Check out our Carpentry Jargon Buster to learn about some of the common terms used by the building trade and carpetners and joiners when on site! Carpentry Jargon made plain English!!
The slim posts located under the handrail in a staircase, commonly
termed banisters.
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A window that has hinged opening sashes.
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A large flat nail stamped out of a sheet of soft steel, mostly
used for fixing timber to lightweight blocks.
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A term often ambiguously used to describe softwood. The correct
meaning is a size of squared timber measuring between 2 and
4 inches thick and 9 and 11 inches wide.
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Regularity or strength graded.
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Wood from deciduous broad-leafed trees such as oak, beech, mahogany
and maple. Rarely used structurally nowadays. The cell structure
makes it difficult to absorb preservatives.
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Structural member running horizontally and supporting a ceiling
or floor.
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The vertical strut of a window frame or a glazed doorframe which
sits between panes.
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The vertical post at the top and bottom of a staircase where
the handrail is jointed.
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Prepared all round, i.e. planned timber.
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A horizontal roof member located part way up a rafter. The purpose
of the purlin is to prevent the rafter from sagging under load
and, in turn, the purlin may be supported by posts to transfer
the purlin loads onto internal walls below and so to the foundations.
This will prevent the outer walls from bearing all the roof
loads.
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The structural member of a roof which supports the weathering
materials underneath. It would still be called a rafter in a
flat roof.
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The vertical part of a stair step.
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The opening part of a window.
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Splits in wood, usually running with the grain, caused by shrinkage
through excessive or rapid drying.
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The wood of (mostly) conifer trees such as pine, fir, cedar,
larch, spruce, etc. Sometimes also referred to in the different
types as hemlock, whitewood and redwood. Most of this wood is
resinous and has natural water resistance. The woods are less
prone to shrinkage than hardwoods. Some of the softwoods (such
as yew) may be physically harder than some hardwoods (such as
ash).
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The vertical edge parts of a doorframe. The hinge side is the
hanging stile and the opposite side, the lock stile.
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The side of a stair where treads, risers and balusters are fitted.
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A highly toxic propriety blend of copper and arsenic which is
pressure-impregnated into softwood as a preservative.
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The horizontal member of a window frame.
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The horizontal part of a stair step.
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A pre-site manufactured roof member in a triangular shape, in
which comprises rafters, struts and joists. Factory jointed
with metal or plywood plates. The members are comparatively
slim and it is important not to remove any part without specialist
advice.
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A turning tread in the stair.
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Planned timber.
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