Plain definitions of 35 terms we use on the job in Snoqualmie.
Term Index
Open any term below for a dedicated definition page.
Air Sealing is the process of closing unwanted gaps and cracks in a building enclosure. It limits uncontrolled air movement around windows, doors, wiring, pipes, vents, and framing joints. Air sealing helps keep conditioned air inside and outdoor air outside, but it does not replace insulation, flashing, or moisture control.
Also called: Air Leakage Control
An Apron-Front Sink is a kitchen sink with a finished front panel that remains visible beyond the cabinet face. The exposed panel replaces part of the cabinet front and creates a distinct visual break below the countertop. This sink style may use fireclay, porcelain, stainless steel, or another durable material.
Also called: Farmhouse Sink
Backer board is a rigid panel installed beneath tile to create a stable, tile-ready surface. Common types include cement board and fiber-cement board. Backer board helps support tile and protects the substrate from moisture exposure, but it does not replace waterproofing in wet areas.
Also called: Tile Backer
Blocking is short, solid framing installed between joists or other structural members to add support, keep materials aligned, or provide a firm attachment point. On a deck, blocking can stiffen the frame, support board ends, and help secure rail posts or other components where a single joist does not provide enough fastening space.
Also called: Nailers
Cabinet Face Frame is the flat, fixed framework attached to the front of a cabinet box. The frame surrounds each opening and supports the doors and drawer fronts. It also covers the cabinet edges, creating a finished border. Face frames are common in traditional and custom cabinetry, where visible rails and stiles shape the front.
Also called: Face Frame
Caulking is a flexible sealant applied to joints and gaps around building materials. It blocks drafts, moisture, dust, and insects where surfaces meet. In window work, caulking seals the trim, frame, and surrounding wall while allowing small material movements. The sealant must match the surface, joint size, and exposure.
Also called: Sealant
Crown Molding is decorative trim installed where a wall meets a ceiling. It covers the inside corner and creates a finished transition between the two surfaces. Profiles range from simple flat shapes to detailed designs. Installers cut each piece to fit the room’s corners, then fasten, fill, sand, and paint it.
Also called: Crown Trim
Deck Ledger is a horizontal board secured to a house wall that supports one end of a deck’s floor framing. The ledger transfers part of the deck load into the building structure. Proper placement, flashing, and fasteners help keep water out and maintain a sound connection between the deck and house.
Also called: Ledger Board
A door jamb is the vertical and horizontal frame that surrounds a doorway and supports the door hinges, latch, and strike plate. The jamb forms the sides and top of the door frame. It connects with the wall framing and helps the door open, close, and latch in the intended position.
Also called: Door Frame
A drain pan is a shallow, waterproof tray placed beneath plumbing fixtures or equipment to catch leaks and direct water toward a drain. In bathroom remodeling, a drain pan may sit under a shower assembly or other water-bearing fixture. The pan helps limit hidden water damage when a connection leaks.
Also called: Shower Pan
Drywall Compound is a spreadable material used to fill joints, cover fasteners, and smooth drywall surfaces. Installers apply it in thin coats over joint tape and screw heads. After it dries, the surface can be sanded and prepared for primer or paint. The material is also called joint compound.
Also called: Joint Compound
Efflorescence is a white, powdery salt deposit that forms on masonry or concrete when moisture carries dissolved minerals to the surface. The water evaporates and leaves the salts behind. It often appears on basement walls, floors, and foundations. Efflorescence does not usually damage the material by itself, but it signals moisture movement.
Also called: Salt Deposits
An Egress Window is a window sized and placed to provide a usable emergency exit from a room. In basement remodeling, it also brings natural light and fresh air into below-grade space. The window must connect to a clear path outside, often through a window well, so occupants can leave safely.
Also called: Emergency Exit Window
An expansion gap is a narrow open space left around the edges of laminate flooring so the floor can shift as temperature and indoor moisture change. Installers place the gap beside walls, cabinets, door frames, and fixed objects. Baseboards or trim cover the space after installation while allowing the floor to move.
Also called: Expansion Joint
Fascia is a straight, finished board fixed along the lower edge of a roof. Fascia supports the roof edge and often carries the gutter system. It also covers the ends of rafters or trusses, creating a clean transition between the roof and exterior walls. Common materials include wood, fiber cement, and metal.
Also called: Fascia Board
Flashing is a thin, shaped material that directs water away from roof joints, wall edges, chimneys, vents, and other openings. Roofing contractors place it where surfaces meet or where water could collect. Common materials include metal and flexible membrane. Properly installed flashing helps keep rain from reaching the roof deck and framing.
Also called: Roof Flashing
A footing is a widened base that supports a foundation wall, pier, or post. It spreads building weight across the soil and helps limit settling. Footings are usually made from concrete and placed below the foundation. Their size, depth, and shape depend on the structure, soil conditions, and approved plans.
Also called: Foundation Footing
Framing is the structural assembly of studs, joists, rafters, beams, and other members that forms a building’s walls, floors, ceilings, and roof. Framing sets the shape of a new home and supports loads from finishes, furniture, weather, and people. Builders install it before insulation, drywall, and most interior finishes.
Also called: Structural Framing
Grout is a cement-based or resin-based material that fills the joints between tiles. It helps hold tile edges in place and keeps dirt and moisture from collecting in open seams. Grout comes in different colors and textures, and the right type depends on the tile, joint size, and location.
Also called: Tile Grout
An ice dam is a ridge of frozen water that forms along a roof edge and blocks melting snow from draining. Water can collect behind the ridge and move beneath shingles or into roof and wall materials. Ice dams usually develop when roof heat melts snow above colder, unheated eaves.
Also called: Ice Damming
A joist is a horizontal structural member that supports a deck surface, floor, or ceiling. Joists transfer weight to beams, ledgers, walls, or other supports. In deck construction, joists form the frame beneath the decking boards and must connect securely so the surface stays supported and properly aligned.
Also called: Floor Joist
A load-bearing wall is a structural wall that carries weight from floors, roofs, or framing above. It transfers that load through studs or masonry to the foundation. Removing or changing the wall can affect the building's stability, so an addition project needs a structural review before openings or relocations are planned.
Also called: Bearing Wall
A Moisture Barrier is a material or layer that limits water vapor and liquid water from entering building assemblies. In basement remodeling, builders place it at the wall, floor, or foundation edge where damp soil or concrete could affect finished spaces. The correct location depends on the moisture source and the wall system.
Also called: Moisture Membrane
An R-Value is a measure of how strongly building insulation resists heat flow. Higher R-Values indicate greater resistance, while lower R-Values allow heat to pass more easily. The rating helps compare insulation materials and guide choices for walls, roofs, floors, and other parts of a home’s thermal envelope.
Also called: Thermal Resistance
A rafter is a sloped structural member that supports a roof deck, shingles, insulation, and related roof loads. Rafters run from a roof ridge or peak down to an exterior wall. They form the roof’s shape and transfer weight into the home’s walls and foundation through connected framing.
Also called: Roof Rafter
A rough opening is the framed space in a wall that receives a window or door. Builders size the opening before installation, leaving room for the unit, shims, insulation, and sealant. For window replacement, the rough opening may be checked against the existing frame or adjusted when the new window has different dimensions.
Also called: Rough-In Opening
Sill Plate is a horizontal board that connects a building’s wood framing to its foundation. The plate rests on concrete or masonry and supports the wall framing above. Anchors hold the plate in place, while a gasket or sealant helps limit drafts and moisture movement at the foundation connection.
Also called: Sole Plate
Subfloor is the structural layer beneath finished flooring. It rests on floor framing and provides a firm base for hardwood, tile, carpet, or other floor coverings. Common subfloor materials include plywood and oriented strand board. The layer must stay sound, level, and dry so the finished floor can perform properly.
Also called: Floor Substrate
Tempered Glass is heat-treated glass made to resist impact and temperature changes better than standard glass. When it breaks, the glass crumbles into small granular pieces instead of forming long, sharp shards. Window installers often use it near doors, in bathrooms, and in other places where broken glass could create a greater hazard.
Also called: Safety Glass
A threshold is the horizontal piece at the bottom of an exterior door opening. It supports the door seal, helps block drafts and directs water away from the doorway. A threshold may be made from metal, wood or another durable material. Its height and slope must fit the door, floor and surrounding weatherproofing.
Also called: Door Sill
A truss is a framed structure that supports a roof or floor by spreading loads through connected members. Its triangular design helps transfer weight to the building’s walls. Roof trusses arrive as engineered units and are set in place during framing. Each truss must match the planned span, shape, and load needs.
Also called: Roof Truss
Underlayment is a thin layer placed between a subfloor and finished flooring. It helps create a smoother base, reduces minor surface noise, and may manage moisture or sound, depending on the product. For vinyl plank flooring, the correct underlayment must match the flooring instructions and the condition of the subfloor.
Also called: Floor Underlayment
A vapor barrier is a building material that slows water vapor from moving through walls, floors, or ceilings. The material helps control moisture within an assembly, but it does not stop bulk water from leaks or flooding. Proper placement depends on the wall design, climate, and materials used in the finished space.
Also called: Vapor Retarder
Waterproofing is the process of keeping water from entering or damaging a building area. It uses barriers, coatings, drainage paths, and sealed joints to control moisture. In basement remodeling, waterproofing may protect walls, floors, windows, and utility openings from leaks, seepage, and damp conditions that can damage finishes.
Also called: Waterproof Membrane
Window flashing is a water-shedding material installed around a window opening. The flashing directs rain away from the window frame and wall assembly. It works with the window flange, sill, jambs, and head to limit leaks. Proper placement helps protect insulation, framing, trim, and interior finishes from moisture damage.
Also called: Window Weatherproofing
