Angie's LIST Guide to
Glossary: Remodeling

Bottom plate: The lowest horizontal framing component in the wall. The bottom plate may also be referred to as a soleplate, because most of the other framing components rely solely on this plate for support.

Ceiling joist: A wood or steel beam positioned horizontally between the top sides of the wall frame. Finished ceiling material and rafters are nailed to these beams for support.

Doubler or doubled: Two structural components nailed together to double the strength of the support.

Finish or finished carpentry: A type of carpentry that focuses on cabinetry, model building, fine woodworking, joinery, parquetry and other similar projects that involve acute attention to detail.

Gable: The most common type of roof that features a simple design where the rafters are the same length and pitch on each side, and meet in the middle of the span. Essentially, any roof that fits the prototype of a standard triangle roof would be considered a gable.

Non load-bearing wall: Also referred to as a curtain wall, provides no significant support for any structures above it, other than the support necessary to bear its own weight.

On center: Commonly abbreviated as "O.C.," on center refers to the measurement from one structural member to another.

Plumb: A line that is precisely perpendicular or vertical to a level horizontal line. It is often used as an adjective in carpentry.

Punch list: A list designed to organize a construction project by detailing all of the tasks needed to be completed throughout the project. It is also commonly referred to as a "snag list."

Rafter: Any framing member of the roof of a building. More commonly, a rafter refers specifically to a beam forming a portion of the internal framework of a roof.