A

absorbs v. soaks up or take up. (p. 759)

access n. ability to enter; to gain a way in to a space
or area. (p. 490)
accommodate v. to make fit. (p. 606)
accurate adj. free from error, conforming to a standard. (p. 765)
adjacent adj. lying near or contiguous to
something else; adjoining. (p. 109)
adjusted adj. arranged to meet a particular
situation or requirement. (p. 300)
allocation n. something set apart or designated for
a special purpose. (p. 64)
angles n. figures created by two lines that meet at a
common endpoint, or vertex. (p.108)
approximate adj. nearly exact, but not perfect. (p.

163)
arc n. a curved line or object. (p. 110)
assemble v. to fit together or bring together. (p. 340)

dimensions n. measurement in length, width, and

thickness. (p. 457)
distributed v. given out or delivered to the appropriate people or location. (p. 482)

E
ecosystems n. An ecological community that functions, along with its environment, as a unit. (p. 318)
eliminate v. get rid of; remove. (p. 984)
enables v. to provide with the means or opportunity; to make possible. (p. 916)
ensure v. to make certain or guarantee. (p. 513)
equilibrium n. a state of balance. (p. 323)
evaluate v. to judge or determine the value or
significance of; to assess. (p. 9)
exceeds v. extends beyond. (p. 34)
expands v. to increase, open up, grow in volume or
size. (p. 899)
exposed adj. being without a covering or shelter.
(p. 1002)

benet n. advantage. (p. 481)

bond n. an adhesive, cementing material. (p. 800)
byproduct n. something that is produced in addition to the original product, a side-effect. (p. 897)

features n. prominent or special parts or character-

C
chemicals n. substances produced by or used in a
chemical process. (p. 81)
circulates v. flows, moves through from one point
back to the same point. (p. 883)
compatibility adj. ability to exist together in
harmony. (p. 951)
components n. parts of something. (p. 86)
consistent adj. regular; continuous. (p. 618)
contraction n. reduction, tightening, narrowing.
(p. 816)
criteria n. a standard on which a decision may be
made. (p. 398)
crucial adj. important or essential. (p. 378)

D
derived adj. drawn or deduced from a source.
design n. the arrangement of elements or details;
purposeful planning. (p. 781)
dexterity n. skill and ease in using the hands. (p. 600)
diameter n. the width of a circular- or cylinder-like
object. (p. 128)

istics. (p. 8)

exible adj. bendable, supple, elastic. (p. 902)

framework n. a structure designed to support or
enclose something. (p. 258)
function v. to perform a specified task; work; operate. (p. 384)

H
horizontal adj. parallel to the level ground. (p. 111)
hypotenuse n. the side of a right-angled triangle
that is opposite the right angle. (p. 505)

I
inclines n. graded or sloped surfaces. (p. 996)
incorporate v. to form an indistinguishable whole.
(p. 289)
increments n. small increases in quantity or size.
(p. 788)
indicate v. to show, make known, express. (p. 678)
initial adj. placed at the beginning; first, early,
original. (p. 694)
injure v. to cause harm; to damage or hurt. (p. 205)
intermediate adj. being in the middle place, stage,
or degree. (p. 530)
involves v. includes, entails, engages. (p. 736)

Academic Vocabulary Glossary

1061

layer n. a thickness of material laid on or over a surface. (p. 298)

locate v. to find or show the place of. (p. 237)

scale n. the ratio between the size of the object as it

is represented and the actual size of the object. (p. 44)
sequence n. a continuous or connected series.
(p. 832)
series n. a number of objects arranged one after
another. (p. 222)
signicant adj. important, vital, imperative. (p. 510)
simulated adj. made to look real; an imitation.
(p. 821)
species n. a biological classification of organisms
having some common qualities. (p. 318)
specic adj. having a special application or
reference. (p. 12)
specify v. to name or state clearly or in. (p. 495)
stable adj. steady, established, not changing.
(p. 922)
succeeding adj. coming after in position. (p. 638)
sufcient adj. adequate for the purpose; enough;
plenty. (p. 576)
suspended v. hanging free on all sides except at the
point of support. (p. 532)
synthetic adj. formed through a chemical process
instead of being of natural origin. (p. 948)

M
maintains v. to keep in an existing state, to
preserve. (p. 1005)
methods n. procedures or processes for attaining
something. (p. 236)
minimum n. the least amount or value possible.

(p. 226)

O
occurs v. to happen or come into existence. (p. 298)
offset v. to balance, complement, or compensate for.
(p. 406)
overall adv. as a whole. (p. 670)

P
parallel adj. extending in the same direction; equidistant at all points. (p. 741)
perpendicular adj. being at a right angle to a
certain line or plane. (p. 403)
photosynthesis n. The process in green plants
where sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are converted into energy. This process often releases oxygen
as a byproduct. (p. 319)
physical adj. of or affecting the body. (p. 79)
precaution n. an action taken in advance to
protect against possible danger or injury. (p. 631)
precise adj. being exact; neither more or less. (p. 155)
primary adj. first in order. (p. 432)
process n. a procedure; a series of actions leading to
some end. (p. 736)
prolonged v. lengthened in scope or range. (p. 705)

T
techniques n. a particular method of
accomplishing a task. (p. 222)
technology n. a technological method, invention,
process. (p. 578)
temporary adj. lasting for a short time. (p. 356)
traditional adj. customary, established. (p. 661)
transmission n. spread, diffusion, process of transmitting sound waves from one place to the next. (p. 696)

uniform adj. having an unvaried appearance of

surface, pattern, or color. (p. 973)

randomly adj. lacking a definite pattern. (p. 812)

ranges v. varies between specific limits. (p. 162)
ratio n. a comparison of two numbers. (p. 205)
reinforces v. strengthens with additional material
or support. (p. 751)
remove v. to eliminate, push aside, or take away.
(p. 839)
retain v. to hold secure or intact. (p. 360)
rural adj. the country, rustic. (p. 870)

1062

Academic Vocabulary Glossary

versatile adj. having or capable of having many

uses. (p. 165)
version n. a form or adaptation of the original.
(p. 552)
vertical adj. being upright or plumb. (p. 111)
visible adj. capable of being seen. (p. 240)
visualization n. the formation of mental visual
pictures. (p. 6)

A
acclimation when wood reaches a moisture content
equal to that inside the building where it is installed.

(p. 975)

baseboard a board or molding used against the bottom of walls to cover their joint with the floor; also
called a base molding. (p. 764)

batt any thick insulation material that comes in precut widths designed to fit between framing members.

acoustical ceiling a ceiling that consists of panels

glued directly to the ceiling surface or stapled to
wood furring strips nailed to the ceiling joists.
(p. 941)

(p. 897)

acoustical insulation insulation that slows the

transmission of sound. (p. 908)

bearing capacity a measure of how well the soil

can support the weight of a house. (p. 247)

ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) a chemical

compound used to treat wood. (p. 1003)

bearing wall a wall that supports loads in addition

to its own weight. (p. 411)

addition a roof that intersects the main roof. (p. 516)

bed joint a horizontal mortar joint. (p. 275)

admixture an ingredient other than cement, aggre-

bench mark a basic starting point from which mea-

gate, or water that is added to a concrete mix to

change its physical or chemical characteristics. (p. 221)

air conditioning the process of extracting heat from

air inside a house and releasing it outside. (p. 888)
amperage the strength of an electric current. (p. 163)
apprentice an inexperienced worker who learns
a trade by working under the guidance of an expert
worker. (p. 6)

architects scale a tool that architects use when

making scale drawings. (p. 44)
axial load the load carried along the length of a
structural member. (p. 844)

batter board a board fastened horizontally to

stakes placed to the outside of where the corners of a
building will be located. (p. 244)

surements in building layout can be made using a

transit or level; also called a point of reference (POR).

(p. 239)
bevel cut a type of miter cut that is made an an
angle through the thickness of a board. (p. 136)
bid a signed proposal to do work and/or supply
material for a specified price. (p. 59)
binder a resin that holds particles of pigment
together. (p. 947)
biscuit a small, flat piece of compressed wood. Also
called a plate. (p. 184)
bisque an unglazed ceramic tile. (p. 990)

blind nailing driving nails at an angle through the

backerboard cement-based sheets which provide a

(p. 818)

base for tile, particularly on floors and in wet installations; also called cement board. (p. 993)

backing a long strip of material that is nailed to a

wall as support for large moldings. (p. 771)
backing the hip beveling the upper edge of the hip
rafter so roof sheathing can be installed without hitting the corners of the hip rafter. (p. 513)

back-priming priming the back surface of siding

on site. (p. 663)
balloon-frame construction framing in which the
studs run from the sill attached to the foundation to
the top plate of the second floor; also called balloon
framing (p. 370)

balusters the slender vertical members that

support the handrail on a stairway. (p. 726)
base cabinets cabinets that rest on the floor and support the countertops; also called lower cabinets. (p. 781)

tongue of a board and into framing or furring strips.

It allows subsequent boards to conceal the nail heads.

board foot a unit of measure that represents a piece

of lumber having a flat surface area of 1 sq. ft. and a
thickness of 1" nominal size. (p. 63)

board paneling a type of wall paneling that is

made of wood and comes in the form of individual
boards. (p. 816)
Boston ridge created when hip and ridge shingles
overlap on a roof. (p. 648)
box extender a metal or plastic fitting that is
screwed to the front of an outlet box, bringing it forward. (p. 811)
box sill a type of construction consisting of a sill
plate that is anchored to the foundation wall, floor
joists and rim joist, and subflooring. (p. 402)

brace a member used to stiffen or support a

structure. (p. 544)
Content Vocabulary Glossary

1063

bridging a method of bracing between joists to

distribute loads, prevent the joists from twisting, and
add stability and stiffness. (p. 410)
building code a standard set of regulations that govern the procedures and details of construction. (p. 34)
building envelope a continuous insulation layer
that separates heated spaces from unheated spaces in
walls, ceilings, roofs, and floors. (p. 895)

building permit a formal, printed authorization for

the builder to begin construction. (p. 35)
bull oat a wide, flat metal or wood pad that is
pushed back and forth over concrete to make the
surface even. (p. 305)

business plan gives specific information about the

clinching the process of joining two layers of steel

with pressure in steel-frame construction. (p. 843)
clip angle a small piece of galvanized steel attached to
a structural member to accept a structural load. (p. 847)
cold joint a joint occurring where fresh concrete is
poured on top of or next to concrete that has already
begun to cure. (p. 266)

cold-formed steel sheet steel that is bent and

formed without using heat. (p. 832)
collar tie a horizontal roof framing member that prevents opposing rafter pairs from spreading apart. (p. 542)
collated fasteners fasteners arranged into strips or
rolls, with each fastener connected to the fasteners on
either side. (p. 191)

business, including vision, goals, strategies, and plan

of action. (p. 12)

collet the part of a router that holds a bit. (p. 171)

butt edge the exposed edge of a shingle. (p. 626)

gable-end studs based on a single figure that depends

on the pitch of the roof. (p. 546)

C
camber a curve in a beam. (p. 361)
cambium a layer of living tissue that produces new
wood, called sapwood, along its inner surface. (p. 318)
cantilever a supporting member that projects into
space and is itself supported only at an end. (p. 412)
carcase an assembly of panels that forms a
cabinets basic shape. (p. 788)

common difference the difference in length of

competent person someone who has been trained

to identify existing and predictable hazards on the job
site. (p. 205)
composite panel product a panel product made
from pieces of wood mixed with adhesive. (p. 347)
compound miter saw a saw in which the head of the
saw pivots up and down and from side to side. (p. 147)

career pathway an area of concentration within a

career cluster. (p. 6)

concrete a hard, strong building material that is

made by mixing cement, fine aggregate (a granular
material, such as sand), coarse aggregate (usually
gravel or crushed stone), and water in the proper proportions. (p. 218)

carrier a liquid that keeps pigments and binders

concrete atwork flat, horizontal areas of concrete

career clusters groups of related occupations. (p. 6)

in suspension, and keeps them evenly dispersed

(spread out) during application. (p. 947)

placed either directly on the ground or over compacted gravel or sand. (p. 294)

casing the basic molding or trim around a

window or door. (p. 758)

condensation the process by which a vapor turns

into a liquid. (p. 900)

cell the part within an electronic air cleaner that

removes contaminants. (p. 884)

conductor a material that electricity readily flows

through. (p. 85)

certication a formal process that shows that an

individual is qualified in a particular job task. (p. 9)

coniferous tree a tree that produces seeds in cones

and has needlelike or scalelike leaves. (p. 320)

chair a small device that supports the wire fabric at

a particular height as concrete is poured. (p. 230)

consolidation a process that removes air pockets and

forces the concrete into all parts of the forms. (p. 227)

chamfer a beveled edge. (p. 171)

control joint in a concrete slab, a joint that helps

minimize random cracks; in a wall, a joint that
controls movement caused by stress. (p. 283)

chord the top or bottom outer member of a roof

truss. (p. 492)
circuit a cable or group of cables that supplies electricity to a specific area or appliance. (p. 877)

1064

Content Vocabulary Glossary

coping the process of shaping inside corner joints

between trim members by cutting the end of one
member to fit against the face of the other. (p. 767)

corbel a course of brick offset to extend past the

course below it. (p. 712)

draft the upward movement of air within a

chimney. (p. 709)

corner bead a vinyl or galvanized metal strip that

reinforces and protects corners of drywall. (p. 919)

drain eld a filtering area within a septic system

into which liquid wastes flow. (p. 870)

corner post an assembly of full-length studs at the

corner of a building. (p. 441)

drainage plane a gap or series of gaps behind the

siding that allows water to drain freely. (p. 682)

cornice the exterior trim of a structure consisting of a

fascia, a soffit, and various types of molding. (p. 552)

dropping the hip deepening the birds mouth on a

countersink a bit with beveled cutting edges. It creates a funnel shape at the top of a drilled hole, allowing the head of a wood screw to be flush with the
wood surface. (p. 166)
crazing the appearance of fine cracks in irregular
patterns over the surface of concrete. (p. 222)
cripple stud a stud that does not extend all the
way from the bottom plate to the top plate of the wall
because of an opening such as framing for a window.
Also called a cripple. (p. 434)
crosscut a cut made across the grain of a piece of
lumber, and at a 90 angle to the edge. (p. 128)
crown the outermost curve of the bow in a joist. (p. 406)
crown molding a fairly large molding that usually
includes both curved and angular surfaces. (p. 770)
custom cabinets manufactured cabinets built in any
width or height to match a kitchen exactly. (p. 788)

hip rafter to bring the top edge of the hip rafter in line
with the upper ends of the jacks. (p. 513)

dry rot brown, crumbly decay in affected wood; this

is a misnomer because wood must be damp for rotting to occur. (p. 328)

E
eaves the portions of a roof that project beyond the
walls. (p. 551)
edging using a brush to paint into the corners
between large flat surfaces where a roller cannot
reach. (p. 963)
eforescence a whitish crystalline deposit that
sometimes appears on the surface of concrete or mortar. (p. 222)

electrical circuit when electricity flows from one

point of origin and returns to that point of origin
through a conductor. (p. 85)

cutterhead a solid metal cylinder on which three or

four cutting knives are mounted on a jointer. (p. 179)

elevation a side view that allows you to see the

height and width of objects. (p. 53)

emissivity a measure of how much radiation something is emitting. (p. 903)

dead load the total weight of a building, including

the frame and anything permanently attached. (p. 383)

engineered lumber any manufactured product

deciduous tree a tree that sheds its leaves annually,

during cold or very dry seasons. (p. 320)
design value a number assigned to how well a particular wood resists stresses. (p. 379)
differential leveling the process of determining differences in elevation between points that are
remote from each other. (p. 246)
doghouse dormer a gable dormer with side walls
that protrudes horizontally outward from a sloping
roof and has its own gabled ends. (p. 519)

door frame the assembly around a door, attached

to the wall framing and consisting of two side jambs
and a head jamb. (p. 597)

dormer an upright projection on a roof, usually with

a window. (p. 518)

made of solid wood, wood veneer, wood pieces, or

wood fibers in which the components have been
bonded together with adhesives. (p. 352)

engineered panel any manufactured sheet product, including plywood, that is made of wood or
wood pieces bonded with a natural or synthetic adhesive. (p. 338)

entrepreneur a person who creates and runs his or

her own business. (p. 11)
ergonomics the science of designing and arranging
things to suit the needs of the human body. (p. 90)
ethics your inner guidelines for telling right from
wrong. (p. 24)
excavation a cut, cavity, trench, or depression made
by removing earth. (p. 82)
exposure the amount of surface (as in a shingle or
siding) exposed to the weather. (p. 626)
Content Vocabulary Glossary

1065

full-height paneling paneling that runs floor to

ceiling. (p. 808)

face-frame cabinet a cabinet having a frame that

fits around the front of a carcase, providing a mounting surface for hinges and drawer hardware. (p. 788)

fascia a board that is nailed to the ends of rafter

tails. (p. 552)

gain a mortise (notch) cut into a door or jamb for a

hinge. (p. 599)

feathering in taping drywall joints, the process of

galvanizing a process of coating steel with a

protective layer of zinc. (p. 1006)

smoothing the outer edges of the joint compound so

that there are no ridges (p. 931); in using a screw gun,
the process of attaching a screw to the bit without
stopping the gun. (p. 836)

feed rate the speed at which stock is pushed

through the saw blade. (p. 142)
ber-saturation point the point at which the cell
walls of wood have absorbed all the water they can
hold. (p. 321)

nes finely crushed or powdered materials. (p. 299)

girder a large principal horizontal member used to

support floor joists. (p. 396)
glazing the clear glass or plastic portions of a window. (p. 577)
glulam short for glue laminated, as in glue-laminated beam. (p. 360)
grade a general indication of the quality and
strength of a piece of lumber. (p. 323)

nger joint a joint having a closely spaced series of

wedge-shaped cuts made in the wood. (p. 363)

grade stamp a permanent mark that identifies a

boards species, quality, mill source, and a general
indication of strength. (p. 324)

rebox the area of a fireplace where burning takes

place. (p. 704)

ground a material permanently or temporarily

attached to a surface to be plastered. (p. 934)

rst aid the initial help and care given to an injured

person. (p. 83)

grounding provides a path for electricity to flow

safely from electrical equipment to the earth. (p. 85)

xture any device, such as a bathtub, that receives

or drains water. (p. 868)

grout a thin mortar used for filling spaces,especially

between ceramic tiles. (p. 944)

agged bristles bristles, as on a paintbrush, having

slightly splayed tips. (p. 960)

ashing a piece of metal that protects a roof against

water seepage. (p. 626)

hand the direction in which a door swings. (p. 601)

ight a straight run of stairs. (p. 729)

head casing the horizontal piece at the top of a

door or window. (p. 758)

oor plan a scale drawing showing the size and

location of rooms on a given floor. (p. 37)
ue the passage inside the chimney through which
the air, gases, and smoke rise. (p. 709)
footing a base that provides a surface that distributes weight over a wide area of soil. (p. 256)
frameless cabinet a cabinet that does not have a

head joint a vertical mortar joint. (p. 275)

header in flooring, a horizontal member that carries
loads from other members and directs them around
an opening (p. 411); in wall framing, a wood beam
placed at the top of an opening. (p. 432)

headroom the clearance directly above a step. (p. 730)

frame around the opening. Its hinges are concealed

and mounted on the side walls. (p. 789)

hearth the floor of a firebox, plus the fireproof area

in front of the fireplace. (p. 706)

framing connector a formed metal bracket that is

installed at framing connections using nails. (p. 386)

heartwood the dark-colored portion of a tree nearest the core. (p. 1004)

free enterprise an economic system in which busi-

heat pump a device that can heat and cool a house.

(p. 884)

nesses or individuals may buy, sell, and set prices for

goods and services. (p. 12)

frost depth the depth in any climate below which

the soil does not freeze. (p. 294)
1066

Content Vocabulary Glossary

hip rafter a rafter forming a raised area, or hip, usually extending from the corner of the building diagonally from plate to ridge board. (p. 504)

hollow-core construction door construction consisting of a light framework of wood or corrugated cardboard faced with thin plywood or hardboard. (p. 597)

humidier a device that adds moisture to the air

inside a house and counteracts the drying effects of
hot air. (p. 884)

K
kerf the width of a cut. (p. 132)
kick plate a short piece of framing lumber that is
used to anchor the bottom of a stair. (p. 744)
kickback a reaction that occurs when a spinning

hydration a chemical reaction that occurs when

water combines with cement. (p. 218)

blade encounters something that slows or stops it

while the saw is under full power. (p. 129)

kiln an oven in which moisture, airflow, and

temperature are carefully controlled. (p. 321)

ice dam ice formed by melting snow freezing at the

eave line on a roof. (p. 632)

kneeboard a board measuring placed on concrete to

support the weight of the finisher. (p. 307)

Impact Noise Rating (INR) a measure of the resistance of a floor system based on decibels (dB). (p. 911)

independent slab a slab that is used in areas in

which the ground freezes fairly deep during
winter; also called ground-support slab. (p. 295)

ladder a structure made up of two long side pieces

joined by multiple crosspieces on which you can step.

indirect cost an overhead cost that relates to the

organization and supervision of a project, which
includes the cost of office supplies, construction tools
and equipment, office payroll, and taxes. (p. 64)

laminated-veneer lumber (LVL) an engineered

wood product in which the basic element is wood
veneer glued together. (p. 353)

inltration the passage of fresh air into a building

through cracks around windows, doors, and framing.

(p. 887)
in-line framing framing that aligns all vertical and
horizontal load-bearing structural members in both
platform-frame construction and steel-frame construction. (p. 373, p. 844)

internal cut the technique of cutting a large hole in

a material without starting at the edge. (p. 150)
interview a meeting between an employer and a job
applicant. (p. 22)

J
jack rafter a shortened common rafter that may be
framed to a hip rafter, a valley rafter, or both. (p. 504)

(p. 198)

lath any base material for plaster that has qualities

that encourage the plaster to stick to it. (p. 933)
lead corner a partially constructed corner of brick.
(p. 699)
ledger a length of lumber that connects a deck to the
house. (p. 1013)
level a long wood, metal, or fiberglass instrument
with several glass vials that measures the levelness or
plumbness of a surface. (p. 111)
lifeline a rope intended to prevent a worker from
falling. (p. 209)
lift a uniform and fairly shallow layer of fill. (p. 298)
line block a small L-shaped device that hooks over
the edge of a brick and is held in place by the tension
of the string. (p. 701)
lintel a horizontal support for masonry installed

J-channel a J-shaped piece of plastic or metal that is

used to support trim. (p. 677)

above an opening such as a window, door, or

masonry fireplace. (p. 699)

job application a form that asks questions about

a job applicants skills, work experience, education,
and interests. (p. 19)

live load weight that is not permanently attached to

a building, such as furniture. (p. 383)

jointer a simple metal bar with a shaped end used

load a force, such as weight or wind, that creates

stresses on a structure. (p. 379)

to form and compact mortar joints; also a type of

woodworking machine. (p. 688)

lockset an assembly of knobs, latch, and a locking

mechanism for a door. (p. 600)

joist tracks C-shaped members by which joists are

attached to the foundation; also called rim tracks. (p. 845)

Content Vocabulary Glossary

1067

lookout a horizontal member that extends from a

rafter end to a nailer or the face of the wall sheathing;
lookouts form a horizontal surface to which the soffit
material is attached. (p. 552)

lumber pieces of wood having a uniform thickness

and width, and sawn from a log. (p. 321)

issues standards and rules for safe and healthful

working conditions, tools, equipment, facilities,
and processes. It conducts workplace inspections to
ensure the standards are followed. (p. 79)

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) a federal agency which

offcut a waste piece of cut wood. (p. 141)

makeup air air that replaces the air exhausted by a

combustion appliance such as a fireplace. (p. 705)
mastic a thick, premixed adhesive spread with a
notched trowel or with a caulking gun. (p. 976)
mechanicals a general term for plumbing,
electrical, and HVAC systems. (p. 868)
medium-density berboard (MDF) a panel
product made of compressed wood fibers mixed with
urea-formaldehyde adhesive. (p. 350)

miter cut a cut made across the grain of a board at

an angle other than 90. (p. 136)
moisture content (MC) the amount of water
wood contains. (p. 321)

molding narrow lengths of wood with a shaped profile used for decorative and framing purposes. (p. 751)

on center (OC) the distance from the centerline of

one structural member to the centerline of the next
closest member. (p. 382)

open valley a type of roof valley in which shingles

are not applied to the intersection of two roof surfaces, leaving the underlying flashing exposed along
the length of the valley. (p. 641)
oriented-strand board (OSB) a wood product
made from wood strands bonded with adhesive
under heat and pressure. (p. 349)

overdig the term used to describe the additional excavation needed to provide clearance for work. (p. 248)

monolithic slab consists of a footing and floor slab

parging the process of spreading mortar or cement

plaster over a block. (p. 287)

that are formed into one pour; also called a unified

slab, a thickened-edge slab, or a slab with a turneddown footing. (p. 295)

parquet any flooring assembled with small, precisely

cut pieces of wood in a geometric pattern, such as
squares, rectangles, and herringbone patterns. (p. 973)

mortgage a long-term (15 to 30 years) loan that is

secured by the property. (p. 40)

passage door a door that swings open and closed

mullion strips vertical wood pieces separating

(p. 596)

windows of various styles and sizes combined to

make up a larger unit. (p. 587)

muntin a short vertical or horizontal piece used to

hold a pane of window glass. (p. 578)

performance method a method of framing that

depends upon established engineering principles
and design-load specifications to calculate size and
strength for individual steel framing members.

musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) a disorder of

(p. 832)

the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, or

spinal discs which can be caused by lifting,
fastening materials, and other tasks. (p. 90)

pier a concrete column that supports a concentrated

load, such as a post. (p. 1009)

N
networking making use of personal connections to
achieve career goals. (p. 17)
nominal dimension the width and thickness of
rough-sawn lumber (not its length); also called nominal size. (p. 325)

1068

Content Vocabulary Glossary

on two or more leaf hinges mounted along one side.

pilot hole a hole drilled in wood to start and guide

a screw. (p. 166)
pitch in roof framing, the ratio of total rise to span.
(p. 470)
plan view a top view, or birds eye view, which
allows you to see the width, length, and location of
objects as if you were standing on a platform high
above them and looking down. (p. 50)

plank any solid-wood board that is at least 3" wide.

(p. 972)

plate a horizontal framing member used to tie

together interior and exterior wall framing. (p. 432)

quantity takeoff a cost estimate in which every

platform-frame construction a construction technique in which each level of the house is constructed
separately; also called platform framing. (p. 370)
pliers a hand tool with opposing jaws that are
designed to hold things. (p. 122)
plies very thin, pliable sheets of wood that have
been sawed, peeled, or sliced from a log and used in
plywood. (p. 338)

plot plan the part of the house plans that shows the
location of the building on the lot, along with related
land elevations. (p. 236)

piece of material required to build the house is

counted and priced. (p. 60)

R
rabbet a cut or groove along or near the edge of a
piece of wood which allows another piece to fit into it
to form a joint. (p. 740)
radiant heat heat that travels in a straight line
away from a hot surface and heats anything solid it
meets. (p. 902)

plywood a building material that consists of layers

radon a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that

travels through soil and can be extremely toxic to
humans. (p. 288)

of wood veneer and sometimes other materials that

have been glued together. (p. 338)

rafter an inclined framing member that supports the

roof. (p. 467)

pneumatic tool a tool powered by compressed air.

(p. 187)

rails the vertical supports on a ladder to which the

rungs or steps are attached. (p. 198)

porosity the measurement of the ability of water to

flow through soil. (p. 248)

rake the part of a gable roof that extends beyond the

end walls. (p. 558)

Portland cement a manufactured cement used in

modern concrete. (p. 219)

receptacle a contact device with a combination of

slots and grounding holes sized to accept the prongs
of an electrical plug. (p. 879)

post-and-beam framing a framing system in

which fewer, but larger, pieces of wood are spaced
farther apart than those used in conventional
framing. (p. 373)

precast any concrete object that is cast in a factory,

cured under controlled conditions, and then
delivered to the job site. (p. 1018)

prescriptive method a method of framing that

uses standardized tables that give specifications and
other information relating to steel frame
construction. (p. 833)

primer a paint that has a higher proportion of

binder than standard paint. (p. 948)
pullout capacity the ability of a screw to resist pulling out of a connection. (p. 841)
pump jack a metal device with a foot pedal that
a worker pumps to make it slide up and down on a
wood or aluminum post. (p. 208)

purlin a horizontal structural member that supports

roof loads and transfers them to structural supports.

(p. 544)

refractory cement a cement resistant to high temperatures. (p. 705)

refrigerant a material that absorbs heat as it

becomes a gas and gives up heat as it becomes a liquid. (p. 884)
regulator a valve that controls the air pressure
reaching a nailer or stapler. (p. 189)
repetitive stress injury (RSI) when a task done
over and over causes minor irritation to nerves and
tissues. (p. 90)

rsum a brief summary of a job applicants contact information, education, skills, work experience,
activities, and interests. (p. 18)

retempering the process of adding water to a batch

of mortar that has become too stiff to work. (p. 695)
return a piece that continues the profile of trim or
molding around a corner. (p. 762)
reveal a small offset between a piece of trim and the
surface to which it is applied. (p. 759)
ridge a roof framing member placed at the intersection of two upward-sloping surfaces. (p. 530)

Content Vocabulary Glossary

1069

ridge beam a horizontal roof framing member to

which the tops of rafters are fastened. (p. 530)

ridge board a horizontal piece that connects the

upper ends of rafters. (p. 468)
rip cut a cut made in the direction of the wood
grain. (p. 142)
risers the spaces between treads enclosed by
vertical boards. (p. 726)
roof rake that portion of a roof frame that extends
beyond the walls on the gabled ends. (p. 862)

sheathing rigid 48 or larger panels that are

attached to the outside surface of the exterior wall
framing. Sheathing adds great stiffness and strength
to the walls. (p. 430)
sheen a description of how shiny a surface is. (p. 947)
side casing a vertical piece at the side of a door or
window. (p. 758)
side lap the amount that adjacent roofing sheets
overlap each other horizontally; also called end lap.
(p. 626)

rough opening (RO) the space into which a door

siding the exterior wall covering of a house. (p. 658)

or window will fit. It allows room for the door or window and its frame. (p. 440)

site layout the process of marking the location of a

building on the land itself. (p. 236)

rough sill a horizontal member placed at the bottom of a window opening to support the window. It
connects the upper ends of the cripple studs. (p. 434)

skirtboard a finished board that is nailed to the wall

R-value in insulation, a measure of a materials ability to resist heat transmission. (p. 894)

sleeper a length of lumber that supports wood

flooring over concrete. (p. 982)

slope in roof framing, a ratio of unit rise to unit run.

(p. 470)

sapwood the outer growth layer of a tree. (p. 1004)

slump test a test to measure the consistency of concrete. (p. 226)

sash the part of a window that holds the glazing.

(p. 577)

soft on the interior, an area around the perimeter of

scaffold a raised platform used for working at a

height. (p. 203)
scaffold planks the horizontal parts of a scaffold
on which a worker stands. (p. 204)
schedule a list or chart that provides information
too detailed to include in drawings or plans. (p. 56)
screed a long, straight length of metal or wood that
is used to strike off (level) concrete. (p. 301)
seasoning the process of drying wood by air drying
or kiln drying. (p. 321)
seat cut the cut in a rafter that the rafter is to rest on.
(p. 508)
semi-custom cabinets manufactured cabinets
built only after they are ordered for a specific kitchen.

(p. 788)
service main a pipe that brings water to the house
and is connected at the street to the municipal water
system; also called a water service pipe. (p. 869)
shear wall a wall engineered to withstand unusual
lateral (sideways) stresses. (p. 378)

1070

Content Vocabulary Glossary

before the stringers are installed on a stairway to protect the wall from damage. (p. 739)

a room that is lower than the rest of the ceiling; on the

exterior, the underside of the eaves. (p. 460, p. 552)

solid-core construction a type of construction

used for exterior doors in which strips of wood, particleboard, rigid foam, or other core material are covered with a thin outer material, such as wood veneer.

(p. 596)
solvent a material that dissolves another material.
(p. 948)
Sound Transmission Class (STC) a numerical
rating that indicates the ability of a material or combination of materials to reduce sound transmission.
(p. 908)
span in roof framing, the distance between the outer
edges of the top plates. (p. 470)
span table a table listing the maximum spacing
allowed between different sizes of joists or rafters.

(p. 382)
specications written notes that give instructions
about materials and methods of work. (p. 57)

spline a thin strip of wood used to reinforce a joint.

(p. 375)
spreader a device that holds a ladder open and prevents it from closing accidentally. (p. 202)
springing angle the angle at which molding
projects away from a wall. (p. 771)
square a tool that is used primarily to measure or

structural insulated panel a rigid panel of 312"

thick expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation
between sheets of exterior plywood or oriented-strand
board (OSB); also called a foam-core panel. (p. 375)

stud a vertical framing member. Conventional construction commonly uses 24 studs spaced 16" on
center (OC). (p. 432)
subooring engineered wood sheets or construc-

check angles; the amount of roofing required to cover

100 sq. ft. of rood surface. (p. 108, p. 626)

tion grade lumber that is used to construct a subfloor,

which is a rough floor laid on floor joists as a base for
the finish floor. (p. 402)

square the amount of roofing material required to

cover 100 sq. ft. of roof surface. (p. 628)

subgrade the earth below the foundation slab. (p. 298)

stairway a series of steps along with all the related

elements, including structural elements such as
stringers and finish elements such as handrails and
balusters. (p. 726)

summerwood the dense, dark-colored portion of

wood. (p. 946)

stairwell the vertical shaft inside of which a stairway is built. (p. 724)
station mark the point over which a level for
laying out a site is directly centered. (p. 239)
step a tread and a riser on a stairway. (p. 726)
stepladder a common type of folding ladder that
has flattened steps instead of rungs. (p. 199)

substrate a material that serves as a base for

another material. (p. 799)

suspended ceiling a ceiling that consists of panels

held in place by metal or plastic grid. (p. 937)

T
tail joist a floor joist interrupted by a header. (p. 412)
template a guide made from metal or thin wood.
(p. 172)
temporary bracing bracing that prevents the walls

separates layers of wood products and allows air circulation between them. (p. 809)

from tipping as they are being erected, and holds

walls in position after they have been plumbed and
straightened. (p. 450)

stiles the vertical side members in raised-panel

wood doors. (p. 597)

theodolite a transit that reads horizontal and

vertical angles electronically. (p. 238)

stock cabinets manufactured cabinets built in standard sizes and stored in a warehouse until ordered.

thermal insulation material that slows the transmission of heat through walls, floors, and ceilings. (p. 894)

(p. 788)

top lap the portion of a shingle not exposed to the

weather. (p. 626)

sticker a long, slender piece of scrap wood that

stock plan a standard house plan that can be

adapted to fit many different lots. (p. 37)
stoop an enlarged landing at the top of steps.
(p. 1018)
story pole in carpentry, a measuring device made
on site to ensure a uniform layout all around the
house (p. 280); in masonry, a board used to gauge the
top of the masonry for each course. (p. 664)

torque a twisting force that produces rotation. (p. 130)

total rise in roof framing, the vertical distance from
the top of the top plate to the upper end of the measuring line. (p. 470)

total run in roof framing, one-half the span. (p. 470)

strike plate a metal plate inserted into an opening

in the door jamb into which the latch slips. (p. 596)

trap a curved section of drainpipe located beneath

a fixture that prevents sewer gases in the waste pipes
from entering the house but does not block drainage;
also called P-trap. (p. 826)

stringer a long piece of 2 lumber that supports a

stair. (p. 726)

treads the parts of the stair upon which you step.

(p. 725)

Content Vocabulary Glossary

1071

trend a general development or movement in a certain direction. (p. 8)

trestle a portable metal frame with rungs that is used

to support scaffold planks at various heights. (p. 207)

wainscoting paneling that runs partway up the

wall from the floor. (p. 808)

trim a length of wood used for decorative and fram-

wales horizontal bracing members for a reusable

form. (p. 264)

ing purposes with square edges that is surfaced on

four sides (S4S). (p. 751)

trimmer joist a joist used to form the sides of a

large opening. (p. 412)
trimmer stud a short beam that supports the
header over a window or door opening to transfer
structural loads from the header to the bottom plate.
Also called a trimmer or jack stud. (p. 434)

wall cabinets cabinets that hang on a wall; also

called upper cabinets. (p. 781)
wall standard a perforated metal strip that can be
screwed to a wall or to the inside of a cabinet to support shelves. (p. 775)
warp a general description of any variation from a
flat surface. (p. 325)
wear layer the top layer of engineered flooring.
(p. 976)

U
undercourse a low-grade layer of side-wall shingles that will not be exposed to the weather. (p. 670)
underlayment in roofing, a material, such as roofing felt, applied to the roof sheathing before shingles
are installed (p. 627); in flooring, a thin panel product
whose surface is smoother than standard subflooring.

web the member between the chords on a roof truss.

(p. 492)
weep hole in masonry, a hole that provides drainage near the bottom of a wall. (p. 698)

(p. 989)

welding the process of melting steel and adding

filler metals to fuse the pieces at the point of
attachment. (p. 843)

unit dimension the overall size of a window,

including casings. (p. 586)

wind chill a combination of temperature and wind

speed. (p. 98)

unit rise the number of inches that a roof rises for

every 12" of run (the unit run). (p. 470)

winders radiating treads that can be used instead of

a platform to turn a stair. (p. 730)

unit run in roof framing, a set length that is used to

figure the slope of rafters; also called unit of run. (p. 470)

window schedule a portion of the building plans

universal design a design concept aimed at making a house usable and safe for the widest variety of
people, including older adults and those with disabilities. (p. 781)

wood preservative a chemical that protects wood.

(p. 332)
work ethic the belief that work has value. (p. 15)

work triangle a kitchen planning principle based on

valley rafter a sloping beam that forms a

depression in the roof instead of a hip. (p. 504)
vapor retarder a material that reduces the rate at
which water vapor can move through a material.

(p. 900).
veneer match the arrangement of pieces of veneer
to create different patterns and effects. (p. 343)
veneer plaster a specially formulated gypsum
plaster that is applied to a type of drywall called gypsum base; also called thin-coat plaster. (p. 933)
volatile organic compound (VOC) a type of
chemical that evaporates into the air. (p. 985)

1072

that contains descriptions of the windows, and the

sizes for the glass, the sash, and sometimes the rough
opening. (p. 585)

Content Vocabulary Glossary

the shortest walking distance between the refrigerator,

the primary cooking surface, and the sink. (p. 782)

wrench a hand tool designed for turning a

fastener, such as a bolt or a nut. (p. 120)