Essential Construction and Building Terminology Definitions

Heavy Work

This term refers to the part of a building's construction that includes the foundation, structural framework, walls, and roof girders.

Joist

A smaller beam, sometimes supported by principal beams or girders. In the context of poplar wood, this name also refers to the first piece carved with an axe from the tip of the trunk, typically 5 feet long.

Cuarton

This term indicates a piece obtained by sawing a whole tree crosswise. Generally, this name is given to sawn pieces with a thickness and width ranging from 2 to 6 inches.

Crowbar / Prop

This term can refer to:

• Vertical uprights or props used to support the formwork for concrete slabs and beams. Shims are often placed at their base to adjust the height.
• A sturdy lever or bar used for prying or lifting heavy objects.

Lock / Set (Saw Teeth)

In construction, this word has two meanings:

• The proper bond, mesh, or interlocking pattern between bricks in a wall.
• The alternating tilt applied to the teeth of a saw blade (the set), allowing it to cut more easily without binding in the kerf (the cut).

Skirting Board / Baseboard

A protective element, often a board, placed at the base of interior walls where they meet the floor. Also known as a skirting board or baseboard.

Architrave / Trim

Molding or trim installed around door and window frames to cover the joint between the frame and the wall. Also known as architrave.

Glazing Bead / Quarter Round

A special type of molding used to:

• Hold glass panes in place within frames (e.g., windows, glass doors) - often called a glazing bead.
• Provide protection and decorative trim for boards, corners of panels, and furniture - often a small, convex molding like quarter round.

Wane (Cantomuerto)

The presence of bark or the original rounded surface of the log on the edge or corner of a piece of sawn timber. This defect (wane) may be acceptable in timber used for formwork or non-structural applications.

Creosote

An oily, yellowish liquid with a smell similar to carbolic acid. It is poisonous and obtained from the distillation of coal tar. Creosote is used to impregnate wood, protecting it from moisture and insects.

Concrete Yield / Performance

In the context of concrete, this refers to the yield – the final volume produced from mixing specific amounts of ingredients according to a particular dosage or mix design. It is usually indicated in liters or cubic meters/yards.

Perimeter

The contour or the total length of the boundary lines that enclose a two-dimensional figure. For example, the perimeter of a triangle is calculated by adding the lengths of its three sides.

Strut / Brace (Codal)

A timber or beam placed horizontally to brace or strut opposing surfaces, such as:

• The sides of a frame within an opening.
• The walls of an excavation.
• The sides of formwork.

Steel Flat Bar / Plate

A flat iron or steel profile, typically 4 mm or more in thickness and up to 200 mm wide. It is commonly used for reinforcing wooden structures. Note: This term is sometimes mistakenly used instead of 'deck' or 'plate'.

Lag Screw / Lag Bolt

Large, heavy-duty screws with coarse threads designed for wood. They typically have a square or hexagonal head, driven with a wrench or socket. Lag screws (or lag bolts) are often used to join heavy timber or to attach metal components to wood.

Template

A pattern, typically made from a thin board or plate, cut to the exact shape required for a piece of work. It is placed on the material as a model for tracing outlines or guiding cuts.

Guy Wire / Stay / Wind Brace

A rope, wire, or brace attached to a vertical element (like a pole, mast, or wall during construction) to provide temporary support and keep it upright or plumb. Also known as a guy wire or stay.

Sill / Parapet

This term can refer to:

• A low wall or railing constructed along the edge of a terrace, balcony, roof, or other high area to prevent falls (also known as a parapet).
• The horizontal member forming the bottom of a window frame (the window sill).