GLOSSARY OF CONSTRUCTION RELATED WORDS AND TERMS
Our construction industry has its own special list of construction related terms which have been categorized by work trade for your easy reference. This section will assist you in communicating with construction related vendors and subcontractors.
CARPENTRYActual Dimension: True size of a piece of lumber, after milling and dryingAwl: A sharp-pointed tool used for making small starter holes for screws Awning Window: A single window sash hinged at the top that swings outward Batt: A section of fiber-glass or rock-wood insulation precut to 15 or 23 inches wide by four to eight feet long Bevel Cut: A cut made at an angle through the thick dimension of a piece of wood Blanket: Rolled strips of fiber-glass or rock-wood insulation that measure 15 or 23 inches wide Board Foot: The standard unit of measurement for wood. One board foot is equal to a piece 12x12x1 inches (nominal size) Board: A piece of lumber that is less than 2 inches thick and more than 3 inches wide Butt Joint: A joint formed by two pieces of material when fastened end to end, end to face, or end to edge Carbide: A very hard material made of carbon and one or more heavy metals that is often used as a top for drill bits Casement Window: A window hinged on the outside and opening outward with a mechanical crank used to open and close the window Casing: Molding around a door, window, or other opening Caulk: A putty-like substance used for filling cracks and sealing seams, protecting against infiltration of water or air Chamber: A bevel cut made along the length of a board edge Cleat: A length of board attached so as to strengthen or add support to a structure Coped Cut: A profile cut made in the face of a piece of molding that allows for butting it against another piece at an inside corner Countersink: To drive in the head of a nail or screw so its top is flush with the surface of the surrounding wood Damper: On a chimney, a valve installed inside an air duct to regulate the flow of air Dimensional Lumber: A piece of lumber with nominal thickness of 2 inches that is at least 2 inches wide, used for framing Diverter: The valve that switches the flow of water between two outlets of the same water source Double-Hung Window: A window with an upper and lower sash that slide vertically Dowel: A piece of small diameter wood rod used to reinforce joints Drain Trap: A U-shaped drain pipe found below sinks that traps water at its bottom, forming a water seal to prevent backflow Edging: Strips of wood or veneer used to cover the edges of plywood or boards End Grain: The ends of wood fibers that are exposed at the ends of boards Fiberglass: Glass in fibrous form used for making various products, including insulation Filament: A thin tungsten wire found in incandescent light bulbs through which electricity flows, causing it to glow Filler: A pastelike compound used to hide surface imperfections in wood Fire Blocking: Short horizontal stud size members sometimes nailed between framing studs, usually about halfway up the wall Flue: A pipe or other air channel that carries off smoke, flame, and combustion gases to the outside air Fluorescent Light: A tubular lamp that emits light when an electric discharge excites an interior coating of fluorescent material Furring: Lightweight strips of wood applied to walls to provide a plumb nailing surface for paneling or drywall Fuse: An electrical safety device designed to burn out or melt if a circuit shorts or overloads, thus interrupting the electric current Gasket: An elastic strip that forms a seal between two parts Glazier's Points: Small triangular pieces of thin metal used to hold glass in place prior to puttying Gloss Paint: Paint containing a high percentage of resin that, when dry, has a highly reflective finish Grain: The direction of fibers in a piece of wood Grout: Thin mortar used to fill joints between tiles or other masonry Gusset: A piece of wood or plywood nailed or screwed over a joint to give it added strength Header: The framing component spanning a door or window opening in a wall Hood: An enclosure or canopy provided with an inward-moving draft designed to carry off disagreeable or noxious odors. Incandescent Light: A lamp in which metal filament glows when charged with electricity, emitting head and light Inside Corner: The point at which two walls form an internal angle, as in the corner of a room Jamb: The top and side frames of a door or window opening Joists: Horizontal framing members that support a floor and/or ceiling Lap Joint: The joint formed when one member overlaps another Latex Paint: A water-based paint Lath: Strips of wood, metal, or gypsum boards that serve as a base for plaster, tiling, or stucco Ledger: A horizontal strip (typically lumber) used to provide support for the ends or edges of other members. Level: The condition that exists when a surface is a true horizontal. Also a tool used to determine level. Linear Foot: A term used to refer to the length of a board or piece of molding Miter Joint: The joint formed when two members meet that have been cut at the same angle, usually 45-degress Molding: A strip of wood, usually small dimensioned, used to cover exposed edges or as a decoration Mortise Cut: A shallow cutout in a board, usually used to recess hardware, such as hinges. Nominal Dimension: The stated size of a piece of lumber, such as a 2x4 or a 1x12. The actual dimension is somewhat smaller On Center (OC): The distance from the center of one regularly spaced framing member, such as a stud, to the next Outside Corners: The point at which two walls form an external angle Particleboard: Panels made from compressed wood particles and glue Pilot Hole: A small hole drilled into a wooden member to avoid splitting the wood when driving in a screw or nail Pilot Light: A small, continuous flame used to ignite gas or oil burners when needed Plumb Line: A length of string that is weighted at one end Plumb: Exactly vertical (perpendicular) to the floor Polyurethane: A clear, durable, water-resistant finish used for coating stained wood to protect it against wear and tear Pressure-treated Wood: Lumber and sheet goods impregnated with one of several solutions to make the wood more impervious Primer: A first coating of paint formulated to seal raw surfaces and hold succeeding coats R-value: A measure of the resistance an insulating material offers to heat transfer. Sash: The frame holding the panes of glass in a window or door Sheetrock: Also known as drywall Shim: A thin strip or wedge of wood or other material used to fill a gap between two adjoining components Soffit: Covering attached to the underside of eaves or a staircase Spackling Compound: A paste used to fill cracks in a wall or other surfaces before painting Square: The condition that exists when one surface is at a 90-degree angle to another. Also a tool used to determine a square Strike Plate: The plate attached to the doorframe that engages a latch or dead bolt Studs: Vertical pieces of wood spaced at regular intervals that provide a framework for a wall Subfloor: The first floor, which may also serve as the finished floor, that is laid directly over the floor joists Tack Strips: Narrow wooden slats with tacks sticking up from them, used in carpet installation Taper: A gradual and uniform decrease in the width or thickness of a board Taping: The process of covering drywall joints with paper tape and joint compound Toenail: To drive a nail at an angle to hold together two pieces of material, usually studs in a wall Toggle Bolt: A bolt that has a nut with wings which close as the bolt is passed through a small hole. Tongue-and groove Joint: A joint made by fitting the projecting tongue on one member into a corresponding groove Top Plate: The topmost horizontal element of a stud framed wall Vapor Barrier: A waterproof membrane in a floor, wall, or ceiling that blocks the transfer of condensation to the inner surface Veneer: A thin layer of wood, often a decorative wood laminated to the surface of a more common wood Warp: Any of several lumber defects caused by uneven shrinkage of wood cells Weather Strip: A thin material placed between a door or a window and its jambs to prevent air leakage ELECTRICALAmp: Short for ampere, this is a measurement of the strength of electrical current flowing through a wire or appliance.Antioxidant: A paste applied to aluminum wires to inhibit corrosion and maintain safe connections Armored Cable: Flexible cable, containing two or more wires, with a protective metal sheathing. Box: A metal or plastic container with openings for cable. Bus Bar: A long terminal inside a service panel. BX Cable: Armored cable containing insulated wires and no ground wire Cable: Two or more insulated wires wrapped in metal or plastic sheathing Circuit Breaker: A protective device in a service panel that automatically shuts off power Circuit: Two or more wires carrying power from the service panel to devices, fixtures, and appliances and then back to the panel. Codes: Local regulations governing safe wiring practices. Common Terminal: On a three-way switch, the darker-colored terminal to which the wire supplying power is connected Common Wire: In a three-way switch setup, the wire that brings power to the switch or to the fixture Conductor: A carrier of electricity - usually, a wire Conduit: Plastic or metal pipe through which wires run Continuity Tester: A device that tells whether a circuit is capable of carrying electricity Cord: Two or more insulated stranded wires encased in a flexible plastic or cloth sheathing Current: The flow of electrons through a conductor Device: Usually an electrical receptacle or switch Duplex Receptacle: The most common type of receptacle with two outlets. Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT): Thin rigid metal conduit suitable for residential use. End-line Wiring: Also called switch -loop wiring. A method of wiring a switch, in which power runs to the fixture box. End-of-run: A receptacle at the end of a circuit Feed Wire: The hot wire that brings power into a box Fixture: A light or fan that is permanently attached rather than being plugged into a receptacle Four-way Switch: A switch used when a light is controlled by three or more switches Fuse: A safety device, located in a fuse box, which shuts off power when a circuit overloads Greenfield: Flexible metal conduit Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): A receptacle with a built-in safety feature, which shuts off when there is a risk of shock Ground: Wire or metal sheathing that provides an alternate path for current back to the service panel. Hardwired: An appliance that is wired via cable directly into a box rather than having a cord that plus into a receptacle Hot Wire: The wire that carries power Junction Box: An electrical box with no fixture or device attached Kilowatt (kW): One thousand watts Knockout: A round slug or tab that can be punched out to allow room for a cable or circuit breaker Lead: A wire (usually stranded) connected to a fixture MC Cable: Armored cable with a ground wire in addition to at least two insulated wires Middle-of-run: A receptacle located between the service panel and another receptacle. Multitester: A tool that measures voltage of various levels, tests for continuity, and performs other tests National Electrical Code (NEC): The standard set of electrical codes for the United States. Neutral Wire: A wire, usually covered with white insulation, that carries power from the box back to the service panel. Nonmetallic (NM) cable: Usually two or more insulated wires, plus a bare ground wire, enclosed in plastic sheathing. Outlet: Any point in an electrical system where electricity may be used. Overload: A dangerous condition caused when a circuit carries more amperage than it is designed to handle. Pigtail: A male connection at the end of a cord designed to be inserted into a receptacle outlet Polarized Plug: A plug with its neutral prong wider than the hot prong. Raceway: Surface-mounted channels made of plastic or metal through which wires can be run to extend a circuit Receptacle: An electrical outlet into which a plug can be inserted. Recessed Can Light: A light fixture that contains its own electrical box designed to be installed inside a ceiling. Rigid Conduit: Metal conduit that can be bent only with a special tool Romex: A common name for nonmetallic cable Service Entrance: The point where power from the utility enters the building. Service Panel: A large electrical box containing either fuses or circuit breakers. Short Circuit: A dangerous condition that occurs when a hot wire touches a neutral wire. Splice: To connect together the stripped ends of two or more wires usually by twisting them together and adding a wire nut Stripping: Removing insulation from wire or sheathing from cable Subpanel: A subsidiary service panel, containing circuit breakers or fuses and supplying a number of branch circuits. System Ground: The method by which an entire electrical system is grounded. Three-way Switch: A switch used when a light is controlled by two switches Through-switch Wiring: A method of wiring a switch, in which power runs to the switch box. Transformer: A device that reduces voltage usually from 120 volts to between 4 and 24 volts. Travel Wires: In a three-way switch setup, the two wires that run from switch to switch. Underwriters Knot: A special knot used to tie the wires in a lamp socket Volt (V): A measure of electrical pressure Voltage Detector: A tool that senses electrical current even through insulation and sheathing Voltage Tester: A tool that senses the presence of electrical current when its probes touch bare wire ends. Watt (W): A measure of the amount of power that an electrical device, fixture, or appliance uses. Volts x amps = watts Wire Nut: A plastic protective cap that screws onto two twisted wires to complete a splice |