Carpentry
fiber board Carpentry
Product
A term regarding sheet material of various densities. The material is made from vegetable fibers such as cane or wood.
acoustical materials Carpentry
Product
Kinds of material - such as plaster and tile - absorb sound waves. Acoustical materials are often placed over interior wall surfaces in order to prevent reverberation of the sound waves.
adhesive Carpentry
Product
A kind of substance having the ability to keep material joined through surface attachment. Glue, mastic, and paste are all types of adhesives.
adze Carpentry
Equipment
A tool with a handle at right angles with the blade; it is used for roughing something out.
air conditioning Carpentry
General
A system that controls the temperature, movement, humidity and the cleanliness of the air.
air-entraining agents Carpentry
Product
Chemicals added to enhance the functionality and freeze-thaw strength of mortar over a period of time.
alteration Carpentry
General
The changes that occur within a building's structure or mechanical equipment that maintains the cubic content of the building.
amaranth, purpleheart Carpentry
General
Amaranth (also known as purpleheart) is a type of purplish hardwood that comes from trees growing in the Guianas. It contains a tight texture and pleasing, varied grain. The term amaranth may also refer to the purple dyestuff created from the wood; however, paint pigments created from it are not stable in the sunlight.
anchor bolts Carpentry
Product
The bolts inserted into concrete that keep the structural members together.
anchor straps Carpentry
Product
The strap fastener that is inserted into masonry walls or concrete to keep sills from moving around.
annual rings Carpentry
General
The rings or wood layers that indicate one growth period of a particular tree. The rings represent the age of the tree at the cross section.
apron Carpentry
General
A section of horizontal trim that is placed upon the awll under the stool. Apron covers the raw edge of plaster.
areaway Carpentry
General
An open area surrounding a door or basement window. It allows for ventilation, access and light.
asphalt Carpentry
Product
A substance created from evaporated petroleum. It is soluble in gasoline and becomes a liquid when heated. It is insoluble in water and can be used as a waterproof covering.
astragal Carpentry
Product
A kind of interior molding that is joined to a window sash or pair of doors to stop them from going in and out.
backband Carpentry
Product
A thin rabbeted molding that is placted on the outer corner and edge of door casing and interior windows in order to create the effect of a thick trim appearance.
backfill Carpentry
Technical
Putting earth back around foundations at the completion of an excavation.
backing board Carpentry
Product
The base panel of gypsum drywall that showcases a gray liner paper on top. It is used in a two-layer drywall system and cannot be used as a top surface.
balloon framing Carpentry
Technical
A kind of building construction that has standing studs that originate from the foundation sill and extend to the rafter plate.
baluster Carpentry
Product
A structure member that holds a stair rail that is turned and/or square spindle-like in appearance.
balustrade Carpentry
Product
A structure that holds a hand rail or continuous stair; its railing is constructed from a number of balusters that stand on a base such as treads.
Bamboo Carpentry
General
A type of grass that takes on the characteristics of wood over an extended amount of time.
base shoe Carpentry
Product
Narrow molding placed along the perimeter of a room at the intersection of the finish floor and the baseboard.
basement Carpentry
General
The bottom of a house that is either in the ground or partially in the ground.
batter Carpentry
General
The inclination of a structure - such as a wall - from the vertical position.
batter board Carpentry
Product
A temporary structure utilized to locate corners as the foundation base is constructed.
bay Carpentry
General
One of the various intervals that the building plan is sectioned into, including piers, division walls or columns.
bay window Carpentry
Product
A type of window or windows that rests beyond the main wall of the foundation.
bearing partition Carpentry
General
A partition that withholds its own weight as well as an upright load.
bed molding Carpentry
Product
A molding that is placed at the intersection of two surfaces. Often used in cornice trim.
bench mark Carpentry
General
A mark on a fixed object on the ground that elevations and land measurements are created from.
bird's mouth Carpentry
General
A notch cut at the bottom of a rafter to in order to place it correctly to the top plate.
blind nailing Carpentry
Technical
Pertaining to tongue-and-groove flooring in which nails are inserted at a 45 degree angle to the subfloor and placed at the origin of the tongue where they cannot be seen.
blind stop Carpentry
General
A structure member placed on the outside edge of the head and side jamb of a window in order to create a stop for the top sash. It also forms a rabbet for storm sash, blinds, shutters and screens.
blue stain Carpentry
General
A stain resulting from fungus growth in unseasoned lumber - such as pine. The strength of the wood is unaffected.
Bookmatching Carpentry
Technical
Wood veneer sheets that are positioned to create a symmetrical effect.
brick construction Carpentry
Technical
A kind of construction in which the outside walls are bearing walls created from brick.
brick molding Carpentry
Product
A kind of molding for outside door frames and windows that acts as the edge molding for siding material. It creates a rabbet for combination door, screens and/or storm sash.
brick veneer construction Carpentry
Product
A kind of construction of a wood-frame structure which has an outside surface made up of single brick.
bridging Carpentry
Technical
Sections placed in pairs originating from the bootm of one floor joist to the adjacent joists on top. They are crossed to balance the floor weight.
buff Carpentry
Technical
A word referring to polishing through the rubbing of a cloth over and over the surface of something. The word may also be used to refer to an electrical machine that polishes wood or metal; it contains a fabric wheel at each end.
built-up roof Carpentry
General
A type of roofing that is made out of many layers of rag felt or jute mixed with pitch, coal tar or asphalt. The upper layer is completed with gravel or crushed slag. Usually placed on low-pitched or flat roofs.
butt Carpentry
General
A kind of door hinge. A leaf is placed into an area that is routed on the door frame jamb. The second is inserted in the door edge.
cabinet Carpentry
Product
A case that is made out of doors, drawers and shelves. It is mainly used to store objects.
cabinet drawer guide Carpentry
Product
A piece of wood that guides a drawer as it moves either in or out of the opening.
cabinet drawer kicker Carpentry
Product
A wood cabinet member that stops the drawer from angling downward when it is opened. It is placed at the center of the drawer in most cases.
camber Carpentry
General
A small arch of a beam or another horizontal structural member that stops any bending resulting from weight pressure.
Cane Carpentry
General
A multi-purpose and long-wearing climbing palm that thrives in the subtropics and tropics.
cant strip Carpentry
Product
A section of wood shaped like a triangle; it is placed underneath the edges of roofing on flat decks or underneath shingles at gable ends.
casein glue Carpentry
Product
A type of adhesive made out of hydrated lime and casein. It is often used to laminate wood that contains a lot of moisture or for keeping oily wood pieces together.
casement Carpentry
Product
A type of window with a sash that can swing inwardly and outwardly because it sits on an upright edge.
casing Carpentry
Product
The finished edging surrounding a window or door; it can also be the completed lumber surrounding a beam or post.
caulk Carpentry
Product
The action of waterproofing and sealing the joints and cracks around an area - such as around door frames or window edges.
chair rail Carpentry
Product
The inside molding placed along the perimeter of a wall in a room to stop a chair from bruising a wall.
chase Carpentry
General
A wood structure that extends from an exterior wall that witholds a prefabricated chimney.
check Carpentry
General
A split/crack that may happen inside a log; the split moves radially from the core to the bark due to fast drying.
check rails Carpentry
General
The intersection of rails of a double-hung window. The rails are purposely created thicker in order to fill up the space in the middle of the bottom and top sash.
chordal distance Carpentry
General
The distance between two points located on a curve; the measure of the distance circling the curve is longer than the chordal distance
cleat Carpentry
General
A section of wood appllied over a door to increase its strength. It is also a section of wood applied to a wall to uphold objects - such as a fixture or shelf.
collar beam Carpentry
General
A tie beam joining rafters high above the wall plate. Also known as a rafter tie.
column Carpentry
Product
A vertical support structure that is either rectangular or circular in its shape.
commerical standard Carpentry
General
A standard that fosters fair competition amongst companies. The standard creates for items such as certification, methods of testing, quality control and a rating system of manufactured products.
conductors Carpentry
General
The pipes that guide water flow from a roof to the ground or to a drain. Also known as a downspout.
contact cement Carpentry
Product
A neoprene rubber-based adhesive that joins objects together immediately upon contact.
convenience outlet Carpentry
Product
An electrical outlet that portable equipment can be plugged into.
cope Carpentry
General
To form the end of a molded wood piece so it can be placed over the outside edge of another piece of molding.
corbel out Carpentry
Technical
To reach outwardly from a surface of a masonry wall a number of courses in order to create a supporting ledge.
Cork Carpentry
Product
Cork is taken from the bark of the evergreen cork tree. To prepare cork, the bark of the tree is first granulated, and then combined with resins. It is then pressed and baked into sheet form or tile. Most of the world's cork comes from Portugal.
corner bead Carpentry
Product
A type of molding that is created to shield corners. It is also a metal strengthener that is put on corners prior to plastering.
corner braces Carpentry
Product
Crossing braces inserted into studs to strengthen corners of the structure of frames.
cornice Carpentry
General
The outside edge of a structure at the place of intersection of a roof and wall. It often is made up of boards, moldings and panels.
counterflashing Carpentry
Product
Flashing placed on chimneys in order to shield the roof-line from shingle flashing and protect it from moisture build-up.
cove molding Carpentry
Product
A concave molding often placed where two pieces intersect at a right angle.
cripple jack Carpentry
General
Also known as a cripple rafter. A type of rafter that finishes each end with valley and hip rafters. The rafter does not meet at either the ridge or the plate edges.
cripple stud Carpentry
General
A type of stud that is placed over a wall opening. It elongates from the header over the opening to a top late. It may also be placed under a wall opening in the middle of a rough sill and sole plate.
cupola Carpentry
General
A type of structure containing four sides and vents that is placed on top of a roof. A cupola enhances a structure and encourages ventilation.
curtain wall Carpentry
General
A type of wall that is placed in the middle of columns or piers and is usually nonbearing.
dead bolt Carpentry
Product
Also known as a dead lock. A door security system that is made up of a lock and solid steel bolt. The lock is opened by a key inserted from the outside or inside. A handle can open the lock from the inside.
degree day Carpentry
General
A system of measuring the climate in regards to heating methods and insulation. One day multiplied by the number of degrees the mean temperature is under 65 degrees F equals one degree day.
dimension lumber Carpentry
Product
Lumber that measures up to 12 inches in width and 2 - 5 inches in thickness.
dimensional stability Carpentry
General
The capability of a material to withstand alterations of its measurements in regard to moisture, temperature and physical pressure.
direct gain system Carpentry
Technical
An inert solar construction that allows the sun to heat a room.
door frame Carpentry
General
A structure made out of wood sections to form a support for a door. A door frame may be characterized as interior or exterior.
door stop Carpentry
General
A molding attached to a door frame jambs to stop the door from swinging either in or out.
dormer Carpentry
General
An extending structure formed from an inclining roof. It often contains a number of windows.
drip cap Carpentry
Product
A molding that guides water from a structure to stop seepage underneath the outside material. It is usually put over outside door and window frames.
drip groove Carpentry
General
A groove on the bottom side of a drip cap or window lip sill that stops water from flowing back underneath a member.
drop siding Carpentry
General
A siding that is formed into different kinds of patterns. It contains tongue and groove or shiplap joints.
dry rot Carpentry
General
A term regarding kinds of decay. Often refers to the advanced stage of wood decay in which wood can be reduced to a dry powder.
drywall Carpentry
Product
Sheet materials for wall surfaces that do not require a water additive before use.
eaves Carpentry
General
The lower section of a roof that extends over an outer wall. Also known as an overhang.
electric moisture meter Carpentry
Equipment
A meter utilized to figure out the content of moisture within a piece of wood.
elevation Carpentry
General
How high an object rests above grade level. Or, a kind of drawing that visualizes the sides, front and back of a building structure.
equilibrium moisture content Carpentry
General
The content of moisture that a piece of wood remains stable in its moisture content when placed in an environment containing a certain temperature and humidity.
expansion joint Carpentry
General
A type of bituminous fiber strip that is utilized to divide units of concrete to keep it from cracking because of measurement changes. The changes may result from changes in temperature or shrinkage.
factory and shop lumber Carpentry
Product
The lumber that will be used for future manufacturing processes.
fascia Carpentry
Product
Wood placed on the exterior surface of a box cornice which is attached to the ends of the rafters and lookouts with nails.
fenestration Carpentry
General
The organization and sizing of exterior doors and windows to a building.
fiber saturation point Carpentry
General
The point at which the cell walls are full and the cell cavities contain no water in the drying or wetting of wood.
fire stop Carpentry
General
A block inserted between studs within a wall to stop the dispersion of fire or smoke in the air.
fire wall Carpentry
General
A wall that separates a building into smaller spaces to prevent fire from traveling.
flashing Carpentry
General
Material - such as sheet metal - utilized in wall or roof construction to prevent water leakage.
footing Carpentry
General
The extension of course/courses at the base of a pier, column or foundation wall.
foundation Carpentry
General
The supporting base of a structure that rests under the first-floor of a building.
framing Carpentry
General
The wooden structure of a building that adds strength and shape, such as a ceiling or exterior door.
frieze Carpentry
General
A boxed cornice wood trim structure member that is placed at the intersection of the wall and the soffit.
fruitwood, apple wood, plum wood Carpentry
General
Fruitwood is a term used by businesses in regards to woods of different fruit trees, such as plum and apple. Pear and apple woods are favored as carving woods because they are stable, permanent and soft. Moreover, their textures are consistent and not rough to the touch. The colors of fruitwood can vary from yellowish red to a carmel yellow.
furring Carpentry
General
Furring is utilized to create air space in the middle of surfaces, to level surfaces and to enhance the visual look of a base by making it appear thicker than it really is. Skinny strips of wood are placed at intervals to create a nailing foundation for a second surface.
gable Carpentry
General
Refers to a section of a wall that is placed in the middle of the inclination of a single-sloped roof and the line extending perpendicular from the ground past the shortest point of the roof structure.
gambrel roof Carpentry
General
A type of sloped roof. The top of the triangular roof appears to be taken off and on it is inserted an inclined roof that showcases a ridge at its middle with a peak.
glazing Carpentry
Technical
The technique of placing glass into doors and sash. The term also relates to placing glass panes into different kinds of frames.
glazing compound Carpentry
Product
A soft and rubbery substance made of plastic used in glazing sash and doors.
glue block Carpentry
General
A block of wood that enhances a right-angle butt joint; it is often placed in the middle of a tread and riser in stairs. The block is glued into place.
grade beam Carpentry
General
A reinforced section of a slab base that is made to sit on supporting piling.
ground Carpentry
General
A section of wood that helps a plasterer create a straight wall and create an area that the finish of a room can be attached to.
ground fault interrupter Carpentry
Product
Electrical safety mechanism that is placed in an outlet or electrical circuit. It senses a short circuit and turns off power on its own. It is used as a preventative measure to guard against electrical shock.
grounding Carpentry
Technical
A system for electrical protection that involves an electrical wire placed along the metal of a power tool to a third prong located on the power plug. The wire guides damaging currents away from the operator when it is paired with a grounded receptacle.
gusset Carpentry
General
A panel of a material such as metal or wood that is joined to the edges of a frame to enhance its strength and firmness.
gutter Carpentry
Product
A trough - made of metal, plastic or wood - that is placed in the edge of a roof to guide water flow.
gypsum wallboard Carpentry
Product
Wall surfacing panels that include a gypsum center covered on the top and back with paper.
half story Carpentry
General
A section of a building that is placed within a roof frame totally or partially and designed for occupancy.
Hardboard Carpentry
Product
A type of board material made out of wood fiber. It is created into panels that have a density of 50 to 80 lb. per cubit feet. The bits of wood are adhered together through pressure and heat (as opposed to resin and glue. Frequently one side of a hardboard is rough and the other side is smooth.
Hardwood Carpentry
General
A group of various evergreen or deciduous trees that thrive in tropical or temperate regions.
header Carpentry
General
A structural member perpendicular to the ground that upholds the weight on an opening - such as a window. Also known as a lintel.
headroom Carpentry
General
The open area in the middle of a ceiling and floor line, such as a stairway.
heartwood Carpentry
General
The wood originating from the middle of a tree to the sapwood. These tree cells no longer play a role in the growth of the tree.
heat transmission coefficient Carpentry
General
The rate per hour of the heat traveling from one square foot of surface. It occurs with a temperature change of one degree F in the atmosphere surrounding the surface's sides.
hollow core door Carpentry
Product
A flush door made from a core assembly of units that hold up the outer faces.
hollow-back Carpentry
General
Taking out a section of wood on the surface of a member not seen by the public. This is done to accommodate for any defects in bearing surface.
hose bib Carpentry
General
Also known as a sill cock. A threaded water faucet that is joined to a hose connection.
I beam Carpentry
Product
A beam made of steel containing a cross section with the appearance of the letter I.
indirect gain system Carpentry
General
An inert solar construction that holds solar heat within a structure. It then transfers the heat to a living space by the processes of convection, conduction or radiation.
insulation Carpentry
Product
A material inserted in structures to lower the rate at which heat is transferred.
interior trim Carpentry
General
A term that encompasses all the items put into a building by finish carpenters - such baseboard, casing, and molding.
isolated gain system Carpentry
General
An inert solar construction that stores solar generated heat in a space compartment. This heat is later transferred to a living space mechanically.
jack rafter Carpentry
General
A valley or hip rafter and ridge board. Also, a rafter framing in the middle of the wall plate and a hip rafter.
jalousie Carpentry
Product
A number of glass slats that overlap. They are joined by a metal frame connected to a window frame side jambs or door stiles and rails.
jig Carpentry
General
A tool that arranges material for correct assembly or cutting. Factories use jigs to create prefabricated components for buildings.
joist Carpentry
General
One of the many parallel framing members that hold the weight of floors and ceiling loads. It is itself upheld by items such as girders or bigger beams.
kerfing Carpentry
Technical
Saw cuts or grooves of different widths that prevent pressure and warping on surfaces of millwork members that are not seen by the public.
knot Carpentry
General
A limb or branch within a tree which is sliced through during the process of lumber manufacturing.
lally column Carpentry
General
A steel member in a cylindrical shape that holds girders and beams in place. Often concrete is poured into lally columns.
lath Carpentry
Product
A material for buildings that attaches to the frame of a building. It acts as a plaster base.
lazy susan Carpentry
Product
A cabinet shelf that revolves; it is usually placed in the unit of a corner kitchen cabinet.
leader Carpentry
General
An upright pipe that transfers water from a gutter to a drainage system or the ground. Also known as a downspout.
ledger Carpentry
General
A section joined to an upright frame or structural member that holds types of horizontal framing - such as joists. Related to a ribbon strip.
let in Carpentry
General
Relating to a type of notch in a joist, block, stud or another section that secures a secondary piece.
level-transit Carpentry
Equipment
A tool used to survey the plumb of walls in structures that are new.
light construction Carpentry
General
The construction that refers to standard rafters, wood stud walls, and floor and ceiling joists. This type of construction mostly refers to residential buildings.
Limed/Liming Carpentry
Technical
A process that lightens the grain of wood by softening the appearance of timber.
lintel Carpentry
General
A structural member perpendicular to the ground that holds a load over an opening within a structure - such as a window.
lock block Carpentry
General
A block of wood that is attached to the inner edge of the stile of a hollow core door. A lock is fitted to this block.
lookout Carpentry
General
A structural member placed in the middle of the exterior wall and bottom end of a rafter. It functions as a means to hold the underside of the overhang. Also known as soffit or plancier.
lumber Carpentry
Product
Referring to the product created by the saw and planing mill. Lumber is not manufactured past the processes of sawing, resawing, going through a standard planing machine and being crosscut to length.
major module Carpentry
General
A unit of measurement; this measurement is used in modular construction. A major module is 1200 mm long in the SI metric system. 48 inches is the length of a major module in the conventional system of units.
mansard roof Carpentry
General
A kind of curb roof. The pitch in the top section of an inclining side is small; the bottom section is steeper. The bottom section often includes dormer windows.
masonry Carpentry
Product
Materials that are joined together using mortar in order to create a structure such as a pier or wall. Examples of these materials include brick, concrete block, or stone.
matched lumber Carpentry
Product
Lumber that contains edges which are formed to create a close tongue-and-groove joint at the ends. This term also refers to lumber that contains rabbeted edges.
MDF Carpentry
Product
Medium-density fiberboard created from wood particles adhered together with resin.
mechanical core Carpentry
General
A building module that holds items such as heating, ventilating, electrical, air conditioning, and plumbing. It is put together at the building site.
mechanical equipment Carpentry
General
The kinds of equipment that are classified under the headings of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical work and gasfitting.
meeting rail Carpentry
General
Also known as a check rail. In a double-hung window a meeting rail is the top rail of the lower sash, and the bottom rail of the upper sash.
millwork Carpentry
Product
Items that are primarily made from lumber at a planing mill. Examples of these items are doors, stairwork, mantels and cabinets.
minor module Carpentry
General
A measurement unit used in modular construction. A minor module is 600mm long in the SI metric system. And a minor module is 24 inches in the conventional system of units.
modular coordination Carpentry
General
The sizing of a building structure along with the building materials taken from a module - a common unit of measurement.
moisture content Carpentry
General
The measurement of water a piece of wood contains. Moisture content is given as the percentage of the weight of wood that has been oven-dried.
molding Carpentry
Product
A section of usually curved wood that functions as a decorative piece as well as a covering for angle joints and surfaces.
moulder Carpentry
Equipment
A machine for woodworking that creates moldings with regular or irregular profiles. Also known as a sticker.
mr (moisture resistant) wallboard Carpentry
Product
A kind of gypsum wallboard that has been manufactured to withstand moisture and high humidity infiltration. Showers and tub alcoves are examples of places where it is regularly used.
mullion Carpentry
Product
A thin pier that makes a divide in the middle of window units or other types of frames that are not related to the structure of the building.
muntin Carpentry
Product
An upright member that is placed in the middle of two panels of the same section of panel work. Glass panels are divided through the use of the horizontal and vertical sashbars.
net floor area Carpentry
General
The floor area minus the floor openings such as of columns, stairs, and room dividers.
newel Carpentry
General
A foundational post at the beginning of the stairs and the stiffening post at the bottom of the stairs.
nominal size Carpentry
General
The standard commercial dimensions that a piece of timber or lumber is known and purchased at.
nonbearing partition Carpentry
General
A division that begins from the floor and goes to the ceiling that upholds only its own weight.
nosing Carpentry
General
The section of the stair tread that extends over the riser or other kinds of extensions. Nosing refers to the edge of a board that is rounded.
on center Carpentry
General
A technique that guides the placement of framing members at set intervals by givng the measurement from the middle of one member to the middle of the next member.
oriel window Carpentry
General
A window that extends from the base line of an enclosed wall in a structure that is upheld on corbels, cantilever, or brackets.
oriented strand board Carpentry
Product
A panel created from layers of compressed particles organized at angles perpendicular to each other.
parapet Carpentry
General
The section of a wall or railing that projects over a roof, a balcony or bridge.
pargeting Carpentry
General
A layer of plaster put over brick or stone to create a desired surface, such as a smooth or embellished surface.
particleboard Carpentry
Product
A panel made up of wood flakes or shavings that are joined together with a binder, such as a synthetic resin.
party wall Carpentry
General
A wall shared by two people or groups under easement agreement. The wall is placed on a line that divides the two sections of land which is often controlled by two separate parties.
passive solar construction Carpentry
General
Masonry, glass or wood structures that store and move energy from the sun.
penny Carpentry
General
A unit of measurement that applies to casing, finishing, common, and box nails. The abbreviation letter d is used to indicate the measurement of the nail length.
phase-change materials Carpentry
General
A material that transforms from a solid to eventually gaseous state that allows for storage of high levels of energy.
photosynthesis Carpentry
Technical
The method by which plants store the sun's energy. Sunlight is changed into carbon dioxide and water by trees to create wood and leaves.
pier Carpentry
General
A masonry column that functions as a support for other structural members in a building.
pilaster Carpentry
General
A section of a wall that extends up to half of its width past the exterior or interior surface of a wall. A pilaster may be used solely for decorative purposes, but is most often a means of supporting weight in a structure.
pile Carpentry
General
A member that is created from concrete, metal or timber that is cast or heavily forced into the ground in order to be the main support for future structural members.
plan Carpentry
General
A drawing that visualizes a floor of a building or other horizontal plane areas.
plaster Carpentry
General
The combination of cement, sand, and lime that is applied to the exterior and interior of a wall face as a kind of surface covering.
plat Carpentry
General
A visual representation of a location to determine the location and edges of properties.
plate Carpentry
General
A base member of a division. Also, a member put on a wall or placed on studs, corbels or posts. A plate either carries the rafters directly or carries the trusses of a roof.
platform framing Carpentry
Technical
usual method of building that limits all stud height to only one floor (unlike balloon framing)
plot plan Carpentry
General
The building site as seen from the top. Also known as a site plan. The distance from property lines to a building structures are visible.
plumbing Carpentry
Technical
Installing items such as fixtures and pipes to conduct water and wastes in or out of an area. Plumbing also refers to the installed pipes and fixtures in a structure.
plumbing stack Carpentry
General
Referring to the upright main of the waste, vent piping or soil system.
plunge cutting Carpentry
Technical
A technique of cutting that creates a beginning hole for the insertion of a saber saw. The blade is held flush with the surface of the wood. As the saw is angled to the standard position the cut is finished.
polystyrene panels Carpentry
Product
A stiff insulation that is created from beads of plastic that expand.
polyvinyl resin emulsion glue Carpentry
Product
Interior wood glue. It is created from polyvinyl acetates that cannot be used in temperatures over 165 degrees F.
prefabricated construction Carpentry
Technical
A kind of construction that contains a low level of assembly at the building site. A number of big units that are made at a plant are used.
preservative (carpentry) Carpentry
Product
A material that stops fungi, borers and insects from deteriorating wood.
purlins Carpentry
General
Roof members positioned horizontally that function as a means to uphold rafters in the middle of the ridge board and plate.
push stick Carpentry
General
A pole that pushes along a piece as one is cutting. A push stick is used for safety reaons when using power tools.
quarter-sawed Carpentry
General
Lumber cut at around 90 degrees in relation to the annular growth rings.
quit-claim deed Carpentry
General
A deed that gives a grantee the interest he/she legally owns in a property without the inclusion of a warranty.
r value Carpentry
General
A number that gives the information on how efficient an insulating material is. Examples of insulating materials include foam or fiberglass batting.
rafter Carpentry
General
One of a number of roof members that is created to uphold roof loads. A flat roof contains rafters that are often called roof joists.
rail Carpentry
General
An assembly such as a door or blind that contains horizontal or cross members in its framework.
rake Carpentry
General
The trim members that follow along the roof incline and create the finish in the middle of the roof and wall at a gable end.
Reclaimed/Antiqued Carpentry
General
Wood boards that have been salvaged in order to create something new.
reinforced concrete construction Carpentry
Technical
A kind of construction that involves main structural members created out of poured concrete surrounding steel meashwork or bars. The members work as a resist force from added pressure.
relative humidity Carpentry
General
The proportion of water vapor in the atmosphere in relation to the percentage to the sum total it is capable of holding at an equal temperature.
resilient Carpentry
General
The ability of a material to maintain its original shape under outside stresses forced upon it.
retaining wall Carpentry
General
A wall that is acted upon by lateral pressure from sources other than the wind.
ribbon Carpentry
General
A board joined to an upright member of a frame that gives strength to joists and other members positioned horizontally.
riser Carpentry
General
An upright stair member that is in the middle of two stair treads placed one after the other.
roll roofing Carpentry
Product
Roll roofing is made out of mineral gradules on fiberglass or asphalt saturated felt. It is a mineral surfaced shingle material that is not cut.
roof ridge Carpentry
General
The horizontal line at the intersection of the uppermost edges of two roof surfaces at which an angle over 180 degrees is created.
roofing Carpentry
Technical
The materials put over the structural sections of a roof in order to make it resistant to water.
rotary cut veneer Carpentry
Product
Veneer cut on a lathe that turns a log around onto a large cutting knife. It is cut in a continuous manner.
rough lumber Carpentry
Product
Lumber that is sawn to a rough size but is not yet surfaced or dressed by any other process.
roughing-in Carpentry
Technical
The act of installing pipes into a drainage system, including the water pipes, so items are joined to the plumbing fixtures. Also refers to getting the mechanical sections of the building structure partly completed.
saddle Carpentry
General
A gable roof that is put on the back side of a chimney on an inclining roof to get rid of debris and rainwater.
scaffold Carpentry
Equipment
A non-permanent structure that functions as a system to hold materials and workers while a building is being constructed.
scale Carpentry
General
Referring to the reduced size of a drawing. Example, in a 1/3" scale plan, everything 1/3" equals 1' on the actual structure.
scantling Carpentry
Product
Lumber that contains measurements of cross sections from 2 inches x 4 inches to 4 inches x 4 inches.
scarfing Carpentry
Technical
Attaching the ends of stock by an inclining lap-joint with the end purpose of making them seem to be one piece.
scotia Carpentry
Product
A type of molding that is concave and irregular in profile. It is used for cornice trim as well as placed beneath stair treads.
screed Carpentry
Equipment
An instrument utilized in working with concrete in order to flatten a horizontal surface and make it level. It is created out of a piece of metal or wood joined to a pole.
seasoning Carpentry
Technical
Taking out the moisture from green wood to in order to make it useful for other purposes.
section drawing Carpentry
General
A kind of drawing that visualizes what a section of a structure will appear to be after being cut by a vertical plane.
septic tank Carpentry
Product
A tank that functions as a system to hold sludgem from sewage flow in order to ensure a set amount of decomposition of organic sludge solids by bacteria.
setting block Carpentry
General
A block of wood put on a glass grove or rabbet of the lowermost rail in order to create a foundation for the glass.
sheathing Carpentry
Product
A covering for the structure built. The covering is made out of panels or boards joined to the outside studing or rafters of the edifice.
sheathing paper Carpentry
Product
A type of material that prevents air from flowing in or out of a space; it is used on floors, walls and roofs.
shim Carpentry
Product
A piece of wood that is utilized in leveling wood pieces such as when trying to set a window frame or door. Also used in plumbing.
shiplap Carpentry
Product
Lumber containing rabbeted edges in order to create a lap joint in the middle of pieces positioned next to each other.
shoring Carpentry
General
Wood that lessens the shifting of the ground next to an excavation site. The term also refers to timber that functions as a temporary support.
shutter Carpentry
Product
A structure made out of rails and stiles to create a frame structure. It contains panels that function along with window frames and doors.
siding Carpentry
Product
One of several types of covering finishes put upon the exterior wall of a frame building.
sill Carpentry
General
The member of a structure's frame that sits on the lowest level of the main support of the frame.
sleeper Carpentry
General
Timber that acts as support for structures placed on top of it. The term also refers to wood pieces placed in or on a concrete floor to which is then added finish flooring.
soffit Carpentry
General
The bottom side of a structure's members. Examples include beams, arches and staircases.
softwoods Carpentry
General
A group of evergreen trees containing scalelike or needle leaves. Some trees, such as larch, tamarack and cypress are considered softwoods although they are not classified as evergreens. Conifers is another term used for softwoods.
solar orientation Carpentry
General
Positioning a structure on a building site in order to maximize the amount of sunlight it is exposed to.
sole plate Carpentry
General
The strip on partition framing and walls that is closest to the ground. On a partition, a sole plate is held up by a closed surface, such as a concrete slab.
span Carpentry
General
The measurement length between the supports in a structure. Examples of structure supports include beams, girders and piers.
specific gravity Carpentry
General
The proportion of body weight to water weight of the same volume at a set temperature.
specification Carpentry
General
A document specifying the quality, type and number of materials needed for construction project.
splash block Carpentry
General
A masonry block that collects and transports roof drainage away from a structure.
stairway, stair, or stairs Carpentry
General
A number of steps with small platforms; they are frequently used to allow for passge between two building levels.
station mark Carpentry
General
A point of reference; the place at which a level-transit is positioned.
stell-frame construction Carpentry
General
A kind of construction in which a steel frame or steel members act as the support for the other structural members.
stepped footing Carpentry
General
A footing that switches grade levels at set measurements to allow for an inclining site.
stickers Carpentry
General
Pieces of wood dividing the layers of a lumber pile to allow for ventilation.
stool Carpentry
General
An interior trim member that is molded and functions as a window frame sill cap or sash. Rabbeting or beveled-rabbeting are two techniques used on stools to prepare them for window frame sills.
stoop Carpentry
General
A small additional structure placed on the exterior of a building; examples include platforms and verandas.
story pole Carpentry
General
A section of wood used to arrange and transfer measurements of items such as stairways, siding and shingle courses, and window openings.
straightedge Carpentry
General
A piece of straight metal or wood that is used to arrange or ensure the correct layout of a project.
stressed skin Carpentry
General
Two facings that make up a panel. Each facing is glued on one side and joined to the opposite side of an interior framework to make the panel.
strike plate Carpentry
General
A metal piece inserted into the surface of a door frame side jamb to connect to the bolt or latch when shutting the door.
strongback Carpentry
General
A support made of wood and shaped like the letter L; it is joined to ceiling joists in order bolster their strength, keep them level and maintain the spaces between them.
structural window wall panel Carpentry
General
also known as a factory-assembled structural wall panel. A window unit positioned into a wall panel at a factory site.
subfloor Carpentry
General
Panels placed over floor joists in preparation for the layer of the finished floor.
termite shield Carpentry
General
A shield inserted in or on a main wall or around pipes to protect the structure from termites.
terrazzo flooring Carpentry
Product
A floor created by inseting chips of stone or marble into concerete. The surface is then grinded and polished.
thermosiphon Carpentry
Product
A flat box that collects solar energy. The box transfers air into living spaces or into a storage area.
thermostat Carpentry
Product
A tool that regulates cooling or heating devices through its sensitivity to temperature levels in an area.
three-way switch Carpentry
Product
A switch programmed to work along with another switch that controls an outlet from two different places.
threshold Carpentry
Product
A wood member, sometimes referred to as a saddle, that fills up the area at the bottom of the door and the floor just beneath it.
tie beam Carpentry
General
Also known as a collar beam. The beam is positioned to tie the main rafters of a roof into one group and thus stops the plate from shifting due to any movement of the rafters.
toe space Carpentry
General
An area at a floor line of a built-in unit. Toe spaces allow a person to be near while preventing touching the space with one's foot.
toeboard Carpentry
General
A board of at least 4 inches in width that is positioned over planking to prevent equipment from sliding down onto workers below. It is often used on scaffolds.
toenailing Carpentry
Technical
The technique od slanting a nail into a surface in order to drive it further into another member below.
transformer Carpentry
Product
An instrument that changes the voltage behavior of the flow of electricity.
transom Carpentry
General
An opening over a door divided by a transom bar. Frequently a transom holds a louver panel or sash that is attached to the transom bar.
trap Carpentry
General
An instrument that creates a liquid trap seal that stops sewer gases from traveling and moving into a building structure.
trim Carpentry
Product
A building's finish materials. Examples of trim include trim on a window or door. Moldings placed around floors or ceiling are also known as trim.
trimmer Carpentry
General
The floor joist or beam upon which a header is framed; this in turn enhances the suport to the opening.
trimmer stud Carpentry
General
A stud that upholds a header for the opening of the wall. It projects from the sole plate and extends to the lowest point of the header.
triple wall Carpentry
General
A kind of chimney flue that is created out of three pipes made of metal. Danger is prevented from the concentric organization and installation is made simple because of its light weight.
tripod Carpentry
Equipment
A holder for a builder's level. It is made out of three inclining legs that maintain stability from friction with contact with the ground.
trombe wall Carpentry
General
A wall of masonry adjacent to the outside glazing that colects solar energy in passive solar construction. Felix Trombe is credited for its design.
truss Carpentry
Product
A structural piece that is made out of bars, ties and beams. It is designed to create triangles. A truss allows for a firm support across wide distances with only a small amount of material.
unicom system Carpentry
Technical
A word taken from "uniform manufacture of components." It utilizes modules with proportions that are bigger ratios of the standard size.
unprotected-metal construction Carpentry
General
A kind of construction that includes metal structural parts that are not protected by fireproofing.
urea-formaldehyde resin glue Carpentry
Product
A type of moisture resistant adhesive that firms up with the addition of water to the resin powder in a chemical reaction.
vapor barrier Carpentry
Product
A waterproof material that functions as a preventative measure against moisture from entering structural components.
veneer plaster Carpentry
General
An inside wall surface that is made up of 1/8 inch gypsum plaster and gypsum lath base.
veneered wall Carpentry
Product
A building wall frame containing a masonry surafce. This type of wall is not designed to hold weight.
vent Carpentry
General
A pipe that is inserted to allow for air ventilation in a drainage system. It may also be used to guard trap seals from pressure and siphonage.
ventilation Carpentry
General
The system of providing and taking away air through mechanical or natural methods.
vermiculite Carpentry
Product
A type of mineral that has the characteristic of expanding when heated to create lightweight material that contains insulating properties.
waferboard Carpentry
Product
Construction panels created out of little pieces of wood. It is surfaced with wax and waterproof resin which is then made firm by pressure and heat.
wainscot Carpentry
Product
A bottom inside wall covering that is different from the surface of the wall over it.
wale Carpentry
General
A metal or wood piece that is placed on the exterior of objects for concrete. They prevent form walls from bending due to the load of concrete they carry.
wall tie Carpentry
General
A metal section or wire that joins tiers of masonry in wall construction. It also attaches brick veneer to frame walls of wood.
wallboard Carpentry
Product
Materials - such as gypsum or wood pulp - that are formed into firm sheets that are frequently attached to the structure of a building to give it a finish.
warp Carpentry
General
A change of form in a material from what it should be. Something that is warped may be bent, twisted or crooked.
water repellent Carpentry
General
A type of solution that prevents changes due to moisture content when applied to wood. It is made out of resin and paraffin wax in mineral spirits.
water table Carpentry
General
An extension at the end of a structure that transports water from the area.
weathering Carpentry
General
The wearing and discoloration of a wood's surface. Weathering can be the result of a number of things, including moisture change, light exposure and exposure to air particles pummeled against its surface.
weatherstrip Carpentry
Product
Strips of material - such as vinyl plastic or metal - that are made to prevent movement of water, air, dust or moisture surrounding a window or door area.
wet wall Carpentry
General
An inside wall covering finish that often is made up of 1/2 inch gyupsum plaster and 3/8 inch gypsum plaster lath. It is put over the lath surface.
whaler Carpentry
General
Also known as waler. A type of support member that is used in concrete form construciton in order to firm up and uphold the weight of the form walls.
window unit Carpentry
Product
The unit is made of a sash activation instrument, a window, a frame and weatherstripping. Some window units also include a storm sash and/or a screen. Every section of the unit is organized as a complete system.
wire glass Carpentry
General
Glass containing a layer of meshed wire positioned around its center of the sheet.
wp series molding patterns Carpentry
General
A number of moldings with more than 500 profiles. The moldings were the joint effort of the Western Pine Association and the West Coast Lumbermen's Association. The two have now combined to form the Western Wood Products Association.