Complete List of Construction Terms and Definitions

Abrasives	Substances rubbed on wood to smooth the surface. Flint, garnet, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide are common abrasives.
ABS pipe	A type of plastic pipe frequently used in plumbing. The letters "ABS" are an abbreviation for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. The plastic is black and is most frequently used in the form of schedule 40 pipe.
Access panel	A cover for a portal necessary to reach plumbing or other systems behind a wall.
Acre	A unit of measurement equal to 43,560 square feet.
Actual dimension	Size of boards or lumber, distinguished from "nominal dimensions". Term 2x4 is a nominal dimension.
Adapter	A fitting that joins pipes and other plumbing components not designed to connect directly.
Adhesive	A material capable of holding other materials together by surface attachment. Glues, cements, pastes, and mucilage are some common adhesives.
Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)	A mortgage loan in which the interest rate is tied to a certain monetary index, and changes upward or downward to follow the index.
Aerator	A device screwed into a faucet spout that mixes air with the flow of water to reduce splashing.
Agent	A person (such as a real estate agent) authorized by a principal to transact or manage some business on his of her behalf.
Aggregate	Hard materials such as sand and crushed stone used to make concrete.
Air duct	A formed conduit that carries warm or cold air to rooms from the furnace or air-conditioner and back again.
Air-dried lumber	Lumber that has been dried by being stored in yards or sheds for any length of time.
Air-entrained	Concrete suffused with tiny air bubbles, making it more workable and better able to withstand frost.
Airway	A space between roof insulation and roof sheathing for movement of air.
Alligatoring	Coarse checking pattern characterized by a slipping of the new paint coating over the old coating to the extent that the old coating can be seen through the fissures.
Alternating current (AC)	Electrical current which reverses direction regularly (60 hertz, or cycles per second, in the US). As opposed to DC or direct current which does not reverse direction.
Amortized loan	A mortgage loan that is paid in periodic installments that include interest and part of the principal so that the principal will be paid in full at the end of the term of the loan.
Ampere	Also referred to as amp, the rate of flow of electricity through electric wires.
Anchor bolt	A bolt placed in the surface of concrete for attaching wood framing members.
Angle iron	L-shaped steel support used to support masonry over an opening.
Annual interest rate	The interest rate on a mortgage loan based on the nominal amount of the loan without deducting the points and finance charges.
Appraisal	An estimate of the market value of a property.
Appraiser	A professional trained to appraise properties.
Apron	The flat part of the inside trim of a window. It is placed against the wall directly beneath the window sill. Also, concrete slab at the approach to a driveway or garage door.
Apron	Concrete slab at the approach to a garage door- Also the wood trim below a window stool.
Arbitration	A procedure to settle differences or disputes between two parties through an impartial third party.
Arbor	A shaft or spindle on which a tool is mounted.
Asphalt	A brown to black bituminous substance. Most native asphalt is a residue from evaporated petroleum. Asphalt is used widely in building for such items as waterproofing roof coverings of many types, exterior wall coverings, and flooring tile.
Assessed value	A value placed on a property by a public officer or a board as a basis for taxation.
Assessment	A charge against real property made by a branch of government to cover the proportionate cost of an improvement such as street or sewer.
Assignee	A person to whom a right or property is transferred.
Astragal	A molding, attached to one of a pair of swinging doors, against which the other door strikes. French doors use this as the stop.
Attic	The accessible space located between the top of the ceiling and the underside of the sloped roof.
Attic ventilators	Openings in the roof or in gables for the purpose of allowing air to circulate.
Attorney-in-fact	A person who is given written authority by another person to sign documents on his or her behalf.
Awning	Shading device mounted above a window.
Awning window	A window that is hinged near the top so the bottom opens outward.
Backfill	The replacement of earth into a trench or pier excavation around and against a basement foundation.
Backhoe	An excavating machine with a bucket at one end and a hoe at the other end.
Backsplash	The raised lip on the back edge of a countertop to prevent water from running down the backs of the cabinets.
Ballast	Required in all fluorescent fixtures, it is an electrical component that limits the flow of electricity into a bulb.
Balloon framing	A system of framing a building in which all vertical structural elements of the bearing walls and partitions consist of single pieces. These pieces extend from the top of the foundation sill plate to the roofplate, and all floor joists are fastened to them.
Balusters	Usually small vertical members in a railing used between a top rail and the stair treads or a bottom rail.
Balustrade	A railing made up of balusters, top rail, and sometimes bottom rail, used on the edge of stairs, balconies, and porches.
Barge rafter	Outside roof rafter, usually on the overhang of a gable. This ends up being the fascia board for the gable.
Base shoe or shoe molding	A strip of wood next to the floor on interior baseboard. Similar to quarter round only 5/8" x 3/4" in size.
Base, baseboard	A board placed along the bottom of a wall next to the floor.
Batt insulation	Flexible, blanket like pieces, usually fiberglass used for thermal or sound insulation. As opposed to loose fill insulation which is blown in place.
Batten	Narrow strip of wood used to cover joints between boards of sheet material.
Batter boards	A pair of horizontal boards nailed to posts set at the corners of an excavation. They indicate the proper level and serve as a fastening place for stretched cord to show the outlines of foundation walls.
Bay window	Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building. The bay must be square or polygonal in plan.
Beam	Any major horizontal structural member.
Beam pocket	A recessed area to hold the end of a beam in a concrete or masonry wall.
Bearing partition/wall	A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
Bed molding	A molding in an angle, as between the overhanging cornice, or eaves, of a building and the sidewalls.
Bedding sand	Coarse sand, like that added to concrete mixes, used to make the bed for setting pavers or bricks.
Belt course	A horizontal board carried at the same level across or around a building. It is usually made of a flat member and a molding.
Bench mark	A mark on a permanent object indicating a verified elevation, used by surveyors as a reference point.
Berm	A low, artificially made mound of earth which adds height and depth to a flat landscape; often used in rock gardens, landscaped with rocks and plants.
Bevel	An angular surface across an edge of a piece of stock.
Bevel siding (lap siding)	A type of finish siding used on the exterior of a house. It is usually manufactured by resawing a dry, squared, surfaced board diagonally to produce two wedge-shaped pieces.
Beveled cut	An angled cut.
Biscuit	Wooden wafer placed in a slot that bridges and strengthens the joining of two pieces of wood..
Bleaching	A method of lightening the color of wood by applying chemicals.
Bleeding	Seeping of a stain or lower coat through the top coat, spoiling the appearance of the top coat.
Blend	Mixture, as of two pigments, to obtain a desired color.
Blind nailing	Nails driven so nailheads are not visible. Nails driven at an angle through the tongue of hardwood flooring, so the groove of the adjoining board conceals the nailhead.
Blind stop	A rectangular molding, usually 3/4 by 1 3/8 inches or more in width, used in the assembly of a window frame. Serves as a stop for storm and screen or combination windows and to resist air infiltration.
Blisters	Cloudy or milky-looking raised spots on finished surfaces.
Block plane	A small hand tool used to shave off or smooth lumber.
Board	Lumber less than 2" thick and 1" or more wide.
Board foot	A unit of lumber equal to a board 12"x12"x1 inch thick.
Boiled linseed oil	Linseed oil to which enough lead, manganese, or cobalt salts have been added to make the oil harden more rapidly when spread in thin coatings.
Boston ridge	Applying asphalt or wood shingles at the ridge or at the hips of a roof as a finish.
Bottom chord	The bottom horizontal member in a truss.
Bottom or sole plate	The bottom framing member of a wall, usually either 2 x 4 or 2 x 6. The plate is nailed to the bottom of the studs and to the floor joist or sheathing below it.
Bow	The distortion in a board that is no longer flat lengthwise, but has remained flat across its faces.
Box sill	The header joist nailed across the ends of floor joists at the sill.
Bracket	A brace extending from a wall to support a weight, such as a shelf.
Brad	A fine finishing nail with a small head.
Breezeway	A covered and sometimes enclosed walkway from one point to another. Commonly used to connect a garage to a house.
Brick mold	Standard wood molding used as outside casing around doors and windows.
Brick veneer	A facing of brick laid against and fastened to the sheathing of a frame wall.
Bridging	Small wood or metal members inserted in a diagonal position between the floor joists. They brace the joists and spread the loads.
British thermal unit (Btu)	The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Broom finish	A slip-resistant texture created by running a stiff broom across fresh concrete.
Buck	Assembly of the framing that constitutes a rough door or window opening.
Builder-grade	A trade term meaning a product of average quality normally found in production-built housing.
Building codes	Municipal rules regulating safe building practices and procedures. The codes generally encompass structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical remodeling and new construction. Inspection may be required to confirm adherence to local codes.
Building restriction lines	The outside edge of the area on a property that can be built on.
Built-up roof	A roofing composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generally used on flat or low-pitch roofs.
Bull float	A large, long handled float used for reaching into the center and smoothing a large slab of concrete.
Bulldozer	An excavating machine on tracks (crawler), with a steel blade that can be raised or lowered attached to its front. It is used to move earth from place to place and to shape the grade.
Burl	(1) A hard, woody outgrowth on a tree, more or less rounded in form, usually resulting from the entwined growth of a cluster of buds. Burls are the source of highly figured veneers used for ornamental purposes. (2) A localized distortion of the grain, found both in lumber and in veneer. Generally rounded in outline, it is usually the result of an overgrowth of dead branch stubs. Diameter may vary from 1/2" to several inches. A burl often includes one or more clusters, each usually having a core or pith but little end grain surrounding it.
Butt hinges	Standard hinges.
Butt joint	A square-cut joint where the ends of two pieces meet.
Butter	Applying mortar to stones or bricks.
Cabinet	A shop or job-built unit for kitchens or other rooms. Often includes combinations of drawers, doors, and the like.
Cantilever	To overhang such as a projecting beam supported at only one end.
Cap	The upper member of a column, pilaster, door cornice, molding, and the like.
Carpenter's glue	Yellow and white adhesives formulated specifically for woodworking.
Carriage	The supporting members for stair treads. Usually a 2" plank notched to receive the treads; sometimes termed a stringer.
Casement window	A window that is hinged at one side so the opposite side opens outward.
Casing	The trim around a door or window. A Cased opening is an open doorway with trim around it. A cased window is a window with trim around it.
Catch basin	In a man-made stream or watercourse, a small depression or basin designed to hold water.
Caulking	A waterproof, adhesive filler material that remains flexible so it will not pop or flake out of seams and cracks.
CDX plywood	An inexpensive, exterior-grade plywood. C grade on one side, D grade on the other, exterior glue used.
Ceiling joist	Structural members providing support for a second story floor and a nailing surface for a lower story's ceiling.
Cellulose	(1) The principal substance in the framework or walls of wood cells. (2) An organic substance obtained from the cotton plant and used as raw material in the manufacture of paints and other materials.
Cement	Usually refers to portland cement. A fine gray powder that produces a bonding paste when mixed with water. (Cement Siding...See Siding)
Centerline	An actual or imaginary line through the exact center of any object.
Certificate of occupancy	A certificate issued by the building department stating that the house has been built in accordance with the local building code and zoning ordinance, and may be occupied.
Chair rail	A horizontal strip of molding mounted at the proper height and protruding enough to prevent the top of a chair back from touching a wall surface. (See also Wainscoting.)
Chalk line	An instrument with colored chalk and string used to mark a straight line between two points.
Chamfer	A beveled surface cut on the corner of a piece of wood.
Chamfered edge	Molding with pared-off corners.
Change order	A term applied to a written agreement allowing a change from previously agreed-to plans.
Chase	An opening made in a wall or through a floor to accommodate pipes or ducts.
Circuit	The electrical path that connects one or more outlets and/or lighting fixtures to a single circuit breaker or fuse on the control panel.
Circuit breaker	A protective device that opens a circuit, cutting off the power automatically when an overcurrent or short-circuit occurs.
Clamp	A device that holds things together; often used to hold pieces together while the glue dries.
Clapboard	A type of siding. It consists of narrow boards which are usually thicker at one edge than the other.
Cleanout	A plug in a trap or drainpipe that provides access to blockages inside.
Clearance	The amount of space needed for the proper and/or safe use of various installations- for opening appliance and cabinet doors and drawers, for example.
Cleat	A strip of material, such as wood, fastened to another piece to strengthen it or to furnish a grip.
Clinch	To bend the point of a nail after it has passed through both pieces that it is to fasten, thereby locking it together.
Close-grained wood	Woods with narrow, inconspicuous annual rings. The term is sometimes used for wood having small and closely spaced pores.
Closet bend	An elbow-shape fitting beneath a toilet that carries the waste to the main drain.
Closing costs	Expenses incurred to settle a loan transaction. They can include: legal fees, appraisal fees, survey fees, insurance, and other related expenses.
Coarse-grained wood	Wood with wide, conspicuous annual rings, indicating considerable difference between springwood and summerwood. The term is sometimes used for wood with large pores such as oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut.
Cobblestones	Naturally rounded stones with dimensions between two and 12 inches; used in paths, terraces, xeriscapes, and water features.
Code enforcement officer	An authorized representative of the building code enforcement office. The individual responsible for the approval or denial of code inspections and the party responsible for issuing a certificate of occupancy.
Collar tie	A horizontal piece of lumber that connects rafters opposite each other and prevents them from spreading apart.
Column	A vertical support (often square, rectangular, or cylindrical), as for roofs or ceilings.
Combination doors or windows	Doors or windows with self-storing or removable glass and screen inserts. The need for handling a different unit each season is thus eliminated.
Common nail	Large-diameter nail for rough framing.
Common rafter	A rafter extending from the top of the wall to the ridge.
Compression fitting	A type of fitting used to make a plumbing connection. Typically utilizes a brass body and nut with a ferrule to compress over the pipe, preventing water or air from leaking.
Compressor	The part of an air conditioning or heat pump unit that compresses the refrigerant gas so that it can absorb heat.
Concrete	A combination of cement and sand, broken stone, or gravel. It is used for foundations, building construction, walks, and many other purposes.
Concrete apron	The section of concrete where a garage floor joins the driveway. Aprons allow for a smooth transition from a lower driveway to an elevated garage floor.
Concrete pavers	Preformed concrete units commonly used for driveways, patios, and sidewalks. Pavers are designed to be laid in a sand base. They come in many shapes and colors and may interlock in repeating patterns.
Condensation	In a building, beads or drops of water that accumulate on the inside of the exterior covering of the building. Condensation occurs when warm, moisture-laden air from the interior reaches a point where the temperature no longer permits the air to sustain the moisture it holds.
Conduit	Metal or plastic tubing designed to enclose electrical wires.
Conifer	A cone-bearing tree.
Contact cement	Rubber-based glue which adheres on contact.
Contour lines	Lines on a topographic map or site plan to describe the contour of the land.
Control joints	Grooves that are tooled or cut into the surface of wet concrete to make it crack in straight lines at planned locations, rather than cracking randomly.
Coped cut	A profile cut on a piece of molding that allows it to be butted tightly against the face of another piece in an inside corner.
Coping	The final horizontal layer of stones that cap and waterproof a stone wall; usually wide and shallow, coping stones are often mortared into place.
Corbel out	To build out one or more courses of brick or stone from the face of a wall in order to form a support for timbers.
Core	In plywood, the center of the panel. It may be either veneer or lumber.
Corner bead	A light-weight metal angle used to shape and reinforce outside corners in drywall, or sheetrock, construction.
Corner block	A large triangular piece of wood or metal used for added strength at the corners of frames or where legs and rails join.
Corner boards	Boards used as trim for the external corners of a house or other frame structure and against which the ends of the siding are finished.
Corner braces	Diagonal braces at the corners of a frame structure to stiffen and strengthen the wall.
Cornice	(1) Overhang of a pitched roof at the eave line, usually consisting of a fascia board, a soffit for a closed cornice, and appropriate moldings. (2) A decorative member, usually molded, placed at or near the top of a wall.
Cornice return	That portion of the cornice that returns on the gable end of a house.
Counterboring	Enlarging a hole so that the head of a screw or bolt inserted can be completely covered.
Counterflashing	A flashing usually used on chimneys at the roofline to cover shingle flashing and to prevent moisture entry.
Countersinking	To sink a nail or screw even with or below the surface.
Coupling	A fitting that connects two lengths of pipe in a straight run.
Course	A single row of building units such as concrete blocks bricks or shingles.
Cove lighting	Concealed light sources, placed behind cornice or other horizontal recess, that direct the light on a reflecting ceiling.
Cove mold	Concave molding used to trim an inside corner.
Crawl space	A shallow, unfinished space beneath the first floor of a house that has no basement. Used for visual inspection and access to pipes and ducts.
Cricket	A small drainage-diverting roof structure of single or double slope placed at the junction of larger surfaces that meet at an angle, such as above a chimney. Also called a saddle.
Cripple stud	A short framing stud that is cut off to make an opening for a door or window.
Cripple Stud	Short stud over a window or door between the top of the header and the bottom of the top plate. Also, the short stud between the top of the bottom plate and the underside of a window frame.
Cross-bridging	Diagonal bracing between adjacent floor joists, placed near the center of the joist span to prevent joists from twisting.
Crushed rock	Stones approximately 1/4 inch to two inches in size which have been mechanically crushed.
Cup	Distortion or warping of a board so that it is no longer flat across its width.
Curb appeal	A term used in real estate sales referring to the exterior appearance of a property.
Curing	The process of aging a new concrete slab with proper moisture to reduce cracking and shrinkage and to develop strength.
Cut-in-brace	Bracing cut into each stud at an angle to provide lateral support.
Dado	A rectangular groove across the grain in a board.
Dado joint	A joint in which one piece is grooved to receive the piece which forms the other part if the joint.
Damper	Valve designed to control the flow of air or smoke.
Dampproofing	Vapor barrier or coating on foundation walls or under concrete slabs to prevent moisture from entering the house.
Darby	A tool with a long sole made of smooth wood or metal, used for smoothing the surface of a concrete slab after initial leveling.
Datum	A reference point from which elevations are measured.
Dead load	The weight of the walls, permanent partitions, framing, roofs, and all other permanent stationary construction in a building, not counting the occupants and furnishings and movement.
Decay	Disintegration of wood or other substance through the action of fungi or bacteria.
Decibel (db)	Logarithmic measure of sound intensity. An increase of 6 db is the same as doubling the sound pressure.
Deciduous	Trees which annually lose their leaves.
Deck paint	An enamel with a high degree of resistance to mechanical wear; designed for use on such surfaces as porch floors.
Decking	The term decking can apply to the material used to build an exterior deck or the material used to build interior flooring systems.
Defect	Any imperfection occurring in or on wood that may lower its quality.
Delamination	The separation of layers of plies through the failure of adhesive bond.
Detail	A drawing showing special information about a particular part of the construction- Details are usually drawn to a larger scale than the other views and are sometimes section views.
Dewpoint	Temperature at which a vapor begins to condense. Applies especially to moisture in the air.
Dimension lumber	Lumber at least 2" but less than 5" thick, and 2" or more wide. Includes joists, rafters, studding, planks, and small timbers. (see also Dimension stock.)
Dimension stock	Today it is commonly known as hardwood dimension lumber.
Direct current (DC)	Electrical current that flows in a single direction.
Doorjamb	The surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb. Exterior doorjambs also have thresholds.
Dormer	A projection in a sloping roof, the framing of which forms a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings.
Double glazing	An insulating windowpane formed of two thickness' of glass with a sealed air space between them.
Double-hung windows	A window consisting of two sashes that can slide vertically.
Dovetail joint	A joint in which one piece has dovetail-shaped pins or tenons which fit into corresponding openings on the other piece.
Dowel	A small wooden pin used to strengthen a joint.
Downspout	A pipe, usually metal, for carrying rainwater from roof gutters.
Dressed size	The dimension of lumber after being surfaced. A 2" x 4" stud actually measures 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" .
Drier	A solution added to drying oils in paint to quicken the drying.
Drip	(1) A member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior-finish course that has a projection beyond the other parts for throwing off water. (2) A groove in the underside of a sill or drip cap to cause water to drop off on the outer edge instead of drawing back and running down the face of the building.
Drip cap	A molding placed above the exterior of a door or window frame, causing water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.
Drip edge	Metal trim installed at the edge of a roof to stop water from running back under the edge of the roof deck.
Dry rot	A term loosely applied to any crumbly decay of wood, but especially to that which, when in an advanced stage, allows the wood to be crushed easily to a dry powder. The term does not accurately describe decay. Since fungi which cause the rot require considerable moisture for growth.
Dry stack wall	A stone wall constructed without mortar, which depends on gravity and the fit between the stones for its stability.
Drying oil	Drying oils are used in the manufacture of paints and varnishes. Linseed oil is a common drying oil.
Drywall	Also known as wallboard, gypsum board, plasterboard, and by the trade name Sheetrock, a wall-surfacing material composed of sheets of gypsum plaster sandwiched between a low-grade backing paper and a smooth-finish front surface paper that can be painted.
Dry-wall returns	A type of construction in which the windows have drywall installed from the interior wall surface to the window unit. Another method of trimming windows is to have wood returns from the window to the wall surface. With wood returns you need window casing to frame the inside of the window. With drywall returns you have a cornerbead drywall corner and no window casing.
Drywall mud	Joint compound; the substance used to hide seams and nail or screw heads in the finished walls of a home.
Ducts	Pipes which carry air from a furnace or an air conditioner to the rooms of a building. Usually they are round or rectangular and made of metal, although they may be made of asbestos and composition materials.
Earnest money	A cash deposit paid by the prospective buyer of real property as evidence of his good-faith intention to complete the sale.
Easement	A right or privilege that one party has in the property of another that entitles the holder to a specific limited use of the property.
Eaves	The overhang of a roof projecting over the walls.
Edging	The rounded edges of a concrete slab that are resistant to cracking.
Egress window	Window whose clear dimensions are large enough that it can serve as a fire exit.
Elbow	Also known as an ell, this fitting is used to change the direction of a water supply line.
Elbow	Right-angle bend in stovepipe.
Elevation	A drawing that shows vertical dimensions- it may also be the height of a point, usually in feet above sea level.
Eminent domain	The right of the federal and state governments or public service organizations to acquire all or part of a privately owned property for public use.
Enamel	A kind of paint in which the vehicle is a drying oil or combination of drying oil and resin. The paint dries to an even, hard finish.
Equity	The appraised market value of a property less all debts owed against it.
Excavate	To remove earth from a basement site or utility trench, by means of a bulldozer or backhoe (a backhoe is a tractor with a scoop bucket attached).
Expansion joint	A bituminous fiber strip used to separate blocks or units of concrete to prevent cracking due to expansion caused by temperature changes.
Exposed aggregate	A decorative treatment that exposes a layer of stones embedded in the surface of concrete.
Extension jamb	Addition to a door or window jamb to bring the jamb up to full wall thickness. Also known as jamb extender.
Exterior plywood	Plywood in which the plies are bonded together using exterior or waterproof glue.
Face-nailing	To nail perpendicular to the surface or to the junction of the pieces joined. Also termed direct nailing.
Fall	The slope of a drain line, ensuring proper flow. Minimum fall is 1/4 inch per foot.
False ceiling	A drop or suspended ceiling, hung on metal or wood grids, to permit covering exposed ducts, pipes, or beams.
Fascia	The part of a cornice that covers the ends of the rafters, where a gutter would be attached. Interior use is the vertical face of a cornice, etc.
Fascia board	A board nailed to the ends of the rafters, below the roof edge.
Faucet - 4 inch	Also known as a close coupled faucet. These faucets are produced as an integral, one-piece unit. (The handles and the spout are molded from the same material, producing a faucet with all working parts molded together.)
Filler, wood	A heavily pigmented preparation used for filling and leveling off the pores in open-grained woods.
Fill-type insulation	Loose insulating material that is applied by hand or mechanically blown into wall spaces.
Finish screws	A small headed screw, usually square drive. The screw head is designed to be countersunk.
Finish grade	Final ground level around a building.
Fire blocks (fire stops)	Short horizontal members nailed between the studs to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from one level to another.
Fire bricks	Heat resistant bricks used for lining fireplaces.
Fire-retardant chemical	A chemical preparation used to reduce flammability or to retard the spread of flame.
Firestop	Blocking or noncombustible material between wall studs to prevent vertical draft and flamespread. Same as Fire Blocking.
Fish tape	Flexible metal strip used to draw wires and cable through walls, raceways, and conduit.
Fitting	Any pipe connector other than a valve.
Fixture	Any device that provides a flow of water or sanitary disposal of wastes. Examples include tubs, showers, sinks, and toilets.
Flagstone	Any kind of stone which splits into shallow slabs suitable for paving.
Flashed	A trade term applying to the attachment of articles to houses or roofs and the penetration of roofs by pipes. When these conditions exist, they are flashed to seal the area from water infiltration. Plumbing pipes exiting through a roof are flashed with neoprene or some other material to prevent leaks around the pipes. Where decks or bay windows are attached to a house, they are flashed with lightweight metal to prevent water damage behind the point of attachment.
Flashing	Material used to prevent seepage of water around any intersection or projection in a roof, including vent pipes, chimneys, skylights, dormers, and roof valleys.
Flat paint	An interior paint with a high proportion of pigment, It dries to a flat, or lusterless, finish.
Flatwork Concrete	Any concrete work that is horizontal such as driveway, slabs and walks. Different than concrete walls or other formed concrete.
Flitch	(1) Portion of a log sawed on two or more sides and intended for manufacture into lumber or veneer. (2) The term is also applied to the sheets of veneer laid together in sequence of cutting.
Flitch plate	Usually a metal plate sandwiched between wood beams with bolts running through all members, to increase the strength of the total product.
Float	To level concrete before it begins to cure- floating is done with a tool called a float.
Floor joists	Framing pieces that rest on outer foundation walls or interior beams or girders, to support the floor.
Floor plan	A drawing showing the arrangement of rooms, the locations of windows and doors, and complete dimensions- A floor plan is actually a horizontal section through the entire building.
Flue	The opening in a chimney through which smoke can pass.
Flue lining	Fireclay or terra-cotta pipe, round or square. It is used for the inner lining of chimneys, with brick or masonry work around the outside.
Flush	Even, or in the same plane (with reference to adjacent surfaces of two materials ).
Flush door	A door having flat surfaces.
Fly rafter	End rafter of the gable overhang supported by roof sheathing and lookouts.
Footing	A masonry section, usually concrete, in a rectangular form wider than the bottom of the foundation wall or pier it supports. It can be level, stepped level, or follow the contour of the ground.
Footing drain	An underground drain pipe around the footings to carry ground water away from the building.
Formica	A plastic material available in different colors that is used to veneer plywood or particle wood vanities, kitchen cabinets, and countertops. (A trade name.)
Formwork	The wooden forms that shape wet concrete.
Foundation	The part of a building or wall which supports the superstructure.
Frame	(1) The surrounding or enclosing woodwork, as around windows or doors. (2) The skeleton of a building; that is, the rough structure of a building, including interior and exterior walls, floor, roof, and ceilings.
Frame construction	Construction in which the structural parts are of wood or depend on a wood frame for support.
Framing	The rough structure of a building, including interior and exterior walls, floor, roof, and ceilings.
Framing square	A large L-shaped metal measuring tool used when marking boards for framing.
Frieze board	The highest board directly above the siding and below the soffit.
Frost heave	Movement or upheaval of the ground when there is alternate freezing and thawing of water in the soil. This is one reason concrete slabs crack, making control joints necessary.
Frost line	The lowest depth at which the ground will freeze. It determines the code-required depth for footings.
Fungicide	A chemical that is poisonous to fungi.
Furring	Narrow strips of wood attached to a surface for the purpose of creating a plumb or level surface for attaching the wall, ceiling, or floor surface.
Fuse	A short plug in an electric panel box that opens (breaks) an electrical circuit when it becomes overloaded.
Gable	A vertical, triangular part of a building, contained between the slopes of a double-sloped roof.
Gable end	The triangular wall between the sloping ends of a roof.
Gable studs	The studs placed between the end rafters and the top plates of the end walls.
Galvanized	A zinc coating used to prevent rusting.
Gambrel roof	A two-sloped roof with its lower parts steeper than its upper parts. This type of roof is identified with the Dutch Colonial house style.
Gauge	A standard unit of measurement for the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal.
General contractor	A person who contracts to build a house or building, or a part of it, for another person.
Girder	A beam which supports floor joists.
Glazing	Fitting glass into windows or doors.
Glazing compound	Caulking compound used especially for holding window glass in place because it remains soft underneath the surface.
Gloss	A shiny, lustrous finish which reflects light.
Glue block	A small piece of wood used to strengthen and support two pieces of wood joined at an angle.
Grade	The designation of quality, as of logs or plywood.
Grade	The ground level or elevation. Also the slope of the surface of a lot or a road.
Grain	The direction, size, arrangement, and appearance of wood or veneer fibers.
Granite	A fine to medium-coarse grained igneous stone; dense and water-resistant, it is often used in garden walls, and as stepping stones and specimen rocks.
Gravel	Naturally rounded or mechanically crushed stones ranging in size from 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches. Often used in gravel gardens, terraces, and water features.
Green	Freshly sawed lumber, or lumber that has had no intentional drying; unseasoned.
Groove	A long, hollow channel, cut by a tool, into which a piece fits or in which it works. Carpenters have given special names to certain forms of grooves, such as dadoes and housings.
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)	A safety circuit breaker that compares the amount of current entering a receptacle on the hot wire with the amount leaving on the white wire. If there is a discrepancy of 0.005 volt, the GFCI breaks the circuit in a fraction of a second.
Grout	Mortar made of such consistency (by adding water) that it will just flow into the joints and cavities of the masonry work and fill them solid.
Gum	A sticky substance obtained from the sap of certain trees and plants, and used in making varnishes and paints.
Gusset	A triangular or trapezoidal piece of wood or metal fastened to the exterior of a joint to strengthen it. Most commonly used on wood trusses.
Gutter	A shallow channel or conduit of metal or wood set below and along the eaves of a house to catch and carry off rainwater from the roof.
Gypsum plaster	Gypsum made to be used with sand and water for base-coat plaster.
Gypsum wallboard	Drywall materials made of gypsum encased in paper to form boards.
Hard water	Water rich in calcium.
Hardboard (masonite)	A brown sheet of building material made of compressed wood fibers.
Hardware cloth	A woven steel mesh of fine wire.
Hardwood	The close-grained wood from broad-leaved trees such as oak or maple.
Headers	Double wood pieces supporting joists in a floor or double wood members placed on edge over windows and doors to transfer the roof and floor weight above the openings to the studs at the side.
Hearth	The floor of a fireplace, usually made of brick, tile, or stone.
Heartwood	In a tree, the wood extending from the pith to the sapwood, more decay-resistant than sapwood.
Heat pump	An electric unit that cools the house during hot weather by absorbing heat from inside and discharging it to the outside. In cold weather, it absorbs heat from outside and discharges it inside.
Heated Square Feet	The square feet of a building that is climate controlled as opposed to square feet under roof which includes garage and porches.
Heel (of a rafter)	The end, or