Timber Terminology
Because the terminology in Timber can be overwhealming, here we have a list of the most used terms in the industry:
A
Air Dried:
Timber has been dried naturally by the air usually under cover to a moisture content of 15% to 20%
Architrave:
A moulding used to surround an opening to cover the gap between joinery and the adjoining work.
B
Balustrade:
A railing; A series of rails or columns joined by a top rail.
Baltic (Pine):
Term applied generally to timber from the Baltic States.
Band Saw:
An endless ribbon saw rotating around two pulley wheels used for curved work in joinery and cabinet making.
Batten:
A long thin piece of rectangular shaped material used to support roof tiles or cover joints between paneling.
Beam:
Structural timber which is supported at 2 or 4 points.
Bearer:
A length of timber placed across piers or a series of stringers.
Bevel:
In carpentry a slope from the horizontal or vertical angle.
Blemish:
A marring in the appearance of timber that is not serious enough to be classed as a defect.
Bond:
Adhesion.
Borer:
A wood boring insect at the beetle or lava stage which burrows into the wood or between bark and wood.
C
Callus:
A condition that develops after a tree has been injured which cover the wound.
Chamferboard:
A type of long thin weatherboards which overlap one another horizontally on an outside wall.
Chipboard:
A panel which is produced by bonding together particles of wood and wood chips, also known as particleboard.
Clear Timber:
Timber which is clear of any imperfections.
Cladding:
The outer covering of the external walls to a frame of a building.
Cornice:
A moulding at the junction of a ceiling and wall.
Cubic Metres:
Length x width x depth.
D
Debark:
To strip a tree from its bark.
Decking:
Timber used for surfacing bridges, wharves and out-door home areas.
Dowel:
A round timber rod used to hang curtains. Dowel is used in carpentry to fit between two holes in two adjacent pieces.
Dressed Timber:
Timber which has been finished to a smooth surface on one or more sides.
F
Flooring:
Timber boards which have been prepared for flooring.
Framing Timber:
Timber that is used to form up te basic structure of a building.
J
Joist:
A structure which supports a load.
K
Kiln dried:
Timber which has been seasoned in a kiln to a specific or selected moisture content.
M
Machining:
The behaviour of timber when it is planned, drilled, sawn or worked by hand or with a machine.
N
Non-Structural:
Not load-bearing or not supporting in function.
Nominal Size:
The sawn size of the timber prior to being dressed.
T
Timber:
The Lumber/wood from trees cut and prepared for use as building material.
Termites:
Insects which are very active destroying woody material in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
True Wood:
Timber which is freshly cut and still has a high moisture content.
Truss:
Support – post, struts and rafters supporting a roof, bridge or structure.
S
Seasoned Timber:
Timber which has been dried to stabilise water content to 10% to 15%.
Sawn:
This is a timber that has not been dressed or sawn.
T
T & G:
Tongue and Groove flooring where the boards have been joined along the length. One with the tongue and the other with the groove.