| A |
| Air brick |
A brick that allows air to pass through it. These bricks are built into the outer surface of a wall at a low level. The vents allow air to circulate in the area below a timber floor and help prevent the build up of damp moist air that will promote and encourage fungal decay in the timber. |
| Amperage |
An unit of electrical current used for measuring its flow to an appliance, providing the necessary wattage. |
| Apex |
The point at which two slopes or angles meet, as with the top of a triangle. The highest point or peak. |
| Architrave |
Decorative timber, fitted around door frame or window, which can be plain or moulded. Comes in various widths from 43mm and serves two purposes; To cover the gap between the wall and frame/lining, as well as providing a feature, that is aesthetically pleasing. |
| Arris |
Sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces. |
| B |
| Baluster |
Vertical post on a stair, which support the handrail.
|
| Bargeboard |
A gable or verge board placed on the inclined end of a roof to cover and protect |
| Batten |
A narrow strip of wood. |
| Bevel |
A bevel is when the ninety degree edge is planed to a shallower angle such as eighty degrees, producing a slope. |
| Blockboard |
Sheet material made up of strips of hardwood or softwood, sandwiched between either a hardwood or softwood veneer. Comes in thicknesses of 25, 18 and 12.5mm |
| Bradawl |
A small sharp tipped device (similar to a small screwdriver) for boring small holes into wood, as a start or guide for screws |
| C |
| Cavity |
The airspace between two leaves of a cavity wall |
| Cavity bridge |
When the space between the out and inner leaf of brickwork is bridged, spanning across the cavity airspace. Causes damp patches to occur on inner face of cavity walls. usually caused by old mortar build up on wall ties |
| Cavity Wall |
Different to a solid wall, a cavity wall is made up of two walls with a space between the outer and inner wall. The cavity must be a minimum of 50mm, and found in property built after 1932. |
| Cavity tray |
A shaped damp proof course at the lintel of a door or window, which allows moisture to escape through weepholes |
| Chamfer |
When the corner of the edge of timber is removed at forty five degrees, producing a continues flat surface at that point |
| Cold Bridges |
Caused when the cavity of a wall is bridged by a brickwork return or lintel, this can cause the transmission of cold to the inner leaf, causing a cold area where moisture can condense |
| Coving |
Cornice material made from plaster or polystyrene |
| Countersink |
A type of depression, a tapered hole formed in the material that allows the screwhead to lie flush with the surface. |
| Cylinder Nightlatch |
A nightlatch that is operated by the rotation of a key in a cylinder |
| D |
| Deadbolt |
A bolt that is operated in both directions by a key |
| Deadlock |
A lock that contains only a deadbolt |
| Door casing |
The timber lining of a door opening |
| Door Furniture |
Decorative fittings on a door such as handles and plates |
| DPC |
Damp Proof Course: A layer of impervious material built into a wall to prevent water from getting into a property. Can be horizontal or vertical. Made from a variety of materials. |
| E |
| Eaves |
The area on a roof nearest to the bottom of the roof slope and area of hanging tiles |
| Efflorescence |
The white powder that can appear on the surface of brickwork and plaster. A residue of alkaline salts drying out of the structure |
| Escutcheon |
Decorative plate to cover over a keyhole |
| F |
| Faceplate |
A not very substantial decorative cover plate usually with a polished finish, designed to cover over a less attractive material such as in the forend of a lock for example. |
| Fascia |
The vertical board fixed to the rafter ends or joists, and protrude beyond the wall line. The guttering is usually fixed to them. |
| Fire Door |
A solid internal, or external door designed to hold back a fire for a given amount of time. |
| Flashing |
Usually made of felt or lead. Waterproofing material fitted against a wall or around a chimney between roof slope. |
| Forend |
Part of a lock or latch case from which the bolt, bolts or latch protrude. |
| G |
| Gable end wall |
The triangular area of wall on the end of the property where there is a double pitched roof. |
| Groove |
A long narrow channel cut in wood, usually in the general direction of the grain. |
| H |
| Head |
When used in relation to framework, the head is the top horizontal member |
| Head plate |
The topmost horizontal member in a timber stud partition. |
| Heel |
The point at which the intersection of a mitre begins. |
| Hollow Core |
A door that is hollow, not made up with traditional members. |
| J |
| Jamb |
The vertical side member of a door or window frame. |
| Joist |
Timber or metal beams that form a floor or ceiling. |
| Joist Hanger |
A steel strap arrangement that a timber joist can be suspended from without compromising its loading. |
| K |
| Keep |
A component, usually of a rim lock or rim latch, fixed on to the frame to engage a bolt or bolts |
| L |
| Laminate |
Bonding two thin materials together, or cover with thin sheet material. |
| Leading Edge |
The closing edge of a door which meets a doorframe, or casing. |
| Lining |
A panel of timber or material such as plywood or MDF that makes-up a panel, or covers a wall. The reveal of a wall opening could be lined where a window is fitted, replacing plaster. |
| Lintel |
A horizontal beam over a door or window opening that is carrying the weight of masonry or brickwork. Made of reinforced concrete, steel and originally timber. |
| Lipping |
A cover strip, usually to hide a cheaper or combined material, which gives a better finish to an edge. |
| Lock Block |
A block of wood that is inserted into 'Hollow Core' doors, providing a solid section of timber for a lock, latch and handles to be fitted to. |
| M |
| Melamine |
Thin waterproof plastic used to cover an inferior material. |
| MDF |
Medium Density Fiber Board. |
| Mitre |
A bisector of any angle. |
| Mitre Block |
A device with an angle or angles pre cut, used as a guide to accurately cut predetermined angles, especially useful when cutting the same angle many times. |
| Muntin |
A vertical member with grooved edges used in the manufacture of panelled doors. A muntin would be added between two horizontal rails, dividing a single panel area into two. |
| Mortice latch |
A latch for fixing in a mortice cut into the closing edge of a door or window |
| Mortice Lock |
A lock for fixing in a mortice cut into the closing edge of a door |
| Mortice |
A rectangular recess cut into timber to receive a matching tongue or tenon. |
| Mullion |
The vertical division in a window frame |
| N |
| Nogging |
Short horizontal timber fixed between two studs |
| P |
| Packing |
Square pieces of either plywood or hardboard of varying thicknesses. They are used to make-up the gap between a casing (or frame) and the wall that you are fixing to. |
| Pad |
A square piece of softwood timber that a bricklayer inserts 'dry' into the brickwork joints. The grain of the timber runs the width of the brickwork and is used for fixing casings and frames to masonry. |
| PAR |
Planed All Round. The timber has been planed face, back and both edges. |
| Parting Bead |
A parting bead as used in the manufacture of sliding sash windows. Fits into a groove in the pulley stile to form two channels for the sash to run. |
| Partition |
Internal dividing wall. |
| Plumb |
When the vertical member is correct. |
| Profile |
The outline shape when viewed from the side (end view). |
| R |
| Reveal |
The vertical sides of an opening in a wall at a door or window. |
| Rebate |
A stepped recess along the edge of a workpiece. A piece of glass or a door would fit into it. |
| RSJ |
Rolled steel joist. A steel beam, the cross section forms the letter I. |
| S |
| Sash |
The opening part of a window. |
| Sashlock |
A lock that also operates a latch action with lever handles |
| Scant |
Cheaper 'planed all round' (PAR) white wood, mass produced for general carpentry work, such as partitioning or sub framework. |
| Scribe |
To copy closely the profile of a surface onto an adjacent material, then cut and fit the material to fit this profile |
| Shank |
The stem of the bit, or screw. |
| Sill |
The lowest horizontal member of a window, or door frame. The projection acts to divert water away from the building. |
| Soffit |
The underside of any building feature that can be seen. For example, where the roof overhangs an external wall, plywood is usually fitted horizontally between the back of fascia board and the face of the brickwork, covering the underside of the roof members. This would be a soffit. |
| Skirting Board |
Decorative molded timber boards that hide the joint between the walls and floors, that also protect the walls against low level damage. |
| Sliding Sash |
The opening part of a window that moves vertically up or down. Used in the Sliding Sash Window which has weights and cords to make the operation easier. |
| Sole Plate |
The timber member that is to the base of a timber stud partition, which is fixed to the existing floor |
| Spindle |
Square steel bar used in conjunction with lever lock, and lever latch handles. Fits into both handles, and inserted through the lock or latch, revolves when the handles are pushed down, and pulls back the latch. |
| Staff Bead |
A return bead with a quirk at each side. Refers also to the beaded strip which holds a sash window in place. |
| Straight-edge |
A length of timber (75mm x 18mm) to a required length, with straight parallel edges. Could be used for checking jambs for being straight, or as an extension to the spirit level. |
| Stile |
Vertical side member. |
| Stud |
A vertical member of a timber partition. |
| Stud Partition |
An interior timber framed wall (Studding) |
| Striking Plate |
The metal plate of a mortice lock or latch, which is fixed into the frame to engage the bolt. |
| T |
| T&G |
Tongue and Groove. A jointing method used for boarding such as floor boards and wall panelling boards. |
| Tenon |
A projecting tongue at the end of a length of timber which fits into matching mortice.
|
| Timber Plug |
A Length of softwood timber, specially shaped by axe, which is driven into raked out mortar joints. It provides a secure fixing point when fixing window and door frames to masonry. |
| Toe |
The furthermost point of the mitre cut, opposite to the 'Heel' |
| Transom |
A horizontal dividing member of a window or door frame. In a door the horizontal division between door and glazed area above the door |
| Trimmer |
Joist or joists that are set at right angle to floor or ceiling joists to form an opening. |
| V |
| Veneer |
A thin layer of fine wood, to cover a cheaper type, giving the appearance of a solid piece. |
| W |
| Wagtail |
A suspended timber strip that creates a division between the weights of a sliding sash window |
| Warp |
To bend or twist.Timber exposed to moisture or heat can warp, twist, and deform. |
| Water hammer |
Vibration in a plumbing system. The noise from the pipework cause varies, caused by variations in temperature within the pipes, and design of the system |
| Weep hole |
Small outlet hole built into the brickwork outer leaf to allow water to escape from a damp proof course above a door or window |
| Window board |
Horizontal board fixed internally at sill level. |
| Wood Bit |
A bit designed specifically for boring holes into wood, different to steel drilling bits. |
