Termonology Used by Carpenters

A

airway

Space made between roof boards and insulation in order for air to move.

baseboard

Board positioned around the bottom circumference of a room as a finish between the floor and the plaster.

B

bridging

Small pieces of wood placed in an X-pattern between the floor joists to prevent them from twisting and squeaking.

C

chair rail

Or chair board, wooden molding on a wall around a room at the level of a chair back. Chair railing trim moulding / molding. 3' is the standard height.

corner braces

Diagonal braces at the corners of framed walls to provide extra strength.

crown

An upward bow, curve, or rise along a board length. Deck boards are set on end with the crown up. Eventually, the crown will sag and straighten the board.

crown molding

Molding used to cover any interior angle.

E

Eave

Lower part of a roof which projects over the wall.

F

face nail

Driving a nail perpendicularly through the width side board.

fascia

The flat front board which caps the rafter tail ends and fly rafter edges.

fishplate

A piece of wood that fastens the ends to two members together at a butt joint.

floor joists

The main subfloor framing members which supports the floor span. Typically, joists are made out of I-beams or 2x8 (or larger) lumber.

fly rafters

The end rafters forming the outside edge of the roof overhang.

footing

Base of the foundation that will transmit the loads to the soil. Enlargement at the lower end of a wall pier or column that distributes the load.

frost footing

Local building codes determine the footing depth, footings should be suitable for the soil condition and far enough below ground level to be protected from frost action. In Nebraska front footing is typically 18".

furring

Narrow strips of board nailed upon the walls and ceiling to form a straight surface upon which to lay the laths or other finish.

G

girder

Large beam of wood or steel which acts as the principle support for loads along its span.

H

header

Beam which is perpendicular to wall suds above doors, windows or other openings. It carries the weight of structural loads.

J

jamb

Side piece or post of an opening sometimes applied to the door frame.

joist

Parallel framing members installed horizontally to carry floor and ceiling loads. Timbers supporting the floorboards.

K

knee brace

Corner brace fastened at an angle from the wall stud to the rafter stiffening a wood or steel frame to prevent angular movement.

L

lap joint

Joint between two pieces of wood lapping over each other.

lip molding

Molding with a lip which overlaps the piece against which the backing of the molding rests.

M

miter

45-degree cut. Unlike a compound miter cut, the saw blade remains at 0 degrees.

P

plumb

A vertical element that is perfectly perpendicular to a level surface.

pitch

The angle of a roof slope, measured as "X" inches per 12" (x/12).

R

rafters

beams that slope from the ridge of a roof to the eaves making the main body of the roof's framework .

rise

Vertical distance through which anything rises as the rise of a roof or stair.

riser

Vertical board between two treads of a flight of stairs.

S

siding

Outside finish between the casings.

soffit

Visible underwide of structural members such as staircases, cornices, beams, a roof overhang or eave.

stud

2x4 or 2x6 vertical framing member used to assemble walls. Wall studs normally are spaced at either 16 inches or 24 inches on center.

subfloor

Boards or plywood mounted over joists on which the finish floor is laid.

T

timber

Lumber with a cross section more than 4 by 6 inches such as posts sills and girders.

truss

Structural framework of triangular units used in place of rafters for supporting loads over long spans.