Spec Home Building Glossary


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Glossary of Building and Construction terms.

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Spec Home Building Glossary - I
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 . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - J
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 . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - K
Keeper The metal latch plate in a door frame into which a doorknob plunger latches. Keyless A plastic or porcelain light fixture that operates b . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - L
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 "t . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - M
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 . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - N
Nail inspection An inspection made by a municipal building inspector after the drywall material is hung with nails and screws (and before taping). Natural . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - O
OC or 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 . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - P
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 s . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - Q
Quarry tile A man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generally 6" X 6" X 1/4" thick. Quarter round A sma . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - R
Rabbet A rectangular longitudinal groove cut in the corner edge of a board or plank. Radiant heating A method of heating, usually consisting of . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - S
Saddle A small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimney to divert water around the chimney. Also, the plate at the bottom of some (usually exterior) doo . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - T
T & G, tongue and groove A joint made by a tongue (a rib on one edge of a board) that fits into a corresponding groove in the edge of another board to make a tight flush . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - U
UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) An independent testing agency that checks electrical devices and other components for possible safety hazards. Undercoat&n . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - V
Valley The "V" shaped area of a roof where two sloping roofs meet. Water drains off the roof at the valleys. Valley flashing Sheet metal . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - W
Wafer board A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. P align=left . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - Y
Y A "Y" shaped plumbing fitting. Yard of concrete One cubic yard of concrete is 3' X 3' X 3' in volume, or 27 cubic feet. One cubic . . . continue

Spec Home Building Glossary - Z
Z-bar flashing Bent, galvanized metal flashing that's installed above a horizontal trim board of an exterior window, door, or brick run. It prevents water from getting behin . . . continue