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| DIY Home Improvement Glossaries |
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ABS Pipe: A black soft plastic pipe used for drain, waste and vent pipe in place of PVC because of its sound deadening properties. Its put together using special glue made for putting ABS together.
Aluminum Flashing: Aluminum used to cover the edge of the eaves and valleys of roofs to make them watertight. Often coated with a baked on enamel finish. Comes in varying lengths, sizes and different colors, the most popular being white.
Aluminum Gutters: Aluminum bent into a channel shape used to collect water run off from a roof and channel it away from a house. Often coated with a baked on enamel finish. Comes in varying lengths, sizes and different colors, the most popular being white.
Aluminum Shutters: A board the same length and half the width of a window made of two boards of enameled aluminum on either side a window. They can be paneled or louvered. They are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms. They come in many different colors and are used because they are resistant to insects, water and rot.
Aluminum Siding: Aluminum bent into the shape of wood clapboards and embossed with wood grain. Often coated with a baked on enamel finish. Comes in varying lengths, reveals and different colors, the most popular being white.
Architectural Shingles: Double layered asphalt shingles usually offset by approximately an inch. Often designed to mimic the appearance of slate shingles from a distance. These shingles have the longest warranties ranging from 30 to 50 years.
Asphalt Shingles: Roofing shingles made out of asphalt. Normally found in what is called a 3-tab shingle, which means one panel has three shingles. They come in regular and Architectural styles, Architectural being the best. They have varying warranties anywhere from 25 years to 50 years.
Brass Pipe: Pipe made of brass. Can become very brittle over time.
Brick: A block of clay or concrete molded into a rectangle usually 3” x 6” x 2” and dried or fired in a kiln. Used in building, wall and bridge construction. Comes in red and several different colors.
Brick Veneer: Usually a ¼” thick piece of 2” x 6” concrete or clay brick used to give the illusion of a real solid brick wall. Often used around foundations over the concrete to give the illusion of a brick foundation. Comes in the same colors as regular brick.
Carriage Bolt: A round headed bolt often used for putting together outdoor furniture including kids outdoor play equipment.
Cast Iron Pipe: A black pipe made from iron cast into the shape of a pipe used for drain, waste and vent pipe because of its sound deadening properties. Often found in older homes. PVC and ABS replaced it in the late 20th century because they were more durable and easier to keep clean. Tends to become very brittle after a long time. Still used occasionally because it is quieter than PVC or ABS for drain, waste and vent pipe.
CDX Plywood: An exterior grade (outdoor) plywood pressure treated with chemicals to resist rot, insects and warping. This is often used for sheathing on roofs and the outside of walls as well as anything else that is going to be outside. Normally made of cheap plywood with lots of defects such as splitting, cracking, wormholes and knots.
Cedar Decking: Outdoor wood that is used for flooring on decks and porches. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Cedar Lap Siding: Outdoor wood that is used for siding on homes, sheds, workshops, garages and commercial buildings. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Cedar Post: Outdoor wood that is used for posts on decks, pergolas, trellises and porches. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Cedar Railing: Outdoor wood that is used for railing on decks and porches. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Cedar Shakes: Outdoor wood that is used for roofing siding on homes, sheds, workshops, garages and commercial buildings. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Cedar Shingles: Outdoor wood that is used for roofing siding on homes, sheds, workshops, garages and commercial buildings. Cedar weathers to a light gray. Western red cedar tends to weather unevenly unlike white cedar. Western red cedar is more resistant to rot than white cedar thanks to tannic acid. Painting or bleaching can help even out the weathering. Is resistant to rot and insects.
Ceiling Tile: Often made of Styrofoam, wood or metal these tiles fit into openings in a grid made of wood or metal suspended from the ceiling. Normal sizes range from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 4’.
Cellulose Insulation: Insulation made of shredded old newspapers, jeans, etc. used to fill cavities in walls, ceilings and floors. Usually blown in with either air or water using a vacuum like machine. Used often in attic floors.
Clay Roofing Tile: A tile made of clay molded into a half-barrel shape usually. Used for roof tiles on many Southwestern style, Mission Style or Spanish homes.
Composite Decking: A board comprised of plastic resin and wood fiber used for flooring on decks and porches. It is extremely resistant to warping, rotting, splitting, cracking, chipping, insects, etc. Cuts and installs just like wood. Often used as a replacement for wood decking because it is low maintenance and needs no staining or painting.
Composite Post: A board comprised of plastic resin and wood fiber used for posts on pergolas, trellises, decks and porches. It is extremely resistant to warping, rotting, splitting, cracking, chipping, insects, etc. Cuts and installs just like wood. Often used as a replacement for wood posts because it is low maintenance and needs no staining or painting.
Composite Railing: A board comprised of plastic resin and wood fiber used for railing on decks and porches. It is extremely resistant to warping, rotting, splitting, cracking, chipping, insects, etc. Cuts and installs just like wood. Often used as a replacement for wood railing because it is low maintenance and needs no staining or painting.
Concrete: A mixture of Portland cement, sand and gravel used for foundations, sidewalks, outdoor steps, floors, porches, walls, cultured stone, etc. There are different types ranging from a fast setting mixture to extra strength for porches. Can be poured into many shapes and colored in various colors. Used for its strength, water resistance and ability to be molded into many shapes.
Concrete Adhesive: A glue that comes in bottles like caulk and is specially made to attach things to concrete. Applied using a caulk gun.
Concrete Blocks: 8”x 16” x 8” hollow concrete blocks with two large holes used for building walls for commercial, residential and foundations.
Concrete Countertops: Durable, hard, heat resistant countertops molded out of concrete, custom fit to any cabinetry. Once they dry the surfaces are filled with cement and smoothed out to fill all the empty pores in the countertops. Then the surface covered with masonry sealer to seal it so it won’t stain. Comes in various colors and styles.
Concrete Tile: Flat roof tiles made out of concrete made to resemble slate roof tiles. Hard and durable they are used in place of other shingles. Come in various colors and styles.
Contact Cement: Clear liquid glue used to attach laminates. Rollers are used to spread contact cement on both the laminate and the substrate. The glue has to dry until it is tacky, sticky, but dry to the touch or the two pieces will not stick, or bond properly. Strips of cardboard or wood are laid onto the substrate to keep the laminate and substrate separate and allow it to be moved into place. Once the two pieces are stuck together they will not come apart, however the strips used to align them will not stick to either surface.
Copper Pipe: Pipe made out of copper used for plumbing residential and commercial projects. Often used for hot and cold water runs for plumbing fixtures. It has to be soldered at the joints to make them waterproof and keep them connected.
Copper Flashing: Copper panels used in valleys and on the eaves of residential and commercial project to keep roofs waterproof. It weathers to a light green with age and exposure to the elements.
Copper Gutters: Bent copper channel shaped panels used on the eaves of residential and commercial project to channel water away from the building keeping it dry and protected from water damage. It weathers to a light green with age and exposure to the elements.
Copper Roofing: Copper panels used on roofs of residential and commercial project like shingles for aesthetics and to keep roofs waterproof. Sometimes used over bay and bow windows for aesthetics. Used on lower roofs of two story homes sometimes to protect that roof from ice falling off the higher roof. It weathers to a light green with age and exposure to the elements.
Cultured Marble: A material made with crushed marble mixed with plastic resin and molded into a countertop usually about an inch thin. Similar to solid surface material, but not quite as strong and it doesn’t come in as large of variety of colors. Often sold with vanities bought at home improvement centers. Occasionally used for showers and tubs.
Cultured Stone: A material made out of concrete molded and colored to look like different types of stone. Comes in various types such as flagstone, fieldstone, sandstone, etc. Most are flat on the back so that they are easy to attach using mortar to give the illusion of stone on walls, foundations, etc. Some are made to use like patio stones.
Drain Pipe: A pipe used to channel water away from a drain or to a drain.
Drain Tile: A large pipe often made of clay or PVC with holes around it used to drain water away from foundations.
Drain/Waste/Vent Pipe: The name for a pipe used to vent a plumbing fixture, drain water away from it or channel waste from a toilet to a sewer or septic tank.
Drywall Corner: A fiberglass, paper or metal strip bent to fit in inside or outside corners of walls. Some are self-stick and others are embedded in drywall mud to stick to a wall. Drywall mud is applied over it to make a corner on the wall.
Drywall Joint Compound: Also known as drywall mud it is used to cover and smooth out joints and nail or screw heads in drywall. A taping knife and occasionally a banjo is used to apply it to the drywall.
Drywall Mud: Another name for drywall joint compound it is used to cover and smooth out joints and nail or screw heads in drywall. A taping knife and occasionally a banjo is used to apply it to the drywall.
Drywall Paste: Another name for drywall joint compound it is used to cover and smooth out joints and nail or screw heads in drywall. A taping knife and occasionally a banjo is used to apply it to the drywall.
Drywall Screw: A special black screw made specially to attach drywall to wall studs. Often used interchangeably with wood screws.
Drywall Tape: A tape made of fiberglass or paper used to cover joints between drywall sheets. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
DWV Pipe: An abbreviation for drain/waste/vent pipe. The name for a pipe used to vent a plumbing fixture, drain water away from it or channel waste from a toilet to a sewer or septic tank.
Engineered Wooden I-Beam: Another name for engineered wooden I-Joists. They are plywood or OSB surrounded on two edges with laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber used in the place of floor trusses or dimensional lumber for holding up ceilings and giving a place to anchor your floors. They need bracing in between in order to keep them from moving side to side, but are much stronger than dimensional lumber or trusses from the top down. Sometimes they are used for rafters to get more space in the attic or cathedral ceiling. They are a stronger, less expensive option and because they are straight it cuts down on labor for installing them since they have no bow like dimensional lumber or trusses often have. They come in different lengths and heights to fit the size of the building they are going into.
Engineered Wooden I-Joist: They are plywood or OSB surrounded on two edges with laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber used in the place of floor trusses or dimensional lumber for holding up ceilings and giving a place to anchor your floors. They need bracing in between in order to keep them from moving side to side, but are much stronger than dimensional lumber or trusses from the top down. Sometimes they are used for rafters to get more space in the attic or cathedral ceiling. They are a stronger, less expensive option and because they are straight it cuts down on labor for installing them since they have no bow like dimensional lumber or trusses often have. They come in different lengths and heights to fit the size of the building they are going into.
Eyebolt: A bolt with an end bent into a circle that does not connect back on itself. It is used to hang things such as swings, hanging plants, etc.
Expanding Foam Insulation: A special mixture of chemicals, which expand when sprayed onto a surface such as a wall cavity. Comes in two types urethane and icynene and two styles regular and dense. Urethane was the popular version until it was outlawed because of its health and environmental effects. Regular type is used for most installations because it allows the wall to breathe, dense is used in situations such as basements where there is a need to be waterproof and should not be used for normal installations. It can be sprayed with air or water, air is the most popular. It can be applied in small amounts using a spray can, but for larger installations an insulation contractor who is trained to handle it should apply it.
Fiberboard Siding: A term used to refer to hardboard or Masonite siding. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together to make a long 3/8” thick flat clapboard and embossed with wood grain. It is installed just like wood clapboards except that it needs to be caulked around all the edges. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It tends to rot within five years even if installed properly and does not usually have over a five-year warranty. It comes in the same lengths as wood clapboards, but is much thinner.
Fiber-Cement Siding: Siding made from a mixture of cement and fiberglass fibers embossed with wood grain. It comes in many different styles such as lap, board and baton, shingle and tongue & groove. It needs to be painted and can be pre-primed or unfinished. You can use oil or latex paint on it just as you would with wood. It is resistant to warping, splitting, cracking or rotting and is extremely fire resistant. Unlike wood siding if exposed to fire it will only smolder and turn black instead of catching on fire and will not damage the material at all. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood.
Fiberglass Columns: Hollow columns made of fiberglass to look like wood columns. Sometimes filled with a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Fiberglass Drywall Corner: A tape made of fiberglass that is bent into two sides equally. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. They also come in inside and outside corners. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
Fiberglass Drywall Tape: A tape made of fiberglass used to cover joints between drywall sheets. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
Fiberglass Insulation: Insulation made from fiberglass, which is spun into long strings like cotton candy and packed together. Often it is faced with a paper, plastic or foil sheet to hold it together, make it easier to install and create a vapor barrier. The unfaced or paper faced styles need to have a vapor barrier installed over them. When installed it is a good idea to wear goggles, a breathing mask and gloves because some people are allergic to this material and it causes itching.
Fiberglass Railing: Hollow columns of fiberglass made to look like wood posts, rails and balusters. Sometimes the posts are filled with concrete or a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Fire Brick: A special dense clay brick made to resist fire damage. Often used to build or line fireplaces and chimneys.
Flex Pipe: A special soft, flexible black plastic pipe used to attach sprinkler heads for underground sprinkler systems. It comes in different diameters from ½” to 1”.
Foam Insulation: Insulation made from Styrofoam, which is used on the outside of homes, buildings or foundations. It adds insulation and protection. It comes in large 4’ x 8’ sheets and thicknesses from ½” to 2”.
Glass Block: A decorative, clear, square block made of glass used for privacy and aesthetics. Often stacked on top of each other and laid like bricks using a special mortar made for glass block to create windows or walls. They are often found in Contemporary or Modern homes.
Glue-Lam Beam: A beam made from dimensional lumber such as 2 x 4’s glued on top of each other. They are used for headers and ridge beams sometimes instead of solid dimensional lumber. They were mostly replaced by LVL’s in the 1990’s. See also Lam Beam.
Granite: A hard stone often cut into slabs and polished for countertops. Also used for steps, headstones and foundations in some older homes. Found in many high-end kitchens because of its beauty, durability and resistance to heat and stains.
Hardboard Siding: A term used to refer to fiberboard or Masonite siding. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together to make a long 3/8” thick flat clapboard and embossed with wood grain. It is installed just like wood clapboards except that it needs to be caulked around all the edges. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It tends to rot within five years even if installed properly and does not usually have over a five-year warranty. It comes in the same lengths as wood clapboards, but is much thinner.
Hardi-Plank Siding: A nickname and brand name for fiber-cement siding. Siding made from a mixture of cement and fiberglass fibers embossed with wood grain. It comes in many different styles such as lap, board and baton, shingle and tongue & groove. It needs to be painted and can be pre-primed or unfinished. You can use oil or latex paint on it just as you would with wood. It is resistant to warping, splitting, cracking or rotting and is extremely fire resistant. Unlike wood siding if exposed to fire it will only smolder and turn black instead of catching on fire and will not damage the material at all. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood.
Ice & Water Shield: A rubber waterproof membrane, or sheet that is used along the eaves and valleys on a roof or on a window sill before it is installed. Sometimes installed over the whole roof like tar or felt paper to make it waterproof. Its most common use is on the eaves and valleys to protect them from ice dams.
Icynene Foam Insulation: A special mixture of chemicals, which expand when sprayed onto a surface such as a wall cavity. Comes in two styles regular and dense. Regular type is used for most installations because it allows the wall to breathe, dense is used in situations such as basements where there is a need to be waterproof and should not be used for normal installations. It can be sprayed with air or water, air is the most popular. It can be applied in small amounts using a spray can, but for larger installations an insulation contractor who is trained to handle it should apply it.
Laminated Veneer Lumber: Lumber made in standard dimensional sizes by laminating veneers of wood in layers going opposite directions just like plywood, but thicker, to make a stronger board. They are stronger and straighter than dimensional lumber and often twice as strong as its equivalent dimensional lumber.
Latex-Based Paint: A liquid dye made from latex, a plastic, and other chemicals which is used to cover metal, wood, drywall and other materials to protect and add color. Latex creates a nice smooth, waterproof surface that lies on top of the base material it was applied to.
Lead Paint: A liquid dye made from lead, a metal, and other chemicals which is used to cover metal, wood, drywall and other materials to protect and add color. Lead was used as an additive in paint for many decades to make it more durable. In the 1960’s it was found to cause brain damage and other health hazards and was banned. If your house was built before the 1960’s you should have your paint tested to make sure it doesn’t contain lead. If you do have lead paint and it is not flaking, peeling or down in a place where you could put your mouth on it you can get away with painting over it, however if you want to remove the paint then you made need to get a licensed lead paint removal contractor to do it for you or check your local home improvement store or the internet for product to remove lead paint properly and safely. There are many products out there to use.
Lead Pipe: A black metal pipe made from lead cast into the shape of a pipe used for drain, waste and vent pipe because of its sound deadening properties. Only found in older homes built before the 1960’s or 1970’s. PVC and ABS replaced it in the late 20th century because they were more durable and not hazardous to your health. Lead can cause brain damage and if you find lead pipes and want or need to remove them you need to hire a licensed lead removal contractor. If your pipes are clean, not damaged or need to be moved or altered you may be able to leave them there. It tends to become very brittle after a long time.
Masonite Siding: A term and a brand name used to refer to hardboard or fiberboard siding. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together to make a long 3/8” thick flat clapboard and embossed with wood grain. It is installed just like wood clapboards except that it needs to be caulked around all the edges. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It tends to rot within five years even if installed properly and does not usually have over a five-year warranty. It comes in the same lengths as wood clapboards, but is much thinner.
MDO Plywood: A term used to refer to Medium Density Overlay.
Medium Density Fiberboard: A term used to refer to medium density overlay, a special type of particleboard covered with a thin paper, which makes a smooth, waterproof surface. A board that is made from glue, waterproof paper and wood fiber glued together to make a large board. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. Often it is used in outdoor projects such as signs and entry doors because it lasts a long time. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood. If the core is exposed to water it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries and will rot.
Medium Density Overlay: A term used to refer to a special type of particleboard covered with a thin paper, which makes a smooth, waterproof surface. A board that is made from glue, waterproof paper and wood fiber glued together to make a large board. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. Often it is used in outdoor projects such as signs and entry doors because it lasts a long time. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood. If the core is exposed to water it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries and will rot.
Metal: A hard, dense material that conducts electricity and heat well and can be bent and molded into many different shapes. Used in many machines, fasteners and fixtures.
Metal Anchor: A small round tube made in different lengths and diameters to fit the type of screw and thickness of drywall that you have or a bolt with metal flanges at the end that open up in the wall when the bolt is tightened down. They are used to attach things to the wall where there aren’t any studs for support.
Metal Drywall Corner: A tape made of metal that is bent into two sides equally. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. They also come in inside and outside corners. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
Metal Jamb Liner: A strip of metal that has a groove in it and is used to hold a window sash in place and allow it to move up and down. Jamb liners were invented as an alternative to sash cords and weights that are not energy efficient and have a tendency to break if not taken care of.
Metal Lathe: A fine wire mesh attached to the studs or concrete board to cover with plaster or stucco. When the plaster or stucco is applied to it they ooze through and when they dry they create what are called keys, which hold the plaster or stucco to the walls or ceiling of the building so that it doesn’t fall down.
Metal Screw: A thin wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It has horizontal flat threads, which stick into metal and hold tight. They come in different lengths and diameter.
Metal Stud: Boards made of metal attached in a vertical position to the top and bottom plate of a wall. Used as a support to attach drywall or sheathing to and create a space to run pipes and wires through and fill with insulation. Used in construction because of their strength and resilience, which is much higher than wood. You need special tools like metal hole cutters and tin snips to make them fit, attach them and fish pipes and wires through them.
Molly Bolt: A bolt with metal flanges at the end that open up in the wall when the bolt is tightened down. They are used to attach things to the wall where there aren’t any studs for support.
Nailing Plate: A flat square or rectangular sheet of metal with small pointed protrusions of metal on one side. They are used for attaching two pieces of wood. Often they are found on trusses.
Oil-Based Paint: A liquid die made from oil, and other chemicals which is used to cover metal, wood, drywall and other materials to protect and add color. Oil creates a nice smooth, waterproof surface that soaks into the wood. Many people prefer to use it for trim instead of latex.
Oil-Based Stain: A liquid die made from oil, and other chemicals, which is used to color wood. Oil stain soaks into the wood and creates a nice colorful surface to add beauty to wood.
Oriented Strand Board: A board that is made from glue and wood chips that are laminated in layers going opposite directions to make it stronger. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood.
Paper Drywall Corner: A tape made of paper that is bent into two sides equally. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. They also come in inside and outside corners. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
Paper Drywall Tape: A tape made of paper used to cover joints between the drywall sheets. They come in a self-adhesive style and standard, which has to be applied into a bed of drywall mud. After they are applied they need to be covered over with drywall mud using a taping knife.
PEX Pipe: A flexible plastic cross-linked polyethylene tube used for hot and cold water pipes and radiant heating tubes in buildings. It cost less and is easy to install since there are no joints in the walls when it is used. It attaches directly to the copper, which attaches to the fixture using a fitting, which is crimped by a special tool to make a strong waterproof connection. It has been used in Europe for years and was brought to the United States for radiant heating tubing and eventually for hot and cold water plumbing. Check your local area building codes to make sure that you can use it. You may need to sign as a test case to install it.
PEX Tubing: A flexible plastic cross-linked polyethylene tube used for hot and cold water pipes and radiant heating tubes in buildings. It cost less and is easy to install since there are no joints in the walls when it is used. It attaches directly to the copper, which attaches to the fixture using a fitting, which is crimped by a special tool to make a strong waterproof connection. It has been used in Europe for years and was brought to the United States for radiant heating tubing and eventually for hot and cold water plumbing. Check your local area building codes to make sure that you can use it. You may need to sign as a test case to install it.
Plastic Anchor: A small round tube made in different lengths and diameters to fit the type of screw and thickness of drywall that you have. They are used to attach things to the wall where there aren’t any studs for support.
Plexiglass: A clear sheet of plastic that resembles glass. It is a less expensive alternative to glass often and is often it is used to replace glass in applications that need more strength.
Polyurethane Caulk: A paste made with polyurethane instead of silicone to prevent it from cracking and splitting so quickly, once hardened it seals cracks in materials such as wood, plastic, metal, masonry and concrete. It comes in large tubes and is applied using a caulk gun usually. Due to expansion and contraction it still tends to crack and split over time, but should hold up longer than silicone caulk. Comes in different types for different applications such as windows and doors, indoor/outdoor and concrete crack sealer.
Polyurethane Columns: Hollow columns made of polyurethane, a type of plastic, to look like wood columns. Sometimes filled with a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Polyurethane Trim: A plastic trim made to look like wood trim. It comes in different contemporary, colonial, Victorian and other styles of trim. It can be trimmed, coped and painted just as wood trim is. It is attached using special polyurethane glue made for putting up polyurethane trim, however it can be attached with nails just like wood trim. It comes in varying types ranging from crown moulding to quarter round as well as three standard colors white, brown and green. It can be gotten in both painted and unpainted styles. It is used often outside or in places with high moisture. It also is used because it can be bent around curves and is resistant to rot, insects, warping and splitting and never needs to be painted unless you get the unpainted style. If you do paint it, it will no longer be low maintenance.
Poly Vinyl Chloride Pipe: A white hard plastic pipe used for drain, waste and vent pipe in residential and commercial properties. Its put together using special glue made for putting PVC together.
Poly Vinyl Chloride Post: Hollow columns made of poly vinyl chloride, a type of plastic, to look like wood posts. Sometimes filled with a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Poly Vinyl Chloride Railing: Hollow columns of poly vinyl chloride, a type of plastic, made to look like wood posts, rails and balusters. Sometimes the posts are filled with concrete or a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Poly Vinyl Chloride Trim: A plastic trim made to look like wood trim. It comes in different contemporary, colonial, Victorian and other styles of trim. It can be trimmed, coped and painted just as wood trim is. It is attached using special polyurethane glue made for putting up PVC trim, however it can be attached with nails just like wood trim. It comes in varying types ranging from crown moulding to quarter round as well as three standard colors white, brown and green. It is used often outside or in places with high moisture. It also is used because it can be bent around curves and is resistant to rot, insects, warping and splitting and never needs to be. If you do paint it, it will no longer be low maintenance.
Portland Cement: A fine ground stone dust used by itself or as an additive in concrete.
Pressure-Treated Lumber: Dimensional lumber sprayed with chemicals to keep it from drying out fast and protect it from rot and insects. Until last year it was often treated with arsenic, which can be hazardous, so they changed their formula to make it safer. If you cut or sand it you may want to wear a mask and goggles to keep the fine dust out of your eyes and throat.
PVC Pipe: See Poly Vinyl Chloride Pipe.
PVC Post: See Poly Vinyl Chloride Post.
PVC Railing: See Poly Vinyl Chloride Railing.
PVC Trim: See Poly Vinyl Chloride Pipe.
Quartz Countertop: A countertop made of a hard durable stone, which makes a beautiful natural countertop surface much like granite, but not quite as hard. It is less expensive and just as beautiful as granite. It comes in several natural colors. Redwood Decking: Boards made of an extremely rot and insect resistant wood that are used to cover supports, or joists, to make a stable surface to walk on. It is used on decks, porches and patios because of its resistance to the elements. Redwood Post: Boards made of an extremely rot and insect resistant wood that are used to support railings, ceilings and roofs. Redwood Railing: Boards made of an extremely rot and insect resistant wood that are used to create a fence like structure used for safety around decks porches or patios to keep people from falling off. It often has spindles or balusters attached for extra security and aesthetics. Rock Wool Insulation: Insulation made of very thin strands materials that are very resistant to heat. It was often used around the mid 20th century, but went out of style because of how messy it was, it would fall out when the wall was open. It has to be blown in place with water and usually requires an insulation contractor to acquire the material. Roofing Nail: A small thin wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a large flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It’s used to attach shingles to the roof of a structure. Rubber Roofing: A rubber membrane, or sheet that is used on flat roofs, roof decks and balconies to make them waterproof and keep water from destroying the structure below. Its most common use is on flat roofs of commercial building. Can fail if not installed properly. It needs to be stored out of the sun and kept out of direct sunlight even after it is installed or it can harden and become brittle. Rubber Shakes: Often used to refer to shingle made of rubber to resemble a wood shake used for roofing. Rubber Shingles: Roofing shingles made from rubber often made to resemble slate. Is used in place of slate because of its close resemblance and durability. They are molded from molds of real slate so they have the real appearance of slate shingles. They are extremely waterproof and can resist damage from things falling on them such as ice or hail. Rubberized Steel Roofing: Ribbed or corrugated long thin metal panels covered with a thin coating of rubber laid on a roof to make a water tight roof and add color, character, style and texture to it. The rubber coating protects the metal from water so it does not rust, adds color, protects from damage from small hail and other objects as well as deadens sound transfer unlike plain metal roofing. Rubble Stone: A common stone, also called fieldstone, found in much of the world. Often round and smooth, it comes in many different colors and is usually no larger than 18” in diameter. Often it is used for building fireplaces and chimneys. In country homes built before the twentieth century it was often used to build stone foundations. Silicone Caulk: A paste made with silicone that when hardened is used to seal cracks in materials such as wood, plastic, metal, masonry and concrete. It comes in large tubes and is applied using a caulk gun usually. Due to expansion and contraction it tends to crack and split over time. Comes in different types for different applications such as windows and doors, indoor/outdoor and concrete crack sealer.
Slate Roofing: Roofing tiles, or small panels, made from a natural stone used to cover and protect a roof. It is very expensive to buy and install, but gives a very unique look to a home. It can break easily if it freezes or has something fall on it. It is often found on older homes built in the 1800’s or before in the New England area, but can still be installed on newer homes.
Soapstone: A soft porous stone that is cut into slabs, occassionally used as countertops. Soapstone stains easily so every couple months it needs to be sealed with mineral oil to protect it and bring out the beauty in the stone.
Spray-In-Foam Insulation: See Expanding Foam Insulation.
Standard 3 Tab Shingle: An asphalt shingle panel comprised of three equal sized shingles.
Steel Roofing: Ribbed or corrugated long thin metal panels often coated with enamel laid on a roof to make a water tight roof and add color, character, style and texture to it. The enamel coating protects the metal from water so it does not rust and adds color. It also can just be left natural and allowed to weather or rust naturally.
Steel Shakes: Roofing or siding made to resemble wood shingles, or shakes. The steel is bent into the shape of the shingle and embossed with wood grain. The steel panels lock together using a groove and are attached using a nailing strip of steel with grooves for nails to attach it to the wall. Popular because of its low maintenance, only needed to be hosed down with a pressure washer wash once or twice a year and the fact that it’s waterproof and unaffected by sunlight. Some of the drawbacks are that it heats up quickly, fades over time in the sunlight, can be noisy during thunderstorms and the paint can turn to powder in time. They come in a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, some even made to look like stained wood.
Steel Shingles: See Steel Shakes.
Steel Shutters: A board the same length and half the width of a window made of two boards of enameled steel on either side a window. Can be paneled, flat or louvered. They are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms. They come in many different colors and are used because they are resistant to insects, water and rot.
Steel Siding: Steel bent into the shape of wood clapboards and embossed with wood grain. Often coated with a baked on enamel finish. Comes in varying lengths, reveals and different colors, the most popular being white.
Steel Stud: See Metal Stud.
Stone Veneer: Stone which is cut into flat backed slabs which are flat on the back and left rough, or natural, on the front. It is used for siding on walls and buildings to give the illusion of solid stone construction.
Terracotta: A material made from fired clay, which is often molded into floor tile and roof tiles. Often found in Southwestern, Mission or Spanish style homes.
Tongue & Groove Plywood: A board that is made from glue and thin wood veneers that are laminated in layers going opposite directions to make it stronger. It is often used because it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly since than solid wood. It comes in sizes from 2’ x 2’ sheets to 4’ x 8’ sheets and thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” thick. Each sheet has a thin piece of wood on one long side and a groove that is the same size on the other long side. They slip together and are used to create non-squeaky subfloors in residential and commercial projects.
Tongue & Groove Siding: Boards with a thin piece of wood on one long side and a groove that is the same size on the other long side. They slip together and are nailed to the walls on the outside of the house either vertically or horizontally. It comes in different sizes and materials and is often found on sheds.
Tub Surround: A material used to surround the back and sides of a tub to protect the wall from water damage. It can be made from ceramic tile, acrylic and solid surface.
U-Bolt: A bolt bent into a u-shape used to attach things to round poles.
Vinyl Clapboards: Siding made to resemble wood clapboards, which are boards that are often evenly spaced and attached to the walls on the outside of the house. The vinyl is molded to the shape of usually three or four evenly spaced clapboards and embossed with wood grain. The vinyl panels lock together using a groove and are attached using a nailing strip of vinyl with grooves for nails to attach it to the wall. Popular because of its low maintenance, only needed to be hosed down with a pressure washer or vinyl siding wash once or twice a year and the fact that its waterproof and unaffected by sunlight. They come in a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, some even made to look like stained wood.
Vinyl Concrete Patch: A thick liquid made from vinyl and portland cement used to fill holes in concrete. It creates a strong bond between the patch and the concrete so it won’t come back out.
Vinyl Jamb Liner: A strip of vinyl that has a groove in it and is used to hold a window sash in place and allow it to move up and down. Jamb liners were invented as an alternative to sash cords and weights that are not energy efficient and have a tendency to break if not taken care of.
Vinyl Post: Hollow columns made of vinyl, a type of plastic, to look like wood posts. Sometimes filled with a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Vinyl Railing: Hollow columns of vinyl made to look like wood posts, rails and balusters. Sometimes the posts are filled with concrete or a wood or metal post for structure. Often used because of their low maintenance, low cost and easy installation. They come in only two different colors usually, white and dark green, the most common is white. It can be cut and drilled with regular woodworking tools in any way necessary just like wood. They can be sanded and painted, but will lose their low maintenance exterior.
Vinyl Shakes: Siding made to resemble wood shingles, or shakes. The vinyl is molded to the shape of the shingle and embossed with wood grain. The vinyl panels lock together using a groove and are attached using a nailing strip of vinyl with grooves for nails to attach it to the wall. Popular because of its low maintenance, only needed to be hosed down with a pressure washer or vinyl siding wash once or twice a year and the fact that its waterproof and unaffected by sunlight. They come in a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, some even made to look like stained wood.
Vinyl Shingles: Siding made to resemble wood shingles, or shakes. The vinyl is molded to the shape of the shingle and embossed with wood grain. The vinyl panels lock together using a groove and are attached using a nailing strip of vinyl with grooves for nails to attach it to the wall. Popular because of its low maintenance, only needed to be hosed down with a pressure washer or vinyl siding wash once or twice a year and the fact that its waterproof and unaffected by sunlight. They come in a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, some even made to look like stained wood.
Vinyl Shutters: A board the same length and half the width of a window made of two boards of vinyl on either side a window. They can be paneled or louvered. They are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms. They come in many different colors and are used because they are resistant to insects, water and rot.
Vinyl Siding: Siding made to resemble wood clapboards, shingles or shakes, board and baton, tongue and groove and various other types. The vinyl is molded to the shape of the desired siding and embossed with wood grain. The vinyl panels lock together using a groove and are attached using a nailing strip of vinyl with grooves for nails to attach it to the wall. Popular because of its low maintenance, only needed to be hosed down with a pressure washer or vinyl siding wash once or twice a year and the fact that its waterproof and unaffected by sunlight. They come in a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, some even made to look like stained wood.
Vinyl Trim: Boards made of vinyl used to cover the corner between walls, between walls and ceilings, on furniture and around doors and windows as a decoration. They come in different types including Contemporary, Colonial, Victorian and different styles such as crown moulding and baseboard. It is often used because it is cheaper than other low maintenance rot, insect and waterproof trims. It comes in many different colors and never needs painted.
Waterproof Rubber Membrane: A rubber membrane, or sheet that is used along the eaves and valleys on a roof or on a window sill before it is installed. Sometimes installed over the whole roof like tar or felt paper to make it waterproof. Its most common use is on the eaves and valleys to protect them from ice dams. Can fail if not installed properly. It needs to be stored out of the sun and kept out of direct sunlight even after it is installed or it can harden and become brittle.
Wood Clapboards: Siding made of boards, which are often evenly spaced and attached to the walls on the outside of the house. Often they are cut on a slight angle lengthwise along the board to make them easier to layer and attach to the walls.
Wood Decking: Boards made of wood that are used to cover supports, or joists, to make a stable surface to walk on. It is used on decks, porches and patios because of its affordability.
Wood Gutters: Wood formed into a channel shape or attached at a 45 degree angle, lined with a waterproof rubber membrane and or metal such as copper, used to collect water run off from a roof and channel it away from a house. Often coated with a baked on enamel finish. Comes in varying lengths, sizes and different colors, the most popular being white.
Wood Lathe: A fine wire mesh or small strips of wood attached to the studs or concrete board to cover with plaster or stucco. When the plaster or stucco is applied to it they ooze through and when they dry they create what are called keys, which hold the plaster or stucco to the walls or ceiling of the building so that it doesn’t fall down.
Wood Shake: Often used to refer to a wood shingle, a piece of wood usually no more than a half an inch thick, twelve inches wide and eighteen inches tall cut to a taper along the height. Often used for roofing, but can be used for siding especially on what are called shingle style homes. Often made from cedar, especially Western red cedar, but can be made from other types of wood and materials such as yellow pine or vinyl.
Wood Shingle: See Wood Shake.
Wood Shutters: A board the same length and half the width of a window made of two boards of wood on either side a window. They can be paneled or louvered. They are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms.
Wood Siding: Often found on older homes built before the 1960’s and occasionally in newer homes. It comes in clapboard, board and baton and tongue and groove styles. It’s mostly made from pine or fir, however it is also made in other materials such as cedar or redwood.
Wood Stud: Boards made of metal attached in a vertical position to the top and bottom plate of a wall. Used as a support to attach drywall or sheathing to and create a space to run pipes and wires through and fill with insulation.
Yellow Pine Shakes: Similar to cedar shakes they are used for roofing shingles. These shingles are pressure treated to with stand the elements and insects. They have gained some popularity because of their claim to not warp, be longer lasting and weather evenly unlike cedar shakes.
Yellow Pine Shingles: See Yellow Pine Shakes.
| | Anchor: A small round tube made in different lengths and diameters to fit the type of screw and thickness of drywall that you have or a bolt with metal flanges at the end that open up in the wall when the bolt is tightened down. They are used to attach things to the wall where there aren’t any studs for support. Asphalt: A substance made from tar and gravel used to pave driveways or coat roof shingles. Baked On Enamel: A hard paint finish sprayed and then heated onto materials in a furnace at a factory. Used a lot on plumbing fixtures and appliances. Comes in varying colors.
Baluster: A piece of wood evenly spaced and placed in a vertical position on a deck or stairway and attached to a deck or stairway railing. Used for aesthetics as well as safety to prevent people from falling off the deck or stairway.
Balustrade: Also known as a stairway or deck railing. Named for the balusters, which are attached to it.
Baseboard: A moulding placed at the base of a wall around the edge of a floor. Comes in varying lengths, widths, and depths. Often in 3 inch widths in newer homes. In older homes made before the 1930’s it is usually in 6 to 8 inch widths. Beadboard: 1 to 4 inch pieces of wood in various lengths and depths rounded over on the front of the two longest sides or run a bead detail along it. Usually used for wainscoting, but also used on ceilings, backsplashes and cabinetry. It can be made of solid wood and put in plywood panels. Block: A term used to refer to anything from a concrete block to a paver or even a small piece of wood.
Blue Board: A special variety of drywall used in place of lathe for plaster inside a home.
Board and Batten Siding: Siding that consists of flat panels put against the wall and long thin strips placed vertically and evenly spaced along the wall. Comes in wood and vinyl styles. Often found on old campground cabins. Bolt: A piece of long round metal in different widths and lengths with threads, which have different shaped and sized, heads and are used to attach things. Bottom Plate: A 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 placed horizontally on the bottom of a wall to which all the studs are attached. It can also be used to hold to wall sections together. Caulk: A paste usually made with silicone that when hardened is used to seal cracks in materials such as wood, plastic, metal, masonry and concrete. It comes in large tubes and is applied using a caulk gun usually. Due to expansion and contraction it tends to crack and split over time. Sometimes polyurethane is used to keep it from cracking and splitting so quickly. Comes in different types for different applications such as windows and doors, indoor/outdoor and concrete crack sealer.
CDX: An abbreviation for CDX Plywood. Cement: A common nickname for concrete. Also a ground stone such as limestone that is an additive in many concrete mixes.
Cement Board: A board made in various thicknesses from ¼” to 5/8” and in sizes ranging from 3’ x 5’ to 4’ x 8’. Made by mixing Portland cement, fiberglass fibers and fine gravel and embedding a fiberglass mesh on both sides to hold it together. Often used underneath tile or in other areas that need to be waterproof including floors and walls in bathrooms. Chair Rail: A small moulding that is at a certain height, usually about 3’ of the floor on the walls in a room. Called chair rail because it was used to keep the chairs in a dining room from damaging the wall back in the 18th and 19th centuries. Often used to top off wainscoting. Chipboard: A term used to refer to OSB, or oriented strand board sometimes. It means a board that is made from glue and wood chips that are laminated in layers going opposite directions to make it stronger. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood.
Clapboards: Siding made of boards, which are often evenly spaced and attached to the walls on the outside of the house. Often they are cut on a slight angle lengthwise along the board to make them easier to layer and attach to the walls. Conduit: Metal shaped into a pipe, which is used for running wires through walls and ceilings in commercial structures as well as underground. Protects wires from damage and from the elements. Corian: Sometimes used as slang for solid surface material it is actually a brand name of solid surface countertop. Material made of plastic, sometimes several different kinds that is molded into any type of countertop the person needs. Comes with different edges, colors, styles and can be customized with different inlays, drains and built in sinks. Popular because of how easy it is to keep clean, maintain and resistance to heat. Often used as a substitute for more expensive stone or natural countertops.
Corner Medallion: A decorative square block of wood usually 3” x 3” x ½” in size. Used in the top corners of the casing around doors and windows instead of mitering.
Countertop: A surface made of stone, wood, plastic or wood that is put on top of cabinets. Used to attach sinks, faucets, etc. and store appliances and other things on.
Cripple Stud: A short stud used for support under windows and knee walls.
Crown Molding: A decorative moulding usually angled at 45 degrees attached around the top of walls. Often found in older homes from the 18th, 19th and early 20th century as well as in newer high-class homes. Common to Victorians, Colonials, Craftsmen style homes, etc. Decking: A material, usually wood, which is used to create a surface on a deck, patio, porch or walkway for a person to walk on.
Dimensional Lumber: A term used for standard solid wood lumber such as 2 x 4’s because of its dimensions.
Downspout: A sheet of metal usually, bent into a tube often squared off used for channeling water away from a building and out of the gutters.
Drain: A hole used as a way to get water away from something such as a sink, bathtub, shower, toilet, floor, etc. Drywall: A nickname for gypsum board given because of its use to keep the wall dry. A board made from ground gypsum sandwiched between to sheets of paper. Comes in varying sizes from 2’ x 4’ to 4’ x 12’ and thickness from ¼” to 5/8”. DuRock: A brand name for cement board also used as a nickname for cement board. A board made in various thicknesses from ¼” to 5/8” and in sizes ranging from 3’ x 5’ to 4’ x 8’. Made by mixing Portland cement, fiberglass fibers and fine gravel and embedding a fiberglass mesh on both sides to hold it together. Often used underneath tile or in other areas that need to be waterproof including floors and walls in bathrooms. Enamel: A hard painted surface often used to make a hard, rust and waterproof surface often on metal such as plumbing fixtures and appliances. It can be applied with a spray can or as an atomized powder.
Engineered Lumber: A term often used to refer to laminated lumber such as LVL’s, engineered wooden I-Joists, lam beams and other man made lumber creations.
Fiberboard: A term used to refer to particleboard. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together to make a large board. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood. If exposed to water it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries. It also tends to rot. Floor Trusses: Structures made of 2 x 4’s, which are attached to each other using nailing plates. They form a support for the flooring in a building. They come in different lengths and heights to fit the building they are being used for. Glue: A sticky liquid that usually dries hard. It is used to attach things to one another such as two pieces of wood, plastic or metal. Green Board: A special variety of drywall used in place of regular drywall in bathrooms or other places where there is moisture inside a home. It is resistant to moisture damage and can be painted just like regular drywall. Grout: A mixture of silicone or stone dust and water that is used to fill the spaces between tiles. It comes in white, beige, brown, gray or black.
Gypsum: A soft stone often ground, mixed with water and placed between to sheets of paper to make drywall.
Gypsum Board: Another name for drywall given because of its composition. A board made from ground gypsum sandwiched between to sheets of paper. Comes in varying sizes from 2’ x 4’ to 4’ x 12’ and thickness from ¼” to 5/8”.
Hardboard: A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in thicknesses from 1/8” to ¼” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’. If exposed to water for long it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries and may also rot. Header: A beam of dimensional lumber, laminated veneer lumber or steel, which is used to hold up the weight of a roof or another floor to protect a window, door or opening.
Hollow Core Door: A hollow interior door covered with a laminate, hardboard or solid wood veneer. It is lighter than solid wood doors and is a cheap alternative to solid wood doors. It comes in both panel style doors and the most popular, flat, plain doors.
Housewrap: A plastic sheet that allows air to pass through from one side and nothing from the other. It allows air to escape from the house so the house can breathe and allow the insulation and the walls to dry out if they get wet, without letting air or water in from outside. It comes in heights of 8’ to 10’ and varying lengths. It is used on the outside walls of the house to protect them from water damage and cut down on energy costs. Insulation: A material used to help regulate temperature by keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer. It is made out of different materials such as foam, fiberglass and rock wool. Jack Stud: A stud that is placed on either side of a door or opening to hold up a header, also called a jamb.
Jamb: The studs on either side of a window or door. A jamb supports the header and keeps the window or door in place. It provides a strong place put a deadbolt through to securely lock a door.
Jamb Liner: A jamb liner is a strip of metal or vinyl that has a groove in it and is used to hold a window sash in place and allow it to move up and down. Jamb liners were invented as an alternative to sash cords and weights that are not energy efficient and have a tendency to break if not taken care of.
Joint Compound: A shorter name for drywall joint compound it is used to cover and smooth out joints and nail or screw heads in drywall. A taping knife and occasionally a banjo is used to apply it to the drywall.
Kiln-Dried Lumber: A term used for standard solid wood lumber such as 2 x 4’s that is dried out in a large furnace to keep it from warping, twisting and cupping like lumber that is dried outside in the weather.
King Stud: A stud on either side of the door or opening that runs from the top plate to the bottom plate to which the header and the jack studs are attached to.
Lam Beam: A beam made from dimensional lumber such as 2 x 4’s glued on top of each other. They are used for headers and ridge beams sometimes instead of solid dimensional lumber. They were mostly replaced by LVL’s in the 1990’s.
Laminate: A thin plastic sheet that sometimes has an image imprinted on it used for countertops or flooring. Often used because it is a cheap alternative to other materials such as ceramic tile, wood or stone. It is attached to the substrate or underlayment using contact cement, glue that is rolled on either piece and dried until tacky then stuck together.
Lap Siding: Siding made of boards, which are often evenly spaced and attached to the walls on the outside of the house. Named for the fact that each one is lapped over the next one. Often they are cut on a slight angle lengthwise along the board to make them easier to layer and attach to the walls. Lathe: A fine wire mesh or small strips of wood attached to the studs or concrete board to cover with plaster or stucco. When the plaster or stucco is applied to it they ooze through and when they dry they create what are called keys, which hold the plaster or stucco to the walls or ceiling of the building so that it doesn’t fall down. Limestone: A soft stone often used for posts, chalk, tile, grout and more.
Liquid Nail: A brand name often used generically to refer to a special kind of adhesive that comes in bottles like caulk and is used in place of wood glue, screws or nails in many framing applications. Applied using a caulk gun.
Louvered Shutter: A shutter made of two boards on either side and three in the middle with open spaces in between filled with small strips of wood set on an angle to keep water out. They can be made from metal, wood or plastic and are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms.
Lumber: A term used to refer to wood made into boards such as 2 x 4’s and 2 x 10’s.
LVL: An abbreviation for Laminated Veneer Lumber.
Marble: A natural stone that is cut into slabs and used for countertops, tile, sculptures, etc. It is makes a hard surface just like granite or quartz. It has a lot of veining in it, which is what makes it distinctive, and comes in many natural colors.
Masonite: A term used to refer to hardboard. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in thicknesses from 1/8” to ¼” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’. If exposed to water for long it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries and may also rot.
Mastic: A sticky liquid like glue that is used for vinyl tile or wall tile instead of mortar. Often applied using a trowel.
MDF: An abbreviation for Medium Density Fiberboard and a term used to refer to Medium Density Overlay.
MDO: An abbreviation for Medium Density Overlay.
Mortar: A mixture of fine sand, Portland cement and water used for laying floor tile. It is often laid using a trowel.
Moulding: Also called molding. It refers to decorative strips applied to furniture, walls and cabinetry. Often made from wood, but also made from plastic, metal, polyurethane, PVC, etc.
Mud: A term used to refer to drywall joint compound or mortar.
OSB: An abbreviation for Oriented Strand Board. Panel Door: A solid door made of solid wood or MDO plywood. It is much heavier than hollow core doors and is much more durable and expensive than hollow core doors. It is often found in older homes built before the 1950’s as well as newer high-end homes. Particleboard: A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together to make a large board. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in the same sizes and thicknesses as plywood.
Pegboard: A term used to refer to hardboard with evenly space ¼” holes in it. A board that is made from glue and wood fiber glued together. It is often used because it is cheap and environmentally friendly since it uses waste and does not have to come from old growth trees. It comes in thicknesses from 1/8” to ¼” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’. If exposed to water for long it will swell and it will not go back into shape as it dries and may also rot. Often it is used to hang stuff on using special hooks of different sizes and types to hang things in workshops, garages or sheds.
PEX: Short for polyethylene cross-linked. It is a short name for PEX tubing or piping. Plaster: A stone dust, which is mixed with water to make a thick liquid, which is like mayonnaise. It is put on walls and ceilings to create a hard, smooth surface that does not have to be painted. It is often found in older homes built before the 1950’s when people went to drywall more. Occasionally it is still used in new homes when someone wants it. Plinth Block: A flat rectangular block of wood or plastic usually 4” x 8” x ½” in size. Used in the bottom corners of the casing around doors, which makes it easy to make a butt joint between the side of the door casing and the baseboard.
Plywood: A board that is made from glue and thin wood veneers that are laminated in layers going opposite directions to make it stronger. It is often used because it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly since than solid wood. It comes in sizes from 2’ x 2’ sheets to 4’ x 8’ sheets and thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” thick. It comes in different types such as CDX, cabinet grade and solid core plywood. Post: A long square piece of wood, metal, fiberglass, PVC, etc. used to hold up roofs or railings or ceiling. Railing: Also known as a balustrade. A fence like structure used for safety around decks porches or patios to keep people from falling off. It often has spindles or balusters attached for extra security and aesthetics.
Rattan: A hard dense grass that is used to make a fabric, similar to wicker, used to construct furniture and other things for the home. It is often used outdoors because of its resistance to rot and insects. Roof Trusses: Structures made of dimensional lumber, which are attached to each other using nailing plates. They form a support for the roof of a building. They come in different lengths and heights to fit the style of roof and building they are being used for. Sanded Grout: A mixture of sand, water and stone dust that is used to fill the spaces between tile. This kind of grout is used in floor tile and should not be used in wall tile. It comes in white, beige, brown, gray or black.
Shake: Often used to refer to a wood shingle, a piece of wood usually no more than a half an inch thick, twelve inches wide and eighteen inches tall cut to a taper along the height. Often used for roofing, but can be used for siding especially on what are called shingle style homes. Often made from cedar, especially Western red cedar, but can be made from other types of wood and materials such as yellow pine or vinyl.
Shingle: A piece of wood usually no more than a half an inch thick, twelve inches wide and eighteen inches tall cut to a taper along the height. Often used for roofing, but can be used for siding especially on what are called shingle style homes. Often made from cedar, especially Western red cedar, but can be made from other types of wood and materials such as yellow pine or vinyl.
Shutters: A board the same length and half the width of a window made of two boards of metal, wood or plastic on either side a window. They can be paneled or louvered. They are used for aesthetics or as they have been traditionally, to protect windows from damage such as storms. They can come in many different colors.
Sill: The bottom board of a window frame, which can be made from aluminum, vinyl, wood, PVC or polyurethane. It allows water to run away from the window and the house to keep it dry and stop water from getting behind the walls and rotting them away. Solid Surface: A material made of plastic, sometimes several different kinds that is molded into any type of countertop the person needs. Comes with different edges, colors, styles and can be customized with different inlays, drains and built in sinks. Popular because of how easy it is to keep clean, maintain and resistance to heat. Often used as a substitute for more expensive stone or natural countertops.
Solid Wood Door: A solid door made of solid wood or MDO plywood. It is much heavier than hollow core doors and is much more durable and expensive than hollow core doors. It comes in both panel style doors and flat, plain doors.
Spackle: A thick, mayonnaise like liquid made from stone dust, water and other materials that is used to patch holes in walls.
Strand Board: See also Oriented Strand Board.
Stucco: A stone dust, which is mixed with water to make a thick liquid, which is like mayonnaise. It is put on walls of buildings to create a hard, rough, sandy surface that does not have to be painted. It is often found in older homes as well as Spanish, Southwestern and Mission style homes. Occasionally it is still used in new homes when someone wants it.
Stud: Boards made of metal or wood attached in a vertical position to the top and bottom plate of a wall. Used as a support to attach drywall or sheathing to and create a space to run pipes and wires through and fill with insulation.
Subfloor: A floor underneath the flooring, which the subfloor lays on or is attached to. Subfloors are attached to the joists under the floor. Usually subfloors are plywood or OSB. The best subfloor is tongue & groove plywood attached with screws so that it will minimize squeaky floors in the finished job.
Substrate: A material under a floor, countertop, roof or table. It can be cement board, mortar, plywood, felt paper, plastic, etc. Suspended Ceiling: A ceiling made of Styrofoam, wood or metal tiles in sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 2’ x 4’ and laying a grid which is attached and hung from an existing ceiling or rafters and joists. Threshold: A strip of wood, metal or plastic used to cover the gaps between flooring in doorways. It also helps to create a weather seal between the door and the ground. Top Plate: A 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 placed horizontally on the top of a wall to which all the studs are attached. It can also be used to hold to wall sections together.
Trim: Boards made of wood, metal or plastic used to cover the corner between walls, between walls and ceilings, on furniture and around doors and windows as a decoration. They come in different types including Contemporary, Colonial, Victorian and different styles such as crown moulding and baseboard.
Trusses: Structures made of dimensional lumber, which are attached to each other using nailing plates. They form a support for the floor or roof of a building. They come in different lengths and heights to fit the floor or style of roof and building they are being used for.
Underlayment: A material, which is placed under a floor, countertop or behind a wall for support. It can be cement board, mortar, plywood, felt paper, plastic mat, etc. See also Substrate.
Unsanded Grout: A mixture of silicone and water that is used to fill the spaces between tile. This kind of grout is used in wall tile and should not be used in floor tile. It comes in white, beige, brown, gray or black. Vapor Barrier: A plastic sheet that allows air to pass through from one side and nothing from the other. It allows air to escape from the house so the house can breathe and allow the insulation and the walls to dry out if they get wet, without letting air or water in from outside. It comes in heights of 8’ to 10’ and varying lengths. It is used on the inside of the outside walls of the house to protect the insulation. Vinyl: A plastic, waterproof material that can be molded into many things such as siding, flooring and furniture. Wainscot: A panel of wood, beadboard, wallpaper or paint on the lower section of a wall. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was used to save money and protect the bottom part of the wall. Usually it is only about 3’ high, but occasionally it can be higher in some very high-end homes and businesses. Wall Anchor: A small round tube made in different lengths and diameters to fit the type of screw and thickness of drywall that you have or a bolt with metal flanges at the end that open up in the wall when the bolt is tightened down. They are used to attach things to the wall where there aren’t any studs for support. Wallboard: A nickname for gypsum board or drywall given because of it is put on a wall. A board made from ground gypsum sandwiched between to sheets of paper. Comes in varying sizes from 2’ x 4’ to 4’ x 12’ and thickness from ¼” to 5/8”. Wonder Board: Another name for green board. A special variety of water resistant drywall used in place of regular drywall in bathrooms or other places where there is moisture inside a home. It can be painted just like regular drywall. Wood: A natural material made from trees that are cut down and sawed into boards used for house construction, furniture, cabinetry, siding and roofing. Wood Fiber: Sawdust, wood shavings and small splinters, which are leftovers from the wood cutting process at the sawmills. Used for particleboard and composite material. | | Aesthetics: A term used to refer to how beautiful or attractive something is. It refers to something that is often used just for its looks.
Aesthetically Pleasing: It means that something is nice to look at. Character: A term that refers to aspects of design and aesthetics such as the way a space is laid out, how everything looks together, the care and thought that went into the design, etc. It can be hard to find and can be different for each person.
Color: A term used to refer what is seen because of the light bouncing of an object or surface. It is used for aesthetics.
Divan: Another name for a sofa or couch.
Design: A term used to refer to the layout of furniture, lights, pictures etc. in a room to make the best use of the space and make it aesthetically pleasing.
Style: A term used to refer to the layout and aesthetics of furniture, lights, pictures, etc. in a room. It also can refer to how the furniture, lights, pictures, etc. look by themselves.
Taste: A term used to refer to what a person likes.
Texture: A term used to refer to the feeling and looks of different surfaces such as bricks, paint, fabric, etc.
| | Berber Carpet: Carpet comprised of uncut or cut loops of woven carpet material such as yarn or sometimes shreds of woven cloth usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool. Very short compared to other types such as plush carpeting. Comes in different patterns and colors. It is very popular because of its resistance to wear and its easy cleaning. Often used in basements and high traffic areas. Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn or sometimes shreds of woven cloth usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool. There are different types such as cut loop and uncut loop. The higher the weave the softer, smoother, more crush resistant and durable the carpet is. There are several different styles to choose from including berber, plush, velvet and sisal. Ceramic Tile: Floor and wall tiles from ¼” to 3/8” thick made from fired clay which is usually glazed to add color. Comes in a variety of colors. Used for a hard, easy to clean finish in entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc. Clay Tile: A tile made of clay usually fired and unglazed often called terracotta. Used in many Southwestern style, Mission Style or Spanish homes. Engineered Wood Flooring: A term often used to refer to veneer or laminate flooring, which is made like plywood with a surface of a real wood veneer or plastic laminate. Floating Floor: Flooring where each section is attached to the rest, but not to the floor. The flooring just lies on top of the subfloor, which allows it to expand and contract with changes in humidity. Often floating floors are made from veneer or laminate flooring. Glueless Laminate Flooring: Laminate flooring, which locks together using a small lip on the tongue which locks into the groove of the next piece without the need of glue or nails to hold it together. See also Laminate Flooring. Hardwood Flooring: Solid wood boards laid on floors to make a nice flat surface to walk on. Often they are put together using tongue & groove. It comes in different thicknesses from ½” to ¾” and varying widths and lengths. It comes in unfinished, which is sanded and finished after it is installed or prefinished, which comes finished from the factory so it can be installed and used the same day. Often it’s stained, but can be painted or enameled to make a different look. It needs to be nailed to the floor and or glued together. Laminate Flooring: Boards made from layers of solid wood veneers layered on top of each other in opposite directions to make it stronger. The top layer is made from a plastic sheet with an image of hardwood flooring on it and stamped with faux wood grain. Often they are put together using tongue & groove. It comes in different thicknesses from ½” to ¾” and varying widths and lengths. Level Loop Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool that is cut to create a flat surface. It is usually only about a half an inch long and has a very high weave count. It is very tough, crush resistant and durable like berber. It comes in many different colors. Linoleum: A term often used for vinyl flooring. It actually is a thin, resilient rubbery flooring made from linseed oil rolled onto the floor on top of mastic. It is often found in older homes built before the 1950’s. It comes in many different colors made with dies. Patterned Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool. The threads are trimmed at different lengths to create designs like intersecting diamonds in the carpet. It comes in both berber, which is the most popular and also plush and velvet. It comes in many different colors. Plush Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool that is cut to create a flat surface. It is softer and smoother than berber. The higher the weave the softer, smoother, more crush resistant and durable the carpet is. It comes in many different colors. Porcelain Tile: A tile made of a high grade of clay. Unlike ceramic tile the color goes through the whole tile. It is laid just like ceramic tile. Prefinished Hardwood Flooring: Solid wood boards laid on floors to make a nice flat surface to walk on. Often they are put together using tongue & groove. It comes in different thicknesses from ½” to ¾” and varying widths and lengths. It comes finished from the factory with a baked on finish so it can be installed and used the same day unlike unfinished, which needs to be sanded, finished and let dry. The finish from the factory is twice as hard and durable as what could be done on site. Often it’s stained, but can be painted or enameled to make a different look. It needs to be nailed to the floor and or glued together. Shag Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool that is cut. The threads are allowed to run from about an inch to three inches long and the weave count is very low so the threads lay over on their side. It comes in many different colors. Sisal: A carpet made of woven wool strands, often used for rugs. It is a little rougher than regular carpet, but is very durable and stain resistant. It comes only in shades of beige or off-white. Swoop Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool that is cut just like plush. The threads are allowed to run about an inch to an inch and a half long and the weave count is very low so the threads lay over on their side. It is very similar to shag carpet except shorter. It comes in many different colors. Terracotta Tile: A tile made from fired clay. Often found in Southwestern, Mission or Spanish style homes. Terrazzo: A material made by embedding marble chips into cement and grinding and sanding it smooth then putting a sealer on it to make it waterproof, scratch resistant and easy to keep clean.
Textured Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool. The threads are trimmed at different lengths to create designs like intersecting diamonds in the carpet. It comes in both berber, which is the most popular and also plush and velvet. It comes in many different colors. Tile: A square made of ceramic, porcelain, foam, vinyl, metal and wood used to cover floors and ceilings.
Tongue & Groove Flooring: Boards with a thin piece of wood on one long side and a groove that is the same size on the other long side. They slip together and are nailed or glued together or nailed to the floor. It comes in different sizes, wood species and materials. Unfinished Hardwood Flooring: Solid wood boards laid on floors to make a nice flat surface to walk on. Often they are put together using tongue & groove. It comes in different thicknesses from ½” to ¾” and varying widths and lengths. It has to be sanded, finished and let dry, often for two or three days before it can be used. The finish protects the floor from damage, such as scratches, dents, etc., but a factory finish is twice as hard and durable as what could be done on site. Often it’s stained, but can be painted or enameled to make a different look. It needs to be nailed to the floor and or glued together. Velvet Carpet: A woven fabric made of yarn usually consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton or wool that is cut to create a flat surface. It is softer and smoother than berber. The higher the weave the softer, smoother, more crush resistant and durable the carpet is. It comes in many different colors. Veneer Flooring: Boards made from layers of solid wood veneers layered on top of each other in opposite directions to make it stronger. The top layer is made from a beautiful hardwood veneer either 1/8” or ¼” thick to make a surface that can be refinished a couple of times before it can be replaced. Often they are put together using tongue & groove. It comes in different thicknesses from ½” to ¾” and varying widths and lengths. It has to be sanded, finished and let dry, often for two or three days before it can be used. The finish protects the floor from damage, such as scratches, dents, etc., but a factory finish is twice as hard and durable as what could be done on site. Often it’s stained, but can be painted or enameled to make a different look.
Vinyl Flooring: Often mistakenly referred to as linoleum. It actually is a thin, resilient rubbery flooring made from vinyl that is laid onto the floor on top of mastic. It is often used to save money on ceramic or stone tile. It comes in many different colors made with dies and styles to look like tile and wood flooring. Vinyl Tile: It is a thin, resilient rubbery flooring made from vinyl cut into squares or rectangles to look like ceramic tile or hardwood flooring planks that is laid onto the floor on top of mastic. It is often used to save money on ceramic or stone tile. It comes in many different colors made with dies and styles to look like tile and wood flooring. | | Bed: A spot in the ground that is specially set aside as a place for flowers and other decorative plants in the yard.
Design: A term used to refer to the layout of flowerbeds, pathways, etc. to make the best use of the space and make is aesthetically pleasing.
Fauna: A term used to refer to animals and people.
Flora: A term used to refer to flowers, trees and other plants.
Flower: A plant with a special cluster of colored leaves at the end of a stem. It comes in millions of varieties and is used for aesthetics.
Flowerbed: A spot in the ground that is specially set aside as a place for flowers and other decorative plants in the yard.
Garden: A term used to refer to flowerbeds or planting beds filled with vegetables.
Grade: A term used to refer to the slope of the lawn, which should be away from the house or building to keep water away from the foundation.
Grading: The action of sloping or creating the grade away from the house or building to keep water away from the foundation.
Hardscape: A term used to refer to things such as fences, pavers, arbors, etc. in landscaping.
Landscape: A term used to refer to the layout of flowerbeds, flowers, trees and other plants in landscaping.
Mulch: A term used to refer to yard waste, also known as compost and any material such as rock, rubber or wood that is used to cover flower beds or gardens for looks and to prevent weeds and hold in moisture.
Orchard: A term used to refer to trees evenly spaced and planted in rows. It is often used for fruit tree plantings especially on farms, but can also be used for other types of trees.
Planting Bed: A spot in the ground that is specially set aside as a place for flowers and other decorative plants in the yard.
Rolling Topography: A term used to refer to the layout of hills or bumps in the ground.
Terrace: A term used to refer to a form of planting on slopes that uses blocks or timbers to create small flowerbeds going up a hill or slope. It can be used for aesthetics and or to cut down on maintenance and solve water runoff problems.
Topography: A term used to refer to the layout of the ground.
Weed: An unwanted plant that needs to be removed to allow other wanted plants such as flowers, grass and trees to be able to grow.
| | Asphalt Driveway: Road paved with asphalt that leads to a garage or carport and used to park cars. Bluestone: Similar to flagstone it has a deep blue color and comes indifferent sizes and shapes. It's most common to the New England area. Color varies slightly from stone to stone. Often used for pathways. Chain Link Fencing: A grid made of heavy gauge galvanized wire. Often used to keep dogs in the yard or to keep people and animals out of a certain area. Cobbles: A shorter name for large, small or medium size weathered bricks, which have been tumbled and distressed on the edges. Often they are used to pave pathways, patios, driveways, roads and streets as well as used for landscaping bed edging. They were commonly used for street paving until the early 20th century and are still often found in certain older districts of some older cities and towns. Cobblestone: Large, small or medium size weathered bricks, which have been tumbled and distressed on the edges. Often they are used to pave pathways, patios, driveways, roads and streets as well as used for landscaping bed edging. They were commonly used for street paving until the early 20th century and are still often found in certain older districts of some older cities and towns. Concrete Paver: A paving stone or block made of concrete used to lay down a path or a patio. They come in various colors, styles and sizes from 12” x 12” to 18” x 18” and are usually 2” thick. Fieldstone: A common stone found in much of the world. Often round and smooth, it comes in many different colors and is usually no larger than 18” in diameter. Often it is used for building fireplaces and chimneys. In country homes built before the twentieth century it was often used to build stone foundations. Flagstone: A common stone found in much of the world. Often flat, it comes in different colors such as red and brown and several different sizes. Often it is used for building pathways and sometimes is cut to make siding. Funny Pipe: Another name for flex pipe special soft, flexible black plastic pipe used to attach sprinkler heads for underground sprinkler systems. It comes in different diameters from ½” to 1”.
Funny Pipe Elbow: A curved piece of soft black plastic pipe used to attach flex pipe to the main pipe for underground sprinkler systems. It comes in different angles from 30 to 90 degrees and different diameters from ½” to 1”. Grass Mulch: Garden mulch made from grass clipping, which are collected from a bagger on the lawn mower. Used in gardens to hold in heat and moisture as well as ad nutrients as it rots.
Gravel: A mixture of small stones, pea gravel, sand and stone dust, often used as fill when pouring slabs of concrete or by itself or mixed with tar for paving roads. Holland Paver: A brick with beveled edges that is used to pave pathways, driveways, patios, etc. Landscape Block: A shorter name for large, small or medium size bricks used to pave pathways, patios, hold back dirt and surround flower beds as well as used for landscaping bed edging. They were commonly used for street paving until the early 20th century and are still often found in certain older districts of some older cities and towns.
Landscape Rock: Round, smooth, polished rocks no larger than 2” often used around flowers and trees in flowerbeds. Mulch: A term used to refer to yard waste, also known as compost and any material such as rock, rubber or wood that is used to cover flower beds or gardens for looks and to prevent weeds and hold in moisture. Patio Block: A block made of concrete or clay used to lay down a path or a patio. They come in various colors, styles and sizes from 12” x 12” to 18” x 18” and are usually 2” thick.
Paver: A name for a paving stone or block made of concrete or clay used to lay down a path or a patio. They come in various colors, styles and sizes from 12” x 12” to 18” x 18” and are usually 2” thick.
Paver Base: A mixture of very fine stone dust and fine sand, compacted and used for a solid, firm base to lay paving stones on. It keeps weeds and grass out and creates a good base to minimize frost heave.
Paving Stone: A block made of concrete or clay used to lay down a path or a patio. They come in various colors, styles and sizes from 12” x 12” to 18” x 18” and are usually 2” thick.
Pea Gravel: Small stones and pebbles no larger than ¼” used for a base under concrete patios, driveways, etc. Makes good drainage. Play Sand: Very fine stone pebbles often used in sandboxes for kids. It can also be used as a base for pavers or concrete patios. Pond Liner: A rubber sheet used to cover the ground under small water gardens or pools to keep the water in. It needs to be covered with pea gravel and sand to protect it and keep it from moving. Retaining Wall Block: A block usually about 16” wide at the front and tapered back to about 12”, about 16” deep and 6 to 8 inches high. Often they have a lip at the back used to lock them together. They are used around flowerbeds and to hold back dirt and create terraces.
River Rock: Round, smooth, polished rocks no larger than 2” often used around flowers and trees in flowerbeds. Sometimes embedded in mortar and used as flooring.
Rock Mulch: Round, smooth, polished rocks no larger than 2” often used around flowers and trees in flower beds to hold in moisture and heat. Rubber Mulch: Small strips of rubber used around flowers and trees in flowerbeds to hold in moisture and heat. It will last for years. Sand: Very fine stone pebbles often used in sandboxes for kids. It can also be used as a base for pavers or concrete patios. Also used as an additive in concrete, mortar or grout. Sprinkler Heads: A small device attached to either a series of pipes run under a lawn or flower bed to bring water to them or a system of pipes and sprinkler heads which are installed in a ceiling and are activated by heat, smoke or fire that will put out flames. They come in different styles with different spray patterns and distances to water your lawn or plants.
Sprinkler System: A term which can refer to a series of pipes run under a lawn or flower bed to bring water to them. It may also refer to a system of pipes and sprinkler heads, which are installed in a ceiling and are activated by heat, smoke or fire that will put out flames. Stone: Rock, which is cut into blocks, bricks or large slabs and used for siding, paving, retaining walls, landscape edging, countertops, etc.
Stone Dust: Stone ground into a powder used in many products such as grout, joint compound and concrete. Also used to add color and texture to the surface of asphalt.
Stone Mulch: See Rock Mulch. Underground Sprinkler System: A series of pipes run under a lawn or flowerbed to bring water to them. They come with different heads that can make different spray patterns and distances to water your lawn or plants. Wood Mulch: Small strips and chunks of wood used around flowers and trees in flowerbeds to hold in moisture and heat. | |
Arch: A half circle often over an opening designed for support and aesthetics.
Bead: A line in a piece of wood, metal or plastic that is rounded over on both sides.
Biscuit: A small flat oval shaped piece of wood used to align and attach two pieces of wood. Come in varying sizes.
Biscuit joint: A half oval slot cut in two opposite sides of two pieces of wood used to align the boards and or hold them together using an oval shaped piece of wood often covered with glue.
Box joint: A joint used to create corners in drawer boxes. It is created by cutting evenly spaced slots all the way through one side of the board and opposing slots in the other board so that when they are put together the slots in one board are filled by the leftover pieces of wood on the end of the other board. It is used to create a strong joint with a lot of surface area for glue.
Butt joint: Two pieces of wood with a straight cut on the ends that are stuck against each other. Often the pieces are attached using glue, nails or screws. It is often used because it is an easy joint to make and requires no skill to create.
Cabinet Grade Plywood: A special type of plywood with a face veneer which is free of defects such as knots, wormholes, splits, cracks, etc. Comes in various thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’. Used in the construction of cabinetry. Carpenter's Glue: Another name for wood glue, which is a yellow glue made to attach wood.
Case: The main part of a cabinet with out a countertop, trim, doors, drawers or face frames.
Casework: A name for cabinetry and furniture used by interior designers, architects and contractors. Chemical Based Stripper: A chemical, such as an acid used to remove finishes, such as paint, varnish, polyurethane and stain from wood so that it can be refinished.
Coping: Cutting a piece of trim at an angle on the end and then using a thin saw called a coping saw to follow the edge and cut out the profile. When that piece is stuck against another piece of trim in an inside corner it overlaps and covers to joint making it look nice.
Cope joint: A joint created by cutting a piece of trim at an angle on the end and then using a thin saw called a coping saw to follow the edge and cut out the profile. When that piece is stuck against another piece of trim in an inside corner it overlaps and covers to joint making it look nice.
Cove: A term often used to describe trim such as crown moulding where part of the moulding is curved inward.
Dado: A groove in a board, panel or sheet used in cabinetry to install shelves in cabinets and the bottoms in drawers.
Dovetail joint: A joint used to create corners in drawer boxes. It is created by cutting evenly spaced angled slots all the way through one side of the board and opposing slots in the other board so that when they are put together the slots in one board are filled by the leftover pieces of wood on the end of the other board. It is used to create a strong joint with a lot of surface area for glue. It is called a dovetail joint because the larger leftover pieces of wood on one board are angled from at the same angle toward the board making it look like a dove’s tail.
Drawer: A box with a handle often attached by slides of some kind to cabinetry or furniture used for storage.
Epoxy: A special glue that is made from a type of plastic and is very strong. It can be used on wood, plastic, metal, etc. Often it comes in two small tubes, a hardener and a glue, and is clear. The glue by itself without the hardener can be used as a hard, protective, waterproof coating for wooden boats and outdoor furniture.
Face frame: Boards placed up against the front of a cabinet surrounding the openings. It is used for strength and to create a nice finished look for the cabinet.
Finger joint: A joint used to connect two pieces of wood such as a stair rail. Similar to a box joint it is created by cutting small evenly spaced slots all the way through one side of the board and opposing slots in the other board so that when they are put together the slots in one board are filled by the leftover pieces of wood on the end of the other board. It is used to create a strong joint with a lot of surface area for glue. The small thin slots on the boards create thin little pieces of wood that are called fingers because they look like the fingers on someone’s hand.
Finger: One of the pieces of wood created from the small thin slots on the boards used for a finger joint. They are called fingers because they look like the fingers on someone’s hand.
Finish Nail: A nail with a very small head used for attaching trim. The small head makes it easy to hide in the wood grain of the trim and easy to cover with wood putty when wanted. They come in sizes from ½” to 2” finish nails.
Flute: A groove that is cut on the front of a piece of trim for decoration. It is often found in Victorian or Colonial homes.
Foam Glue: An extremely strong, clear, waterproof glue made using polyurethane. It is often used in outdoor projects or attaching something to concrete. It foams and fills the voids in an object so it can create a strong bond on ruff porous material like concrete.
Foot: A small short piece of wood used to hold up and support a piece of furniture such as a cabinet or chest.
Fretwork: Decorative cutouts in wood, metal or plastic used as a piece of trim. It is often found in Queen Anne Victorians and other Victorian homes.
Hardcore Plywood: A special type of plywood that has a solid wood core covered with a sheet of veneer on either side going in different directions. It is often used for furniture or paneling. Comes in various thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’. Iron On Veneer: A veneer with glue on the back that is heat activated. It comes in widths from ½” to 2’ and varying lengths. The veneer is laid on top of the wood, particleboard or plywood that it is to be attached to and using an iron with out steam it is ironed out until the glue melts and it sticks. When ironing it, be sure to keep the iron moving and do not sit in one spot for long or you will burn the wood.
Leg: A piece of wood used to hold up and support a piece of furniture such as a table.
Mechanical Fasteners: A term used to refer to methods of attaching things such as screws, nails or bolts.
Miter joint: Two boards cut at opposite forty five degree angles to fit into or around corners such as on trim around doors and windows and on trim like crown moulding and baseboard.
Mortise: A slot cut straight down in a piece of wood for another straight piece of wood to fit into to attach the two pieces of wood.
Mortise & Tenon Joint: A joint made from cutting a slot straight down in a piece of wood for another straight piece of wood to fit into to attach the two pieces of wood. Often used for table legs.
Nail: A thin wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It’s used to attach things. They come in different lengths diameters and types such as finish nails.
Panel: A sheet of wood, metal or plastic placed inside rails and styles to create a door or just a sheet of wood, metal or plastic.
Pin: The smaller pieces of wood left from cutting the opposing slots for a dovetail or box joint on the end of a piece of wood.
Polyurethane: A mixture of urethane, dryers, and additives to extend drying time. Used to protect wood from water damage and scratches and make them shiny.
Polyurethane Glue: An extremely strong, clear, waterproof glue made using polyurethane. Often used in outdoor projects and where there is a need for extra strength. One piece of wood to be glued needs to be damp and the other piece needs the glue applied. It foams as it is working and when it dries the excess needs to be scraped before it can be sanded, stained or painted.
Rabbet: A groove made right at the edge of a board, panel or sheet. It is often used in cabinetry to attach the back or top and bottom of a cabinet.
Rail: Either a piece of wood, metal, fiberglass or PVC used as a handhold between posts or columns on a fence or railing and used to hold in balusters or a board on the top and bottom of a panel to form a panel door.
Sash: One panel of a double hung window or just one panel of a window that consists of the window glass and the boards that hold the glass itself in place.
Solid Core Plywood: A special type of plywood that has a solid wood core covered with a sheet of veneer on either side going in different directions. It is often used for furniture or paneling. Comes in various thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’.
Screw: A thin wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It can have horizontal flat threads or angled threads, which stick into the material they are going into and hold tight. It’s used to attach things and is more popular than nails because it can hold things together a lot tighter. They come in different lengths, diameters and types such as wood screws and metal screws.
Spike: A long thick wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It’s used to attach materials that are thicker than 3”.
Spindle: Sometimes used as another name for baluster. A decorative piece of wood turned on a lathe. Can also be a leg or stretcher on a chair.
Spline: A strip of wood placed in a groove cut in the edges of two boards, similar to tongue & groove, to attach them and help prevent warping and cupping. It is most often used on tabletops.
Stile: A board made of wood, metal or plastic placed in a vertical position on either side of a panel door for support and to hold the rails apart.
Spray On Foam Glue: An extremely strong, clear, waterproof glue made using polyurethane. It is often used in outdoor projects or attaching something to concrete. It foams and fills the voids in an object so it can create a strong bond on ruff porous material like concrete.
Stripper: A chemical, such as an acid used to remove finishes, such as paint, varnish, polyurethane and stain from wood so that it can be refinished.
Super Glue: A special glue that is similar to epoxy. It is made from a type of plastic and is very strong. It can be used on wood, plastic, metal, etc. Often it comes in small tubes and is clear.
Tail: The larger leftover pieces of wood for a dovetail joint on one board are angled from at the same angle toward the board making it look like a dove’s tail. It also refers to the larger leftover pieces on a box joint also.
Tenon: The larger pieces of wood left from cutting the slots for a dovetail or box joint on the end of a piece of wood.
Tongue & Groove Joint: A joint created from a thin piece of wood on one long side and a groove that is the same size on the other long side. They slip together to create a joint that will not allow two boards to move up and down, but will allow them to move along the length for expansion and contraction. This joint is often use for sheathing, table tops and flooring.
Veneer: A thin sheet or strip of solid wood that is used on the surface of particleboard or plywood to give the illusion of solid wood.
Veneer Plywood: A special type of plywood with a face veneer which is free of defects such as knots, wormholes, splits, cracks, etc. Comes in various thicknesses from 1/8” to 1” and sizes from 2’ x 2’ to 4’ x 8’.
Water-Based Stain: A liquid dye made from water, and other chemicals, which is used to color wood. Water stain soaks into the wood and creates a nice colorful surface to add beauty to wood. It is often used because it can be cleaned up with water.
Waterproof Glue: A special wood glue, which is a yellow glue just like wood or carpenters glue, but is more waterproof. It is used for outdoor furniture and other outdoor projects because it’s waterproof, has a low price and is easy to use.
Wicker: A hard dense grass that is used to make a fabric used to construct furniture and other things for the home. It is often used outdoors because of its resistance to rot and insects.
Wood Glue: Another name for carpenters glue, which is a yellow glue made to attach wood.
Wood Putty: A thick liquid used to fill holes in wood. Once it dries it is supposed to disguise the holes in the wood. It comes in different colors to match the kind of wood or stain you may have. It also comes in crayon form to fill small cracks and tiny holes.
Wood Screw: A thin wire like piece of metal with a point at one end and a flat, round piece of metal at the other end. It has angled threads, which stick into wood and hold tight. They come in different lengths and diameter.
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Warning:
Always remember with any tool that proper care needs to be taken in using it, it should be used for only its intended purpose and should always be properly maintained.
Adz: Medieval wood shaping tool similar to a cross between a hatchet and a large chisel used to remove wood from a timber to carve it or smooth it out.
Air Compressor: A machine that compacts, or compresses air and then blows it out through a hose at high speeds. It is used to operate tools such as nailing guns, impact wrenches, impact drills, etc. It also can be used to fill balls, rafts and other inflatable objects, however care should be taken when using a large compressor for these purposes. Care should also be taken when operating this machinery at anytime as it can cause injury if not taken proper care of. It also comes in both an electric and oil version.
Air Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force finish nails into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in strip form, which are loaded into a flat hollow tube or large hollow cylinder that holds them until they are inserted into the material. Often it is used to attach trim, studs, sheathing or put together cabinetry. It comes in different types including roofing nailer, framing nailer and finish nailer. It comes in different styles that can take different types and sizes of nails. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Allen Wrench: A special hexagonal piece of wire that is bent to create a handle to turn a special screw with a hexagonal hole in the head. It comes in different diameters to fit any allen screw.
Allen Screw: A special screw with a hexagonal hole in the top or head of it. An allen wrench is needed to tighten the screw.
Auger: A large drill bit attached to a motor that is used for drilling holes in the ground for posts, trees, etc. They come in different diameters and lengths to drill different size holes in the ground.
Auger Bit: A drill bit used for drilling holes in wood, metal or plastic. They come in different diameters and lengths to drill different size.
Awl: An instrument with a long round piece of metal and a point at the end used to poke a hole in a piece of wood, metal or plastic to center a drill bit and keep the bit from slipping around while drilling.
Ball Ping Hammer: A handle with a cylindrical piece of metal at the end, which is flat at one end and shaped like a ball at the other end. Often it is used to bend metal straps or it can be used to drive large spikes.
Band Clamp: A nylon or fabric strap of some kind with a device on it for tightening the strap. It is often used for holding picture frames together while glue dries. It comes in different sizes for different size frames.
Bandsaw: A vertical saw that has a long thin metal strap with small cutouts on one side wound around a pulley operated by a motor. It is often used for making small cuts, cutting a piece of wood into a circle, and even for some decorative cutouts. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Bar Clamp: A metal or plastic bar with a fixed block of metal or plastic at one end and movable block of metal or plastic at the other end that can be stopped anywhere along the bar. It is used to hold large frames or panels made up of different boards together while glue dries or while attaching to another frame, panel or case.
Belt Clamp: A nylon or fabric strap of some kind with a device on it for tightening the strap. It is often used for holding picture frames together while glue dries. It comes in different sizes for different size frames.
Belt Sander: A machine with a belt or strap made of sandpaper wrapped around two pulleys and connected to a motor, which spins the belt around. It is used for removing small pieces of wood off of the surface of a board. The sandpaper belt comes in different widths and lengths to fit different size machines. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Bench Vise: A clamp made from metal with a threaded rod used to tighten the clamp. It is attached to a workbench or countertop.
Biscuit Jointer: A tool that with a small circular metal blade, which is used to cut small half oval slots in opposing sides of two boards so they can be attached using a small oval shaped piece of wood called a biscuit. It is used for joining tabletops, frames, etc. and aligning them. It hides how two boards are attached. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Box Wrench: A flat metal bar with to rings of metal on both ends. The inside of the rings have little ribs in them, which grab a hold of hex nuts or bolt heads and is used to tighten or loosen them up. It comes with different diameter rings for different size nuts and bolts.
Brad Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force small finish nails into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in strip form, which are loaded into a flat hollow tube that holds them until they are inserted into the material. Often it is used to tack mouldings, attach cabinet backs or attach small thin pieces of wood. It comes in different styles that can take different sizes of nails up to an inch and a quarter long. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Brush: Long stiff threads made of nylon, polyester, camel hair, etc. called bristles attached to a handle or strips of soft foam attached to a handle used to paint or stain wood, metal or plastic. It comes in different widths, shapes and types of bristles made for different painting or staining different materials or different paints or stains. Foam brushes leave a smooth surface where bristle brushes leave marks behind called brush marks.
C-Clamp: A flat metal bar bent into a c-shape with a threaded rod connected to a round flat metal piece that is run up through the bottom of the c. The threaded rod has a handle attached that is used for clamping things down to a table, sheet of plywood, etc. It can also be two wooden blocks attached by two threaded rods with handles that tighten the clamp and are used for clamping things down to a table, sheet of plywood, etc. It comes in different sizes for clamping down larger things.
Camel Hair Brush: Long stiff threads made of a natural material named camel hair attached to a handle used to paint or stain wood. It comes in different widths, shapes for different projects. Unlike, foam brushes, bristle brushes leave marks behind called brush marks, but tend to last longer if well taken care of.
Chalk Line: A string with powdered stone dust or chalk that is colored. It is stretched tight between two marks and then snapped, which leaves a straight line that is used align walls, joists, etc.
Chisel: A long flat piece of metal ground to a point at the end attached to a handle and used with a lathe when turning a piece of wood or to trim pieces of wood off to make holes or remove material to make sculptures. It comes in different thicknesses, sizes and types for doing different things.
Circular Saw: A round metal blade with small pointed cutouts attached to a motor. It is used to cut plywood or dimensional lumber often on a jobsite or at someone’s home. It comes with different size blades for different size boards and it also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Clamp: A fixed block of wood, metal or plastic connected to a movable block of wood metal or plastic using a threaded rod, bar or pipe with a handle at one end used to tighten it. It is used to hold large frames or panels made up of different boards together while glue dries or while attaching to another frame, panel or case.
Claw Hammer: A handle with a cylindrical piece of metal at the end, which is flat at one end and has two curved, tapered pieces of metal spaced just a little apart from each other. The flat end is used to drive nails and spikes and the other curved end is used to pull nails and pry things off.
Compound Miter Saw: It is similar to a circular saw, but is attached to a piece of metal, or arm, that can be moved up and down, swung side to side and is attached to a half circle base with a slot directly underneath the blade and a handle that is used to move the blade and the slot to different angles and then lock it in place. The saw is used to cut trim, rafters, studs, etc. It comes with different size blades for different size boards and it also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Coping Saw: A very thin, flexible, flat metal strip with little pointed cutouts on the one edge attached to a c-shaped piece of metal. It is attached to a handle at one end of the strip and is used to cut out the edge of a piece of trim to fit over top of another identical piece of trim.
Cordless Drill: An electric drill that runs on a large battery instead of being plugged into a wall. It is often used in places where there is no electricity or where it is just more convenient than plugging it in. It comes in different power sizes from 9 to 18 or 19.2 volts. The higher the voltage the more power the drill has and the tougher material it can handle.
Corner Chisel: A long flat piece of metal bent lengthwise into a ninety degree angle and ground to a point at the end attached to a handle to square up corners of holes, or mortises, made in wood. It comes in different thicknesses and sizes for different size corners.
Crescent Wrench: A long flat bar of metal with a flat three quarter circular metal piece on one end. The last quarter of the flat circular metal piece is attached to the rest of the flat circular metal piece with a threaded rod that is used to adjust the gap between the two pieces. It is used to work on nuts or bolts normally, but can also be used on small plumbing fixes in certain cases. It comes in different sizes to fit different size nuts, bolts and pipes.
Crowbar: A round or hexagonal shaped bar with small flat spots at both ends and v-shaped notches in them. One end is bent into almost a half a circle and the other is bent into about a ten degree angle. It is used to pry stuff off things such as siding or studs and to remove large nails or spikes.
Cut-Off Saw: It is similar to a miter saw it is attached to a piece of metal, or arm, that can be moved up and down, but it cannot swing side to side and it is attached to a long rectangular base with a slot directly underneath the blade. The saw is used to cut trim, tile, pipe, etc. It comes with different size blades for different size boards and it also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Diamond Blade: A strip of metal or circular metal panel with small angled notches that are covered by tiny bits of diamonds. It is used to cut tile, stone, concrete, etc.
Draw Knife: A strip of metal with one edge ground down to a thin sharp edge and with two handles attached. It is used mostly to remove bark from trees or round over a square chunk of wood.
Drill: A c-shaped piece of metal with a handle on one end and a drill bit on the other end or a motor with a special clamp attached to attach drill bits. It is used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, nails, screws, etc. through. It comes in both a corded and cordless version as well as a manual version. The corded version may have more power than the manual or cordless versions.
Drill Bit: A round piece of metal with evenly spaced grooves around it and a point at the end, a round piece of metal with a flat spot at one end with three sharp points or a round piece of metal with a strip of metal with angled notches wound around it. They are used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, nails, screws, etc. through.
Drill Press: A motor attached to a vertical with a special clamp attached for installing drill bits over top of a small flat plate of metal attached to the pole. It is used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic including large timbers. It comes in both a benchtop version and a version that sits on the floor as well as a corded and cordless version.
Electric Drill: A drill that runs on a large battery or cord. It is used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, nails, screws, etc. through. It comes in both a corded and cordless version. The cordless version comes in different power sizes from 9 to 18 or 19.2 volts. The higher the voltage the more power the drill has and the tougher material it can handle. The corded version may have more power than the cordless version.
Electronic Tape Measure: A device, which takes measurements by using sound waves or infrared laser. It is used to take measurements in large areas such as rooms.
Finish Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force finish nails into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in strip form, which are loaded into a flat hollow tube that holds them until they are inserted into the material. Often it is used to attach trim or put together cabinetry. It comes in different styles that can take different sizes of nails up to three inches long. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Flathead Screwdriver: A round piece of metal with a flat spot at one end and a handle at the other end. It is used to turn screws with one long slot through their round top.
Foam Brush: Strips of soft foam attached to a handle used to paint or stain wood. It comes in different widths, shapes for different projects. Unlike, bristle brushes, foam brushes leave behind a smooth surface, but are intended to be used just once.
Framing Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force finish nails into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in strip form, which are loaded into a flat hollow tube or large hollow cylinder that holds them until they are inserted into the material. Often it is used to attach trim or put together cabinetry. It comes in different styles that can take different sizes of nails up to three inches long. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Gouge: A long flat piece of metal bent lengthwise into a half circle shape and ground to a point at the end attached to a handle to remove lots of material and round over turnings on a lathe. It comes in different thicknesses and sizes for different size roundovers or to remove more wood.
Grinder: A machine with a round coarse stone attached that is used to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It comes in both a benchtop and handheld version. It can be used to remove paint from siding, sharpen knives and many other things. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Grout Cutter: A handle with a circular metal wheel at one end that is ground down to a sharp edge around the wheel. Often the wheel is diamond covered, or impregnated, which keeps the blade from wearing out as fast. It is used to remove grout from in between tiles so that they can be regrouted or removed.
Hacksaw: A very thin, flexible, flat metal strip with little pointed cutouts on the one edge attached to a c-shaped piece of metal. It is attached to a handle at one end of the strip and is used to cut out the edge of a piece of trim to fit over top of another identical piece of trim. It comes in different sizes for different projects.
Hammer: A handle with a cylindrical piece of metal at the end that is used to pound nails or spikes into wood, metal or plastic and also pounding two objects together to attach them. It comes in different types and sizes for different applications such as a rubber mallet, claw hammer, ball ping hammer, etc.
Hand Grinder: A machine with a round coarse stone attached and a handle on one end that is used to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It can be used to remove paint from siding, cut concrete and many other things. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Hand Plane: A block of wood, metal or plastic with a handle on top and a razor blade underneath. It is used to remove thin strips of wood to smooth out the surface of a board. It comes in different widths and sizes for different projects.
Handsaw: A tapered wide strip of metal with v-shaped notches on one edge and a handle attached at the larger end. It is used to do the same things as a circular saw. It can cut studs, plywood sheets, trim, etc. It comes in different sizes for different projects.
Hole Cutter: A round piece of metal attached to a strip of metal with angled notches wound around it. They are used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, door locks, etc. through.
Hole Cutting Saw: A term that can refer to a very thin, flexible, flat tapered metal strip with ground to a sharp edge and little pointed cutouts and a handle attached at the larger end of the strip or a round piece of metal attached to a strip of metal with angled notches wound around it. They are used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, door locks, etc. through.
Hole Saw: A term that can refer to a very thin, flexible, flat tapered metal strip with ground to a sharp edge and little pointed cutouts and a handle attached at the larger end of the strip or a round piece of metal attached to a strip of metal with angled notches wound around it. They are used to put holes in metal, wood or plastic to run pipes, wires, door locks, etc. through.
Imp: Another name for a small pipe cutter used to cut quarter inch to half inch pipe. A flat metal strip bent into a c-shape with a sharp metal wheel that can be raised and lowered by a threaded metal rod. It is put around the pipe and turned. Every full turn the threaded rod is turned in, which pushes the wheel into the pipe farther and farther. The wheel cuts and scores the pipe until it is cut all the way through. It is used to get into tight places where larger pipe cutters or metal saws can’t get into.
Jigsaw: A short thin metal strip with v-shaped notches on one side connected to a motor that has a handle. It is used to cut plywood, dimensional lumber, etc. when it is larger than what would fit in a bandsaw or scroll saw or too hard to get the bandsaw or scroll saw on the site to cut it. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Joiner: Another name for a biscuit joiner or other tool used to join wood, metal or plastic. It also can be both corded or cordless.
Jointer: A platform with a flat top and a slot in the middle with a round cylinder that has two or three metal strips with sharp edges attached vertically. The cylinder spins fast and removes material from the surface of a piece of wood it can be moved up and down to change the thickness of the board being run through. The board is held tight against the surface of the table and ran over top of the cylinder, which smooths and flattens it out that side of the board. It comes in both a benchtop version and a version that sits on the floor.
Keyhole Saw: A very thin, flexible, flat tapered metal strip with an edge ground down to a point and little pointed cutouts on the ground down edge. It is attached to a handle at the larger end of the strip and is used to cut openings into drywall for outlets, electrical boxes, etc.
Laser Level: A device that uses a laser to project a straight line so you know if a floor is flat or your pictures or cabinets are all at the same height.
Lathe: A device with a large round fixed block with a pin in the center on one side of a platform and a movable large round block with a pin in the center on the other side. A long square block of wood is placed over the pin on the fixed block and the movable block is moved up against the wood block. The wood block is turned at high speed and special tools are used to remove material off of the block of wood to round it over and decorate it.
Level: A device that is used to show how straight or flat something is. It comes in different types including post levels, water levels or laser levels.
Masonry Drill Bit: A round piece of metal with evenly spaced grooves around it and a point at the end. It is used to put holes in concrete or stone to run rebar, spikes, etc. through.
Metal Drill Bit: A round piece of metal with evenly spaced grooves around it and a point at the end. It is used to put holes in metal to run bolts, screws, etc. through.
Miter Box: Another name for a miter saw or a metal, wood or plastic u-shaped box with slots at different angles and a handsaw to cut the wood or a round metal blade with small pointed cutouts attached to a motor attached to a piece of metal, or arm, that can be moved up and down attached to a half circle base with a slot directly underneath the blade and a handle that is used to move the blade and the slot to different angles and then lock it in place. The saw is used to cut trim, rafters, studs, etc. It comes with different size blades or saws for different size boards.
Miter Saw: A miter saw or a metal, wood or plastic u-shaped box with slots at different angles and a handsaw to cut the wood or a round metal blade with small pointed cutouts attached to a motor attached to a piece of metal, or arm, that can be moved up and down attached to a half circle base with a slot directly underneath the blade and a handle that is used to move the blade and the slot to different angles and then lock it in place. The saw is used to cut trim, rafters, studs, etc. It comes with different size blades or saws for different size boards.
Monkey Wrench: A long flat bar of metal with a flat three quarter circular metal piece on one end. The last quarter of the flat circular metal piece is attached to the rest of the flat circular metal piece with a threaded rod that is used to adjust the gap between the two pieces. It is used to work on plumbing. It comes in different sizes to fit different size pipes.
Mortiser: A motor attached to a vertical with a special clamp attached for installing drill bits surrounded by a square hollow tube with a sharp edge on the bottom, called a chisel, over top of a small flat plate of metal attached to the pole. The drill bit removes to material to create the hole and the chisel then squares up the hole. It is used to put square holes in wood such as large timbers or posts to create slots or mortises, which are used to attach two pieces of wood. It is used often in furniture or cabinet making. It comes in both a benchtop version and a version that sits on the floor.
Molding Head Cutter: A platform with a flat top and a cover with a round cylinder that has two or three metal strips with sharp edges which are cut to different patterns attached vertically inside the cover and suspended over top of the flat top. The cylinder spins fast and removes material from the surface of a piece of wood it can be moved up and down to change the thickness of the board being run through. The board is held tight against the surface of the table and under the cylinder where the thin metal strips remove material from the board to create a design on the surface. It is used to make mouldings and trims.
Nail Set: A small round tapered bar of metal that is placed on top of a nail once it is driven into the surface of the wood or plastic and is then tapped to push the nail just below the surface of the wood or plastic to hide the nail. It is used on trim.
Nylon Brush: Long stiff threads made of a synthetic material called nylon, which is a type of plastic, attached to a handle used to paint or stain wood. It comes in different widths, shapes for different projects. Unlike, foam brushes, bristle brushes leave marks behind called brush marks, but tend to last longer if well taken care of.
Orbital Sander: A motor attached to a handle, which spins a round sheet of sandpaper to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It is used to remove paint or stain and smooth the material’s surface out, but leaves swirl marks which need to be sanded out later.
Oscillating Spindle Sander: A platform with a motor attached to a round metal cylinder, which spins a cylindrical sheet of sandpaper and moves it up and down at the same time to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It is used to smooth out the surface of curves and cylinders.
Open-End Wrench: A flat metal bar with flat round pieces of metal on both ends with slots from the center out to the edge. It is used to grab a hold of hex nuts or bolt heads and is used to tighten or loosen them up. It comes with different width slots for different size nuts and bolts.
Outfeed Table: A table or stand the same height as a table saw, radial arm saw, miter saw etc. on a stand. It is used as a support for boards or panels longer than the saw’s platform as they are run through the saw.
Paint Sprayer: A machine that compacts, or compresses air and then blows it out through a hose at high speeds. It is used to spray paint or stain, which has been thinned out to be blown through the hose. It can be used to paint or stain furniture, siding and other objects, however it only applies a thin layer at a time because the stain or paint has to be thinned out to go through the hose. Care should also be taken when operating this machinery at anytime as it can cause injury if not taken proper care of. If it is used to spray siding up to eight coats will have to be applied to equal two coats that are brushed on. Also in the joints caulk or paint should be applied by a brush to seal them up and any areas that are not meant to be painted such as windows and already painted trim. It comes in different sizes and styles for different projects or do it yourselfer and professional.
Palm Sander: A motor attached to a square sheet of sandpaper that vibrates to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It is used to remove paint or stain and smooth the material’s surface out.
Parting Tool: A long flat piece of metal that is v-shaped at the end and ground to a point it is attached to a handle and used with a lathe when turning a piece of wood. It is used to remove a small portion of material as a guide to get to the right diameter and separate sections of different diameters to keep them from splitting and to leave a mark where one section stops and another begins. It comes in different thicknesses and sizes.
Phillips Screwdriver: A round piece of metal with two intersecting flat pieces of metal at one end and a handle at the other end. It is used to turn screws with an x-shaped slot in their round top.
Pipe Cutter: A flat metal strip bent into a c-shape with a sharp metal wheel that can be raised and lowered by a threaded metal rod. It is put around the pipe and turned. Every full turn the threaded rod is turned in, which pushes the wheel into the pipe farther and farther. The wheel cuts and scores the pipe until it is cut all the way through. It comes in different sizes to cut different diameter pipes.
Pipe Clamp: A metal pipe with a fixed block of metal or plastic at one end and movable block of metal or plastic at the other end that can be stopped anywhere along the pipe. It is used to hold large frames or panels made up of different boards together while glue dries or while attaching to another frame, panel or case.
Pipe Wrench: A long flat bar of metal with a flat three quarter circular metal piece on one end. The last quarter of the flat circular metal piece is attached to the rest of the flat circular metal piece with a threaded rod that is used to adjust the gap between the two pieces. It is used to work on plumbing. It comes in different sizes to fit different size pipes.
Plane: A block of wood, metal or plastic with a handle on top and a razor blade underneath. It is used to remove thin strips of wood to smooth out the surface of a board. It comes in different widths and sizes as well as a corded, cordless and manual version for different projects.
Planer: A platform with a flat top and a cover with a round cylinder that has two or three metal strips with sharp edges attached vertically inside the cover and suspended over top of the flat top. The cylinder spins fast and removes material from the surface of a piece of wood it can be moved up and down to change the thickness of the board being run through. The board is held tight against the surface of the table and under the cylinder where the thin metal strips remove material from surface of the board to smooth out and flatten the board.
Plumb Bob: A round metal, wood or plastic ball with a point that is attached point down to a long string. It is hung from doorways, top plates or studs to tell whether or not they are straight up and down, or plumb, or not.
Pneumatic Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force finish nails into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in strip form, which are loaded into a flat hollow tube or large hollow cylinder that holds them until they are inserted into the material. Often it is used to attach trim, studs, sheathing or put together cabinetry. It comes in different types including roofing nailer, framing nailer and finish nailer. It comes in different styles that can take different types and sizes of nails. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Post Level: A device made from a sheet of metal or plastic molded or bent in half into a ninety degree angle. It has three bubble levels, two that show if it is straight across, or level and one that shows if it is straight up, or plumb. It is used when setting posts to tell if the post is straight across, or level and if it is straight up, or plumb.
Prybar: A flat strip of metal with v-shaped notches in both ends. One end is bent into almost a half a circle and the other is bent into about a ten degree angle. It is used to pry stuff off things such as siding or trim and to remove small nails or spikes.
Putty Knife: A small thin sheet of metal attached to a handle that is used to apply wood putty or even joint compound. It is also used to scrape off glazing around window panes or paint off of wood after a stripping solution is applied.
Ratchet: A round metal bar attached to a flat round metal piece with a pin in it that can be spun. Different size hollow cylinders that can fit over the pin on one end and the other end has a hexagonal hole that is used to tighten or loosen different size hex head bolts or nuts. It just has to be moved up and down instead of being spun around like other wrenches.
Radial Arm Saw: Similar to a miter saw, but the arm can only be moved back and forth instead of side to side and left and right. It is used for cutting larger trim, rafters and other boards, but can do everything that a regular compound miter saw can. It comes with different size blades for different size boards and it also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Random Orbit Sander: A motor attached to a handle, which spins a round sheet of sandpaper to remove material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic. It is used to remove paint or stain and smooth the material’s surface out, but leaves swirl marks which need to be sanded out later.
Razor: A small very thin sheet of metal with an edge ground to a very sharp edge. It is used to cut or scrape materials and is very sharp. Often it is found inside a handle to be used like a knife.
Reciprocating Saw: A short thin metal strip with sharp v-shaped notches attached to a motor with a handle. The metal strip moves in and out to cut material. It is often used in demolition to cut openings in walls for windows or doors or to cut out studs and drywall to open up rooms. The amount of movement that the metal strip makes is called the length of the stroke, which comes in different lengths to do larger jobs. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Roofing Nailer: A machine that uses compressed air to force small nails with large heads, called roofing nails, into wood, metal or plastic. The nails come in rolled up strip form, which are loaded into a large hollow cylinder that holds them until they are inserted into the material. It is used to nail asphalt, wood or other shingles to the roof of a building. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Router: A motor with two handles on either side and a round metal bar specially cut to remove material from wood, metal or plastic. It is used to make grooves in wood, metal or plastic and decorative edges. It can be used by hand or attached underneath a countertop in a cabinet. It comes in different power levels from ½ horsepower to 3 horsepower, which indicates how much work it can handle. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Router Bit: A round metal rod with a special cut on one end to remove material from wood, metal or plastic. It comes in two different size rods called shanks from ¼” to ½” to fit different routers. The end can be cut in different ways to make different grooves and decorative edges on wood, metal or plastic. It can come in different styles from a straight cutting bit that makes a square groove to an ogee bit rounds over the edge in a decorative way.
Router Table: A cabinet with a smooth countertop that has a hole and a groove in it. Under the hole a router is mounted upside down, in the groove block attached to a rod that rides in the groove and a couple of boards called a fence, mounted in back of the hole, that can move back to give support for the material as it goes through and keep it straight.
Rubber Mallet: A handle with a large cylindrical piece of rubber at the end that is used to pound two objects together to attach them without damaging the surface or finish.
Sanding Block: A small wood, metal, plastic or foam block, which is often covered by a paper with small pebbles like sand that are used to remove small particles of material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic to make the surface smoother. There are different grits made with different size pebbles each that remove more material and make the surface smoother. It is used because it easier to hold than just a sheet of sandpaper and it applies a more even pressure.
Sanding Paper: See Sandpaper.
Sandpaper: A paper, which is covered in small pebbles like sand that are used to remove small particles of material from the surface of wood, metal or plastic to make the surface smoother. There are different grits made with different size pebbles each that remove more material and make the surface smoother.
Saw: A thin metal strip with sharp v-shaped notches on one edge and a handle on one side that is used to cut material such as tile, countertops, studs, drywall, etc. It comes in different types including a handsaw, bandsaw, miter saw, reciprocating saw, etc. It also comes in floor, benchtop, cordless, corded, power and manual versions.
Sawzall: Another name for a reciprocating saw. A short thin metal strip with sharp v-shaped notches attached to a motor with a handle. The metal strip moves in and out to cut material. It is often used in demolition to cut openings in walls for windows or doors or to cut out studs and drywall to open up rooms. The amount of movement that the metal strip makes is called the length of the stroke, which comes in different lengths to do larger jobs. It also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Scraper: A small flat sheet of metal attached to a handle. The metal end could be thick and bent or it could be straight. It is also used to scrape off glazing around window panes, glue off wood, paint off of wood after a stripping solution is applied, etc.
Screwdriver: A round piece of metal with special shaped tip or a motor with a special clamp attached to attach small bars with special shaped tips called screwdriver bits. It is used to turn round bars with grooves around them and a round top with different shaped slots in the center into a piece of metal, wood or plastic to attach it to something.
Screwdriver Bit: A small bar with a special shaped tip used to turn round bars with grooves around them and a round top with different shaped slots in the center into a piece of metal, wood or plastic to attach it to something.
Screw Gun: A motor with a special clamp attached to attach screwdriver bits. It has a compartment to store screws, which are then loaded quickly from the compartment to the head when the end of the screw gun is pushed against the board. It is used to screw drywall or cement board to studs or joists faster than a drill or screwdriver could. It comes in both a corded and cordless version as well as a manual version. The corded version may have more power than the manual or cordless versions.
Scroll Saw: A saw, which has a long tiny thin metal strap with tiny cutouts on one side wound around a pulley operated by a motor similar to a bandsaw. It can be used for many of the same things as bandsaws, but is mostly meant to be used for decorative cutouts such as fretwork. It comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Sledgehammer: A long handle with a large cylindrical piece of metal at the end that is used to pound in stakes or posts or to demolish things such as walls, cabinets, tile etc.
Sliding Compound Miter Saw: The same as a miter saw, but the arm can move back and forth as well as side to side and left and right. It is used for cutting larger trim, rafters and other boards, but can do everything that a regular compound miter saw can. It comes with different size blades for different size boards and it also comes in both a corded and cordless version.
Speed Square: A small triangle shaped sheet of metal with a corresponding triangle shaped cutout in the middle and a metal strips attached to the shortest of the two ninety degree edges. On the ninety degree edges there are measurements in inches and on the angled side there are measurements in degrees. It is often used layout roof angles and stairways, but can be used for other things.
Spring clamp: Two handles made of metal or plastic attached in the middle with a hinge and a spring, which is use to hold things together. The tips on the end of the clamp are usually rubber tipped to grip the material and keep from damaging the surface.
Straight edge: A straight piece of wood, metal or plastic that is used for routers, circular saws, etc. to ride along so that the groove or cut is straight.
Square: Two metal strips, one half the size of the other, attached at a ninety degree angle to each other with measurements in inches on both strips. It is used to check to see if the edges of a sheet are square or as a straight edge to cut or mark a straight line.
T-Bevel: A handle with a thin slotted metal strip with or without measurements in degrees on it that can slide up and down and swing side to side. It is used to take the measurements of degrees and often is used to check how far the blade of a table saw is tilted.
Table Saw: A round sheet of metal with sharp v-shaped notches around the edge called a blade attached to a motor inside a platform with a tabletop. The blade can be raised and lowered as well as tilted from side to side to make different cuts in different thicknesses of wood. On the right of the blade all the way across the tabletop is a straight edge or fence made of wood, metal or plastic used to keep the panels or sheets straight as they go through the saw or to help cut a straight edge or groove. Often it is used to cut large panels or sheets and make straighter cuts than what could be made with other tools.
Tape Measure: A long thin metal or plastic strip with measurements in inches marked on it rolled onto a pulley that is often spring loaded. It is used to take measurements or to mark measurements on a piece of wood, metal, plastic or masonry.
Taping Knife: A wide thin sheet of metal attached to a handle that is used to apply joint compound on drywall. It comes in different widths to feather out the edges of the joint compound so that it is flat with the drywall and hides the seam.
Tile Nippers: Two handles with thick sharp blades at one end attached in the middle with a hinge. It is used to chip small chunks off of a piece of tile to fit around an object.
Tile Saw: A round sheet of metal with sharp v-shaped notches or a sharp ground edge around the edge called a blade attached to a motor inside a platform with a tabletop. The blade can be raised and lowered as well as tilted from side to side to make different cuts in different thicknesses of tile. The blade is often covered with a thin layer of diamonds around the edge to make it cut easier and last longer. Often the platform may be filled with water or there may be a water spout up by the blade that keeps the tile and the blade wet, which makes it last longer and keeps the machine from overheating and possibly damaging the tile also.
Toolbox: A box or chest used to store tools.
Tri-Square: A metal strip with measurements in inches on it attached at a ninety degree angle to a plastic, wood or metal board half the size of the metal strip. It is used to check to see if the edges of a sheet are square or as a straight edge to cut or mark a straight line.
Utility Knife: A knife made from a handle with a razor inside. It is used to score drywall, cement board, etc. or to cut small pieces of material.
Veneer Applicator: A machine with a built in heating iron and rollers to roll out rolls of veneer. The particleboard or plywood edge is placed up against the rollers and the proper width veneer is installed on the spindle and setup. As the board is pushed through and kept up next to the rollers the veneer is applied smoothly and evenly all the way down the edge.
Vise: A clamp made from metal with a threaded rod used to tighten the clamp. Often it is attached to a workbench or countertop.
Water Level: A large bottle filled with colored water attached to a closed hose. The bottle is attached at the desired height and the hose can be move to wherever it needs to be holding the end straight up. Wherever the water level stops in the end of the hose that is where it is level with the water in the bottle so it is straight across.
Wet Saw: Another name for a tile saw. A round sheet of metal with sharp v-shaped notches or a sharp ground edge around the edge called a blade attached to a motor inside a platform with a tabletop. The blade can be raised and lowered as well as tilted from side to side to make different cuts in different thicknesses of tile. The blade is often covered with a thin layer of diamonds around the edge to make it cut easier and last longer. Often the platform may be filled with water or there may be a water spout up by the blade that keeps the tile and the blade wet, which makes it last longer and keeps the machine from overheating and possibly damaging the tile also.
Wide Belt Sander: A large machine with a wide belt or strap made of sandpaper wrapped around two pulleys and connected to a motor, which spins the belt around. It is used for removing small pieces of wood off of the surface of a large board. Depending on the size it can smooth out an entire tabletop at one time.
Wonder Bar: Another name for a crowbar or a pry bar. A flat, round or hexagonal shaped bar or strip of metal with small flat spots at both ends and v-shaped notches in them. One end is bent into almost a half a circle and the other is bent into about a ten degree angle. It is used to pry stuff off things such as siding or studs and to remove nails or spikes.
Wood Chisel: A long flat piece of metal ground to a point at the end attached to a handle and used with a lathe when turning a piece of wood or to trim pieces of wood off to make holes or remove material to make sculptures. It comes in different thicknesses, sizes and types for doing different things.
Wood Drill Bit: A round piece of metal with evenly spaced grooves around it and a point at the end. It is used to put holes in wood for wires, nails, screws, etc. to go through.
Wood Level: A piece of straight dimensional lumber with three cutouts through it. Two bubble levels made from a liquid encased in a small clear bottle with a bubble in it are attached vertically in the cutouts and one is installed horizontally in the middle. When the bubble is in the middle of the bottle it is straight up and down or straight across.
Wooden C-Clamp: Two wooden blocks attached by two threaded rods with handles that tighten the clamp and are used for clamping things down to a table, sheet of plywood, etc. It comes in different sizes for clamping down larger things.
Workbench: A table that is used to put projects together on or attach benchtop tools to.
Wrench: A tool with a handle that can be used to tighten or loosen bolts. It comes in different styles and sizes including box wrench, crescent wrench or open end wrench for different size nuts and bolts.
| | Carpet Knife: A thin, flat tapered metal strip with an edge ground down to a point and curved with a handle at the thicker end. It is used to cut carpet without destroying the carpet pile.
Carpet Stretcher: A flat piece of metal with small, thin, stiff pointed wires underneath and connected to a long handle. It is used to push the carpet over toward a wall or tackstrip, used to attach the carpet, when one or more other sides are already attached. It helps to keep the carpet from bunching or rolling up. It comes in both a power and manual version.
Kick Stretcher: A flat piece of metal with small, thin, stiff pointed wires underneath and connected to a long handle. It is used to push the carpet over toward a wall or tackstrip, used to attach the carpet, when one or more other sides are already attached. It helps to keep the carpet from bunching or rolling up. It has a pad on the other end of the stretcher, which is kicked with your knee to stretch the carpet.
Power Stretcher: A flat piece of metal with small, thin, stiff pointed wires underneath and connected to a long handle. It has a motor attached that stretches the carpet for you instead of having to do it by hand. It is used to push the carpet over toward a wall or tackstrip, used to attach the carpet, when one or more other sides are already attached. It helps to keep the carpet from bunching or rolling up.
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