Construction Terms

Padding– A material installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet life.

Pad out, pack out– To shim out or add strips of wood to a wall or ceiling in order that the finished ceiling/wall will appear correct.

Paint– A combination of pigments with suitable thinners or oils to provide decorative and protective coatings. Can be oil based or latex water based.

Pallets– Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping material. Forklifts and hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around.

Panel– A thin flat piece of wood, plywood, or similar material, framed by stiles and rails as in a door (or cabinet door), or fitted into grooves of thicker material with molded edges for decorative wall treatment.

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O C- On Center– The measurement of spacing for studs, rafters, and joists in a building from the center of one member to the center of the next.

Oakum– Loose hemp or jute fiber that’s impregnated with tar or pitch and used to caulk large seams or for packing plumbing pipe joints

Open hole inspection– When an engineer (or municipal inspector) inspects the open excavation and examines the earth to determine the type of foundation (caisson, footer, wall on ground, etc.) that should be installed in the hole.

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Nail inspection– An inspection made by a municipal building inspector after the drywall material is hung with nails and screws (and before taping).

Natural finish– A transparent finish which does not seriously alter the original color or grain of the natural wood. Natural finishes are usually provided by sealers, oils, varnishes, water repellent preservatives, and other similar materials.

NEC (National Electrical Code)– A set of rules governing safe wiring methods. Local codes—which are backed by law—may differ from the NEC in some ways.

Neutral wire– Usually color-coded white, this carries electricity from an outlet back to the service panel. Also see hot wire and ground.

Newel post– The large starting post to which the end of a stair guard railing or balustrade is fastened.

Nonbearing wall– A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

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Male– Any part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another (female) part. External threads are male.

Mantel– The shelf above a fireplace opening. Also used in referring to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening.

Manufactured wood- A wood product such as a truss, beam, gluelam, microlam or joist which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces and glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece. Often used to create a stronger member which may use less wood. See also Oriented Strand Board.

Manufacturer’s specifications– The written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed by the manufacturer of a product and which may have to be followed in order to maintain the product warrantee.

Masonry– Stone, brick, concrete, hollow-tile, concrete block, or other similar building units or materials. Normally bonded together with mortar to form a wall.

Mastic– A pasty material used as a cement (as for setting tile) or a protective coating (as for thermal insulation or waterproofing)

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Laminated shingles – Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called “architectural shingles” or “three-dimensional shingles.”

Laminating– Bonding together two or more layers of materials.

Landing– A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square.

Lap– To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.

Latch– A beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue’s bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any, without using a key. Contrasts with dead bolt.

Lateral (electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water)– The underground trench and related services (i.e., electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water lines) that will be buried within the trench.

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Keeper– The metal latch plate in a door frame into which a doorknob plunger latches.

Keyless– A plastic or porcelain light fixture that operates by a pull string. Generally found in the basement, crawl space , and attic areas.

Keyway– A slot formed and poured on a footer or in a foundation wall when another wall will be installed at the slot location. This gives additional strength to the joint/meeting point.

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J Channel– Metal edging used on drywall to give the edge a better finished appearance when a wall is not “wrapped” Generally, basement stairway walls have drywall only on the stair side. J Channel is used on the vertical edge of the last drywall sheet

Jack post– A type of structural support made of metal, which can be raised or lowered through a series of pins and a screw to meet the height required. Basically used as a replacement for an old supporting member in a building. See Monopost.

Jack rafter– A rafter that spans the distance from the wall plate to a hip, or from a valley to a ridge.

Jamb– The side and head lining of a doorway, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame and trim.

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I-beam– A steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter I. It is used for long spans as basement beams or over wide wall openings, such as a double garage door, when wall and roof loads bear down on the opening.

I-joist– Manufactured structural building component resembling the letter “I”. Used as floor joists and rafters. I-joists include two key parts: flanges and webs. The flange of the I joist may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 ½” width. The web or center of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists are available in lengths up to 60 feet long

Incandescent lamp– A lamp employing an electrically charged metal filament that glows at white heat. A typical light bulb.

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H Clip– Small metal clips formed like an “H” that fits at the joints of two plywood (or wafer board) sheets to stiffen the joint. Normally used on the roof sheeting.

Hardware– All of the “metal” fittings that go into the home when it is near completion. For example, door knobs, towel bars, handrail brackets, closet rods, house numbers, door closers, etc. The Interior Trim Carpenter installs the “hardware”.

Haunch– An extension, knee like protrusion of the foundation wall that a concrete porch or patio will rest upon for support.

Hazard insurance – Protection against damage caused by fire, windstorms, or other common hazards. Many lenders require borrowers to carry it in an amount at least equal to the mortgage.

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GF C I, or G F I– Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Used in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and “wet areas”. Has a small reset button on the plug.

Gable– The end, upper, triangular area of a home, beneath the roof.

Gang nail plate– A steel plate attached to both sides at each joint of a truss. Sometimes called a fishplate or gussett.

Gate valve– A valve that lets you completely stop—but not modulate—the flow within a pipe.

General Contractor A contractor who enters into a contract with the owner of a project for the construction of the project and who takes full responsibility for its completion, although the contractor may enter into subcontracts with others for the performance of specific parts or phases of the project.

Gas lateral– The trench or area in the yard where the gas line service is located, or the work of installing the gas service to a home.

Girder– A large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length.

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