boston Ridge
Answer  : A ridge or hip coered with asphalt shingle pieces as a finish. 

Question : Bottom Chord
Answer  : The lower chord of a truss, in a roof truss it takes the place of ceiling joist. (SEE “TRUSS”)

Question : Bottom Plate
Answer  : The plate that lays on the subfloor upon which the studs are places. Also called sole plate.

Question : Bracing
Answer  : A general term for lumber placed in a position to lend support to structural memebers. (FIG 4-4; 4-5)

Question : Brick Moulding
Answer  : A shape of exterior trim often used around windows and doors.

Question : Brick Tie
Answer  : A small corrugated metal strip about 1” x 6-8” long nailed to wall sheathing or studs, 1 per every 2 square feet, and inserted in the horizontal mortar joint of brick. This ties a brick veneer wall to the wall behind it.

Question : Bridging
Answer  : Metal or wood pieces installed diagonally in a joist space at about center span, to help transfer concentrated loads over a broader area. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Built-Up Ceiling Girder
Answer  : A girder hidden in the attic that spans over openings ina bearing wall. Ceiling joist will butt into it for support.  (FIG 4-4)

Question : Bypass (Sliding) Doors
Answer  : Doors that slide by each other. Often used in pairs as closet doors.

Question : Casement Window
Answer  : A window hinged on the sides and opening to the outside. Opens like a door.

Question : Casing
Answer  : A general term for trim around the interior of windows, doors, etc.

Question : Cedar Closet Lining
Answer  : Strips of aromatic cedar wood used to fully or partially line a closet for mothproofing and preservative purposes.
 

Question : Cement, Masons
Answer  : Portland cement with lime added used in the making of mortar for laying masonry units. One bag containes one cubic foot and weighs 70#.

Question : Cement, Portland
Answer  : A fine powdery limestone with additives.  When mixed with coarse and fine aggregate and water it makes concrete. So named because its color resembled the cliffs of Portland England.  One bag contains one cubic foot and weighs 94#.

Question : Cleanout
Answer  : An 8”x8” metal door placed in the lower foundation of a fireplace in order to clean out ashes dumped there throught the ash dump.
 

Question : Clothes Chute
Answer  : A passage way in a wall or closet enabling clothes to be inserted in the opening above and dropped to a clothes hamper below, usually near the washing machine.

Question : Collar Tie
Answer  : Structural member nailed about 2/3 the way up a pair of rafters. Going from one rafter to the other to tie them together and keep them from spreading. (FIG 4-4)
 

Question : Corner Bracing
Answer  : Diagonal bracing in the corner of an outside wall to resist “racking” that might be caused by wind. All foam and gypsum sheathed houses require this, most houses with other sheathing do not.

Question : Cornice
Answer  : The entire overhang area of a pitched roof house, at the eave line.  (FIG 4-1; 4-7)

Question : Cove
Answer  : A general moulding with a concave face sometimes used at juncture of walls and/or at wall-ceiling intersection.  Several common sizes available.

Question : Cripple
Answer  : A framing member cut to less than full length such as a short stud over a window or door header. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Crushed Stone
Answer  : Stone crushed to be within a certain size to meet the requirements for concrete or fill purposes. Often used when gravel is not readily available.

Question : Cubic Feet
Answer  : A unit of volume measure in feet. Found by multiplying length x depth, all in feet. There are 1728 cubic inches in one cubic foot. There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
 

Question : Cubic Yard
Answer  : A unit of volume measure in yards. Found by multiplying length x width x depth, all in yards. Or by dividing cubic feet by 27. Or by muliploying cubic feet by .037. There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
 

Question : D & M
Answer  : Dressed and matched. Lumber that has a tongue on one edge and a matching groove on the other. Also called tongue & grooved.

Question : Damper
Answer  : A metal “door” place above a fireplace in the throat of the chimney. It controls the opening from the chimney to the fireplace.

Question : Dimension Lumber
Answer  : Lumber from 2” to 5” thick and up to 12” in width. Usually used for joists, studs, beams, etc. Lumber 1” thick is called “boards” and lumber bigger than dimension lumber is call “timbers”.
 

Question : Door Bumpers (Stops)
Answer  : Hardware attached to the door, or baseboard near the door, to keep the door from swinging far enough to cause damage.

Question : Door Jamb
Answer  : The millwork item forming the inside liner of a doorway about 1” x 6” in size. Usually a wood DOOR STOP is installed on the jamb to keep a door from swinging through. Many times jambs are packaged with the stop included, from the factory.
 

Question : Door Operator
Answer  : Refers to an automatic garage door opener.

Question : Dormer
Answer  : A small roof with needed wall framing below, extending from a sloping roof, to house a window(s).
 

Question : Double Hung Window
Answer  : A window divided in half (usually) horizontally. The lower sash can be raised by sliding it past the upper sash in a track. The upper sash can be lowered the same way. The glass may be further divided by muntin bars or removeable grids in rectangular or diamond patters. If the top sash is “fixed” this type window may be called a “single hung”.

Question : Drip Cap
Answer  : A wood or metal flashing resting on top of the outside trim above a door or window to help shed water by directing the water drips away from the door or window surface.
 

Question : Drop Siding
Answer  : Exterior wood siding with a concave pattern near the top, and tongue and groove joints.

Question : Dutch Door
Answer  : An exterior door separated horizontally about in the middle enabling the top half to be open while the bottom half remains closed.

Question : Eaves
Answer  : The entire horizontal roof overhang. (Cornice) (FIG 4-7)

Question : Engineered Lumber Products (ELP)
Answer  : A general term that usally includes manufactured building products made from wood that are used in place of dimensional structural lumber.  Common items include: parallel strand lumber, l-joists, laminated vener lumber (LVL, open-web trusses, header beams, etc).

Question : Exposed To Weather
Answer  : The amount a building product “shows” to the weather with the remaining part lapped or covered up. Common with shingles & siding.

Question : Exterior Door Frame
Answer  : A rabbeted millword piece3 that forms the liner of exterior door openings. The rabbet receives the exterior door and acts as a stop. Different than a door jamb which is for interior doors.
 

Question : Exterior Lock Set
Answer  : A door knob with a keyed lock in it.
 

Question : Facia
Answer  : The horizontal finish piece on the end of the rafter tails.  (FIG 4-1; 4-7; 4-8; 4-9)

Question : Felt (#15 Asphalt)
Answer  : Asphalt saturated felt usually placed under shingles on a sloped rood. Most roll are 3’ tall and cover 400 square feet allowing for head and side lap. It weighs 15# per square. (FIG 4-1; 4-7)

Question : Finisher (Metal Building)
Answer  : This is a formed metal piece that may go on over the last several inches of the last metal roof piece and project down the wall slightly to give the roof a “finished” look.

Question : Firebrick
Answer  : Specially tempered brick that forms the inner wall and floor of an all masonry fireplace. (FIG 4-11)
 

Question : Fireclay Mortar
Answer  : A special soupy mortar used to coat the joints of firebrick while laying them up so they stick together.

Question : Firestop
Answer  : A general term for blocking installed in wall or floor or ceiling cavities to slow the spread of fire through those cavities.

Question : Flashing
Answer  : A general term describing building products, usally galvanized, aluminum, painted or copper, that are placed so as to shed water.

Question : Flue Liner
Answer  : A clay product used to line the inside of a masonry chimney. Usually 2’ lengths and a avariety of widths. (FIG 4-11)

Question : Fly Rafter
Answer  : The outermost rafter on a sloped roof. Many times it is held up only by the roof sheathing, though on wider overhangs a ladder rake supports it. (FIG 4-11)

Question : Footing
Answer  : The part of a building which bears down on the soil transferring the building load to the ground. Usually concrete but can be treated wood. Usually about twice the width of the foundation which sits above it. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Footing Plate
Answer  : A footing of treated wood.

Question : Form Material
Answer  : A general term for all the material needed to provide a form into which to pour concrete.
 

Question : Formica
Answer  : A brand name of plastic laminate often used for a countertop surface.

Question : Foundation
Answer  : Resting on the footing it rises to support the floor and provides a barrier to keep earth out of the basement or crawl space. Common materials are concret block, poured concrete and treated wood. (FIG 4-1; 4-2)

Question : Foundation Coating
Answer  : A coating applied on the exterior of the foundation for waterproofing. Often an asphalt coating or a troweled on masonry finish. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Foundation Vents
Answer  : Ventilators placed in a cral space foundation allowing air movement throught the crawl space.

Question : Framing Anchor
Answer  : A rigid metal angle often used in a wood foundation. It helps fasten the floor to the foundation.
 

Question : Frost Line
Answer  : A depth into the ground that varies by climate. To protect a building from possible damage by frost heaving, footings should be placed below this line. Check with local building officials.

Question : Furring Strips
Answer  : Stips of wood, often 1 x 2 or 1 x 3, used to provide a level fastening surface for wall or ceiling finish.

Question : Gable End
Answer  : The continuation of the wall into the triangle on the “end: of a building formed by a gable roof. (FIG 4-8)

Question : Gable End Assemblies
Answer  : A triangular structure for the gable end of a building. It includes the gable end studs, a bottom plate and a rafter all in on assembly.

Question : Gable End Louvers
Answer  : Vents placed in the gable end.  Rectangular or triangular.

Question : Gable Roof
Answer  : A simple two way sloped roof with the slopes coming from two walls opposite each other.

Question : Garage Ties
Answer  : Like ceiling joist in a garage but spaced wider apart. The purpose is to tie opposite walls together to prevent their spreading at the top.

Question : Girder
Answer  : A main structural support. Often called a beam.  Usually supporting joists. (FIG 4-1; 4-4)

Question : Glider (Slider) Window
Answer  : A window divided in half vertically. The sash slide by each other horizontally, though one side is often fixed in place.
 

Question : Gravel Fill
Answer  : Unwashed, ungraded gravel right from the pit used under most concrete flatwork. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Grout
Answer  : A runny mixture of cement, sand and water that flows into masonry crevices to fill the holes solid.

Question : Gutter Apron
Answer  : A formed metal piece installed on the edge of a sloped roof, with a projection down on the facia. The gutter back can be slid behind this giving a good watertight junction.  Many times a different roof edge (style D) is used for the same results.
 

Question : Gypsum Board
Answer  : A sheet product with gypsum at its core. Then covered with a choice of papers depending on its use. Asphalt treated paper for gypsum sheathing in 2’ x8’ or 4’ x 8’ sizes, moisture resistant paper for installation around bathtub and shower areas. Plain gypsum board is usally used as the interior wall and ceiling surface for most habitable buildings. Thickness usually 1/2” or 5/8”. Usually 4’ wide and many lengths from 6’
to 16’ Often called “sheetrock” but that is really a brand name. (FIG 4-1)
 

Question : "H"-Clips
Answer  : Small metal clips formed like an “H” that fit at the joints of two plywood (or plywood substitute) sheets to stiffen the area between supports.

Question : Hangers (Pole Building)
Answer  : The trolleys upon which large sliding doors used for farm machinery and the like, are hung.

Question : Hardwood
Answer  : Wood that comes from deciduous (leaf bearing) trees. All hardwood species are not harder than all softwood species,but generally they are. Some common hardwoods used in residential are oak, birch, beech, maple, luan.

Question : Headers
Answer  : These “cut across” regular framing members at right angles and support loads so that openings for stairs, doors, windows, fireplaces, etc. can be framed. Except for wall headers, they are usually the same size members as where they are located except doubled or maybe tripled depending on load conditions. There are floor headers, wall headers, ceiling headers, etc., depending on local conditions. 

Question : Header Joist
Answer  : Other common names are: box header, rim joist, band, ribbon, etc. This member goes across the ends of floor joists.  (FIG 4-1; 4-3; 4-4)
 

Question : Header & Kicker Bracer
Answer  : A general term for a variety of bracing usually used in a pole building.

Question : Hearth
Answer  : The fireproof area right in front of a fireplace. (FIG 4-11)
 

Question : Hip Cap
Answer  : The finish covering over the hips of a hip roof. Usually cut from asphalt shingles – same as a boston ridge. Or formed from wood shinges or shakes for a wood roof.

Question : Hip Jack Rafters
Answer  : The rafters in a hip roof, that start at the tie plat and intersect a hip rafter. (FIG 4-6)
 

Question : Hip Rafters
Answer  : In a hip roof, the rafters that start at a building corner and rise to the ridge. These are load carrying members and are usually 2” deeper than the common rafters.  They form an external angle. (FIG 4-6)

Question : Hip Roof
Answer  : A four way sloped roof where each opposite wall has a sloping roof starting.
 

Question : Hook Strip
Answer  : In finishing a traditional clothes closet this is a 1 x 4 piece of wood nailed to the back and both sides of the closet wall. It supports the shelf, gives the pole sockets a place to be fastened and often has clothes “hooks” screwed into it. (FIG 4-10)
 

Question : Hopper Window
Answer  : A window hinged across the bottom.  Usually opening inward.

Question : I - Joist
Answer  : Joists shaped like an “l” with a plywood or composite wood web and solid or veneer lumber flanges. Commonly used for floor or roof joists in place of solid lumber.

Question : "J" - Trim
Answer  : A “J” shaped metal or vinyl trim piece used with metal buildings or metal or vinyl siding and soffits.

Question : Jack Rafter
Answer  : A rafter that is “cut off” from its destination by a hip rafter (then called a hip jack) or by a valley rafter (then called a valley jack). (FIG 4-6)

Question : Joint and Topping Compound
Answer  : A power mixed with water, or a ready mixed paste, used to install drywall tape over joinst, and to cover the tape and nail holes associated with drywall installation.

Question : Joist
Answer  : One of a series of horizontal framin members usually 2 x 6, 2x 8, or 2x 10 used to carry the floor (floor joist), or the ceiling (ceiling joist) or a low slope or flat roof (roof joist).  Usually placed 16: or 24” on center (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-3; 4-4)

Question : Joist Hanger
Answer  : A metal “U” shaped item into which the end 2” or so of a joist fits, and is supported or fastened to another structural member, when there is no support below it. Can be single wide or double wide. (FIG 4-3; 4-4)

Question : Kiln Dried Wood
Answer  : Wood dried down to a moisture content of usually 19% or 15%, in huge “ovens”.
 

Question : Klips
Answer  : Slang term for the small bracket that fits into an adjustable shelf standard. (SEE: ADJUSTABLE SHELF STANDARD)
 

Question : Knee Brace
Answer  : In a pole building, a brace installed at about 45 degrees that supports the ribbons which support the rafters or trusses, but has more uses.

Question : Ladder Rake
Answer  : A ladder shaped series of framing members used to support the roof overhang on the gable end when the overhang is 18” or more. (FIG 4-9)

Question : Laminated Veener Lumber
Answer  : A substitute for solid wood, made of layers of lumber veneers in which the wood grain runs parallel to each other.
 

Question : Landing
Answer  : A platform within a run of stairs. Often used when a stair changes direction.

Question : Landing Tread
Answer  : A moulding piece about 3 ½” wide that is placed at the very top of a set of finished stairs so the nosing at the floor level is like the nosings on the rest of the finished treads.

Question : Lap Cement
Answer  : A liquid asphalt roofing product used to cement layers of rolled roofing products together.
 

Question : Lateral Truss Bracing
Answer  : Horizontal bracing going the length of a building used to tie web members or chords of adjacent trusses together. Often 2 x 4’s.

Question : Light
Answer  : In millwork, a pane of glass.
 

Question : Lineal Feet
Answer  : Length only, without regard to width, depth, thickness, etc.

Question : Lintel
Answer  : A member that supports a load over an opening. Same as a header. (FIG 4-11)

Question : Lookouts
Answer  : Short framing members in the overhang extending out from building used to support soffit material.  Often 1 x 4, or 2 x 4. (FIG 4-7; 4-8; 4-9)

Question : Louver
Answer  : Another term for a vent used to allow the exchange of air in an attic or crawl space.

Question : Mansard Roof
Answer  : Similar to a hip roof except each of the four sloping sides has two slopes. The first very steep and contains the majority of the visible roof. The second slope is quite low and closes the roof in at the very top.

Question : Mantel
Answer  : The decorative shelf above a fireplace. (FIG 4-11)

Question : Masonry
Answer  : Units made from concrete or clay. Most common are concrete block, brick and clay tile.

Question : Masonry Cement
Answer  : See “cement, masons”.

Question : Masonry Sand
Answer  : A very fine washed and graded sand used with masonry cement and water to make mortar with which to lay bricks and blocks.

Question : Millwork
Answer  : A general term describing wood items used for finish, made in a millwork shop. Such as doors, windows, mouldings, cabinets, casing, cove, base, etc.

Question : Modular
Answer  : Refers usually to a 4” or 8” incremental layout. Also to material that installs in those increments.
 

Question : Mortar
Answer  : A mixture of sand, mason’s cement, (or Portland cement and lime) and water used to lay masonry.
 

Question : MR or WR Drywall
Answer  : Moisture resistant or water resistant drywall used to line a tub and/or shower area.

Question : Mullion
Answer  : A vertical divider between multiple windows, doors, etc.

Question : Muntin
Answer  : The small wood divider between panes of glass in a sash.

Question : Nailer
Answer  : A general term for backing required in various locations for additional support or nailing surfaces. (FIG 4-7)
 

Question : Newel Post
Answer  : The large starting post of a finished stair.
 

Question : Nominal Size
Answer  : The “name” size of a building material rather than the actual size. Such as 2 x 4, etc. (See SECTION 1)
 

Question : On Center, O/C
Answer  : A way to designate how far it is from the center of one framing member to the center of the next for equal repetitive spacing.

Question : OSB
Answer  : Oriented strand board is a plywood substitute made of wood wafers with the wafers arranged or oriented in somewhat the same direction in each “ply” and consisting of 3 or more plys. Stronger than the original “waferboard” products.

Question : Outside Perimeter
Answer  : The lineal distance around the outside of an object.

Question : Parallel Strand Lumber
Answer  : A substitute for solid dimension lumber. It is made from 1/8” to 1/10” strands of lumber of up to 8 feet in length. These are arranged in blocks of wood of almost any size. They are often cut to standard dimension lumber sizes.

Question : Parging
Answer  : A cement paste trowled on about ½” in thickness forming a monolithic waterproof barrier on a foundation wall.

Question : Particle Board
Answer  : Usually a 4” x 8” sheet made of course sawdust mixed with a resin. ¼” to ¾” thick. Used for floor underlayment, shelving, treads, etc.
 

Question : Passage Latch
Answer  : A door knob with no lock.

Question : Pea Rock
Answer  : Rock the size of peas often used in construction of wood foundations because water can drain down through it rather freely and reach the sump pump.

Question : Piper
Answer  : A post made of concrete block or concrete
 

Question : Plastic Cement
Answer  : A thick asphalt product trowled on, used to patch holes or in other ways to seal small areas from leaking.

Question : Plastic Laminate
Answer  : Thin decorative rigid plastic sheets often used for countertops. Formica is a common brand name.
 

Question : Plumb
Answer  : Exactly vertical. (Level is exactly horizontal)

Question : Plumbing Access Panel
Answer  : The small door covering access to the plumbing end of a bathtub.
 

Question : Plywood
Answer  : Building sheets consisting of “plys” of thin wood (veneers) arranged in a criss cross pattern.

Question : Pocket Door Frame
Answer  : The frame which houses a door that opens into the wall.

Question : Pole Pads
Answer  : In a pole building, the concrete “cookies” that are poured or placed in the bottom of a pole hole to keep the pole from sinking further into the ground.

Question : Poly Film
Answer  : A shortening of the word polyethylene.

Question : Polyethylene
Answer  : A lightweight plastic film used for vapor barriers, temporary material covering, drop cloth for paint, etc.

Question : Polystyrene
Answer  : Rigid foamed plastic used for insultation boards. Can be extruded forming closed cells. A common brand name is Styrofoam. Or individual beads can be formed into a board commonly called beadboard.
 

Question : Polyurethane
Answer  : A varnish substitute. A rigid foamed plastic usually installed as an insulation in a liquid form which hardens into the shape which molds it.

Question : Privacy Latch
Answer  : A door knob installed in bathrooms and bedrooms. It locks and unlocks without a key.
 

Question : Propervents / Air Chutes
Answer  : Beadboard, cardboard or plastic chutes installed righ over the tie plate and in between rafters to allow passage of air from soffit vents in to the attic. These insure that attic insulation will not plug up the passage of air at the junction of rafter and outside wall.

Question : Purlins
Answer  : In pole buildings the horizontal framing members, that go lengthwise on top of the truss top chord, which provide nailing for the finished roof.

Question : Quarter Round
Answer  : A small moulding whose end is shaped like a quarter of a circle.

Question : "R" Factor
Answer  : A measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat.
 

Question : Rafter
Answer  : The sloping framing member that supports the roof.  (FIG 4-1; 4-4 through 4-9)
 

Question :   Rake
Answer  : The overhang and/or finish material on the gable end.  (FIG 4-8/ 4-9)

Question : Re Rods
Answer  : A shortened version of reinforcing rods. Deformed metal bars from 3/8” to 5/8” in diameter used to add tensile strength to concrete.

Question : Removable Window Grids
Answer  : “False” muntin bars used to give the appearance of divided lights in an otherwise single light sash. They can be easily removed for cleaning of glass.
 

Question : Ribbands
Answer  : Or ribbons. A board “let into” studs to support joist.  In a pole building they fasten to polses to support roof trusses or other roof framing.

Question : Ridge Board
Answer  : A horizontal framing member installed at the roof peak of a conventionally (non-truss) framed building. 2” deeper than the rafters framing into it. (FIG 4-1; 4-8)

Question : Ridge Cap
Answer  : The finish top of the ridge. For asphalt shingled roofs a bostom ridge is often used. For wood shingles or shakes a wood ridge is used. Also available in a galvanized metal shape.

Question : Rim Joist
Answer  : See “header joist.”
 

Question : Rise
Answer  : In stairs the individual rise is from the top of one tread to the top of the next. The overall rise is the entire distance the stair rises, from one finished floor to the next. In roof terms it is the distance from the top of the tie plate to the top of the ridge.  (FIG 4-3; 5-2)

Question : Riser
Answer  : The vertical finish piece between treads. (FIG 4-3)

Question : Rocklath
Answer  : A gypsum board product usually 16” x 48” and 3/8 thick used as a plaster base.

Question : Roll Roofing
Answer  : Roofing made of asphalt saturated felt that comes in rolls, usually 36” high. Various weights are common from 45# to 65# per square.
 

Question : Roof Edge
Answer  : Shaped metal used at the eave and/or rake edge to finish edge of roof. Usually galvanized or painted. Available in several common shapes (FIG 4-1)
 

Question : Roof Vents
Answer  : Ventilators placed in a roof to ventilate the attic of a pitched roof. Can be stationary, turbine, or power.

Question : Rosin Paper
Answer  : Building paper treated with rosin available in rolls of usually 500 square feet, 3’ high. Not used much, but if used, generally placed between a subfloor and underlayment to prevent squeaking.

Question : Rough Opening
Answer  : The clear space between framing members into which doors, windows, etc. are installed. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Run
Answer  : In stairs the individual run is the horizontal distance from the face of one riser to the face of the next. The total run is the entire horizontal distance the stair covers. (From the face of the first riser to the face of the last.) In roofs it is the horizontal distance from the outside wall to the peak of the roof. (FIG 4-3; 5-2)

Question : S1S2E
Answer  : Abbreviation for “surfaced 1 side, 2 edges.”
 

Question : S4S
Answer  : Abbreviation for “surfaced 4 sides”.
 

Question : S-P-F
Answer  : A mixed specie group of lumber consisting of any combination of Spruce, Pine & Fir.
 

Question : Sash
Answer  : Glass and the wood surrounding it.

Question : Sash Lift
Answer  : Hardware attached to the bottom rail of a window sash enabling it to be more easily opened.
 

Question : Sash Lock
Answer  : A lock installed on the meeting rail of a double hung or glider window enabling the two sash to be locked together for weather and security purposes.

Question : Screen Board
Answer  : A straight piece of lumber used to level off concrete flatwork as it is being placed, by drawing it across the formework.

Question : Screen Moulding
Answer  : A small thin piece of moulding used to fasten screen material to a wood window screen. Also used to finish the edge of plywood shelves.

Question : Setback
Answer  : The distance a building is set back from the building line to meet local zoning laws.

Question : Shakes
Answer  : Thick, sawn or handsplit wood shingles usually tapered.

Question : Sheathing
Answer  : A covering that goes over the framing and under the finish surface of a building. It adds strength to floors, walls and roofs and often is a nailing surface. Common materials used include plywood, waferboard and in the “old days”, boards and shiplap.  (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-7; 4-8)

Question : Sheetrock
Answer  : A brand name of drywall used for wall and ceiling finish. See drywall. (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-7; 4-8)

Question : Shelf & Rod Bracket
Answer  : A metal hardware item used to give additional support to a clothes closet shelf and rod when the span is 4’ or more. (FIG 4-1)
 

Question : Shims
Answer  : Small wedge shaped pieces of wood (sometimes wood shingle pieces) that assist in “squaring up” a window or door frame as it is installed.
 

Question : Shingles
Answer  : Wood or asphalt roof covering in pieces.

Question : Shiplap
Answer  : Boards with a rabbeted edge on each edge so they can be lapped for a tighter fit.
 

Question : Shutters
Answer  : Inside decoration for windows. Those used on the exterior of a house are often called “blinds”.

Question : Siding
Answer  : The exterior wall covering of a building. (FIG 4-1; 4-2)

Question : Siding Corners
Answer  : Individual metal pieces placed over the outside corners of horizontal lapped siding. Can also be 2 vertical boards placed at right angles forming a solid vertical corner into which the siding is butted. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Siding Nailer
Answer  : For vertical board siding – 2 x 4 placed horizontally in the stud cavity about 24” on center to provide a place to nail 1 x 6, 8, 10 or 12” vertical board siding when plywood is not used for the wall sheathing.

Question : Siding Starter
Answer  : For metal or vinyl siding a special accessory.  For horizontal hardboard siding a piece of wood lath or a piece sawn from siding is applied to right above the foundation along the house perimeter to give the first row the same angle as the rest of the siding rows.

Question : Sill
Answer  : A plate laid flat on toop of the foundation upon which the floor joist are placed. Held in place with anchor bolts which extend into the foundation. Should be redwood, cedar or treated wood. (FIG 4-1; 4-2)

Question : Sill Sealer
Answer  : A thin strip of insulation placed directly under the sill. (FIG 4-1; 4-12)

Question : Skirt Board
Answer  : On a pole building, the wood memebers placed on the outside of the poles around the pole building forming the lowest part of the wall. May be 1 to 5 rows high before metal siding takes over. On a stair the finish board that goes at junction of stair and wall.

Question : Skylight
Answer  : In a metal building the translucent panel that is put in place of the regular metal roofing every so often to let daylight into the building interior.

Question : Snuggers
Answer  : Hardware devices that enable the large sliding doors found in metal buildings used for farm machinery, etc. to be closed tightely.

Question : Soffit
Answer  : The finished underside of an overhang. (FIG 4-7; 4-8; 4-9)

Question : Soffit Louvers
Answer  : Vents placed in the soffit to help ventilate the attic of a sloped roof. (FIG 4-7)

Question : Soft Wood
Answer  : Wood from coniferous (cone bearing, evergreen) trees. Some softwoods are harder than some hardwoods, but not generally. Some common softwoods used in construction are Douglas Fir, Pine, Redwood, Hemlock, Spruce, Cedar, Larch, etc.

Question : Soil Stack
Answer  : The main plumbing pipe in a house through which toilet waste, and more, gets to the sewer.

Question : Sole Plate
Answer  : The bottom plate resting on the subfloor and on which the wall studs are placed. (FIG 4-1; 4-2)

Question : Span
Answer  : The clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support. In roofing the horizontal distance from one support to another directly under a pair of rafters. (FIG 5-2)

Question : Square
Answer  : 100 square feet of roof or siding area.

Question : Square Feet
Answer  : A unit of area measure found by multiplying width x length, in feet. There are 144 sq. inches in one square foot. And 9 square feet in one square yard.

Question : Square Yard
Answer  : A unit of area measure found by multiplying length x width, in yards. Or by dividing a know number of square feet by 9. 9 square feet = one square yard. The common unit of measure for floor coverings.

Question : Stair Horse
Answer  : Or stringer. The framing member(s) supporting a stair. Usually 2 x 10, or 2 x 12. (FIG 4-3)

Question : Starter
Answer  : In a pole building, a narrow piece of metal roofing that extends down the wall slightly. It is the first piece installed on a metal roof, to get the roof started. On an asphalt shingled roof it is a 9” wide piece of rolled roofing placed all along the eave as the first piece laid. Not used too often. (Usually a regular shingled is put head down, instead, to start the roof. Though the bottom tabs should really be cut off and the remainder of the shingle slid down in its usual position.)

Question : Stay Rollers
Answer  : In metal building construction, rollers may be inserted in concrete at the edges of the large door openings on the outside of the building to keep the large doors from “flying” out at the bottom.

Question : Stool
Answer  : An interior millwork piece placed on the window sill and extending into the house. It is often called a window sill though the sill is really the sloping piece extending to the outside.

Question : Stringer
Answer  : See stair horse.

Question : Stripping
Answer  : See furring strips.

Question : Strongback / Stiffback
Answer  : Two framing members (often 2 x 4, or 2 x 6) nailed together to form an “L” shaped framing member. These are placed on top of ceiling joist ( in the attic) and nailed into the ceiling joist to “draw” the ceiling joist into a level line eliminating shadows from an uneven ceiling. Used only where needed. (FIG 4-4)

Question : Stud
Answer  : The vertical upright framing members that make up the skeleton of a conventionally framed wall. (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-4)

Question : Styrofoam
Answer  : A brand of extruded polystyrene.

Question : Sub Facia
Answer  : A 2” thick framing member placed on the end of rafter tails under the finish facia to provide a more straight finished facia line. Optional. (FIG 4-1; 4-3)

Question : Subfloor
Answer  : The floor placed directly on the floor framing members, often plywood. (FIG 4-1; 4-2)

Question : T & G
Answer  : See D & M

Question : Tail Joist
Answer  : Joist that are cut off by a header or trimmer and are shorter than normal joist. (FIG 4-7)

Question : Termit Sheild
Answer  : A metal flashing with an angle placed on top of the foundation so termites can not crawl up the foundation and get into the house framing. Used only in certain parts of the US.

Question : Threshold
Answer  : The wood or metal item place on top of a door sill and directly under a closed door for weatherstripping or to assist in a floor height change.

Question : Tie Plate
Answer  : The top most plate above the studs. It rests on the “top” plate and extends over the joints in the top plate, “tying” the stud walls together. (FIG 4-1 4-4)

Question : Tin Shingles
Answer  : Small, flat, metal pieces about 5” x 7” that are bent on the job for use as flashing. Often used at a masonry chimney at the roof line.

Question : Top Chord
Answer  : The uppermost chord of a truss. On a sloped roof it takes the place of rafters. (SEE “TRUSS”)

Question : Top Plate
Answer  : The framing member resting directly on top of the studs. When a tie plate is placed on top of it, the pair if often called a double top plate. (FIG 4-1; 4-4)

Question : Track
Answer  : In pole building construction the track goes above the large sliding doors and holds the hangers so the doors can be slid open.

Question : Track Girt
Answer  : In pole building construction the framing member nailed to the building upon which the door track for sliding doors is fastened.

Question : Tread
Answer  : The “stepped on” part of a stair. (FIG 4-3)

Question : Trim
Answer  : A general term describing millwork used to finish around doors, windows, etc.

Question : Trimmer
Answer  : A framing member that goes along side a regular framing member, doubling it up, for additional load carrying ability and making up two of the inside members forming rough openings for doors, windows, stairways, et. (FIG 4-1; 4-3)

Question : Truss
Answer  : An engineered framing unit capable of carrying designed loads for large spans. Usually consisting of a series of :”fixed” triangles made up of chords and webs that carry the stresses to the desired endpoint. When a roof truss is used it takes the place of rafters, ceiling joist and “y” or collar bracing.

Question : Tyvek
Answer  : A brand name wind barrier house wrap placed over the wall sheathing and under siding. (FIG 4-1)

Question : Underlayment
Answer  : A floor placed above the subfloor and under a finish floor of carpet or vinyl. (FIG 4-1; 4-3)

Question : Valley
Answer  : The internal angle formed by the juncture of 2 roofs.

Question : Valley Jack Rafters
Answer  : Common rafters that butt into a valley rafter and therefore are shorter.

Question : Valley Rafter
Answer  : The supporting rafter in a valley. Usually 2” deeper in size, than the common rafters.

Question : Valley Tin
Answer  : Flashing material used in a valley to keep the valley watertight. Usually galvanized, painted or aluminum.

Question : Vapor Barrier
Answer  : A building product that resists the passage of moisture in vapor form. Often polyethylene film placed under the drywall.

Question : Veneer
Answer  : A thin slice of wood. Or a brick covering over a fram wall.

Question : Vent
Answer  : A ventilator or louver.

Question : Vermiciulite
Answer  : A mineral insulation made from expanding mica. Used for concrete block fill insulation, and, in the old days, for attic insulation.

Question : Wainscoating
Answer  : A wall finish material covering the lower portion of a wall, which is different than the rest of the wall covering.

Question : Wall Grits
Answer  : In pole barn construction the horizontal framing members placed in the wall about 24” centers used to make the building rigid and as a nailer for siding.

Question : Weatherstripping
Answer  : Materials of various kinds placed in a building to cut down on heat loss by infiltration. Often around windows and doors.

Question : Welded Wire Mesh
Answer  : Wire reinforcing welded together to make a reinforcing “mat” to place in concrete. Often the wires are 6” apart each way and the rolls are 5’ wide and 150’long.

Question : Wind Barrier
Answer  : A fabric-like plastic material installed under siding to cut down on airflow into and out of the stud cavity. It is not a vapor barrier. Some common trade names are Tyvek, Typar, Barricade, Etc.

Question : Wind Bracing
Answer  : In pole building construction various braces are installed to help the building resist wind stresses.

Question : Wood Lath
Answer  :  
Strips of rough wood about 1” wide, 3/8” thick and 4’ long. Used to be used as a plaster base.

Question : WEBS
Answer  : The structural memebers in a truss, between the bottom and top chords. (SEE “TRUSS”)

Question : Wood Strip Protector
Answer  : In a wood foundation the treated piece that goes where the earth and foundation meet. Can be board or a strip of plywood.
 

 
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