Definition of Construction Terms

Horse-women, here's a list of some common terms used in construction work. I hope this will help you with any questions that arise from some of the words used on other pages.

Amp (ampere)

A unit of measurement describing the rate of electrical flow.

beam

A steel or wood framing member installed horizontally to support to a structure's load.

corrugated steel

The term corrugated, describes a series of parallel ridges and channels. Corrugated steel is a building material made of sheets of steel which is cold-rolled to produce linear corrugated patterns in them. The corrugations increase the bending strength of the sheets.

eaves

The lower part of a roof that projects beyond the supporting walls to create an overhang.

flashing

Thin sheets of material, particularly galvanized sheetmetal, used to bridge or cover a joint between materials such as wood, that is exposed to the weather. Sometimes used to prevent horses from chewing on boards in stalls.

foundation

The whole masonry substructure of a building upon which the rest of the structure stands.

galvanize

This term refers to an electrodeposition process used to add a thin layer of another metal to an item made of steel, in order to prevent rusting. Usually by plating the metal with zinc.

girder

A horizontal wood or steel member used to support part of a framed structure. Also called a beam.

header

The thick horizontal member that runs above rough openings, such as doors and windows, in a buildings frame.

joist

Horizontal framing lumber placed on edge to support subfloors or hold up ceilings.

pilot hole

A smaller hole drilled in to a material such as wood, metal, or plastic before a larger hole is to be drilled. The pilot hole serves as a guide for the larger drill bit, or for a screw, and prevents wood from splitting.

pitch

The slope or angle of a roof; technically, the rise of a roof over its span.

purlin

Roof timbers spanning between primary rafters, normally set on edge to derive maximum strength in the unsupported span.

rafter

Any of the parallel framing members that support a roof.

ridge

The horizontal crest of a roof.

sheathing

Panel material, commonly plywood, applied to the outside of a structure.

span

Distance between supports, such as the outside walls of a building or structural wall and a beam.

toenailing

Driving a nail at an angle into the face of a board so that it penetrates another board beneath or above it.

truss

A rigid assembly of timbers relying on triangulation to span distances too impractical for a single member. The truss supports the roof of a building.

watt

Unit of measurement of electrical power required or consumed by a fixture or appliance.

Shed    Gable    Offset-Gable    Monitor

Some of the most common barn roof styles are those named above.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom. Proverbs 1:7

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