Glossary of Building Terms

Glossary of Building Terms

Back roll - To roll over a freshly spray painted surface with a roller.

Band board - A decorative piece of trim placed between two floors along the rim joist.

Blind nailing- The action of placing a fastener through the top edge of lap siding that will be covered by the next course of siding.

Bump out- A built out protrusion from a building.

Butt joint -To place materials end-to-end or edge-to-edge without overlapping. Also known as a field joint.

Caulk- A compound used to fill cracks, gaps, seams and joints.

Chase - A framed enclosed space around a flue pipe or a channel in a wall, or through a ceiling for something to lie in or pass through.

Course -A row of planks, one plank wide running the length of the house.

Dormer- A gabled extension built out from a sloping roof to accommodate a vertical window.

Drip cap -A molding or metal flashing placed on the exterior topside of a door or window frame to cause water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.

Drip edge -A metal or vinyl flashing placed on the top edge of the roof sheathing which directs water away from the structure to prevent seepage under or behind the exterior trim or fascia.

Eave -The lower part of the roof that projects over the exterior wall assembly. Electro-galvanized A thin zinc coating using a plating process. Not recommended for exterior use.

Face- The side of the siding, trim, or soffit showing once the product has been installed.

Face nailing -The action of placing a fastener through the overlap of a plank. The fastener will be visible.

Fascia board- A trim board attached to the ends of the rafters.

Finished Grade -The level at which the ground surface meets the foundation of a building.

Flashing -A thin flat metal positioned under/behind roofing, windows, doors, corner posts, etc. to keep draining water from penetrating the house.

Frieze board- A horizontal member connecting the top of the siding with the soffit.

Furring strip- A strip of wood used to even out a surface before siding or trim is applied.

Gable -The end of a wall that is created when a roof line is pitched and slopes in two directions.

Galvanized -Covered with zinc. Either hot-dipped or electro-plated.

Grade - The height of the ground on which something stands.

Horizontal - Parallel to the horizon; on a level.

Hot-dipped galvanized -Dipped in a bath of molten zinc to insure a thick, rust-resistant coating.

Joint flashing- An additional weather resistive barrier placed behind a butt joint.

Lap -To overlap a course of siding with another course of siding.

Level -A position of measurement truly and exactly horizontal, 90˚ from a plumb surface.

Light block - Decorative trim item placed under light fixtures and other exterior fixtures.

Miter -To make a diagonal cut, beveled to a specific angle 45˚ and 221/2˚ are common.

Mud sill -A building member resting and normally attached to the foundation of a building running around the perimeter of the building. Also known as sill plate.

OSB- Oriented Strand Board. A common type of structural panel sheathing.

PEL- Personal Permissible Exposure Limit. The maximum daily exposure level to respirable silica. OSHA’s Personal Exposure Limit is 0.1 mg/m3.

Plumb- A position of measurement truly and exactly vertical, 90˚ from a level surface.

Plunge cut - The act of driving a saw into the body of a material.

Rafter tail -The end of a rafter extending past the wall assembly.

Rake board -Decorative trim placed at an angle.

Rigid sheathing -Plywood or OSB.

Rim joist -The board that the rest of the joists are nailed to. It runs the entire perimeter of the house.

Rip cut- Cut along the grain, usually lengthwise on a board.

Scroll work -Decorative trim work.

Sheathing -Sheets of plywood, gypsum board, or other material nailed to the outside face of studs as a base for exterior siding.

Shim -A building material, usually wood, used to even a surface.

Silica -Mineral that is composed of silicon dioxide, SiO2.

Speed- square Triangle shaped measuring device used in a variety of framing and siding applications.

Stage- To deliver, stack, or store material in a specific location.

Starter strip - An accessory used under the first course of siding to provide a consistent plank angle.

Sub-fascia - Framing member attached to the rafter tails used to support the fascia or used to pad out the fascia.

T-shed- A shed with a single vertical wall and a roof that hangs off that wall on either side. The cross section of the shed is shaped like a “T”.

Vertical - Being or situated at right angles to the horizon; upright.

Weather- cut 15˚ to 45˚ cut used to join two boards.

Weather-resistive barrier - A building paper that protects building materials from exterior water penetration.

Z-flashing -A piece of flashing bent into the shape of a “z”. Used over window trboards, panel intersections and other vertical surfaces.

References:
Maze Nails (2009). List Price Guide. Retrieved on January 22, 2009 from
http://www.mazenails.com/pdf/cat08-part1.pdf