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Helpful Construction
Definitions
AIR
BARRIER: material or
surface designed to prevent passage of air, but
not water vapor.
AIR GAP: a
separation between any pipe or faucet conveying
water and the flood-level rim of any plumbing
receptacle.
AMPACITY:
ampere-carrying capacity of a wire.
AMPERE:
unit of electrical current. Often abbreviated
amp.
ANTI-SIPHON
VALVE: valve on a lawn sprinkler that prevents
the sprinkler water from backflowing
into the
main water supply.
ASBESTOS: a
fire and heat-resistant material used in
construction until the early 1970s, when it was
discovered to pose health hazards.
ASH DUMP:
opening in the floor of a fireplace for ash
disposal.
ASPHALT
PLASTIC CEMENT: asphalt used to seal roofing
materials together.
ATTIC: the
space under the roof of a structure but above
the top floor.
BACK-FLOW
PREVENTER VALVE: see anti-siphon valve
above.
BALLOON
FRAME: wood frame in which studs are continuous
from the sill plate to the top plate of the top
floor.
BALUSTER:
vertical member under a stair, deck, or porch
railing.
BASEBOARD:
Any board or molding covering an interior wall
where it meets the floor.
BATT: An
oblong blanket of fiberglass
insulation.
BATTEN:
thin wood molding used to cover a joint (usually
used with siding).
BAY WINDOW:
window that projects outward from the
wall.
BEARING
WALL: wall that supports a load from above, such
as a vertical load of a roof system.
BlTUMIN:
substance containing oil or coal-based
compounds; (asphalt based roofing
material).
BRANCH
CIRCUIT: one of several circuits in a building,
originating at the service entrance
panel and protected by a separate circuit
breaker or fuse.
BRICK
VENEER: brick facing over wood or masonry
frame.
BRIDGING:
bracing between floor joists to prevent twisting
of joists.
BRITISH
THERMAL UNIT (BTU): amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1
degree.
BUILDING
PAPER: a waterproof heavy paper used in
construction of a roof or wall.
BUILT-UP
ROOF:
roofing consisting of many alternating
layers of asphalt and felt.
BUSS BAR:
rectangular metal bar (usually copper) for
carrying large electrical current.
BUTT JOINT:
joint in which two members meet without overlap
or miter.
CAPILLARY:
movement of water through small gaps due
to adhesion and surface tension.
CASEMENT
WINDOW: window hinged on the side and opening
outward.
CASING:
inside or outside molding.
CELLULOSE
INSULATION: loose-fill insulation consisting of
shredded and treated newspaper.
CHECK:
cracks in the surface of wood resulting from
drying and shrinking of the surface faster then
the interior.
CLEANOUT
PLUG: a threaded fitting in a pipe or fixture
that provides access for cleaning or
drainage.
CIRCUIT:
two or more wires carrying electricity to
lights, receptacles, switches and appliances.
CIRCUIT
BREAKER: electromechanical device that opens
when the circuit exceeds its electrical
capacity.
CLAPBOARD:
board used for overlapping as horizontal siding.
CLOSED
VALLEY: roof valley where the shingles extend in
an unbroken line across the valley
intersection.
COLLAR TIE
BEAM: a horizontal beam fastened above the upper
ends of rafters to stabilize them.
CONDUCTOR:
wire intended to carry electrical
current.
CONDUIT:
metal or plastic pipe that surrounds electrical
wires and protects them from physical
damage.
CONVECTION:
heat transfer through either the natural or
forced movement of air.
COUNTERSINK:
to sink a nail or screw below the
surface.
CRAWLSPACE:
a space between the ground and the first floor
of a house that allows access for repair of
utilities that run under the house.
CRICKET:
small roof for diverting water away from
the back side of a chimney.
CRIPPLE
WALL: a short wall built upon the foundation of
a house that produces a high
crawlspace.
DAMPER: an
adjustable plate in the flue of a fireplace or
furnace that is used to control the draft from
the flames.
DAMP-PROOFING:
water-proofing a masonry surface to retard
capillary action and water leaks.
DEAD LOAD:
load imposed on a structure by the weight of the
building materials only.
DECAY:
deterioration of wood from attack by fungi or
insects.
DEW POINT:
air temperature at which water vapor begins to
condense as either water or ice
(frost).
DIELECTRIC
UNION: type of connector that insulates two
different types of metal pipe to prevent
electrolysis.
DIMENSION
LUMBER: framing lumber 2 to 5 inches in
thickness and up to 12 inches in nominal
width.
DIVERSION
VALVE: valve in a septic tank system that allows
the user to alternate leach lines.
DORMER:
vertical window projecting from a roof; gabled
dormers have peaked roofs, shed dormers have
shed roofs.
DOUBLE
GLAZING: insulated window pane formed by two
thicknesses of glass with a sealed air space
between them.
DOUBLE LUGGING: running two or more electrical circuits
off a single lug (terminal or
connector).
DOWNSPOUT:
pipes leading from the gutters of a roof to the
ground and away from the building.
DRAINAGE:
gradual flowing of liquids off a surface. Any
system to remove liquid waste or rainwater by
channeling its flow to a designated area.
DRIP EDGE:
material designed to force water to drip away
from roof rakes and eaves.
DUCTS: any
conduit for hot air, gas, water, electrical
wiring, etc.
EAVES: the
lower part of a roof that projects beyond an
exterior wall.
EGRESS WINDOW: window whose clear dimensions are large
enough that it can serve as a fire
exit.
ELEVATION:
view of a vertical face of a
building.
FASCIA:
vertical flat board at the roof eaves, that the
gutters are attached to.
FIREBRICK:
special clay brick that can be exposed to
extremely high temperature change without
damage; used in furnaces, fireplaces and similar
high temperature areas.
FIRE-STOP:
framing member designed to block the spread of
fire within a framing cavity.
FLASHING:
sheet metal or similar materials used at
different points in a structure to prevent water
seepage, such as around vent pipes
or chimneys.
FLOOR FURNACE: a ductless furnace placed
directly below a floor that transmits heat only
through a grille in the floor.
FLOOR
JOIST:
a framing piece that rests on the outer
foundation walls and interior beams or girders,
and supports the flooring above.
FLUE: the
opening or passageway in a chimney through which
smoke, gases, etc., pass from a building. Any
opening or passageway for the elimination of
gases or fumes.
FOOTING:
foot like projection at the base of a foundation
wall, column, pier, etc., used to secure,
support, and help eliminate settling or shifting
of the wall.
FORCED-AIR
FURNACE: furnace that has a fan or blower which
forces warm air through the ducts.
FOUNDATION:
the part of a building, usually below ground
level, that supports the superstructure above
it.
FRAMING:
wood structure of a building that provides its
strength and shape; includes exterior and
interior walls, floor, roof, and
ceilings.
FRIEZE: in
wood construction, the horizontal board between
the top of the siding and the soffit.
FROST
HEAVE: expansion of the earth due to freezing of
interstitial water.
FROST LINE:
maximum depth of freezing in the
soil.
FUSE: a
short plug in an electric panel box that
interrupts an electrical
circuit when it becomes overloaded.
GIRDER: a
large or principal beam used to support
concentrated loads or weight at particular
points along its length.
GLAZING:
glass or other transparent material used for
windows.
GRADE:
level of the ground.
GROUNDED
WIRE: wire in a circuit that is connected to the
ground and serves to return current from the
hot wire back to the ground.
Identified by a white insulation
jacket.
GROUND
FAULT INTERRUPTER: (GFI or GFCI) circuit breaker
that trips on leakage of current.
GROUNDING
WIRE: bare or green wire in a circuit that
connects metal components, such as appliance
cabinets, to the ground.
GROUT: very
thin mortar applied to masonry
joints.
HEADER:
beam over a door or window for supporting the
load from above.
HEARTH: The
stone or brick floor of a fireplace.
HYDRONIC:
method of distributing heat by hot
water.
I-BEAM:
steel whose cross section resembles the letter
I.
ICE DAM:
ridge of ice at roof eaves or gutters causing
snow and ice blockage, and preventing from
properly draining.
INFILTRATION:
Incursion of outdoor air through cracks, holes
and joints.
INSULATING
GLASS: factory-sealed double or triple
glazing.
JAMB: top
and sides of a door or window.
JOINT
COMPOUND: material used to finish joints in
gypsum drywall. Known as mud.
JOIST: see
floor joist.
JUNCTION
BOX (J-box): a device in which wires are spliced
to bring various electrical circuits
together.
KNOB-AND-TUBE
WIRING: oldest type of electrical wiring; the
knobs serve as insulators, and the ceramic tubes
isolate the wiring from neighboring
wood.
LATH:
perforated base for application of plaster;
formerly wood, now usually metal.
LATTICE:
framework of crossed strips of wood, plastic, or
metal.
LEACH LINE:
a gravel-filled subsurface trench extending from
a septic tank; liquid wastes are
absorbed into the leach line's soil
LOAD-BEARING
WALL: a wall capable of supporting
weight.
LINTEL:
solid member above a door or window that carries
the load above.
LIVE LOAD:
temporary load imposed on a building by
occupancy and the environment.
MASONRY:
construction consisting of stone, brick, or
concrete block.
MEMBRANE
ROOF: roofing consisting of a single waterproof
sheet.
MITER: to
cut at an angle other than 90
degrees.
MOISTURE
BARRIER: treated paper or metal that retards or
bars water vapor, used to keep moisture from
passing into walls or floors.
MORTAR:
mixture of cement, sand, and water.
NEUTRAL WIRE:
grounded wire.
NON-BEARING
WALL: wall or partition that does not carry a
load from above.
NOSING:
projection of a stair tread beyond the
riser.
ON CENTER
(OC): framing measurement from the center of one
member to the center of the next.
OPEN
VALLEY: roof valley where shingles do not cross
the valley intersection; flashing
does.
PARAPET: a
low wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony or
roof.
PARGING: a
surface coat of cement over masonry to help
waterproof it.
PASSIVE
SOLAR COLLECTOR: system for collecting solar
energy without use of mechanical devices
such as fans or pumps.
PITCH: the
angle of slope of a roof. (i.e. 4 inches rise in
a 12 inch area equals a 4/12 pitch
roof).
PLATE:
horizontal framing member at the top or bottom
of a wall.
PLENUM: a
chamber that can serve as a distribution area
for heating or cooling systems, generally
located between a false ceiling and the actual
ceiling.
POLARITY:
the electrical charge, either positive or
negative, of an electric service
terminal.
PRESSURE-TREATED
WOOD: wood that has been injected with
preservative under pressure.
RACKING:
distortion of a building surface from the
rectangular plane.
RADIANT
HEATING: method of heating whereby much of the
heat transfer is accomplished by radiation
through space from warm building,
surfaces such as floors, walls, or
ceilings.
RAFTER:
roof beam running in the direction of the
slope.
REBAR:
steel bars used in concrete, to strengthen it
and tie it together.
RELATIVE
HUMIDITY: amount of water vapor in
air compared with the maximum amount possible,
expressed as a percentage.
RETROFIT:
to upgrade a structure using modem
materials.
RIDGE:
highest point of a roof.
RIDGE
BOARD: A board running the length of the ridge
of the roof, to which rafters are
fastened.
RIDGE VENT:
continuous, prefabricated outlet ventilator
placed over an opening at the ridge of the roof
line to allow the release of air.
RISE:
vertical increase in one step of a
stair.
RISER:
vertical board between stair treads. Also a
vertical plumbing pipe.
ROLL
ROOFING: low-cost asphalt roofing in roll
form.
R-VALUE:
measurement of a materials resistance to
heat.
SASH: frame
holding the panes of glass in a window or
door.
SEALANT:
compressible material used to seal building
joints, etc.
SEALED
GLASS: panes of glass with a sealed air space
between.
SERVICE
DROP: service entry wiring from the utility pole
to the meter.
SHEATHING:
layer of boards over the framing but under the
finish.
SHEETROCK:
plasterboard compound of a core of gypsum
between two sheets of heavy paper.
SHIM: thin,
tapered piece of wood or metal, used to level
something.
SHINGLE:
small, thin piece of material, often tapered,
for laying in overlapping rows as in roofing or
siding.
SILL:
lowest horizontal member in a frame. Also the
bottom piece of the window rough
opening.
SKYLIGHT: a
window in a roof or ceiling.
SLAB-ON-GRADE:
concrete slab resting directly on the ground at
near grade level.
SOFFIT:
underside of a roof overhang, cornice, or
stairway.
SPAN:
distance between supports.
SPARK
ARRESTER: wire mesh device placed atop a chimney
to prevent embers from blowing out onto the
roof.
STANDING-SEAM:
metal roofing technique of folding the upturned
edges of adjacent sheets to form a weatherproof
seam.
STILE:
vertical outside frame member in a door or
window sash.
STOOL:
interior horizontal, flat molding at the bottom
of a window.
STOP
(MOLDING): thin molding for stopping doors on
closure or holding window sash in
place.
STRINGER:
side member of stairway into which the stair
treads and risers are attached and
set.
STUCCO: a
wet plaster finish, specifically designed for
exterior use; popular as an outside wall surface
or as a siding material.
STUD:
vertical framing member to which wall sheathing
and siding are
attached.
SUBFLOOR:
first floor laid over the floor joists. The
subfloor may also serve as the finish
floor.
TAB:
exposed portion of an asphalt shingle between
the cutouts.
TAPING:
finishing gypsum drywall joints with paper tape
and joint compound.
TEMPERED
GLASS: glass that has been cooled rapidly to
produce surface tension; the result is a
stronger-than normal glass that shatters into
relatively harmless cubical fragments when
broken.
TRESHHOLD:
a wooden or metal strip under an outside door;
the entrance to a building.
THIMBLE:
protective device installed in a combustible
wall through which a stovepipe
passes.
TOE
NAILING: nailing a wood joint at an angle for
additional strength.
TONGUE AND
GROOVE: flooring and sheathing joint in which
the tongue of one piece meets a groove in a
mating piece.
TRAP: a
curved section of drain pipes used under
plumbing fixtures to "trap" waste material or
debris.
TREAD:
horizontal part of a step.
TRUSS:
framing structure for spanning great distances,
in which every member is purely in tension or
compression.
UNDERLAYMENT:
sheet material or wood providing a smooth, sound
base for the finished floor above.
VAPOR BARRIER: material or surface designed to block
diffusion of water vapor.
VERMICULITE:
type of insulation.
WATER
HAMMER: sound made by supply pipes when water is
suddenly stopped by the quick closing of a
valve.
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