Timber Frame / Post & Beam Construction Glossary of Terms
aisled frame
A style of timber frame that can be used to create wider buildings. The aisled frame uses internal posts that divide the floor plan into bays, including aisles along the eave walls and a central bay or nave.
awning window
A type of window that is operated with a crank-style handle that opens the window outward. Because they pivot from the top, awning windows swing upwards when opened.
balloon framing
A form of construction platform consisting of wall studs that span from foundation to eave, with a floor platform suspended within the frame.
bent
A cross-sectional timber frame wall; bents run perpendicular to the ridge of the roof, while walls run parallel to the ridge.
bubble diagram
An architectural drawing that uses circles to represent spaces within a home; circles are used to represent functions of spaces as well and are drawn adjacent to each other to represent space-uses that require proximity, such as a pantry and a kitchen.
building code
Regulations adopted by a state/province, city, town or municipality which address the minimum acceptable levels of safety for structures to ensure the health and welfare of the public.
building section
A construction document; a two-dimensional drawing or view that slices through the building vertically and shows how the walls, floors, ceilings and roof work together structurally.
building shell
The walls and roof including windows and doors; shell materials are assigned a thermal-resistance value, referred to as the R-value. See also: R-value.
building system
Systems include electricity for lights, outlets and appliances; water for sinks and showers; and furnaces or boilers for supplying heat.
CAD
Computer aided design. CAD software is used for generating design drawings for print or three-dimensional computer models.
casement window
A type of window that is operated with a crank-style handle that opens the window outward. Because they pivot from the left or right, casement windows swing to the side when opened.
collar tie frame
A style of frame that has no internal posts and is appropriate for narrower spaces. Collar ties are pieces of timber that span horizontally between rafter pairs.
common purlin frame
A general category of frame; includes any frame type that consists of a series of purlins bearing on principal rafters and often spanning from bent to bent at uniform intervals. See also: purlin, common rafter frame.
common rafter frame
A general category of frame; includes any frame type that consists of roof rafters that span from the eave walls to a ridge beam, principal purlin or opposing rafters. See also: purlin, common rafter frame.
cruck frame
A frame type that uses matched, naturally curved timbers that are used to form bents resulting in an “organic” look; one of the most ancient frame types known.
double-pane window
A more thermally efficient glass consisting of two panes, ½” (about 1 cm) apart and typically filled with an inert gas such as argon.
double-hung window
A window style consisting of two operable sashes of equal size, with one placed over the other. The top of the lower sash and the bottom of the upper sash line up vertically to form a weather-tight seal.
dovetail
A joint that relies on the mechanical properties of interlocking tapered wood pieces to hold the two ends together. See also: joinery/joints.
easement
A limited right for use of a private property by an outside party, such as the right of a municipality to run gas or electrical lines under or over a residential property; an easement does not give the holder a right of “possession” for the property, only a right of use.
eave
The lower, horizontal edge of a roof that overhangs the wall.
eave line
(see: eave)
eave plate
Where the roof joins the walls.
eave posts
Posts that are part of the eave walls.
eave wall
The wall beneath a roof eave upon which the roof rests.
elevations
The term for a type of construction document that provides detailed design drawing showing the exterior views of the home.
energy recovery ventilator (ERV)
An air exchanger which transfers only the heat and humidity of outgoing exhaust air to the incoming fresh air.
expanded polystyrene (EPS)
A rigid foam insulation made of small beads of styrene foam that is formed into boards; used in the manufacture of a type of SIP.
extruded polystyrene (XPS)
A rigid foam insulation made of styrene foam forced through molds to create panels; used in the construction of a type of SIP.
floor plans
A type of construction drawing that shows a two-dimensional view of the home, as if it were sliced several feet above the floor height, looking down.
foundation plans
A type of construction document that represents a horizontal slice of the foundation system.
foyer
A room in a building which is used for entry from the outside; an entrance hall.
frame drawings
A construction document that provides details about frame dimensions as well as all required references needed for the erection of the frame; these refer to both timber framed portions and conventionally framed portions of the building.
frost wall
A foundation wall extending below the regional frost line but not deep enough to create a basement.
furring strip
A small dimension piece of lumber (1″ x 3″ or 2.5 cm x 7.6 cm for example) used to create space between a finishing material and the substrate material.
gable
The triangular shaped portion of a wall between the two sloping lines of a roof.
grade
A term used to define the slope of land.
gravity system
A septic system which relies primarily on gravity to move waste from the house fixtures to the septic field or city sewage connection.
great room
A large room in a modern house that combines features of a living room with those of a dining room or family room. Often, and especially in log and timber frame homes, a great room has cathedral ceilings.
half-lap
A joint that relies upon removing equal and opposing amounts of wood from two opposing timbers; it can be pegged or rely solely on the mechanical properties of the form of the joint.
hammer beam truss frame
A common purlin frame style that exerts great pressure onto the eave posts with the inclusion of two hammer beams; similar to a queen post truss frame, with ties that break the post. See also: queen post truss frame, post.
heat pump
A system for cooling the home that works either by removing the heat from inside and expelling it outside (air source), or by transferring the heat to and from the ground at a depth where the earth has a constant temperature (ground source).
heat recovery ventilator (HRV)
An air exchanger which transfers the heat of outgoing exhaust air to the incoming fresh air.
hydronic system
A heating system that can include baseboard radiators or under-floor radiant systems; requires a boiler to heat water that can move through the system and radiate heat to the house.
insulated concrete form (ICF)
An insulating method using expanded polystyrene that is formed into interlocking blocks and used to form both sides of a concrete foundation wall’s formwork. Once the concrete is poured the forms remain in place providing superior insulation for below-grade applications.
joinery/joints
Fasteners that hold timber pieces together, like nails and screws used in conventional framing, or wooden joinery, like pegs used in timber framing.
king post bent frame
A common purlin frame style using vertical timbers called king posts, which span from floor to ridge and are placed at regular intervals along the length of the ridge; diagonal braces from the king post to the rafters create the truss that helps support the roof load.
king post truss frame
A common purlin frame style similar to the king post bent truss, but with the addition of a tie that transfers the weight-bearing load to the eave posts, eliminating the king post from below the tie.
low-emissivity (low-e)
A coating applied to window glass that reduces heat loss or gain through the window; the lower the emissivity rating, the better.
massing
The process of defining physical volumes and their forms.
mortise and tenon
Joints mechanically fastening two separate timbers; the basis of timber frame joinery. See also: joinery/joints.
mound system
A septic system that has a raised drain field because of inadequate or poor soil.
mudroom
An area between the formal house and the outdoors to shed, store and possibly wash outdoor garments.
nave
The central bay in an aisled frame. See also: aisled frame.
OSB
(see: oriented strand board)
oriented strand board (OSB)
A dense type of sheathing manufactured by pressing wood chips saturated with an adhesive into sheets similar to plywood in dimensions; used in the manufacture of some types of SIPs. See also: structural insulated panels.
panel drawing
A type of construction document that illustrates the layout of panels on the structure and correlates to a panel numbering system.
platform framing
A modern and conventional construction method that involves erecting wall studs that span from the first floor to the underside of the second floor, then building a platform at the top to facilitate the building of the next story (and successive stories).
porte-cochere
A covered entrance designed to shelter both people and vehicles.
post
A vertical load-bearing structural element in framing.
post and beam
Framework based solely on upright posts and horizontal beams.
pre-design
The phase of planning that involves programming as well as the identification of applicable codes, regulations and zoning issues, and the consideration and preliminary selection of building systems (such as heating/cooling and electricity). Additionally, the scope of the project, consultant and contractor responsibilities, project phasing, project budget, budget contingencies and schedule should be established in this phase. See also: programming.
pressure distribution system
A type of septic system that uses a pump in lieu of gravity to remove waste.
principal purlin
A frame type with purlins running between the eave plates and the ridge, supported by internal posts. See also: eave plate, purlin, ridge.
principal rafters
The main rafter pairs of a bent, which typically support the common purlins.
programming
The process of creating a formal outline; includes architectural style preferences, desired site characteristics, required spatial relationships and important functional adjacencies, details about site and environmental conditions, room organization, spaces by story, and approximate square footage. See also: building systems, pre-design, regulations, zoning.
project schedule
Typically performed by the contractor, who identifies the primary construction elements or work structures by trade or building system, and assigns start and completion dates.
purlin
A longitudinal roof timber used between principal rafters to carry the roof decking or SIPs. See also: structural insulated panel.
queen post bent frame
A type of common purlin frame that uses vertical “queen posts” that span from the floor to part-way along the length of the principal rafters, forming aisles along the eave walls. The queen posts are connected to one another with ties.
queen post truss frame
Similar to the queen post bent frame, but with the addition of a tie that breaks the queen posts and transfers the loads to the eave posts, removing the internal posts that affect the floor plan in the queen post bent frame.
R-value
The value assigned to a material’s ability to resist the flow of heat, with larger numbers indicating greater resistance.
radiant floor heating system
A heating system that delivers heat from the boiler through flexible piping either directly under the floor system or embedded in the floor system.
rafter
The sloped timbers that support the roof decking and/or SIPs, used to help carry the roof load. See also: structural insulated panel.
ridge
The upper edge of a roof formed by meeting rafter pairs, a ridge beam or a ridge purlin. The ridge is at the top of the triangle formed by trusses or where the rafter pairs meet. See also: purlin, rafter, ridge beam, ridge purlin, truss.
ridge beam
A horizontal timber that supports the rafter pairs and forms the ridge of the roof. See also: rafter, ridge.
ridge beam frame
A frame type that uses rafters that span from the eave plates to a central ridge beam or beams (depending on the length of the building). Ridge beam frames have posts located centrally to support the ridge beams and that must be considered in the floor plan layout.
ridge purlin
A horizontal timber that spans between the principal rafter pairs of a bent and forms the ridge of the roof. See also: bent, purlin, rafter, ridge, ridge beam.
roof eave
The lower, horizontal edges of the roof that typically overhang the walls.
sand filter
A special type of sand media used to augment or replace inadequate soil in the drain field of a septic system.
sash
The frame of the window that the glass is set into.
scarf joint
A form of joint resisting movement in more than one axial direction held fast with keys, wedges or pegs. See also: joinery/joints.
schedules
Documents that provide detailed information about parts of construction documents and drawings; schedules are referenced in the construction documents and prevent drawings from being cluttered by extensive text and explanation.
schematics/schematic design
Architectural drawings that are preliminary rough sketches intended to convey the breadth or scope of a portion of the design.
scissor truss frame
A type of common purlin frame that uses diagonal, crossing ties that span from eave posts to the opposite rafters; the use of truss struts supports loads efficiently and allows for a greater span than rafters alone.
sections and details
Construction documents that are typically large-scale drawings in horizontal or vertical cross-section, and show specific instances of construction within the building.
septic system
An on-site waste removal system, usually buried in the ground, used if municipal waste water removal is not provided; a small-scale sewage treatment system.
setbacks
Distances between the property line and where construction can occur on the property, imposed by zoning regulations; for example, the required minimum distances from the street front and neighboring properties.
sill
Most commonly refers to the canted horizontal piece below a window or door opening, intended to shed water away from the opening.
SIP
(see: structural insulated panel)
sliding window
A window style consisting of two operable sashes of equal size, placed side by side with the left and opposing right side of the sashes forming a weather tight seal.
slope analysis
The surveying and plotting of the grade of a particular piece of land in relation to its elevation.
soffit
The underside of an eave overhang.
specialty regulations
Restrictions or codes enforced by municipalities or counties that refer to specific local or regional issues and can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
spline joint
A long thin piece of wood that fits into corresponding mortises, used to fasten timbers. See also: joinery/joints.
structural insulated panel (SIP)
A manufactured panel used in a building shell that offers exceptional durability, superior insulation and strength. See also: expanded polystyrene; extruded polystyrene; oriented strand board; R-value.
sub-floor
Flooring (often plywood or oriented strand board) that spans the floor joists providing rigidity as well as a surface to fasten a finish flooring material to. See also: oriented strand board.
tapered shoulder joints
Weight-bearing joints used to connect horizontal timbers and vertical posts with mortise and tenon joints by providing a load-bearing surface that allows the horizontal timber to transfer its load to the post. See also: joinery/joints.
tenon
(see: mortise and tenon)
tie
A horizontal beam placed part of the way down the rafters, creating a smaller triangle. Ties are used to strengthen roofs and make the rafters more rigid.
timber frame
A traditional form of construction using sawn or hewn wood that is characteristically left exposed; joined by mortise and tenon joinery. See also: joinery/joints, mortise and tenon.
topography
The relief or terrain of a building site surface; the identification of specific landforms, vegetative and human-made features.
triple-pane window
A more thermally efficient glass consisting of three panes ½” (about 1 cm) apart; the space between is most often filled with an inert gas such as argon.
truss
A frame based on the strengths of joinery and the rigidity of the triangular form.
urethane insulation (in SIPs)
Foam that is injected into a mold which then expands and adheres to the skins of SIPs. See also: structural insulated panel.
wattle and daub
A traditional infill between timbers, where thin planks were woven with twigs then plastered with a clay/straw mixture.
zoning
Land-use regulations that prevent new developments from negatively affecting established land-uses and segregate incompatible uses, such as industrial and residential.
Log Home Construction Glossary of Terms
Aero Lock
A double air expansion chamber formed when the Channel of the top log is fitted to the Baffle of the adjacent bottom log in the REAL LOG HOME™ Interlock™ System.
AF&PA
American Forest and Paper Association.
Air-Dried lumber
Lumber which has been left to dry naturally, without the use of a kiln, to the required specific gravity (moisture content).
Backfill
Replacing soil into the excavated area around the outside of a foundation.
Baffle
The continuous tenon or ridge which is machined into the top of REAL LOG HOME® Interlock™ System house logs.
Balcony
An exterior floor system projecting from a structure and supported by that structure, with no additional independent supports.
Barge rafter
An end rafter used to support the roofing overhang on a gable end.
Baseboard
A trim board (usually a 1×6) which is attached to the inside flat face of the ‘SA’ log course.
Basement
The walkable portion of a building which is partly or completely below grade.
Batt
A piece of fibrous insulation (often supplied in a long roll).
Batten
A molding applied over the joint between two adjacent boards in the same plane to conceal the joint.
Beam
A structural element that carries vertically applied loads.
Bearing wall
Any wall or partition used to support structural loads.
Bevel cut
A cut in a piece of material that is something other than square cut or perpendicular cut to the plane of the material.
Birdsmouth cut
A notch cut into the bottom lower end of a rafter that will extend beyond the wall of the building. It consists of a 90 degree notch that will allow the rafter to rest on the top of the wall with the rafter overhanging to the outside.
Birdsmouth rafter
A rafter having a birdsmouth cut so it can overhang the building.
Board
A piece of lumber less than 2″ in nominal thickness and 1″ or more in width.
Bobtail rafter
A rafter which has a plumb cut at its lower end over the top of the log wall, so it does not create an overhang.
Brace, temporary
Any 2x or similar material used to hold something temporarily secure during construction.
Butt joint
1. The connection of two flat ends of a log course. 2. A method of joining two pieces of material where structural vertical support is not typically required. The two pieces are cut square and joined at the square cut surfaces.
Cant
A log that has been sawn to an approximate size to be planed.
Caulking
Semi liquid sealing material. Commonly used over the top of the Lockspline™ at the log corners and butt joints, and other locations as specified.
Ceiling height
The clear vertical distance from the finished floor to the finished ceiling.
Channel
The groove which is machined into the bottom of REAL LOG HOME™ Interlock™ System house logs to receive the Baffle of the log below.
Check
A naturally-occurring lengthwise separation of the wood, usually extending across the annual growth rings and commonly the result of seasoning, and does not affect the design structural capacity of the wood member.
Check groove
A special kerf centered in the bottom of REAL LOG HOME™ Interlock™ System house logs to relieve stress during wood seasoning and encourage checks on the bottom of the logs.
Collar tie
A horizontal timber or board which keeps opposite walls from spreading apart; it is usually attached to the rafters.
Come-Along
A portable winch-like device which keeps opposite walls from spreading apart; it is used for pulling two points together.
Conduit, electrical
A pipe in which the electrical wiring is installed.
Contemporary Square Corner
A style of log corner which has trim boards covering the modified mortise and tenon system. Designed for use with the Clapboard style log.
Course, log
Any “layer” of logs in a building, such as the ‘A’ course, ‘B’ course, etc.
d
The symbol for “penny” which refers to the size of a nail.
Daylight basement
A basement which has a substantial amount of at least one foundation wall above ground level, with windows and/or doors in it.
Diagonals
The measurements diagonally across a building from one corner to another. For any rectangular shape the two diagonals will be equal if each of the four corners is square.
Dimensional lumber
Usually refers to lumber which is planed smooth on all sides and not the full roughsawn dimensions.
Dormer
The projection from a sloping roof which gives more headroom in the second floor of the home. Windows can be installed in this dormer section.
Dormer post
The vertical structural members between the dormer plate and dormer sill.
Dovetail log system
A style of log corner which is designed to lock ends of logs together while allowing for drainage of moisture away from the corner.
Drawknife or Draw-shave
A sharpened steel blade with handles on both ends set at right angles to the blade.
Eave
The lower edge of a roof that overhangs a wall.
Engineered wood
A generic term for any manufactured structural wood material made from composite wood pieces, per AF&PA specifications.
End grooves
Cuts machined into the butt joint or tenon ends of logs to allow for the installation of Lockspline™ and foam gasket.
Fascia board
A horizontal piece of trim covering the joint between the top of the wall and the projecting eaves.
Foam gasket
The compressible resilient plastic foam material which is installed between logs to form the primary air seal in the REAL LOG HOME™ Interlock™ System.
Flashing
Sheet metal or plastic which seals joints by overlapping so that water will run off. Frequent uses are in sealing joints between a foundation and the house, chimney and roof, valleys where two different roof pitches come together, and over doors and windows.
Footing
A concrete base wider than the foundation, used to support the vertical foundation wall.
Foundation
The vertical structure (typically concrete), which supports the entire building above, through to the ground.
Furring strip
A small piece of lumber which is used as a spacer between a piece of finished material and another member.
Gable end
The outside wall in the house that falls within the area enclosed by the rafters. This wall extends to the peak of the roof.
Gable-type roof
A roof which is constructed such that the gable ends are triangularly shaped.
Gambrel-type roof
A roof which is constructed with two sets of rafters, the lower rafters having a steeper pitch than the upper rafters.
Girder
A horizontal structural member that spans an area and typically supports joists or a wall.
Glued laminated timber (glulam)
An engineered stress-rated product made by bonding individual pieces of lumber. The lumber pieces typically have a thickness of 2″ or less (1 3/8″ or 1 1/2″), and are end-joined together to create long lengths called laminations. The laminations are then face-bonded together to form the finished product.
Green
A description of freshly sawed or un-dried wood that still contains tree sap. Wood that has regained fiber saturation after having been dried is not “green.”
Gusset (brace)
A plywood or dimensional lumber assembly commonly used to reinforce a log kneewall in gambrel roof construction.
Header
A beam used as a connection between parallel joists or rafters. The header is used to create an opening (for chimney, stair well, etc.). In some situations, particularly regarding millwork openings, the term is used interchangeably with “lintel”.
Interlock™ System
The patented system of log joinery used in REAL LOG HOMES® which features the Baffle, Channel, Check Groove, and Aero Lock.
Jambs
The sides of doors and windows.
Joist
A horizontal structural member that supports a floor or other load from above.
Kerf
The groove left in a piece of wood after a saw has passed through.
Kiln dried
Wood which has been dried by artificial means. The most common standard calls for kiln dried material to have a moisture content of 19% when it leaves the kiln.
Lally column
A commercially available steel post to support a beam or timber.
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
An engineered product produced by bonding thin wood veneers together in a large billet so the grain of all veneers is parallel to the long dimension. The billet is then sawed to the desired length.
Loads
Dead loads are the weight of the materials in the assemblies comprising the building and all other permanent stationary construction. Live loads are all loads except dead and lateral loads.
Lintel
The horizontal structural member that spans any opening in a wall. In our application it includes the logs that span window and door openings.
Load-bearing wall
A wall that supports structural loads or weight from above.
Lockspline™
A barbed plastic weather deflector used vertically in the REAL LOG HOME™ Interlock™ System at butt joints, corner joints, and around doors and windows.
Lumber (dimensional)
A wood product manufactured by sawing, resawing and, sometimes, planing, with all four sides sawn and nominal dimension in width between 2″ and 4″.
Machine stress-rated lumber
Dimension lumber that, in addition to visual grading, has been mechanically evaluated to measure stiffness, elasticity, and specific gravity. Commonly used for manufacturing trusses.
Maintenance
Timely and systematic inspection and treatment for the purposes of insuring durability of intended service.
Moisture content
The weight of the water in a piece of wood, usually expressed as a percentage compared to the weight of the wood with no water in it (“ovendry wood”).
Mortise and tenon
A method of joining two pieces of material at right angles. A tenon (tongue or projection) is cut on the end of one of the pieces that fits into the mortise (notch or hole) that is cut into the other piece.
NDS
National Design Specifications (reference source for wood design stress values and connection methods).
Non-bearing wall
A wall which supports its own weight only.
O/C
Abbreviation for “on center”; refers to the spacing between centerlines of the members.
Oriented strand board (OSB)
A structural sheathing product consisting of wood strands bonded with adhesives to form a mat. The mats are layered and oriented for maximum strength, stiffness and stability.
Oriented strand lumber (OSL)
This product is essentially the same as OSB, but is manufactured in traditional sawn lumber sizes and can be used in similar applications.
Parallam
A type of structural composite lumber made from oriented wood strands, commonly used as beams or girders.
Pier
A column of masonry used to support other members of the structure.
Pitch
The slope of a roof usually expressed as a ratio of rise to run; i.e., a pitch of 8:12 refers to a roof that rises 8 vertical units of measure for every 12 horizontal units of measure. A 12/12 pitch is equal to a 45 degree angle of elevation.
Plate
The horizontal structural member that ties together the upper end of vertically laid materials. A plate is used across the top of porch posts, across the top of studs in a partition, and across the top of posts in the dormer kit.
Plumb
A member or unit which is exactly vertical.
Plumb cut
Any cut that runs perpendicular to the ground level in any piece of material that assumes any regular relation to the ground.
Preservative
Any substance that, for a reasonable length of time, is effective in preventing the development and action of wood-rotting fungi, harmful insects, and other forces that deteriorate wood.
Purlin
A structural roof member which usually runs parallel to the ridge.
Rafter
A structural member that supports the roof, usually running from the ridge to the eave.
Rake board
The trim member that runs parallel to the roof slope to form the finish between the roof and wall at a gable end.
Ridge
The top of the roof where the front and back sides of the roof join.
Ridge board
A board installed between the top ends of the rafters which is usually not vertically load bearing.
Ridge beam
A structural member which supports the top ends of the rafters.
Riser
The vertical material used to span the space between the stair treads.
Sash
A single frame containing one or more panes (lites) of glass. A double hung window includes two pieces of sash.
Sawn Round Timber Beams (SRTB)
Timbers shaved or sawn along one side, normally loaded on their flat surface, and stressed primarily in bending.
Screwjack
A device consisting of bearing plates, structural threaded rod(s), and method of adjustment used to provide support for structural members that must be lowered to maintain plumb and level construction in response to settling in the log walls.
Scribe
1. Cutting out a portion of a header log to create a settling space. 2. To cut a piece of material so it matches the adjoining irregular surface.
Settlement/settling
Any reduction in the vertical dimension in a specific component or an entire assembly.
Shearwall
A stud framed partition wall, reinforced and connected to provide increased lateral stability to a log wall.
Sheathing
Boards or sheets of manufactured wood material used to cover walls, roofs, or decks.
Shims
1. A long, narrow repair of wood or suitable synthetic used in lieu of a screwjack. 2. A piece of shingle or other small piece used as a wedge in construction.
Shingles
The roof covering of a home. They can be made of a variety of materials and come in various sizes.
Shoe
The horizontal member that ties together the bottom of the studs.
Sill
This refers to the horizontal base structural member in a given part of a building. (Deck sill, porch sill, dormer sill, window sill).
Slab
A type of foundation of concrete laid on the prepared grade (ground).
Slick
A sharpened steel blade with a handle on one end. Similar to a giant chisel except that the sharpened end is curved instead of square.
Snowblock
The material used to fill in the space between the top of the wall, the bottom of the roof sheathing, and the sides of the rafters.
Soffit
The underside of a roof overhang or the material used to finish the underside of a roof overhang.
Square
A unit of area measure, typical for shingles which cover 100 sq. ft.
Staging
This term refers to the erection of temporary platforms and braces necessary to complete construction of some buildings.
Stem wall
A short foundation wall used to support a building above a ventilated crawl space.
Stiffener post
In this context, a timber or glu-laminated post applied to a log wall and connected in a manner to provide lateral stiffness to that wall.
Story
The portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except spaces above the topmost ceiling or roof (attic).
Strapping (metal)
Metal banding that holds the bundles of logs secure during loading.
Structural Composite Lumber
Any one of many manufactured structural wood materials, which includes laminated veneer lumber (LVL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and oriented strand lumber (OSL), created by layering dried and graded wood veneers or flakes with waterproof adhesive.
Stud
The vertical framework of a wall.
Termite shield
Metal flashing placed over the foundation and other portions of the home to prevent termites from gaining access to the home.
Timber
A size classification of sawn wood that includes pieces that are at least 5″ in least nominal dimension.
Toe-nailing
Driving a nail at an angle through one wood member into another.
Tread
The horizontal walking surface member of a stair set.
Trussing board
A board used to stiffen the roof framing, usually applied between a rafter and the collar tie directly below it.
Vapor barrier
A building material with a low rate of vapor transmission used to restrict moisture movement, preventing the passage of water vapor from the inside of the house into the insulating material. 6mil polyethylene minimum.
Wall log
Wood members normally stacked horizontally or laid up vertically to form a load bearing, solid wood wall in any building.
Wall tie
A horizontal timber, board, or log which is used to keep opposite walls from spreading apart; it is attached directly to the walls themselves.
Weathering
The mechanical or chemical disintegration and discoloration, typically of the surface of wood caused by exposure to light, the action of dust and sand carried by winds, and the alternate shrinking and swelling of the surface fibers with the continual variation in temperature and moisture content brought by changes in weather.
Wood I-Joists
Also known as Truss Joists or by many other brand names, are structural, load-bearing products consisting of solid or composite wood web and flanges. Available in long lengths, they provide high bending strength and stiffness making them desirable for floor and roof framing.
