Facade

Front view, or elevation of an edifice.

Face Side, or Edge

The side or edge from which all of the measurements, and all tests for accuracy are made.

Fair

When a piece of wood or work is perfectly straight, true, and out of wind; not necessarily level, as the board may be set at any angle.

Fascia

A flat member of a cornice or other finish, generally under the upper member of the cornice.

Fence

A part of a molding tool which regulates the distance of the cut from the edge; a piece of wood, adjustable upon the steel square to enable the square to be used as a bevel.

Festoon

An ornament, generally of fruits and flowers, hanging from the ends, the middle being allowed to drop to a natural position.

Fillet

A small square member of a molding.

Filling the Grain

A process of filling the pores of the wood so that there will be a perfectly smooth surface upon which to apply the finish.

Finial

An ornament which forms the finish for the tops of towers, and points of pitch roofs.

Finish

A term applied to stain, varnish, etc.; the woodwork which completes the inside or the outside of a house.

Flashing

. The process of making the roof, and other exposed places upon the outside of the house watertight.

Flue

The opening in a chimney through which the smoke passes.

Flush

When two pieces are perfectly even.

Flute

An ornamental, concave groove used for the purpose of decoration.

Foil

A leaflike ornamentation of windows, niches, etc.

Foliation

An enrichment by ornaments resembling leaves.

Footing Courses

The bottom and heaviest courses of a piece of masonry.

Fresco

A method of painting on plastered walls and ceilings.

Fret

An ornament consisting of intersecting lines.

Frieze

The part of an entablature between the architrave and cornice.

Full Frame

The old-fashioned, mortised and tenoned frame, in which every joint was mortised and tenoned. Rarely used at the present time.

Furrings

Narrow strips of board nailed upon walls and ceilings to form a straight surface upon which to lay the laths or other finish.

Gable

The vertical triangular end of a building from the eaves to the apex of the roof.

Gable Windows

A window in a gable, or one pointed at the top like a gable.

Gain

The shoulder upon the tenoned piece of a mortised and tenoned joint.

Gallery

A partial story.

Girder

A principal beam.

Girt

A small girder, used in roofs. Sometimes in practice the term is used interchangeably with girder. The horizontal member of the walls of a full or combination frame house which supports the floor joists, or is flush with the tops of the joists.

Glue Blocks

See Blocking.

Gothic

The style of architecture with high gables, pointed arches, clustered columns, etc. Used extensively for churches.

Gravity Hinges

Those which open and close if once set in motion.

Groined Arch

The intersection of two arches.

Grounds

Strips of wood for the purpose of assisting the plasterer in making a straight wall, and in giving a place to which the finish of the room may be nailed.

Gutter or Eaves Troughs

Troughs which catch the water from the roof and carry it to the conductors.

Header

A short joist supporting tail beams, and framed between floor joists. The piece of stud or finish over an opening. A lintel. The piece against which the top ends of stair stringers rest.

Headroom

The height between the top of the tread at the riser line, and the ceiling directly above it.

Helix

The shape of the elevation of a flight of circular stairs.

Hip Molding

A molding which covers the hip of a roof.

Hip Roof

A roof which slopes toward the center from all sides, necessitating a hip rafter at each corner.

Hood Molding

A molding projecting over the head of an opening.

Hopper Cut

The cut necessary to allow the sides of a hopper to fit together.

Impost

A capital from which springs an arch. A chaptrel.

Interlacing Arches

Arches so constructed that their curves intersect or interlace.

Ionic Order

Distinguished by the volute in its capital. Column more slender than the Doric or Tuscan, but less slender and less elaborate than the Composite or Corinthian.

Jamb

The side piece or post of an opening. Sometimes applied to the door frame.

Joggles

Projection of timbers or stones fitting each other.

Standing Joint

A joint which allows light to be seen under a try-square upon the face corner. Under. A joint which allows light to be seen under a try-square upon the back corner; the reverse of a standing joint.

Butt Joint

Squared ends or ends and edges adjoining each other.

Dovetail Joint

Made by cutting pins the shape of dovetails in section, which fit between other dovetails upon another piece.

Drawbored Joint

A mortise and tenoned joint with holes so bored that when a pin is driven through, the joint will be made tighter.

Fished Joint

An end butt joint strengthened by pieces nailed upon the sides.

Glue Joint

A square edged joint held together with glue.

Halved Joint

Made by cutting half of the wood away from each piece, so as to bring the sides flush.

Housed Joint

Grooved to receive the piece which is to form the other part of the joint

Lap Joints

Two pieces lapping over each other.

Mortised Joint

Made by cutting a hole, or mortise, in one piece, and a tenon, or piece to fit the hole, upon the other.