T
T & G, tongue and groove- A joint made by
a tongue (a rib on one edge of a board) that fits into
a corresponding groove in the edge of another board
to make a tight flush joint. Typically, the subfloor
plywood is T & G.
Tab
- The exposed portion of strip shingles defined
by cutouts.
Tail
beam- A relatively short beam or joist supported
in a wall on one end and by a header at the other.
Take
off- The material necessary to complete a job.
Taping- The process of covering drywall joints with paper
tape and joint compound.
T
bar- Ribbed, "T" shaped bars with a
flat metal plate at the bottom that are driven into
the earth. Normally used chain link fence poles, and
to mark locations of a water meter pit.
Teco- Metal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters
and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. Sometimes
called a hurricane clip.
Tee- A "T" shaped plumbing fitting.
Tempered- Strengthened. Tempered glass will not shatter nor create
shards, but will "pelletize" like an automobile
window. Required in tub and shower enclosures and locations,
entry door glass and sidelight glass, and in a windows
when the window sill is less than 16" to the floor.
Termites- Wood eating insects that superficially resemble ants
in size and general appearance, and live in colonies.
Termite
shield- A shield, usually of galvanized metal,
placed in or on a foundation wall or around pipes to
prevent the passage of termites.
Terra
cotta- A ceramic material molded into masonry
units.
Thermoply
™- Exterior laminated sheathing nailed
to the exterior side of the exterior walls. Normally
¼ " thick, 4 X 8 or 4 x 10 sheets with an
aluminumized surface.
Thermostat- A device which relegates the temperature of a room or
building by switching heating or cooling equipment on
or off.
Three-dimensional
shingles- Laminated shingles. Shingles that have
added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs,
giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called "architectural
shingles".
Threshold- The bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior
door frame. Generally they are adjustable to keep a
tight fit with the door slab.
Time
and materials contract- A construction contract
which specifies a price for different elements of the
work such as cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit,
etc. A contract which may not have a maximum price,
or may state a 'price not to exceed'.
Tinner- Another name for the heating contractor.
Tip
up- The downspout extension that directs water
(from the home's gutter system) away from the home.
They typically swing up when mowing the lawn, etc.
Title- Evidence (usually in the form of a certificate or deed)
of a person's legal right to ownership of a property.
T
JI
or TJ- Manufactured structural building component
resembling the letter "I". Used as floor joists
and rafters. I-joists include two key parts: flanges
and webs. The flange or from of the I joist may be made
of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually
formed into a 1 ½" width. The web or center
of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented
strand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut in the web
to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists
are available in lengths up to 60'' long.
Toenailing- To drive a nail in at a slant. Method used to secure
floor joists to the plate.
Top
chord- The upper or top member of a truss.
Top
plate- Top horizontal member of a frame wall
supporting ceiling joists, rafters, or other members.
Transmitter
(garage door)- The small, push button device
that causes the garage door to open or close.
Trap- A plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air,
gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture.
Tread- The walking surface board in a stairway on which the
foot is placed.
Treated
lumber- A wood product which has been impregnated
with chemical pesticides such as CCA (Chromated Copper
Arsenate) to reduce damage from wood rot or insects.
Often used for the portions of a structure which are
likely to be in contact with soil and water. Wood may
also be treated with a fire retardant.
Trim
(plumbing, heating, electrical)- The work that
the "mechanical" contractors perform to finish
their respective aspects of work, and when the home
is nearing completion and occupancy.
Trim-
Interior- The finish materials in a building,
such as moldings applied around openings (window trim,
door trim) or at the floor and ceiling of rooms (baseboard,
cornice, and other moldings). Also, the physical work
of installing interior doors and interior woodwork,
to include all handrails, guardrails, stair way balustrades,
mantles, light boxes, base, door casings, cabinets,
countertops, shelves, window sills and aprons, etc.
Exterior- The finish materials on the exterior a building,
such as moldings applied around openings (window trim,
door trim), siding, windows, exterior doors, attic vents,
crawl space vents, shutters, etc. Also, the physical
work of installing these materials
Trimmer- The vertical stud that supports a header at a
door, window, or other opening.
Truss- An engineered and manufactured roof support member with
"zig-zag" framing members. Does the same job
as a rafter but is designed to have a longer span than
a rafter.
Tub
trap- Curved, "U" shaped section of
a bath tub drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent
sewer gasses from entering the home through tubs water
drain.
Turnkey- A term used when the subcontractor provides all materials
(and labor) for a job.
Turpentine- A petroleum, volatile oil used as a thinner in paints
and as a solvent in varnishes