A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Backfill– The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around,foundation or wall.
Backfill (Drainage) – Material placed in an excavation after certain operations have been performed
Back Putty (Glazing) – The portion of the glazing compound that remains between the back of the rebate and the glazing material after the glazing material has been pressed into position
Backing– Frame lumber installed between the wall studs to give additional support for drywall or an interior trim related item, such as handrail brackets, cabinets, and towel bars. In this way, items are screwed and mounted into solid wood rather than weak drywall that may allow the item to break loose from the wall.
Ballast– A transformer that steps up the voltage in a florescent lamp.
Balustrade– The rail, posts and vertical balusters along the edge of a stairway or elevated walkway.
Barge– Horizontal beam rafter that supports shorter rafters.
Bargeboard (Fixing Roof Tiles) – A component fixed along the edges of a gable and covering the ends of the horizontal roof members
Bat – A half-brick.
Batten (Fixing Roof Tiles) – Timber members of small section fixed parallel to the line of the eaves, at right angles to the rafters onto, which tiles are fixed
Batten (Timber Roof Construction) – A small-section timber of minimum size 38x38mm, used to support a roof covering
Batten (Timber Roof Structures) – small section timber member, used to support a roof covering of tiles or slates
Bay window– Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building, either square or polygonal in plan.
Beam– A structural cross member transversely supporting a load. A structural member carrying building loads (weight) from one support to another. Sometimes called a “girder”.
Bearing (Timber Floors) – A structural support, usually, a wall plate or soleplate on a load-bearing wall that occurs at the end joints of a floor beam/joist
Bearing (Timber Roof Construction) – A structural support, usually, a wall plate on a load-bearing wall that occurs at the end joints of a roof truss/beam/rafter
Bearing (Timber Roof Structures) – structural support, usually a wall, positioned under the top chord or bottom chord
Bearing wall– (or load bearing wall) A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
Bed Joint (Masonry) – The horizontal joint between courses of masonry
Bedding (Drainage) – The material surrounding the pipe up to the underside of the backfill, which is placed in such a way as to be firm, free of voids under and up to the sides of the pipes in such a manner that for all practical purposes, the pipe cannot move or deflect.
Bedding (Fixing Roof Tiles) – The setting and pointing of tiles and fittings in mortar
Bedding pieces (Fixing Roof Tiles) – Small pieces of broken tile that are used to reinforce areas of bedding where excessive mortar shrinkage can occur
Bedding putty (Glazing) – The glazing compound in the rebate into, which the glazing material is bedded
Bedrock– A subsurface layer of earth that is suitable to support a structure.
Bifold door– Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than standard swing doors. Often used for cupboard doors.
Bipass doors– (or sliding door) Doors that slide by each other and commonly used as cupboard doors.
Bleeding (Cement plaster) – The separation of water from the unhardened mix
Bleeding (Concrete) – The appearance of water on the top surface of the concrete
Boards (Fixing Roof Tiles) – Lengths of timber (usually tongued-and-grooved) that are nailed to the rafters to form a ceiling and ac as support for the underlay
Bond (Cement plaster) – The interface strength resulting from an adhesion or mechanical key or both
Bond block (Masonry) – A masonry unit, which is manufactured or modified on site to accommodate horizontal reinforcement within the depth of the unit
Bottom chord (Timber Roof Structures) – (also called a tie beam)- horizontal or inclined (e.g. scissors truss) member that establishes the lower edge of the truss
Brace– An inclined piece of framing lumber applied to wall or floor to strengthen the structure. Often used on walls as temporary bracing until framing has been completed.
Brandering (Timber Roof Construction) – A small-section timber of minimum size 38x38mm, used to support a fixed ceiling. Brandering is usually fixed directly to the underside of the bottom truss chord or rafter
Brandering (Timber Roof Structures) – small section timber member used to support a fixed ceiling; brandering is usually fixed to the underside of the truss bottom chord
Brickforce (Masonry) – Light welded fabric comprising two hard drawn wires of diameter not less than 2.8mm and not exceeding 3.55mm, held apart by either perpendicular (ladder) or diagonal (truss) cross wires.
Building Code – The national, mandatory standards for building work. All building work in South Africa must comply with the National Building Regulations SANS10400.
Bull nose – Rounded corner.
Butt joint– An end-to-edge joint.