| Question : | ADHESIVE |
| Answer : | A sticky liquid or paste used to fasten items together by surface attachment. |
|
| 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 have 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 build by a carpenter. |
|
| Question : | AWNING |
| 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 lads 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" for outside window decoration. |
|
| Question : | BLOCK REINFORCING |
| Answer : | Wire reinforcing laid horizontally in the bed joint of mortar between blocks to help tie the blocks together. Placed every 3 or 4 courses orhowever 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" x 3" 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 covered with asphalt shingle pieces as a finish. |
|
| Question : | BOTTOM CHORD |
| Answer : | The loser 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 placed. Also called sole plate. |
|
| Question : | BRACING |
| Answer : | A general term for lumber placed in a position to lend support to structural members. (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 or 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 in a 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 : | 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 contains one cubic foot and weighs 70#. |
|
| Question : | CEMENT, PORTLAND |
| Answer : | A fine powdery limestone with additives. When mixed with coars 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" x 8" metal door placed in the lower foundation of a fireplace in order to clean out ashes dumped there throughout 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 overhange 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 grave 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 multiplying 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 oe edge and a matching groove on the other. Also called tongue & grooved. |
|
| Question : | DAMPER |
| Answer : | A metal "door" placed 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 called "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 opender. |
|
| 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 ash 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 becalled 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 seperated 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 usually includes manufactred buildng products made from wood that are used in place of dimensional structural lumber. Common items include: parallel strand lumber, l-joists, laminated veneer 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 orcovered up. Common with shingles & siding. |
|
| Question : | EXTERIOR DOOR FRAME |
| Answer : | A rabbeted millword piece 3 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 LOCKSET |
| 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 roof. 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, usually 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 variety 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 4-1) |
|
| Question : | FOOTING |
| Answer : | The part ofa 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 ofthe basement or crawl space. Common materials are concrete 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 trowled on masonry finish. (FIG 4-1) |
|
| Question : | FOUNDATION VENTS |
| Answer : | Ventilators placed in a crawl space foundation allowing air movement throughout 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 places below this line. Check with local building officials. |
|
| Question : | FURRING STRIPS |
| Answer : | Strips of wood, often 1 x 2 or 1 x 3, usedto provid 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 th 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. Asphalttreated paper for gypsum sheating in 2' x 8' or 4' x 8' sizes, moisture resistant paper for installation around bathtub and shower areas. Plain gypsum board is usually 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 joins of two plywood (or plywood substitute) sheets to stiffen the area between supports. |
|
| Question : | HANGERS (POLE BUILDING) |
| Answer : | The tolleys 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. Som common hardwoos used in residential are oak, birch, beech, maple, luan. |
|
| Question : | HEADERS |
| Answer : | These "cut across" regular framing members at right angles and support oads 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. Ther 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 BRACING |
| Answer : | A general term for a variety of bracing usually used in a pole building. |
|
| Question : | HEADER & KICKER BRACING |
| 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 shingles or shakes for a wood roof. |
|
| Question : | HIP JACK RAFTERS |
| Answer : | The rafters in a hip roof, tht 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 eac 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 sidesof 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 : | l - 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 ip rafter (then called a hip jack) or by a valley rafter (then called a valley jack). (FIG 4-6) |
|
| Question : | JOINT & TOPPING COMPOUND |
| Answer : | A power mixed with water, or a ready mixed paste, used to install drywall tape over joints, 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, 2 x 8, or 2 x 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 VENEER 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 1/2" 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 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 member 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 commo 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 resistent 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 adiitional 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 nex 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 past trowled on about 1/2" 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. 1/4" to 3/4" 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. |
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| Question : | PLUMB |
| Answer : | Exactly vertical. (Level is exactly horizontal) |
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| Question : | PLUMBING CCESS PANEL |
| Answer : | The small door covering access to the plumbing end of a bathtub. |
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| Question : | PLYWOOD |
| Answer : | Building sheets consisting of "plys" of thin wood (veneers) arranged in a criss cross pattern. |
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| Question : | POCKET DOOR FRAME |
| Answer : | The frame which houses a door that opens into the wall. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | POLY FILM |
| Answer : | A shortening of the word polyethylene. |
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| Question : | POLYETHYLENE |
| Answer : | A lightweight plastic film used for vapor barriers, temporary material covering, drop cloth for paint, etc. |
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| Question : | POLYSTYRENE |
| Answer : | Rigid foamed plastic used for insulation 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. |
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| Question : | POLYURETHANE |
| Answer : | A varnish substitute. A rigid foamed plastic usually installed as an insulation in a liquid form which hardens into the shape whic molds it. |
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| Question : | PRIVACY LATCH |
| Answer : | A door knob installed in bathrooms an bedrooms. It locks and unlocks without a key. |
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| Question : | PROPER VENTS/AIR CHUTES |
| Answer : | Beadboard, cardboard or plastic chutes installed right over the tie plate and in between rafters to allow passage of air from siffit vents in to the attic. These isure that attic insulation will not plug p the passage of air at the junction of rafter and outside wall. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | QUARTER ROUND |
| Answer : | A small moulding whose end is shaped like a quarter of a circle. |
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| Question : | "R" FACTOR |
| Answer : | A measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat. |
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| Question : | RAFTER |
| Answer : | The sloping framing member that supports the roof. (FIG 4-1; 4-4 through 4-9) |
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| Question : | RAKE |
| Answer : | The overhang and/or finish material on the gable end. (FIG 4-8/ 4-9) |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | RIBBANDS |
| Answer : | Or ribbons. A board "let into" studs to support joist. In a pole building they fasten to poles to support roof trusses or other roof framing. |
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| Question : | RIDGE BOARD |
| Answer : | A horizontal framing member installed at the roof peak of a conventionally (non-truss) ramed building. 2" deeper than the rafters framing into it. (FIG 4-1; 4-8) |
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| Question : | RIDGE CAP |
| Answer : | The finish top of the ridge. For asphalt shingled roofs a boston ridge is often used. For wood shingles or shakes a wood ridge is used. Also available in galvanized metal shape. |
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| Question : | RIM JOIST |
| Answer : | See "header joist." |
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| Question : | RISE |
| Answer : | In stairs the individual rise is from the top of one tread to the top of thenext. 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 plat to the top of the ridge. (FIG 4-3; 5-2) |
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| Question : | RISER |
| Answer : | The vertical finish piece between treads. (FIG 4-3) |
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| Question : | ROCKLATH |
| Answer : | A gypsum board product usually 16" x 48" and 3/8 thick used as a plaster base. |
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| 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. |
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| 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) |
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| Question : | ROOF VENTS |
| Answer : | Ventilators placed in a roof to ventilate the attic of a pitched roof. Can be stationary, turine, or power. |
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| 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 subloor and underlayment to prevent squeaking. |
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| Question : | ROUGH OPENING |
| Answer : | The clear space between framing members into which doors, windows, etc. are installed. (FIG 4-1) |
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| 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) |
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| Question : | S1S2E |
| Answer : | Abbreviation for "surfaced 1 side, 2 edges." |
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| Question : | S4S |
| Answer : | Abbreviation for "surfaced 4 sides". |
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| Question : | S-P-F |
| Answer : | A mixed specie group of lumber consisting of any combination of Spruce, Pine & Fir. |
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| Question : | SASH |
| Answer : | Glass and the wood surrounding it. |
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| Question : | SASH LIFT |
| Answer : | Hardware attached to the bottom rail of a window sash enabling it to be more easily opened. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | SCREED BOARD |
| Answer : | A straight piece of lumber used to level off concrete flatwork as it is being placed, by drawing it across the formwork. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | SETBACK |
| Answer : | The distance a building is set back from the building line to meet local zoning laws. |
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| Question : | SHAKES |
| Answer : | Thik, sawn or handplit wood shingles usually tapered. |
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| Question : | SHEATHING |
| Answer : | A covering that goes over the framing and under the finish srface of a building. It adds strength to floors, walls and roofs and often is a nailing surface. Common materials used include plywood, waferboard ad in the "old days", boards and shiplap. (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-7; 4-8) |
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| Question : | SHEET ROCK |
| Answer : | A brand name of drywall used for wall and ceiling finish. See drywall. (FIG 4-1; 4-2; 4-7; 4-8) |
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| Question : | SHELF & ROD BRACKET |
| Answer : | A metal hardware item used to give additional support to a clothes clset shelf and rod when the span is 4' or more. (FIG 4-1) |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | SHINGLES |
| Answer : | Wood or asphalt roo covering in pieces. |
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| Question : | SHIPLAP |
| Answer : | Boards with a rabbeted edge on each edge so they can be lapped for a tighter fit. |
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| Question : | SHUTTERS |
| Answer : | Inside decoration for windows. those used on the exterior of a house ae often called "blinds". |
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| Question : | SIDING |
| Answer : | The exterior wall covering of a building. (FIG 4-1; 4-2) |
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| 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 corne into which the siding is butted. (FIG 4-1) |
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| 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. |
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| 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 te same angle as the rest of the siding rows. |
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| Question : | SILL |
| Answer : | A plate laid flat on top 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) |
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| Question : | SILL SEALER |
| Answer : | A thi strip of insulation placed directly under the sill. (FIG 4-1; 4-12) |
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| Question : | SKIRT BOARD |
| Answer : | On a pole building, the wood members placed on the ouside of the poles around the pole building forming the lowest part of the wall. May be 1 to 5 rows high before metal siding takesover. On a stair the finish board that goes at the junction of stair and wall. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | SNUGGERS |
| Answer : | Hardware devices that enable the large sliding doors found in metal buildings used for farm machinery, etc. to be closed tightely. |
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| Question : | SOFFIT |
| Answer : | The finished underside of a overhang. (Fig 5-2) |
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| Question : | SOFFIT LOUVERS |
| Answer : | Vents placed in the soffit to help ventilate the attic of a sloped roof. (FIG 4-7) |
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| Question : | SOFTWOOD |
| 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. |
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| Question : | SOIL STACK |
| Answer : | The main plumbing pipe in a house through which toilet waste, and more, gets to the sewer. |
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| Question : | SOLE PLATE |
| Answer : | The bottom plate resting on the subfloor and on which the wall studs are placed. (FIG 4-1; 4-2) |
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| 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) |
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| Question : | SQUARE |
| Answer : | 100 square foot of roof or siding area. |
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| 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 feet in one square yard. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | STAIR HORSE |
| Answer : | Or stringer. The framing member(s) supporting a stair. Usually 2 x 10, or 2 x 12. (FIG 4-3) |
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| 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" wde 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 slide down in its usual position.) |
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| Question : | STAY ROLLERS |
| Answer : | In metal building construction, rollers may be inserted in concrete at the edges o the large door openings on the outside of the building to keep the large doors from "flying" out at the bottom. |
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| 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 realy the sloping piece extending to the outside. |
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| Question : | STRINGER |
| Answer : | See stair horse. |
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| Question : | STRIPPING |
| Answer : | See furring strips. |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| Question : | STYROFOAM |
| Answer : | A brand of extruded polystyrene. |
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| 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) |
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| Question : | SUBFLOOR |
| Answer : | The floor placed directly on the floor framing members, often plywood. (FIG 4-1; 4-2) |
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| Question : | T & G |
| Answer : | See D & M |
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| Question : | TAIL JOIST |
| Answer : | Joist that are cut off by a header or trimmer and are shorter than normal joist. (FIG 4-7) |
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| Question : | TERMIT SHIELD |
| 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. |
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| Question : | THRESHOLD |
| Answer : | The wood or metal item place on top of a door sill and directly under a closed door for weather-stripping or to assist in a floor height change. |
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| 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) |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | TOP CHORD |
| Answer : | The uppermost chord of a truss. On a sloped roof it takes the place of rafters. (SEE “TRUSS”) |
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| 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) |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | TREAD |
| Answer : | The “stepped on” part of a stair. (FIG 4-3) |
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| Question : | TRIM |
| Answer : | A general term describing millwork used to finish around doors, windows, etc. |
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| 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) |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | TYVEK |
| Answer : | A brand name wind barrier house wrap placed over the wall sheathing and under siding. (FIG 4-1) |
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| Question : | UNDERLAYMENT |
| Answer : | A floor placed above the subfloor and under a finish floor of carpet or vinyl. (FIG 4-1; 4-3) |
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| Question : | VALLEY |
| Answer : | The internal angle formed by the juncture of 2 roofs. |
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| Question : | VALLEY JACK RAFTERS |
| Answer : | Common rafters that butt into a valley rafter and thereforE are shorter. |
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| Question : | VALLEY RAFTER |
| Answer : | The supporting rafter in a valley. Usually 2” deeper in size, than the common rafters. |
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| Question : | VALLEY TIN |
| Answer : | Flashing material used in a valley to keep the valley watertight. Usually galvanized, painted or aluminum. |
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| Question : | VAPOR BARRIER |
| Answer : | A building product that resists the passage of moisture in vapor form. Often polyethylene film placed under the drywall. |
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| Question : | VENEER |
| Answer : | A thin slice of wood. Or a brick covering over a frame wall. |
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| Question : | VENT |
| Answer : | A ventilator or louver. |
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| Question : | VERMICULITE |
| Answer : | A mineral insulation made from expanding mica. Used for concrete block fill insulation, and, in the old days, for attic insulation. |
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| Question : | WAINSCOTING |
| Answer : | A wall finish material covering the lower portion of a wall, which is different than the rest of the wall covering. |
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| Question : | WALL GIRTS |
| 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. |
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| Question : | WEATHERSTRIPPING |
| Answer : | Materials of various kinds placed in a building to cut down on heat loss by infIltration. Often around windows and doors. |
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| Question : | WEBS |
| Answer : | The structural members in a truss, between the bottom and top chords. (SEE “TRUSS”) |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Question : | WIND BRACING |
| Answer : | In pole building construction various braces are installed to help the building resist wind stresses. |
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| 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. |
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| 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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