CONSTRUCTION VOCABULARY

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VOCABULARY 141
Air return: A series of ducts in air conditioning system to return used air to air
handler to be reconditioned.
Anchor Bolts: (also called J-bolts) Bolts embedded in concrete foundation used to
hold sills in place.
Anchor Straps: Straps embedded in concrete foundation used to hold sills in place,
most commonly MASAs in our houses.
Apron: A piece of driveway between sidewalk and curb.
Back Fill: The replacement of dirt in holes, trenches and around foundations.
Backing (aka blocking) a non-structural (usually 2x) framed support (i.e. for
drywall).
Balloon Framing: A special situationally required type of construction with studs that
are longer than the standard length..
Bay: The space between two parallel framing members (i.e. trusses).
Beam: A horizontal structural member running between posts, columns or walls.
Bearing wall (aka partition): A wall which carries a vertical structural load in addition
to its own weight.
Bevel: To cut an angle other than a right angle, such as on the edge of a board.
Bird block (aka frieze board):An attic vent located between truss tails.
Birds Mouth: A notch cut in the underside of a rafter to fit the top plate.
Blocking (aka backing): A non-structural 2x framing support (i.e. for drywall)
Board: Lumber less than 2 thick.
Board Foot: The equivalent of a board 1 square and 1 thick.
Box Header: A horizontal structural member over an opening having a rectangular
cross section with a hole in the middle, which we fill with insulation.
Building Code: A collection of rules and regulations for construction established by
organizations based on experience and experiment, and enacted and enforced by
local municipalities.
California corner: A framing member used at the intersection of two walls,
consisting of three studs nailed together to form a U-shaped cross section.
Camber: The slight arch in a beam or truss which prevents it from bending into a
downward shape under normal load.

Cantilevered: Extending horizontally beyond support.

Cant Strip: A triangular shaped strip used under the edges of roofing by walls on flat
roofs.
Cased Opening: An interior opening without a door that is finished with jamb and
trim.
Caulking: A flexible material used to seal a gap in a joint
VOCABULARY 142
Ceiling joist: One of a series of parallel framing members (not part of a truss) used
to support ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams or bearing walls.
Cement: (1) The gray powder that is the "glue" in concrete. (2) An adhesive.
Chalk line: (1) A cord dusted with chalk (2) A line made by snapping a taut string or
cord dusted with chalk
Chase: A framed enclosed space or channel in a wall, or through a ceiling for
something (usually duct work or plumbing) to pass through.
Circuit Breaker: A device which looks like a switch and is located inside the electrical
panel. It is designed to (1) shut off the power to portions or all of the house and (2)
to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes)
Clean out: A capped opening providing access to a drain line, used to clear
blockages.
Column: A vertical structural compression member which supports loads.
Compressor: 1. A piece of equipment that provides compressed air to air powered
tools. 2. A mechanical device that pressurizes a gas in order to turn it into a liquid,
thereby allowing heat to be removed or added. A compressor is the main
component of conventional heat pumps and air conditioners.
Condenser: The part of an air conditioning system containing the compressor and a
large fan that sits outside and is responsible for transferring heat to/from the heat
transfer medium (Freon).
Concrete: A mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water.
Control joint: Tooled, straight grooves made in concrete flatwork to "control" where
the concrete should crack.
Corner bead: A strip of formed sheet metal or plastic placed on outside corners of
drywall before applying drywall 'mud'. Can be either square or bull nose (round).
Counter flashing (aka Z flashing): A galvanized sheet metal flashing used at the
roofline to cover shingle flashing (L flashing) and used to prevent moisture entry.
Course: 1. A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof. 2. A row of
block or brick.

Cricket: A second roof built on top of the primary roof to increase the slope of the
roof, designed to encourage water drainage to a scupper on a flat roof.
Cripple: Short vertical framing member installed above or below an opening .
Deadbolt: a tongued throw lock whose bolt must be manually pulled back before
the door can open and close.
Deck, decked: To install the plywood or OSB sheeting on the floor joists, rafters, or
trusses.
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Delamination: Separation of the plies in a panel due to failure of the adhesive,
usually caused by excessive moisture.
Diaphragm: In structural engineering, a diaphragm is a structural element that
transmits lateral load to the vertical resisting elements of a structure (such as shear
walls or frames) Diaphragms are typically horizontal, but can be sloped such as in a
gable roof.
Disconnect: A large electrical ON-OFF switch found at the water heater and AC
condenser.
Doorjamb: It consists of two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head
jamb. For a hinged door these 3 jambs have the "door stop molding" installed on
them.
Double hung window: A window with two vertically sliding sashes, both of which can
move up and down.
Drip System: An automated low water usage plant watering system.
Dry in: To install the roofing underlayment (tar paper or feltex) on the roof and
stucco paper on the walls in preparation for sheet rocking the house.
Drywall (aka Gypsum Wallboard [GWB] & Sheet rock): A manufactured panel made
out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8'
or 4' x 12' in size. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints
are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. 'Non-paper board' type drywall has
a greater resistance to moisture and mildew than regular (white) plasterboard and is
used in bathrooms and other "wet areas". Soffit board is even more moisture
resistant for use on exterior ceilings, and type X board (5/8) is fire rated for use in
separating livable spaces from fire hazard areas (i.e. the garage).
Ducts: The air conditioning system. Usually round or rectangular metal or flexible
pipes installed for distributing warm or cold air from the air handler to rooms in the
home.
DWV (drain-waste-vent): The section of a plumbing system that carries water and
sewer gases out of a home.

Easement: A formal contract which allows a party to use another party's property
for a specific purpose. e.g. a Public Utility Easement (PUE) allows communication
cables to run across a property.
Eaves: The horizontal exterior roof overhang at the bearing wall.
Egress: A means of exiting the home. An egress window is required in every
bedroom. Normally a 4' X 4' sliding window or a 3 X 5 single (or double) hung
window with a sill no higher than 44 above the floor is the minimum required by
code.
Elbow (ell): A plumbing or electrical fitting (usually 45 or 90 degrees) that lets you
change directions in runs of pipe or conduit.
Electrical Panel: Main power cabinet where electric enters a homes wiring system.
Electrical Rough: Work performed by the electrician after the plumber and heating
contractor are complete with their phase of work. All electrical wires, and outlet,
switch, and fixture boxes are installed (this is part of the work is required for PreDrywall Inspection).
VOCABULARY
Electrical Trim: Work performed by the electrician when the house is nearing
completion. The electrician installs all plugs, switches, plates, light fixtures, smoke
detectors, wires the ventilation fans & the HVAC, and "makes up" the electric panel.
The electrician does all electrical work necessary to get the home ready to pass the
municipal final inspection.
Elevation sheet: The page on the blue prints that depicts the house as if a person is
looking straight at each of the sides (there is no perspective in this drawing).
Evaporator coil: The part of a cooling system that absorbs heat from air in your
home and is located in the compressor unit.
Expansion joint: Fibrous material (1/2" thick) installed in and around a concrete slab
to permit it to move up and down (seasonally) along the non-moving foundation
wall. Also between the house and adjacent flatwork (drive, sidewalk, etc.) or
adjacent sections of flatwork.
Expansive soils: Earth that swells and contracts depending on the amount of water
that is present. ("Betonite" is an expansive soil). It is a common problem in Arizona.
Solving this problem requires the use of a post-tensioned slab.
Fascia: Lumber (usually 2x6) attached to rafter/truss ends at the eaves and
outriggers at the gables.
Felt (aka underlayment): Tar paper or feltex, installed under the roof shingles.
Female: Any part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another (male) part can be
inserted. Internal threads are female.

Field measure: To take measurements (cabinets, countertops, stairs, shower doors,

etc.) in the home itself instead of using the blueprints.
Finger joint: A manufacturing process of interlocking two shorter pieces of wood end
to end to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber or molding. Often used in
jambs, casings and baseboard which are painted instead of stained.
Fire-resistive or Fire rated: Applies to materials that are not combustible in the
temperatures of ordinary fires and will withstand such fires for at least 1 hour.
Drywall used in the garage and party walls are to be fire rated, 5/8", Type X.
Fire stop: (1) A solid, tight closure of a concealed space, placed to prevent the
spread of fire and smoke through such a space. (2) All work performed to slow the
spread of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling (behind the drywall) and includes
filling wire holes in the top and bottom plates with fire rated caulk or spray foam,
and installing blocks of wood between the wall studs at the drop soffit line. This is
integral to passing a Pre-Drywall Inspection.
Fish tape: A long strip of spring steel used for pulling wires and cables through
conduit or enclosed wall, ceiling or floor cavities.
Flashing: Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect
a building from water seepage.
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VOCABULARY
Flat paint: A paint that contains a high proportion of pigment and dries to a flat or
lusterless finish.
Flatwork: Common word for concrete floors, driveways, basements, and sidewalks.
Floating: Is the next-to-last stage in concrete work. It is when you smooth off the
job and bring water to the surface by using a hand float or bull float.
Floor Plan (aka Plan View): the drawing of a structure with the view from overhead,
looking down.
Fluorescent lighting: A fluorescent lamp is a gas-filled glass tube with a phosphor
coating on the inside. Gas inside the tube is ionized by electricity which causes the
phosphor coating to glow.
Footer, footing: Continuous thick concrete pad installed before and supporting the
stem (foundation) wall or a post.
Forced air heating/cooling: A common form of AC. Air is treated in the air handler
and distributed through a set of ducts to various areas of the house.
Form: Temporary structure erected to contain concrete during placing and initial
hardening.

Foundation: The supporting portion of a structure, below the first floor construction,
or below grade, including the footings.
Framing: The act of building the house frame. Lumber used for the structural
members of a building, such as studs, joists, rafters and trusses.
Frieze board (aka bird block): non-structural framing member between trusses or
rafters at top plate seals attic access. Can be vented but usually is solid 2x
material.
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 master outlet.
Gable: The end, upper, triangular area of a home, beneath the roof.
Garage door buck: a frame of wood or metal set in a partition, to support door
hardware.
Girder truss: A large or principal truss used to support concentrated loads at
isolated points along its length.
Glulam (Glued Laminated Beam): A structural beam composed of wood laminations
or lams. The lams are pressure bonded with adhesives to attain a typical thickness
of 1 " . (It looks like multiple 2x's are glued together). Be sure to identify and
install TOP side up.
Grade: Ground level, or the elevation at any given point. Also, the work of leveling
dirt, or the designated quality of a piece of wood.
Grain: The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in
wood.
Green board (aka pressure treated lumber): Lumber that has been saturated with
chemical preservatives to prevent rot and infestation.