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Carpentry and Building Vocabulary

Tools, lumber, framing and finish terms used in woodworking and construction.

93 cardsGrades 6–8, Grades 9–12, Adult#trades#carpentry#construction

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93 cards
  • StudTerm
    Vertical framing member in a wall
  • JoistTerm
    Horizontal framing member supporting a floor or ceiling
  • RafterTerm
    Sloped framing member supporting a roof
  • TrussTerm
    Pre-built triangular frame supporting a roof
  • BeamTerm
    Large horizontal member carrying heavy loads
  • HeaderTerm
    Beam above a door or window carrying the load
  • Sill plateTerm
    Lumber bolted to the foundation that the walls rest on
  • Top plateTerm
    Horizontal board across the tops of wall studs
  • Bottom plateTerm
    Horizontal board at the base of wall studs
  • King studTerm
    Full-height stud beside a window or door opening
  • Jack studTerm
    Shorter stud under a header
  • Cripple studTerm
    Short stud above or below an opening
  • SubfloorTerm
    Structural layer beneath finished flooring
  • SheathingTerm
    Panels covering the outside of the frame
  • PlywoodTerm
    Panel of thin wood layers glued with alternating grain
  • OSBTerm
    Oriented strand board, panels made of wood strands
  • DrywallTerm
    Gypsum board used for interior walls
  • Dimensional lumberTerm
    Standard-sized lumber like 2x4
  • 2x4Term
    A board whose actual size is about 1.5 by 3.5 inches
  • Nominal sizeTerm
    The name size of lumber before drying and milling
  • Board footTerm
    Lumber volume: 1 inch thick by 12 inches by 12 inches
  • GrainTerm
    The pattern of wood fibers
  • HardwoodTerm
    Wood from broadleaf trees, like oak and maple
  • SoftwoodTerm
    Wood from conifers, like pine and fir
  • Pressure-treated lumberTerm
    Wood treated against rot and insects
  • KnotTerm
    A section of a branch visible in a board
  • Kiln-driedTerm
    Dried in an oven to reduce moisture
  • WarpTerm
    A bend or twist in a board
  • LevelTerm
    Tool showing whether a surface is horizontal
  • PlumbTerm
    Perfectly vertical
  • SquareTerm
    Exactly 90 degrees; also a tool to check it
  • Chalk lineTerm
    String coated in chalk, snapped to mark a straight line
  • Tape measureTerm
    Flexible ruler
  • Speed squareTerm
    Triangular tool for marking angles
  • Framing squareTerm
    Large L-shaped tool for checking angles and layout
  • HammerTerm
    Tool for driving nails
  • Claw hammerTerm
    Hammer with a split end to pull nails
  • MalletTerm
    A wooden or rubber hammer
  • HandsawTerm
    Manual saw
  • Circular sawTerm
    Handheld power saw with a round blade
  • Miter sawTerm
    Saw for precise angled crosscuts
  • Table sawTerm
    Stationary saw with a blade rising through a table
  • JigsawTerm
    Power saw for curves
  • Reciprocating sawTerm
    Power saw with a push-pull blade for demolition
  • RouterTerm
    Tool that hollows or shapes edges
  • ChiselTerm
    Sharp-edged hand tool for carving wood
  • PlaneTerm
    Tool for shaving wood smooth
  • SanderTerm
    Tool using abrasive to smooth wood
  • DrillTerm
    Tool for making holes or driving screws
  • Pilot holeTerm
    Small starter hole drilled before a screw
  • CountersinkTerm
    Hole widened to let a screw head sit flush
  • Nail gunTerm
    Powered tool that shoots nails
  • ClampTerm
    Tool that holds pieces together
  • Wood glueTerm
    Adhesive for joining wood
  • Common nailTerm
    Heavy nail used in framing
  • Finish nailTerm
    Thin nail with a small head for trim
  • Brad nailTerm
    A very small, thin nail
  • Wood screwTerm
    Threaded fastener for wood
  • Lag boltTerm
    Heavy screw bolt for structural connections
  • Joist hangerTerm
    Metal bracket supporting joist ends
  • Hurricane tieTerm
    Metal connector securing rafters to walls
  • Butt jointTerm
    Two boards joined end to face
  • Miter jointTerm
    Two pieces cut at angles to form a corner
  • DadoTerm
    Groove cut across the grain
  • RabbetTerm
    Notch cut along an edge
  • Dovetail jointTerm
    Interlocking wedge-shaped joint prized for strength
  • Mortise and tenonTerm
    A peg-shaped end fitted into a hole
  • Lap jointTerm
    Two members overlapped
  • TrimTerm
    Decorative molding around openings and edges
  • BaseboardTerm
    Trim along the bottom of a wall
  • Crown moldingTerm
    Trim where the wall meets the ceiling
  • CasingTerm
    Trim around doors and windows
  • JambTerm
    The vertical side of a door or window frame
  • ThresholdTerm
    Strip at the bottom of a doorway
  • SashTerm
    The movable frame of a window
  • Stair stringerTerm
    Sloped board supporting stair treads
  • TreadTerm
    The horizontal part of a stair step
  • RiserTerm
    The vertical part of a stair step
  • Rise and runTerm
    Vertical and horizontal measurements of a stair step or roof
  • PitchTerm
    Slope of a roof
  • EaveTerm
    The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall
  • RidgeTerm
    The peak of a roof
  • FasciaTerm
    Board along the roof edge
  • SoffitTerm
    Underside of the roof overhang
  • FlashingTerm
    Metal that guides water away from joints
  • ShinglesTerm
    Overlapping roofing pieces
  • FootingTerm
    Concrete base that supports a foundation
  • FoundationTerm
    Structure that transfers a building's load to the ground
  • Load-bearing wallTerm
    A wall that supports weight above it
  • BlueprintTerm
    A technical drawing of a building
  • On center (OC)Term
    Spacing measured from the center of one member to the next
  • KerfTerm
    The width of material removed by a saw blade
  • Cut listTerm
    List of pieces and sizes to be cut

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