The A to Z of Building Terms: Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of our A to Z of building terms.

This list is not exhaustive – we have chosen a selection of common terms you may come across in the course of building, buying or renovating your home.

A FASCIA BOARD is a long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof. The fascia is fixed directly to the lower ends of the roof trusses.

A FRAME is the rigid structure that supports a building or any other built asset such as a bridge or tunnel.

GROUT is a mortar or paste for filling crevices such as the gaps between wall or floor tiles.

A GUTTER is a shallow trough beneath the edge of a roof that diverts rainwater and debris.

A HEARTH is the area directly in front of a fireplace. It is made of a fireproof material such as brick tile or stone.

A HAUNCH is a knee-like extension of a foundation wall that provides support to a concrete porch or patio.

An I-BEAM is a steel beam with a cross-section resembling the letter I. It is used for long spans as basement beams or over wide wall openings, such as a double garage door, when wall and roof loads bear down on the opening.

INSULATION BATTS are pre-cut insulation slabs that fit between rafters, studs or wall joists.

A JOIST is a length of timber or steel that provides support to the structure of a building. It is usually placed in a parallel series to support a ceiling or floor.

A JAMB is the side-post a doorway lining. A door jamb is the vertical portion of the door frame onto which a door is secured.