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Glossary of Building Terms:
D
Dado. A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank. In interior decoration, a special type of wall treatment.
Decay. Disintegration of wood or other substance through the action of fungi.
Deck paint. An enamel with a high degree of resistance to mechanical wear, designed for use on such surfaces as porch floors.
Density. The mass of substance in a unit volume. When expressed in the metric system, it is numerically equal to the specific gravity of the same substance.
Dewpoint. Temperature at which a vapor begins to deposit as a liquid. Applies especially to water in the atmosphere. Dimension. See lumber dimension.
Direct nailing. To nail perpendicular to the initial surface or to the junction of the pieces joined. Also termed face nailing.
Doorjamb, interior. 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.
Dormer. An opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which projects out to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings.
Downspout. A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater from roof gutters.
Dressed and matched (tongued and grooved). Boards or planks machined in such a matter that there is a groove on one edge and a corresponding tongue on the other.
Drier paint. Usually oil-soluble soaps of such metals as lead manganese, or cobalt, which, in small proportions, hasten the oxidation and hardening (drying) of the drying oils in paints.
Drip. (a) A member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior finish course that has a projection beyond the other parts for throwing off water. (b)A groove in the under. side 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 on the exterior top side of a door or window frame to cause water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.
Drywall. Interior covering material, such as gypsum board or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.
Ducts. In a house, usually round or rectangular metal pipes for distributing warm air from the heating plant to rooms, or air from a conditioning device or as cold air returns. Ducts are also made of asbestos and composition materials.
E
Eaves. The margin or lower part of a roof projecting over the wall.
Expansion joint. A bituminous fiber strip used to separate blocks or units of concrete to prevent cracking due to expansion as a result of temperature changes. Also used on concrete slabs.
F
Facia or fascia. A flat board, band, or face, used sometimes by itself but usually in combination with moldings, often located at the outer face of the cornice.
Filler (wood). A heavily pigmented preparation used for fining and leveling off the pores in open-pored woods.
Fire-resistive. In the absence of a specific ruling by the authority having jurisdiction, applies to materials for construction not combustible in the temperatures of ordinary fires and that will withstand such fires without serious impairment of their usefulness for at least 1 hour.
Fire retardant chemical. A chemical or preparation of chemicals used to reduce flammability or to retard spread of flame.
Fire stop. A solid, tight closure of a concealed space, placed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through such a space. In a frame wall, this will usually consist of 2 by 4 cross blocking between studs.
Fishplate. A wood or plywood piece used to fasten the ends of two members together at a butt joint with nails or bolts. Sometimes used at the junction of opposite rafters near the ridge line.
Flagstone (flagging or flags). Flat stones, from 1 to 4 inches thick, used for rustic walks, steps, floors, and the like.
Flashing. Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect a building from water seepage.
Flat paint. An interior paint that contains a high proportion of pigment and dries to a flat or lusterless finish.
Flue. The space or passage in a chimney through which smoke, gas, or fumes ascend. Each passage is called a flue, which together with any others and the surrounding masonry make up the chimney.
Flue lining. Fire clay or terra-cotta pipe, round or square, usually made in all ordinary flue sizes and in 2-foot lengths, used for the inner lining of chimneys with the brick or masonry work around the outside. Flue lining in chimneys runs from about a foot below the flue connection to the top of the chimney.
Fly rafters. End rafters 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.
Foundation. The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction, or below grade, including the footings.
Framing, balloon. A system of framing a building in which all vertical structural elements of the bearing walls and partitions consist of single pieces extending from the top of the foundation sin plate to the roof-plate and to which all floor joists are fastened.
Framing, platform. A system of framing a building in which floor joists of each story rest on the top plates of the story below or on the foundation sill for the first story, and the bearing walls and partitions rest on the sub-floor of each story.
Frieze. In house construction a horizontal member connecting the top of the siding with the soffit of the cornice.
Frostline. The depth of frost penetration in soil. This depth varies in different parts of the country. Footings should be placed below this depth to prevent movement.
Furring. Strips of wood or metal applied to a wall or other surface to even it and normally to serve as a fastening base for finish material.
G
Gable. In house construction, the portion of the roof above the eave line of a double-sloped roof.
Gable end. An end wall having a gable.
Gloss enamel. A finishing material made of varnish and sufficient pigments to provide opacity and color, but little or no pigment of low opacity. Such an enamel forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and a high degree of gloss.
Gloss (paint or enamel). A paint or enamel that contains a relatively low proportion of pigment and dries to a sheen or luster.
Girder. A large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length.
Grain. The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood.
Grain, edge (vertical). Edge-grain lumber has been sawed parallel to the pith of the log and approximately at right angles to the growth rings; i.e., the rings form an angle of 45° or more with the surface of the piece.
Grain, flat. Flat-grain lumber has been sawed parallel to the pith of the log and approximately tangent to the growth rings, i.e., the rings form an angle of less than 45° with the surface of the piece.
Grain, quartersawn. Another term for edge grain.
Grounds. Guides used around openings and at the floor-line to strike off plaster. They can consist of narrow strips of wood or of wide sub-jambs at interior doorways. They provide a level plaster line for installation of casing and other trim.
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.
Gusset. A flat wood, plywood, or similar type member used to provide a connection at intersection of wood members. Most commonly used at joints of wood trusses. They are fastened by nails, screws, bolts, or adhesives.
Gutter or nave trough. 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 formulated to be used with the addition of sand and water for base-coat plaster.
H
Header. (a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for chimney, stairway, or other opening. (b) A wood lintel.
Hearth. The inner or outer floor of a fireplace, usually made of brick, tile, or stone.
Heartwood. The wood extending from the pith to the sapwood, the cells of which no longer participate in the life processes of the tree.
Hip. The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.
Hip roof. A roof that rises by inclined planes from all four sides of a building.
Humidifier. A device designed to increase the humidity within a room or a house by means of the discharge of water vapor. They may consist of individual room size units or larger units attached to the heating plant to condition the entire house.
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