Glossary

Architrave

A moulding used to surround a door, window, arch or wooden aneling, or the lowest horizontal moulding of a classical entablature.

Bay window

A window that extends out from the wall of a room, often to floor level giving additional internal floor area.

Beading

A narrow strip of wood with a half round profile used as an ornamental edging.

Bolster chisel

A broad-bladed chisel, normally completely made of steel used mainly for masonry work but useful for lifting floorboards etc.

Brace

A diagonal member used to prevent part of a structure from sagging - can either be temporary or permanent.

Cantilever

A projecting beam (or other part of a structure) that is secured at one end only.

Casement window

A window that has vertically and/or horizontally hinged openings and may include non-opening sections of glazing.

Caulking

Sealing joints by applying a flexible compound or sealant.

Chair rail

Another term for dado rail.

Chalk line

A length of string, coated in chalk dust, which is used to produce accurate straight lines for many decorating tasks. The line is held at both ends and ‘twanged' against a surface thus transferring chalk dust to it.

Chipboard

A manufactured building board made from compressed and glued wooden particles.

Counter-bore

To insert a suitable screw into a surface so that its head does not protrude above that surface. This is achieved by using screws in a hole ‘counterbored' with a flat bottomed cutter. If the counterbore is deep enough, it may be plugged with a piece of doweling to fully hide the screw head.

Counter-sink

To insert a suitable screw into a surface so that its head does not protrude above that surface. This is achieved by using counter sink screws in a hole ‘countersunk' with a conical-shaped cutter.

Cross grain

Wood grain that is not inline with the main axis of a length of timber.

Dado

Decorative and/or protective aneling on the lower part of an interior wall. AKA Wainscot.

Dado rail

A moulding attached along a wall, about 1 metre (3ft 4in) from the floor, separating the upper and lower areas of the wall. Originally intended to protect the wall from damage by chair backs. AKA Chair Rail.

Dormer window

The window in the vertical end of a dormer.

Dovetail nailing

Nails driven through one piece of wood at opposing angles into another piece thus making it difficult for the timbers to be pulled apart.

Dowel

A short length of wood, round in section, used for a variety of purposes such as joining timbers, plugging, fixing holes etc.

Drip groove

A groove cut in the underside of a projection (such as a window sash or sill) to cause rainwater to drip to the ground rather than running under the projection onto the main structure.

End grain

The surface of wood exposed after cutting across the fibres.

Escutcheon

In door furniture, the ornamental and protective plate around the keyhole.

Fanlight

The glazed light above a door, often fan-shaped and ornamented - however the term is applied to any shape of light above a door.

Feather-edged boarding

Plain weatherboard tapering in thickness; the thick edge overlaps the thin edge of the adjacent board - the fixing should go in the thick edge missing the edge of the board underneath. When hung horizontally, the thick edge goes downwards, when used vertically for fencing etc, the thick edge should be away from the prevailing winds.

Fibreboard

A lightweight manufactured board material with little strength, can be used in ceilings or as insulation to attics.

Fielded panel

A wall or door panel with a raised centre area which is sloped off, anelin or ‘fielded' towards the edges.

Finial

A turned or carved ornament usually in the shape of an urn, ball, bun, spike or figure, often used to decorate the ends of staircase newel posts.

Firrings

Pieces of tapered timber fixed to the top of joists to adjust their slope. Can be used under roof decking to give a drainage fall or to bring a sloping surface level.

Fish plate

Steel plates used to join two pieces of timber end to end - the plates (one on each side) overlap both pieces and are secured using bolts through.

Flush door

Doors which have plain, smooth sides - either constructed with a solid or honeycombed core, surfaced with plywood or other laminate on each side.

Fluting

Parallel concave channels used to decorate the surfaces of stone, plaster, timber, etc.

French windows

A pair of narrow casement windows that extend to floor level forming a doorway to the garden or other outside area. Traditionally they opened inwards (as traditionally do windows in France), but modern ones may vary.

Glazing bars

The framing members in a window sash which divide and contain the individual glass panes.

Halved joint

Many variation exist, but the principle is that half of each piece of timber is cut away and the remaining halves are fitted over each other.

Hardboard

A thin manufactured board made from compressed wooden particles - one side smooth, the other side rough, Used for covering subfloors etc.

I Beams

Manufactured joists comprising a thin vertical of manufactured board with wider timber fixed along the upper and lower edges. Provide increased loads over wider spans than can often be achieved using solid timbers.

Jamb

The vertical side part of a doorway or window frame.

Medium-density fibreboard (MDF)

A manufactured building board of compressed wooden fibres and used for a variety of interior joinery and building tasks. The dust is harmful and a mask should be used when cutting or drilling.

Mitre

A joint where the two parts are each cut at 45 degrees so that the make a neat right angle.

Parquet flooring

A flooring traditionally made up of small wooden blocks arranged in a herring-bone or other geometrical pattern. Modern alternatives consist of thinner wooden panels which give the same effect.

Picture rail

A moulding positioned along a wall a short distance down from the ceiling, special hooks are then used to hook onto the rail to support pictures and other wall decorations. The wallpaper would often stop at the underside of the rail and area above would be painted. Were fashionable years ago, not so much now except in rooms with very high ceilings.

Picture window

A window comprising of a large, single pane or double/triple glazed unit.

Plywood

A manufactured building board consisting of a number of layers of wood veneer stuck together in such a way that the grain of one layer is at right angles to that of the previous layer. Various qualities of face veneer, thicknesses, number of layers, etc. are available to suit numerous applications.

Rail

A horizontal or vertical strut used to make up a anelin door or window frame.

Rebate

An area of a window glazing bar recessed to take a pane of glass.

Sash window

A window consisting of two main frames that slide vertically past each other - each sash being counter balanced by a sash weight on a sash cord.

Spirit Level

A tool used to establish true vertical and horizontal lines by looking at a bubble in spirit filled vials.

Stile

The vertical member on each side of a framed door or window sash.

Straight grain

Grain (wood fibres) that aligns with the main axis of a length of timber.

Straightedge

A length of timber or metal with at least one edge truly straight for marking out, checking levels, etc.

Stud wall

An internal, non-load bearing wall faced with lath and plaster or plasterboard. Often timber framed although metal frames are being introduced into domestic building - they have been used for many years in industrial ones.

Studs

The vertical wooden posts within a timber-frame wall.

Subfloor

The surface beneath a floor covering, usually of concrete or timber, and sometimes covered with hard board.

Suspended timber floors

The joists supporting the floor boards or chipboard are themselves supported by small "sleeper" walls at ground floor level or wall hangers at other floors. Older properties may have the joists built into the masonry walls which can lead to the ends of the joists rotting.

Timber frame

A method of building construction where the internal walls, floors, roof etc are manufactured in sections using timber off site and are erected onto a completed base built up from the foundations. In modern timber framed buildings, the inner timber construction is often covered by using an outer skin of brick or similar materials to give a traditional appearance.

Timber framed wall

A wall composed of structural wooden components, sheathed on both sides or infilled with masonry or wattle and daub.

Tongue and groove

A system of interlocking planks along the sides to produce a anelin surface.

Wainscot

Wood aneling or boarding on the lower part of an internal wall. AKA Dado.

Wood-block flooring

A type of wooden sheet flooring consisting of small blocks such as Parquet.

"A" BRACE

A temporary brace shaped like the letter A used to hold a wall in place until another wall can be built. Normally only used in the beginning stages of wall framing.

Balloon wall

In carpentry terms any wall that is taller than a normal 8' or 9' wall such as a two-story foyer or stair opening. Another place these are usually used in modern carpentry are for a gable wall with a cathedral ceiling contained in that room.

Barge rafter

The fascia board on a gable end also known as a fly rafter. Term used when you nail a board down for a lay down valley as in roof framing.

Bearing wall

Any wall framing that carries a roof, ceiling, or floor load from above.

Birdsmouth

The triangular shaped cutout that allows the rafter to sit on the top plate correctly the two cuts to form this are known as level and plumb cuts. Used in roof framing.

Bottom plate

Sometimes called a sole plate.  This is the lowest horizontal framing member in any wall.

Cat's paw

A specialty pry bar designed just for digging in and pulling embedded nails. A very useful tool, every rookie should carry one just in case the boss needs it. A slang carpentry term for a nail puller.

Ceiling joist

The horizontal framing members spanning the top plates to which the finished ceiling material and rafters are nailed.

Cheek cut

A beveled cut on either end of a hip or valley rafter allowing it to sit properly against or on other framing members.

Conventional roof framing

The way grandpa did it, and is still used today on more complex roofs. Every single component of the roof is figured and cut on the job site then hoisted up {usually by hand} and assembled by the carpenters.

Cripples

Framing members that run vertically below and or above windows, doors, under headers, also known as jack studs, or trimmers.

Crown

The bow or curve of a board when it is viewed on edge, as a general rule these framing members should be installed crown up.

Custom home

Normally a one of a kind single family dwelling, usually towards the higher end of the price range.

Developer

The person or persons who plan finance a construction project be it big or small.

Doubler

Structural members nailed together for added strength.

Fire block

Blocks normally installed in balloon framed walls to slow down the spread of fire.

Gable

The most common form of roof where the rafters on either side are the same length, pitch, and meet in the middle of the span.

Girder

Normally a 2 or 3 part member used to support a hip roof system when using trusses.

HAP

An acronym, height above plate. This carpentry term is used to describe the stand or height of any rafter at the backside of the birdsmouth, or outside edge of the building.

Header

A beam running horizontally above window, door, or other opening to support the structural members above it.

Hip rafter

The main support for the jack rafters in a hip roof, normally running at a 45 degree angle from the common rafters.

Jack rafter

A rafter that spans from the top plate to the hip rafter or from valley rafter to ridge also hip to valley.

Joist

Structural members that run horizontally and supports the ceiling or floor.

Journeyman

Traditionally a carpentry term used to describe a carpenter who has completed their apprenticeship in the local union, but also anyone who has many years experience and is considered to have paid their dues in the trade.

King rafter

Carpentry term used to describe a common rafter when it is placed on the end of the ridge board to set the ridge to the proper length in a hip roof configuration. It is the same size as a common rafter in a conventional hip roof.

King stud

In carpentry terms usually the stud running from top to bottom plate on either side of a window or door.

Landing

In carpentry terms platform between two flights of stairs to allow for a change of direction.

Layout

The marking of where different framing members are located on wall plates, sill plates, ridge boards etc. This is sometimes called detailing.

Level

On a horizontal plane. Or a basic carpentry tool.

Lull

This is just a large rough terrain forklift used to move and access material around much more efficiently on the job site. This machine can easily become your best friend. Especially when roof framing.

Melamine

Plywood is a thermally fused, resin saturated paper finish over a particle board core. It is highly resistant to stain and abrasion. Normally used in the cabinet building industry.

Miter cut

An angled cut on the end of any board.

Nonbearing wall

Any wall which does not support any weight such as floor framing, roof framing, or ceiling joists.

On center O.C.

The measurement from the center of one structural member to another.

Peak

In roof framing the highest point of the common rafters.

Pettibone

Basically this is just a large rough terrain forklift used to move and access material around much more efficiently on the job site. This machine can easily become your best friend. Especially when roof framing.

Plate

The top and bottom plate in a wall.

Plumb

On a vertical plane, or up and down, as in when someone says "level that wall" the correct carpentry term is plumb that wall.

Plumb and line

The act of straightening and bracing the wall framing just prior to the placing of floor,ceiling, or roof framing.

Plumb bob

A pointed metal tool used in carpentry to find a point directly below another. Can be hung from a string to plumb a wall, though not used very much nowadays, it is still useful for plumbing tall balloon and gable walls.

Rafter

The various framing members for the roof of a building.

Raked wall

A sloping or angled wall. The top of the wall is angled to match the pitch of the roof. Used mainly in areas with vaulted, cathedral, or barrel ceilings.

Ridge

The peak or uppermost portion of a sloped roof.

Rise

The distance that a single step, staircase, or rafter rises vertically.

Rough carpentry

Defines the tasks normally performed by the framing carpenter, such as: floor framing, wall framing, roof framing, window installation, and exterior door installation.

R.O. Rough opening

A Carpentry term defining the opening left in a framed wall for a window or door, the window manufacturer will usually provide these for you. General rules of thumb for windows are ½" bigger than the windows actual measurements to provide for slight adjustments. Interior doors are 2" bigger than the call out on the door, an example would be 2/8=2/10, exterior doors need to be 2 & ½" bigger.

Run

The horizontal distance covered by one step, set of steps, or a single rafter, normally half the width of the area covered by the roof.

Scissor truss

A roof truss with an angled ceiling already built-in, used for rooms with a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, the pitch of the ceiling is normally half that of the roof.

Seat cut

Also known as a level cut, normally used to refer to the portion of the birdsmouth cut in a rafter that allows it to sit flat on the top plate of the wall framing.

Shear panel

A normally framed wall sheathed with OSB or plywood to give it shear strength.

Snapping

Laying out the floor plan on the deck or slab which represents where the walls are to be placed after framing. Then using a chalk line to represent these walls.

Spec house

Built on speculation, a developer or builder will build a house betting someone will buy it and they can turn a profit.

Speed square

A very useful tool for almost all aspects of framing carpentry, it's many uses are way too numerous to go into here.

Stair gauges

Small octagon shaped buttons that clamp onto a framing square to speed the marking of repeated measurements such as stair stringers and rafter patterns.

Stand

The height the rafter is above the wall measured at the back of the birdsmouth, also called HAP (height above plate), heel height, and throat.

Stick framing

The act of a carpenter building one board at a time as opposed to modular or panelized homes.

Stile

Is a pair of steps or ladders that is accessible to pedestrians but generally inaccessible to animals. Stiles allow access to a field or other area enclosed by a fence or wall. Unlike a gate, there is no chance of forgetting to close it, but they may be difficult to use for some disabled individuals.

Story pole

A 2x4 with increment marks on it, usually used to represent the risers in a staircase to help find the height of a landing.

Stringer

The main support for a staircase, which the risers and treads are attached to.

Template

In carpentry terms a pattern made to speed up the process of marking numerous identical pieces to be cut such as rafters, stringers, studs, treads, risers, etc.

T J I

A fabricated framing member used for roof framing and floor framing. T=truss J=joist I=I-Beam (because it is shaped like a steel I-Beam).

Trimmer

The framing member nailed to the king stud under the end of the header to support the weight from above.

Truss

A single component of a prefabricated roof framing system, normally built off site and delivered as part of the complete truss package.

Valley

Where two different roof slopes intersect.

Vaulted ceiling

An angled sloping ceiling.