ing joists, rafters, or other
Rabbet. A rectangular, longitu-
on edge at the ridge of the roof,
tance to heat flowing through it.
members. Also see Nail-
dinal groove cut in the edge of a to which the upper ends of raf-
protection plate.
board or a plank.
ters are fastened.
Saddle. See Cricket.
Glossary of Building Terms
597
Sash. A frame containing one or Sill. In framing (here, a mud-
Spray foam insulation.
Story pole (story board). A
more lights of glass.
sill), the lowest member of the
Insulation available in both
straight board marked off in
Sash balance. A device, usually
frame of a structure, which
open- and closed-cell configura-
uniform increments, to aid in
operated by a spring or a weight, rests on the foundation and
tions that is typically made
layout. Story poles are used to
designed to counterbalance the
supports floor joists and frame
from polyurethane. It is sprayed mark siding intervals (see the
weight of a window sash so it
walls. Also, the bottom of a
into construction assemblies as
drawing on p. 164) and to help
doesn’t come crashing down.
door or window opening or
a liquid that expands to fill the
establish tile and joint intervals
unit. The exterior portion of a
surrounding cavity. Once dry,
(see the photo on p. 466).
Screed. A straight wood or
doorsill or windowsill is often
spray foam functions as both an
metal strip drawn across con-
Striking a joint. See Pointing.
pitched to shed water.
air barrier and thermal barrier.
crete, plaster, or a mortar bed to
Closed-cell spray foams are
Stringers. In stairs, the supports
create a flat surface. Also strips
Sleeper. Usually, a wood mem-
more dense and may also func-
on which stair treads rest.
embedded in those materials
ber embedded in or placed on
tion as a vapor retarder.
More or less synonymous with
and acting as thickness gauges.
concrete, to which subflooring
carriage.
or flooring is attached.
Square. A standard unit of mea-
Scribing. Using a compass or
sure—100 sq. ft.—usually
Strip flooring. Solid-wood
scribing tool to transfer the out-
Soffit. The underside of an
applied to roofing materials. In
flooring that is typically 3⁄4 in.
line of irregular shapes onto
overhang, especially at the
measurement, two adjacent
thick by 21⁄4 in. wide, with
woodwork or onto sheet materi- eaves of a roof (shown on
pieces that join in a 90˚ angle.
matched tongue-and-groove
als such as drywall or resilient
p. 158).
edges.
flooring.
Soil stack. In plumbing, the
Stair carriage. Supporting
member for stair treads.
Strong. To cut something a bit
Sealer. A finishing material,
vertical main of a system of soil, Usually of dimension lumber
long. Also see Proud.
clear or pigmented, usually
waste, or vent piping.
run diagonally, on edge, and
Strong-ties. Various steel
applied directly over uncoated
Sole (sole plate). See Plate.
notched to receive the treads.
lumber-connectors such as rein-
wood to seal the surface.
Span. The distance between
forcing plates, straps, clips,
Distinct from sealant, which is
STC. Sound transmission co-
structural supports, such as
hangers, brackets, and so on.
the term manufacturers use for
efficient, a measure of a materi-
walls, columns, piers, beams,
Pioneered by the Simpson
their better grades of seam and
al’s ability to reduce noise.
girders, and trusses.
Company, Strong-Tie
crack sealants, commonly
Step-flashing. L-shaped pieces
Connectors have become the
called caulk.
Speed Square. Another one of
of metal flashing, typically
those brand names—this one
generic name for the category.
Semigloss paint. A paint that
interwoven with shingle
owned by the Swanson
Stub-outs. Plumbing pipes that
has some luster but that isn’t
courses, to deflect water from
Company—that must be driving
protrude into an unfinished
particularly glossy.
roof dormers, chimneys,
its trademark lawyers crazy.
skylights, and the like (shown
room.
Set. To sink a nail below a
That is, virtually everybody who on p. 89).
Stucco. An exterior plaster
surface.
uses Swanson’s tool or a look-
Stile. A vertical structural mem- made with portland cement as
Shake. A thick, hand-split shingle. alike calls their tool a speed
its base.
square. This small framing
ber in a panel door, sash, cabi-
Shear wall. A wall reinforced to square with reinforced edges is net frame, or wainscoting.
Stud. One of a series of wood or
withstand sideways (shear)
in every carpenter’s tool belt—
Stock. The basic materials from metal vertical structural mem-
forces from wind, soil loads, or
or should be. A great tool.
which a building element is
bers in walls and partitions.
earthquakes.
Wood studs are usually 2x4s,
SPF. Spray polyurethane foam.
fashioned. For example, stair
Sheathing. Structural panels
carriages may be cut from 2x12 though 2x6s are also used.
such as plywood or boards,
Splash block. A small masonry
stock, or window cap flashing
Subfloor. Plywood panels or
attached to framing members
block placed beneath a down-
may be cut from 26-gauge
1-in. boards installed over joists
to strengthen the structure and
spout to carry water away from aluminum stock.
to support a finish floor. A sub-
provide a base for roofing,
the building.
Stool. A flat, horizontal mold-
floor may also be covered with
siding, and flooring.
ing at the bottom of a finished
underlayment.
Shy. To cut something slightly
window, the part often adorned Suspended ceiling. A ceiling
short.
with small flower pots. Usually
system hung from overhead
Siding. The exterior cladding of
rabbeted on the underside and
structural framing.
a house, whether made of wood
fitted over the inside edge of a
clapboards or shingles, stucco,
windowsill.
metal, or vinyl lap siding,
and so on.
598
Tack rag. A slightly sticky
Tie-down. A metal connector
Unconditioned space. Space
Weatherstripping. Narrow
cheesecloth pad that adheres
used to keep lumber joints from outside the thermal envelope
lengths of spring metal, vinyl
dust and is used between
separating during hurricanes,
whose temperature and mois-
tubing, or other materials
sandings.
high winds, or other conditions ture level is essentially the same designed to prevent air and
Taillight warranty. Any warranty of excessive stress. Also called
as outdoor air.
moisture infiltration around
that expires when the contrac-
hurricane tie. Also see
UPC. Uniform Plumbing Code.
windows and doors.
tor’s truck leaves your driveway. Strong-Ties.
Utility knife. A knife with
Wick. To draw moisture by cap-
Tail pieces. Pipe ends.
Toenail. To drive a nail at an
sturdy, razor-sharp, retractable, illary action.
angle other than 90˚, thereby
Termite shield. A shield, usually
replaceable blades and a hollow Wind baffle. An object that
increasing its resistance to
of corrosion-resistant metal,
handle for storing them.
serves as an air barrier for the
pull out.
placed in or on a foundation
Valley. The internal angle
purpose of blocking wind wash-
wall or other mass of masonry
Tread. A horizontal board in
formed by the junction of two
ing at attic eaves.
or around pipes to prevent ter-
a stairway that receives foot
sloping sides of a roof.
Wythe. The width of a brick and
mite migration.
traffic.
Vapor barrier. Impermeable
one mortar joint.
Thermal barrier. Term used to
Trim. Essentially the same as
material such as polyethylene
XPS. Extruded polystyrene; a
describe when flow of heat is
molding. Also, to install door
sheeting used to retard the
closed-cell, rigid foam insula-
restricted or slowed. Accom-
and window casing, base-
movement of water vapor into
tion that can be readily identi-
plished through insulation.
boards, crown molding, and
walls and thus prevent conden-
fied by its pastel hues of pink,
so on.
Thermal bridging. Accelerated
sation within them.
green, blue, and yellow.
thermal flow that occurs when
Trimmer. In a rough opening,
Vapor retarder. Any material
materials that are poor insula-
any structural member fastened that restricts the flow of mois-
tors displace insulation.
side by side to a like member,
ture. Vapor retarders are com-
thus doubling it for added
Thermal bypass. The movement
monly classified into four
strength. Hence trimmer studs,
of heat around or through insu-
groups, based upon the degree
trimmer joists, and trimmer
lation. This typically occurs
of permeance (permeability) to
rafters.
when gaps exist between the air
water vapor. Class I vapor
barrier and insulation or where Truss. A frame or jointed struc-
retarders (impermeable) are
air barriers are missing.
ture of smaller elements designed rated at less than 0.1 perms and
to span long distances. Roof
are considered vapor barriers.
Thermal bypass checklist.
trusses, for example, can be engi- Class IV vapor retarders with a
Comprehensive list of building
neered to support great loads.
permeance of 10 perms and
details for Energy Star
above are considered permeable.
Qualified Homes addressing
Tuck-pointing. See Repointing.
construction details where air
UBC. Uniform Building Code.
Vent. A pipe or duct that allows
barriers and insulation are
air to flow in or out.
U-factor. An aggregate measure
commonly missing.
of how well non-solar heat
VOC. Volatile organic com-
Thermal envelope. The building flows through a window’s glaz-
pound; typically, a noxious sol-
envelope, as seen through its
ing and frame. Simply put,
vent in solvent-based finishes or
ability to retain or lose condi-
U-factor is the inverse of
adhesives. You should wear a
tioned air.
R-value (1 divided by the
respirator mask with VOC-rated
filters when working with VOCs.
Thinset mortar. A thin, cement-
R-value), so the lower the
based setting material (adhe-
U-factor, the better.
VSR. Variable-speed reversible
sive) troweled onto a mortar
Underlayment panels. Specified (drill).
setting bed or substrate to
for resilient flooring, a layer—
Wallcovering. Formerly wall-
adhere tiles. Thinset formula-
over the subflooring—designed
paper, the collective term for
tions vary.
to add rigidity to the subfloor-
any decorative sheet material
Threshold. A strip of wood or
ing and provide a smooth sur-
adhered to walls, including
metal with beveled edges
face for the thin finish layer
paper, vinyl, foil, cloth, cork,
installed over the sill of an exte-
that follows.
and bamboo.
rior door or over the gap
between finish flooring and
the doorsill.
Glossary of Building Terms
599
Index
Note: Page numbers in italics indi-
Asphalt shingles
circuit requirements, 274
steel, 64, 65, 244, 245, 246
cate glossary references.
inspecting, 10
countertops. See Countertop(s)
Bearing walls, 593
preparing/installing, 89–98
fans, installing, 401–02
assessing, 183
A
repairing, 82
fixture clearances, 382
illustrated, 24
Attic
fixture placement/selection, 380
mapping, 25
ABS pipe, 318, 323, 325, 330–31,
air chute/baffle in, 400
GFCI protection, 380 ( see also
reinforcing/adding blocking,
332–33, 338, 339, 340, 446
air-sealing, 393–95
GFCIs)
200
Abuse-res
istant drywall, 423
inspecting, 14–15
inspecting, 16
removing plaster/drywall, 198
Acetone, 525
insulation, 14–15, 412–13,
lighting, 274, 380
replacing, 210–13
Acrylic adhesives. See Latex
414–15
musty smells or mildew, 16, 545
structural precautions, 183
acrylic sealants/caulks
marking electrical fixtures, 413
planning, 23, 319–22, 380–83
Below grade, 593
Adfreezing, 17
safety, 15
rough-in dimensions, 319–20
Bevel gauge (adjustable), 46, 479
Adhesives, 74, 75–77
ventilation, 14–15, 160–61,
size requirements, 319
Bidets, 335, 350, 382–83
common, 76, 489
398–99, 400
testing toilet stability, 16
Bids and cost-plus options, 34
construction, 75–76, 464
water damage, 14, 15
ventilation, 16, 380, 401–02
Biscuit joiner (plate joiner), 480
drywall, 434
Awning windows, 133, 134
( see also Plumbing vents)
Biscuit joints, 487, 488, 491,
general names of, 74
Bathtub
493–94
gluing trim, 488–89, 491,
clearances, 382
Blind-nail, 574, 575, 593
493–94
B
connecting branch drains/vents, Blistering paint, 530
interior glues, 489
Back venting, 334–35
343
Blistering roofs, 11, 102
sealants/caulks and, 76–77
Back-cutting, 485, 487, 593
disconnecting drain assemblies, Block planes, 50, 51, 480–81
tiling, 457–58, 464, 468
Back-drafting, 384, 593
346
Blocking, adding, 199–200, 593
wallpapering, 538, 539, 540, 549
Backer board, 423, 456, 461,
framing for, 341
Blower-door testing, 388
Adjustable square, 46, 479
462–63, 464, 465, 473
installing, 350
Blueboard, 423, 441, 593
Admixtures, 215
Backfill, 259, 593
minimum drain/trap/vent sizes,
Bolts
AFCIs. See Arc-fault circuit inter-
Bahco by Snap-On, carbide
335
anchor, 234, 247, 248, 250–51,
rupters (AFCIs)
scrapers, 50, 51
removing, 346
593
Aggregate, 215, 216–17
Balusters, 205–06, 207, 593
rough-in dimensions, 320
types, 73
Air barrier, 593
Balustrade, 593
styles/sizes/materials, 383
Borders, 538
Air movement. See Energy conser-
Bamboo flooring, 557, 559
tiling around, 458–59, 461,
Boxes, electrical. See Electrical
vation/air quality; Heating,
Base molding. See Baseboards
474–77 ( see also Tiles;
Renovation 4th Edition Page 139
