Stud: Vertical framing member in a wall
Joist: Horizontal framing member supporting a floor or ceiling
Rafter: Sloped framing member supporting a roof
Truss: Pre-built triangular frame supporting a roof
Beam: Large horizontal member carrying heavy loads
Header: Beam above a door or window carrying the load
Sill plate: Lumber bolted to the foundation that the walls rest on
Top plate: Horizontal board across the tops of wall studs
Bottom plate: Horizontal board at the base of wall studs
King stud: Full-height stud beside a window or door opening
Jack stud: Shorter stud under a header
Cripple stud: Short stud above or below an opening
Subfloor: Structural layer beneath finished flooring
Sheathing: Panels covering the outside of the frame
Plywood: Panel of thin wood layers glued with alternating grain
OSB: Oriented strand board, panels made of wood strands
Drywall: Gypsum board used for interior walls
Dimensional lumber: Standard-sized lumber like 2x4
2x4: A board whose actual size is about 1.5 by 3.5 inches
Nominal size: The name size of lumber before drying and milling
Board foot: Lumber volume: 1 inch thick by 12 inches by 12 inches
Grain: The pattern of wood fibers
Hardwood: Wood from broadleaf trees, like oak and maple
Softwood: Wood from conifers, like pine and fir
Pressure-treated lumber: Wood treated against rot and insects
Knot: A section of a branch visible in a board
Kiln-dried: Dried in an oven to reduce moisture
Warp: A bend or twist in a board
Level: Tool showing whether a surface is horizontal
Plumb: Perfectly vertical
Square: Exactly 90 degrees; also a tool to check it
Chalk line: String coated in chalk, snapped to mark a straight line
Tape measure: Flexible ruler
Speed square: Triangular tool for marking angles
Framing square: Large L-shaped tool for checking angles and layout
Hammer: Tool for driving nails
Claw hammer: Hammer with a split end to pull nails
Mallet: A wooden or rubber hammer
Handsaw: Manual saw
Circular saw: Handheld power saw with a round blade
Miter saw: Saw for precise angled crosscuts
Table saw: Stationary saw with a blade rising through a table
Jigsaw: Power saw for curves
Reciprocating saw: Power saw with a push-pull blade for demolition
Router: Tool that hollows or shapes edges
Chisel: Sharp-edged hand tool for carving wood
Plane: Tool for shaving wood smooth
Sander: Tool using abrasive to smooth wood
Drill: Tool for making holes or driving screws
Pilot hole: Small starter hole drilled before a screw
Countersink: Hole widened to let a screw head sit flush
Nail gun: Powered tool that shoots nails
Clamp: Tool that holds pieces together
Wood glue: Adhesive for joining wood
Common nail: Heavy nail used in framing
Finish nail: Thin nail with a small head for trim
Brad nail: A very small, thin nail
Wood screw: Threaded fastener for wood
Lag bolt: Heavy screw bolt for structural connections
Joist hanger: Metal bracket supporting joist ends
Hurricane tie: Metal connector securing rafters to walls
Butt joint: Two boards joined end to face
Miter joint: Two pieces cut at angles to form a corner
Dado: Groove cut across the grain
Rabbet: Notch cut along an edge
Dovetail joint: Interlocking wedge-shaped joint prized for strength
Mortise and tenon: A peg-shaped end fitted into a hole
Lap joint: Two members overlapped
Trim: Decorative molding around openings and edges
Baseboard: Trim along the bottom of a wall
Crown molding: Trim where the wall meets the ceiling
Casing: Trim around doors and windows
Jamb: The vertical side of a door or window frame
Threshold: Strip at the bottom of a doorway
Sash: The movable frame of a window
Stair stringer: Sloped board supporting stair treads
Tread: The horizontal part of a stair step
Riser: The vertical part of a stair step
Rise and run: Vertical and horizontal measurements of a stair step or roof
Pitch: Slope of a roof
Eave: The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall
Ridge: The peak of a roof
Fascia: Board along the roof edge
Soffit: Underside of the roof overhang
Flashing: Metal that guides water away from joints
Shingles: Overlapping roofing pieces
Footing: Concrete base that supports a foundation
Foundation: Structure that transfers a building's load to the ground
Load-bearing wall: A wall that supports weight above it
Blueprint: A technical drawing of a building
On center (OC): Spacing measured from the center of one member to the next
Kerf: The width of material removed by a saw blade
Cut list: List of pieces and sizes to be cut

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/tp-trades-carpentry