Unit 16 - Basic Construction Flashcards
A board around the bottom of a wall perpendicular to the floor. Sometimes called wains, baseboards cover the gap between the floor and the wall, protecting the wall from scuffs and providing a decorative accent
baseboard
Story-high space below the first floor that is totally or partially below the exterior grade; floor is usually concrete slab.
basement
A measure of heat used in rating the capacity of heating and cooling systems.
British Thermal Unit (BTU)
An ordinance that specifies minimum
standards of construction for buildings to protect public safety and health.
building code
Attached to the top plate of a wall, these
joists carry the weight of the roof
ceiling joists
A certificate issued by a government authority stating that a building is fit for
occupancy and there are no building code violations; the end result of a successful building permit.
certificate of occupancy (CO)
A flat, horizontal reinforced concrete area, usually the interior floor of a building but also an exterior or a roof area.
concrete slab AKA
slab
The space between the ground surface
and the first floor; frequently found in houses without basements that are not built on a slab foundation.
crawl space
The overhang of a sloping roof that extends beyond the walls of the house
eave
A flat strip of wood or metal that encloses
the ends of the rafters; gutters are usually attached to the fascia board.
fascia board
A concrete support under a foundation,
chimney, or column that usually rests on solid ground and is wider than the structure being supported. Designed to distribute the weight of the structure over the ground
footings
The masonry or concrete wall below
ground level that serves as the main support for the frame structure. Form the side walls of the basement or crawlspace.
foundation wall
The wooden skeleton of the house consisting of the floors, walls, ceilings, and roof.
frame
A wooden board fastened at the top of the
exterior wall under the eave soffit to prevent penetration of weather elements; frequently the base for additional exterior
decorative trim.
frieze board
A heavy wooden or steel beam supporting the floor joists and providing the main horizontal support for the floor.
girder
The extra thick framing over doors and windows to bear the weight of the building above the opening.
header
A synthetic material used to protect
buildings
house wrap
An acronym for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
HVAC
Pieces of plasterboard, asbestos sheeting,
compressed wood-wool, fiberboard, or other material placed between inner and outer surfaces, such as walls and ceilings, to protect the interior from heat loss. Works by breaking up and dissipating air currents.
insulation
A column, usually of masonry block or
steel-reinforced concrete. Evenly spaced under a structure to support the weight. May also refer to the part of the wall between the windows or other openings that bears the wall weight
pier
The slope of a roof measured as the vertical distance in inches (rise) divided by the horizontal distance in feet (run)
pitch
One of a series of sloping beams that extends from the center ridge board to an exterior wall and provides the main support for the roof.
rafter
A heavy horizontal board, set on edge at
the apex of the roof, to which the rafters are attached.
ridge board
Sheets of flat or other close-woven, heavy
material placed on top of the roof boards to insulate and waterproof the roof
roofing felt
The insulation value of materials. The higher this number, the more resistant the material is to the transfer of heat.
R-value
Insulating material that is applied to the wall framing; siding is applied on top of the sheathing.
sheathing
Exterior roofing material frequently made of fiberglass, asphalt, or wood.
shingles
Boards nailed horizontally to the vertical studs, with or without intervening sheathing, to form the exposed surface of the outside walls of the building. May be made of wood, metal, or masonry sheets.
siding
The lowest horizontal member of the house frame, which rests atop the foundation wall and forms a base for
the studs. The term can also refer to the lowest horizontal member in the frame for a window or door.
sill
The external underside of the eave; usually contains ventilation for the attic and/or roof
soffit
The bottom of the wall frame that connects the studs to the flooring
sole plate
The vertical members in the wall framing; usually placed 16-24 inches apart and serve as main support for the roof and/or the story above
stud
Boards or plywood sheets nailed directly
to the floor joists, serving as a base for the finish flooring. Usually made of rough boards; although some houses have concrete
subfloor
The top part of the wall framing that connects the stud to the ceiling framing
top plate
Subflooring is nailed directly to this horizontal board laid on edge, resting on
the beams that provide the main support for the floor.
floor joists
