- annual rings: Rings or layers of wood which represent one growth period of a tree. In cross section the rings may indicate the age of the tree.
- asphalt: A residue from evaporated petroleum. It is insoluble in water but is soluble in gasoline and melts when heated. Used for waterproofing roof coverings, exterior wall coverings, and flooring tile.
- bay window: A rectangular, curved, or polygonal window, or group of windows usually supported on a foundation extending beyond the main wall of a building.
- beam: A principal structural member used between posts, columns, or walls.
- bearing wall: A wall which supports a vertical load in addition to its own weight.
- cabinet: Case or box-like assembly consisting of shelves, doors, and drawers, used primarily for storage.
- column: Upright supporting member circular or rectangular in shape.
- dead load: The weight of permanent, stationary construction included in a building.
- drywall: Sheet materials used for wall covering which do not need to be mixed with water before application.
- elevation: The height of an object above grade level. Also means a type of drawing which shows the front, rear and sides of a building.
- framing: The timber structure of a building which gives it shape and strength; including interior and exterior walls, floor, roof, and ceilings.
- header: Horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening, such as a window or door. Also called a lintel.
- insulation: (Thermal) Any material high in resistance to heat transmission that is placed in structures to reduce the rate of heat flow.
- joist: One of a series of parallel framing members used to support floor and ceiling loads, and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.
- masonry: Stone, brick, hollow tile, concrete block, or tile, and sometimes poured concrete and gypsum block, or other similar materials, or a combination of same, bonded together with mortar to form a wall, pier, buttress, etc.
- partition: A wall that subdivides space within any story of a building.
- rafter: One of a series of structural members of a roof designed to support roof loads.
- roof joists: The rafters of a flat roof.
- softwoods: The botancial group of trees that have needle or scalelike leaves and are evergreen for the most part, cypress, larch, and tamarack being exceptions. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood. Also referred to as conifers, and botanically they are called gymnosperms.
- stud: One of a series of vertical wood or metal structural members in walls and partitions.
- studs or studding: Plural of stud.
- thermostat: An instrument that controls automatically the operation of heating or cooling devices by responding to changes in temperature.