Glossary
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	air dried technique of removing water from lumber using natural wind currents
	air infiltration unwanted movement of air into an insulation layer or a conditioned space (heated or cooled)
	anchor a device used to fasten structural members in place
	anchor bolt long metal fasteners with a threaded end used to secure materials to concrete
	annular rings the rings seen when viewing a cross-section of a tree trunk; each ring constitutes one year of tree growth
	apron the flashing piece located on the lower side of a roof penetration such as a chimney or dormer
	asphalt felt a building paper saturated with asphalt for waterproofing
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	back miter an angle cut starting from the end and going back on the face of the stock
	backing strips or blocks of wood installed in walls or ceilings for the purpose of fastening or supporting trim or fixtures
	balloon frame a type of frame in which studs are continuous from foundation sill plate to roof
	baluster vertical members of a stair rail, usually decorative and spaced closely together
	band joist the member used to stiffen the ends of floor joists where they rest on the sill
	battens a thin, narrow strip typically used to cover joints in vertical boards
	bay window a window, usually three-sided, that projects out from the wall line
	bevel the sloping edge or side of a piece at any angle other than a right angle
	blind nail a method of fastening that conceals the fastener
	blocking pieces of dimension lumber installed between joist and studs for the purposes of providing nailing surface for intersecting framing members
	board lumber usually less than 2 inches thick
	board foot a measure of lumber volume that equals 1 foot square and 1 inch thick or any equivalent lumber volume. The letter M is used to represent 1000 board feet.
	box nail a thin nail with a head, usually coated with a material to increase its holding power
	brad a thin, short, finishing nail
	bridging diagonal braces or solid wood blocks between floor joists used to distribute the load imposed on the floor
	buck a rough frame used to form openings in poured concrete walls
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	cambium layer a layer just inside the bark of a tree where new cells are formed
	casing molding used to trim around doors, windows, and other openings
	chamfer an edge or end bevel that does not go all the way across the edge or end
	cheek cut a compound miter cut on the end of certain roof rafters
	cleat a small strip of wood applied to support a shelf or similar piece
	closed valley a roof valley in which the roof covering meets in the center of the valley, completely covering the valley
	column a large vertical member used to support a beam or girder
	competent person designated person on a job site who is capable of identifying hazardous or dangerous situations and has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them
	compound miter a bevel cut across the width and also through the thickness of a piece
	concrete a building material made from portland cement, aggregates, and water
	concrete block a concrete masonry unit (CMU) used to make building foundations, typically measuring 8” x 8” X 16”
	condensation when water, in a vapor form, changes to a liquid due to cooling of the air; the resulting droplets of water that accumulate on the cool surface
	coniferous trees that are cone-bearing; also known as evergreen trees
	corner boards finish trim members used at the intersection of exterior walls
	cornice a general term used to describe the part of the exterior finish where the walls meet the roof
	crib heavy wood blocks and framing used as a foundation for scaffolding
	cricket a small, false roof built behind, or uphill from, a chimney or other roof obstacle for the purpose of shedding water around roof penetrations
	crosscut a cut made across the grain of lumber
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	dado a cut, partway through and across the grain of lumber
	deadbolt door-locking device operated by a key from the outside and by a handle or key from the inside
	deadman a T-shaped wood device used to support ceiling drywall panels and other objects
	deciduous trees that shed leaves each year
	detail close-up view of a plan or section
	dew point temperature at which moisture begins to condense out of the air
	dimension a term used to define a measurement of an item; also used to refer to all 2x lumber used in framing
	dimension lumber a term used to describe wood that is sold for framing and general construction
	dormer a structure that projects out from a sloping roof to form another roofed area to provide a surface for the installation of windows
	double-acting doors that swing in both directions or the hinges used on these doors
	downspout a vertical member used to carry water from the gutter downward to the ground; also called leader
	draftstops also called firestops; material used to reduce the size of framing cavities in order to slow the spread of fire; in a wood frame, consists of full-width dimension lumber blocking between studs
	drip that part of an exterior finish that projects below another to cause water to drop off instead of running back against and down the wall
	drip edge metal edging strips placed on roof edges to provide a support for the overhang of the roofing material
	dry kiln large ovens used to remove water from lumber
	duplex nail a double-headed nail used for temporary fastening such as in the construction of wood scaffolds
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	eased edge an edge of lumber whose sharp corners have been rounded
	eaves the lower part of the roof that extends beyond the sidewalls
	electrolysis accelerated oxidation of one metal because of contact with another metal in the presence of water
	elevation a drawing in which the height of the structure or object is shown; also, the height of a specific point in relation to another reference point
	erectors workers whose responsibilities include safe assembly of scaffolding
	escutcheon protective plate covering the knob or key hole in doors
	exposure the amount that courses of siding or roofing are exposed to the weather
	extension jambs strips of wood added to window jambs to bring the jamb edge flush with the wall surface in preparation for casing
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	face the best appearing side of a piece of wood or the side that is exposed when installed
	face nail method of driving a nail straight through a surface material into supporting member
	fascia a vertical member of the cornice finish installed on the bottom end of rafters
	fence a guide for ripping lumber on a table saw
	finger joint a process where shorter lengths are glued together using deep, thin V grooves resulting in longer lengths
	finish nail a thin nail with a small head designed for setting below the surface of finish material
	flashing material used at intersections such as roof valleys and dormers and above windows and doors to prevent the entrance of water
	flush a term used to describe when surfaces or edges are aligned with each other
	foundation that part of a wall on which the major portion of the structure is erected
	frieze that part of exterior trim applied to cover the joint between the overhanging cornice and the siding
	frost line the depth to which the ground typically freezes in a particular area; footings must be placed below this depth
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	gable end the triangular-shaped section on the end of a building formed by the common rafters and the top plate line
	gable roof a common type of roof that pitches in two directions
	gain a cutout made in a piece to receive another piece, such as a cutout for a butt hinge
	galvanized protected from rusting by a coating of zinc
	gambrel roof a type of roof that has two slopes of different pitches on each side of center
	girders heavy beams that support the inner ends of floor joists
	glazing the act of installing glass in a frame
	groove a cut, partway through and running with the grain of lumber
	gusset a block of wood or metal used over a joint to stiffen and strengthen it
	gutter a trough attached to an eave used to carry off water
	gypsum board a panel used as a finished surface material made from a mineral mined from the earth wrapped in heavy paper. Also called drywall.
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	handrail a railing on a stairway intended to be grasped by the hand to serve as a support and guard
	hardboard a building product made by compressing wood fibers into sheet form
	header framing members placed at right angles to joists, studs, and rafters to form and support openings
	heartwood the wood in the inner part of a tree, usually darker and containing inactive cells
	heel the back end of objects, such as a handsaw or hand plane
	hip rafter extends diagonally from the corner of the plate to the ridge at the intersection of two surfaces of a roof
	hip jack a rafter running between a hip rafter and the wall plate
	hip-valley cripple jack rafter a short rafter running parallel to common rafters, cut between hip and valley rafters
	hopper window a type of window in which the sash is hinged at the bottom and swings inward
	housewrap type of building paper with which the entire exterior sidewalls of a building are covered
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	insulated glass multiple panes of glass fused together with an air space between them
	insulation material used to restrict the passage of heat or sound
	intersecting roof the roof of irregular shaped buildings; valleys are formed at the intersection of the roofs
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	joist horizontal framing members used in a spaced pattern that provide support for the floor or ceiling system
	joist hanger metal stirrups used to support the ends of joists that do not rest on top of support member
	J-roller a 3-inch wide rubber roller used to apply pressure over the surface of contact cement bonded plastic laminates
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	kerf the width of a cut made with a saw
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	laser a concentrated, narrow beam of light; optical leveling and plumbing instrument used in building construction
	lateral a direction to the side at about 90 degrees
	ledger a temporary or permanent supporting member for joists or other members running at right angles; horizontal member of a set of batter boards
	level horizontal; perpendicular to the force of gravity
	light a pane of glass or an opening for a pane of glass
	linear feet a measurement of length
	load-bearing term used to describe a structural member that carries weight from another part of the building
	lookout horizontal framing pieces in a cornice, installed to provide fastening for the soffit
	low emissivity glass (Low E) a coating on doubleglazed windows designed to raise the insulating value by reflecting heat back into the room
	lumber general term for wood that is cut from a log to form boards, planks, and timbers
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	mansard roof a type of roof that has two different pitches on all sides of the building, with the lower slopes steeper than the upper
	masonry any construction of stone, brick, tile, concrete, plaster, and similar materials
	mastic a thick adhesive
	medullary rays bands of cells radiating from the cambium layer to the pith of a tree to transport nourishment toward the center
	millwork any wood products that have been manufactured, such as moldings, doors, windows, and stairs for use in building construction; sometimes called joinery
	miter the cutting of the end of a piece at any angle other than a right angle
	miter gauge a guide used on the table saw for making miters and square ends
	molding decorative strips of wood used for finishing purposes
	mortar a mixture of portland cement, lime, sand, and water used to bond masonry units together
	mullion a vertical division between window units or panels in a door
	muntin slender strips of wood between lights of glass in windows or doors
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	newel post an upright post supporting the handrail in a flight of stairs
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	on center (OC) the distance from the center of one structural member to the center of the next one
	open valley a roof valley in which the roof covering is kept back from the centerline of the valley
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	panel a large sheet of building material that usually measures 4 3 8 feet
	penny (d) a term used in designating nail sizes
	pilaster column built within and usually projecting from a wall to reinforce the wall
	pilot a guide on the end of edge-forming router bits used to control the amount of cut
	pith the small, soft core at the center of a tree
	pivot a point of rotation
	plain-sawed a method of sawing lumber that produces flat-grain where annular rings tend to be parallel to the width of the board
	plan in an architectural drawing, an object drawn as viewed from above
	plancier the finish member on the underside of a box cornice, also called soffit
	plate top or bottom horizontal member of a wall frame
	platform frame method of wood frame construction in which walls are erected on a previously constructed floor deck or platform
	plumb vertical; aligned with the force of gravity
	plumb bob a pointed weight attached to a line for testing plumb
	portland cement a fine gray powder, when mixed with water, forms a paste that sets rock hard; an ingredient in concrete
	post a vertical member used to support a beam or girder
	postforming method used to bend plastic laminate to small radii
	pressure-treated treatment given to lumber that applies a wood preservative under pressure
	Pythagorean Theorem a mathematical expression that states the sum of the square of the two sides of a right triangle equals the square of the diagonal
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	quarter-sawed a method of sawing lumber that produces a close grain pattern where the annular rings tend to be perpendicular to the width of the board
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	rabbet an L-shaped cutout along the edge or end of lumber
	rail the horizontal member of a frame
	rake the sloping portion of trim, such as on gable ends of a building or stair
	reinforcing rods also called rebar, steel bars placed in concrete to increase tensile strength
	ribbon a narrow board let into studs of a balloon frame to support floor joists
	rip sawing lumber in the direction of the grain
	rise in stairs, the vertical distance of the flight; in roofs, the vertical distance from plate to ridge; may also be the vertical distance through which anything rises
	run the horizontal distance over which rafters, stairs, and other like members travel
	R-value a number given to a material to indicate its resistance to the passage of heat
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	saddle same as cricket
	sapwood the outer part of a tree just beneath the bark containing active cells
	sash that part of a window into which the glass is set
	sawyer a person whose job is to cut logs into lumber
	scab a length of lumber or material applied over a joint to stiffen and strengthen it
	section drawing showing a vertical cut-view through an object or part of an object
	selvage the unexposed part of roll roofing covered by the course above
	shank hole a hole drilled for the thicker portion of a wood screw
	sheathing boards or sheet material that are fastened to joists, rafters, and studs and on which the finish material is applied
	shed roof a type of roof that slopes in one direction only
	shims a thin, wedge-shaped piece of material used behind pieces for the purpose of straightening them or for bringing their surfaces flush
	sill first horizontal wood member resting on the foundation supporting the framework of a building; also, the lowest horizontal member in a window or door frame
	sill sealer material placed between the foundation and the sill to prevent air leakage
	soffit the horizontal, underside trim member of a cornice or other overhanging assembly
	spline a thin, flat strip of wood inserted into the grooved edges of adjoining pieces
	spreader a strip of wood used to keep other pieces a desired distance apart
	square a tool used to mark a layout and mark angles, particularly 90 degree angles; a term used to describe when two lines or sides meet at a 90 degree angle; the amount of roof covering that will cover 100 square feet of roof area
	stairwell an opening in the floor for climbing or descending stairs or the space of a structure where the stairs are located
	stile the outside vertical members of a frame, such as in a paneled door
	stool the bottom horizontal member of interior window trim that serves as the finished window sill
	storm sash an additional sash placed on the outside of a window to create dead air space to prevent the loss of heat from the interior in cold weather
	story pole a narrow strip of wood used to lay out the installation heights of material such as siding or vertical members of a wall frame
	striated finish material with random and finely spaced grooves running with the grain
	strike plate thin metal plate installed where the latch bolt of a door touches the jamb
	stud vertical framing member in a wall running between plates
	subfloor material used as the first floor layer on top of joists
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	tail joists shortened on center joists running from a header to a sill or girder
	tail cut a cut on the extreme lower end of a rafter
	tempered treated in a special way to make a material harder and stronger
	termite shields metal flashing plate over the foundation to protect wood members from termites
	timbers large pieces of lumber over 5 inches in thickness and width
	toe the forward end of tools, such as a hand saw and hand plane
	toenail method of driving a nail diagonally through a surface material into supporting member
	trimmer a joist or stud placed at the sides of an opening running parallel to the main framing members
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	users people who work on scaffolding
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	valley the intersection of two roof slopes at interior corners
	valley cripple jack rafter a rafter running between two valley rafters
	valley jack rafter a rafter running between a valley rafter and the ridge
	valley rafter the rafter placed at the intersection of two roof slopes in interior corners
	vapor retarder also called vapor barrier, a material used to prevent the passage of water in the gaseous state
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	wainscoting a wall finish applied partway up the wall from the floor
	water table exterior trim members applied at the intersection of the siding and the foundation that projects outward to direct water away from the building
	weatherstripping narrow strips of material applied to windows and doors to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture
	whet the honing of a tool by rubbing the tool on a flat sharpening stone
	wind a defect in lumber caused by a twist in the stock from one end to the other; also, a twist in anything that should be flat
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