| Term | Definition |
| W | The total dead load used in earthquake design. |
| W C | An abbreviation for water closet (toilet). |
| W/C Ratio | Water Cement Ratio. |
| Wadding | The act of hanging staff by fastening wads made of Plaster of Paris and excelsior or fiber to the casts and winding them around the framing. |
| Wading Pool | Any constructed or prefabricated pool used for wading which is less than twenty-four (24) inches in depth. |
| Wafer board | A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. |
| Waferboard | A building panel made by bonding together large, flat flakes of wood. |
| Waferboard Sheathing | Exterior wall or roof covering panels of waferboard |
| Waffle Slab | 1. A two-way concrete joist system. 2. Two-way slab or flat slab made up of a double system of narrow ribs or joists, usually at right angles to each other, forming a pattern of waffle-like coffers. |
| Wagner Fineness | The fineness of materials such as portland cement expressed as total surface area in centimeters per gram as determined by the Wagner turbidimeter apparatus and procedure. |
| Wainscot | The lower 3 or 4 feet of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the remainder of the wall. |
| Wainscot, Terrazzo | See Terrazzo Wainscot. |
| Waiver | The intentional relinquishment of a known right. |
| Wale | Structural element of a bulkhead, fixed horizontally between the vertical piles on the seaward side and the sheet piles on the landward side. |
| Waler | A horizontal structural member in a concrete forming or excavation shoring system. |
| Walk | A path specially arranged or paved for walking. |
| Walk-In Cooler | Larger commercially refrigerated space kept below room temperature; usually installed in supermarkets, restaurants, food processing plants, and wholesale meat distribution centers. |
| Walk-Through | A final inspection of a home before "Closing" to look for and document problems that need to be corrected. |
| Walk-Up | A two or more story apartment building or living unit without an elevator. |
| Walkway, Roof | See Roof Walkway. |
| Wall | A member, usually vertical, used to enclose or separate spaces. |
| Wall Angle | 1. An L-shaped aluminum angle used as the wall termination of T-bar suspended ceiling systems to support the perimeter acoustic tiles. 2. A structural steel angle attached to a masonry wall. |
| Wall Blocking | Framing lumber cut in short lengths and installed horizontally between wall studs as filler pieces to stabilize the framing, to act as fire blocking, or to provide a backing for fastening a finish item. |
| Wall Bracket | 1. A wall-mounted support for shelving or other object. 2. A wall-mounted lighting fixture. |
| Wall Cabinet | Case, box, or piece of furniture which mounts on a wall, commonly with shelves and doors, used for storage. |
| Wall Cladding | Exterior wood or metal building siding. |
| Wall Cleanout | An opening in a wall for removal of refuse. |
| Wall Covering | Any of a variety of final applications to finish a wall surface. |
| Wall Expansion Joint | A break or space in wall construction to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of materials. |
| Wall Fabric | Wallpaper or other fabric used to cover or finish off an existing wall. |
| Wall Finish | The final planing, sanding, staining, varnishing, waxing, or painting of a wall. |
| Wall Flange | A ridge on a wall that prevents movement. A supporting rim on a wall for attachments. |
| Wall Footing | A continuous spread footing that supports a uniform load from a wall. |
| Wall Formwork | The system of wood support for a freshly placed concrete wall left in place until the concrete has set. |
| Wall Framing | Building construction where exterior and other bearing walls are made of wood. |
| Wall Furring | Strips of wood applied to make a wall surface level, form an air space, or provide fastening surfaces. |
| Wall Grille | A wall grating used to cover an opening as protection or as an ornament. |
| Wall Heater | A heating unit installed in or on a wall. |
| Wall Hung Sink | A lavatory mounted on brackets attached to a wall. |
| Wall Hydrant | A connection to a water main cut through and mounted on a wall; see Hose Bibb. |
| Wall Insulation | Material placed in wall cavities for the reduction of fire hazard or for protection from heat and cold. |
| Wall Lath | Expanded metal, gypsum sheets, or thin strips of wood attached to stud walls, acting as a foundation for plastering. |
| Wall Louver | Openings in walls for ventilating spaces. |
| Wall Mounted Flagpole | A pole to raise or display a flag, mounted or attached to a wall. |
| Wall Mounted Heater | A heating unit mounted on or attached to a wall. |
| Wall Mounted Oven | A domestic oven for cooking purposes designed for mounting in or on a wall or other surface. |
| Wall out | When a painter pray paints the interior of a home. |
| Wall Panel | Form sheathing, constructed from plywood, boards, or metal sheets, that are installed as a unit. |
| Wall Pier | A wall segment with a horizontal length to thickness ratio between 2.5 and 6 and whose clear height is at least two times its horizontal length. |
| Wall Plaster | A paste-like composition that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls. |
| Wall Railing | A band of ornamental wood installed horizontally. |
| Wall Reinforcing | To strengthen a wall by the addition of new or extra materials. |
| Wall Reinforcing, Masonry | Steel reinforcing rods or mesh used in masonry walls between courses. |
| Wall Scupper | See Scupper, 2. |
| Wall Sheathing | The first layer of covering on an exterior wall, fastened to the wall studs. |
| Wall Size | Solution such as glue, starch, casein, shellac, varnish or lacquer, used to seal or fill pores of wall surface to stop suction, counteract chemicals or stains and prepare surface for paint, paper or fabric. |
| Wall Spreader | An accessory, usually fabricated from reinforcing bar to a Z or U shape, used to separate and hold apart two faces of curtains of steel reinforcements in a concrete wall. |
| Wall System | A modular set of shelves and cabinets that can be arranged along a wall in various combinations. |
| Wall Tie | A mechanical metal fastener which connects wythes of masonry to each other or to other materials. |
| Wall Tile | A glazed tile with a body that is suitable for interior use and which is usually non-vitreous, and is not required nor expected to withstand excessive impact. |
| Wall Z Tie | A Z-shaped reinforcing strip used as a support bracket from the structural wall to the masonry veneer. |
| Wall, Cavity | See Cavity Wall. |
| Wall, Retaining | See Retaining Wall. |
| Wall-Hung | Anything hung from a wall, such as cabinets or plumbing fixtures. |
| Wall-to-Wall | Covering the entire floor area. |
| Wallboard | Large, rigid sheets of wood pulp, gypsum, pressed cellulose fibers, gypsumboard, plywood, or similar materials , used in place of plaster in interior surfaces. |
| Wallpaper | A decorative paper for applying to the walls of a room. |
| Wallpaper Paste | An adhesive used for attaching wallpaper. |
| Walnut | The richly grained moderate reddish-brown wood of the walnut tree, used for veneers, cabinetmaking, and moldings. |
| Walnut Door | A door which has a veneer of walnut. |
| Walnut Veneer | An overlay of a thin layer of walnut wood for outer finish or decoration. |
| Wandering Block Sequence | A block sequence wherein successive blocks are completed at random after several starting blocks have been completed. |
| Wane | Bark or lack of wood from any cause on edge or corner of a piece of lumber except for eased edges. |
| Wane | Bark, or lack of wood from any cause, on edge or corner of a piece of wood. |
| Ward | 1. A large room in a hospital, that will accommodate several patient beds. 2. The inner court of a castle or fortress. 3. A local Mormon congregation. 4. A projecting ridge of metal on a lock to prevent insertion of a key that does not have a matching not |
| Wardrobe | A room or freestanding closet where clothes are kept. |
| Wardrobe Locker | A clothes storage cabinet with a locking door. |
| Warehouse | A storage room or building. |
| Warm Air Heating | Any heating system which depends upon the circulation of warm air. |
| Warm Colors | Colors in which red-orange predominates; so termed because of the association with fire, heat, and sunshine. |
| Warming Colors | Any color except green may be warmed by adding red; green is warmed by adding yellow. |
| Warp | 1. Any variation from a true or plane surface. 2. Warp includes bow, crook, cup, and twist, or any combination thereof. 3. In carpet, the backing yarns running lengthwise. |
| Warpage | A concave or convex curvature of a material that was intended to be perfectly flat. |
| Warping | Any distortion in a material. |
| Warranty | In construction there are two general types of warranties. One is provided by the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance. The second is a warranty for the labor. For example, a roofing contract may include a 20 year material wa |
| Warren Truss | A truss in which the top and bottom chords are parallel or nearly so, the top chord sometimes sloping for roof drainage. |
| Wash | The slant of a sill, wall, parapet, or capping, to allow the water to run off easily. |
| Wash Coat | A very thin coat of finishing material, usually shellac. |
| Wash Fountain | A waist high sink which supplies a steady stream of water to cleanse the hands. |
| Wash Primer | A thin inhibiting paint usually chromate pigmented with a polyvinyl butyrate binder. |
| Wash-Out | Lack of proper coverage and texture build-up in machine-dash textured plaster caused by the mortar being too soupy. |
| Washboarding | In asphalt paving, see Corrugations. |
| Washer | A flat thin ring or a perforated plate used in joints or assemblies to ensure tightness or relieve friction. |
| Washer, Coin | See Coin Washer. |
| Washer, Flat | See Flat Washer. |
| Washer, Steel Welding | See Steel Welding Washer. |
| Washer-Extractor | A clothes washer that includes a high speed centrifugal drying cycle that removes all the free water except for dampness. |
| Washing | 1. Rapid dissolution or emulsification of a paint film when wet with water. 2. Erosion of a paint film after rapid chalking. |
| Washroom Faucet | A device that dispenses hot and cold water, mounted above a sink. |
| Waste | 1. Valueless material. 2. Digging, hauling, and dumping of valueless material to get it out of the way. 3. Liquid discharged from any plumbing fixture, except water closets and urinals. |
| Waste and Overflow Fitting | A bathtub drain fitting which provides both the outlet for the bathtub drain and an overflow to drain excess water from the tub. |
| Waste Handling | The act or process of transporting or removing rubbish. |
| Waste Pipe | A plumbing line that carries waste water from fixtures except water closets and urinals. |
| Waste pipe and vent | Plumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage system. |
| Waste Piping | See Filter Waste Discharge Piping. |
| Waste Receptacle | A container for the temporary storage of rubbish. |
| Waste Stack | A vertical line of piping that extends one or more floors and receives the discharge of fixtures other than water closets and urinals. |
| Waste Water | In a swimming pool, the water from any filter, perimeter overflow, pool emptying line, or similar apparatus or appurtence. |
| Waster Mold | An unreusable precast plaster mold made for the forming of decorative monolithic or cast-in-place concrete; the mold cannot be removed without being destroyed. |
| Watchman | A guard who keeps watch over a certain area. |
| Water | A colorless, transparent, odorless compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O. |
| Water Absorption | 1. The amount of water absorbed by a material under specified test conditions; expressed as weight percent of the test specimen. 2. The amount of water ingested into the core and surface papers of gypsumboard; expressed as a percent of water added over dr |
| Water Blasting | Blast cleaning using high velocity water. |
| Water board | Water resistant drywall to be used in tub and shower locations. Normally green or blue colored. |
| Water closet | Another name for toilet. |
| Water Conditioner | A device used to dissolve minerals from water; normally after the minerals are removed, the water tastes better and reduces the likelihood that mineral deposits will build up within the plumbing system; the water is considered to be soft after the mineral |
| Water Cooled Chiller | A piece of equipment that produces chilled water for circulation through a building and used for cooling. |
| Water Cooled Condenser | A condenser in which water is normally circulated through a cooling tower through which heat is dispersed to the atmosphere. |
| Water Cooler | An apparatus that cools, holds, and dispenses cold water. |
| Water Defrosting | Use of water to melt ice and frost from evaporator during off-cycle. |
| Water Gain | Of concrete, see Bleeding, 2. |
| Water Gauge | An instrument to measure the depth of water, or to indicate the height of its surface, as in a steam boiler. |
| Water Glass | 1. An instrument consisting of an open box or tube with a glass bottom, used for examining objects in or under water. 2. A Water Gauge. 3. A viscous, syrupy solution of sodium or potassium silicate that is used especially as a cement, as a protective coat |
| Water Hammer | A banging sound in water supply lines caused by the sudden stopping of the water flow. |
| Water Heater | An apparatus for heating and storing water. |
| Water Level | A length of clear plastic hose, 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter and approximately 50 feet long, filled with water and used as a leveling device to check level in walls or structures. |
| Water Loss | A measurement of the amount of free water evaporated from gypsumboard products during the drying stage in the manufacturing process; expressed in pounds per 1000 S.F. |
| Water Main | Water supply pipe generally located at the street which may supply a number of buildings. |
| Water Meter | An instrument for measuring water consumption. |
| Water meter pit (or vault) | The box /cast iron bonnet and concrete rings that contains the water meter. |
| Water of Hydration | The water required to replace the water lost during the calcination process. |
| Water Paint | A paint in which the vehicle is a water emulsion and in which water is used as thinner. |
| Water Pipe Restoration | To install new linings in pipes to improve the condition of existing water pipes; usually includes the cleaning and removal of built-up scale or debris out of the existing pipe and the relining with a compatible material. |
| Water Piping Removal | The act or process of tearing out and carrying away old water piping systems. |
| Water Proofing | Treatment of a surface or structure to prevent the passage of water under hydrostatic pressure. |
| Water Reducing Admixture | Material added to cement or a concrete mix to cut down on its water content. |
| Water Repellent | 1. A finish that is resistant but not impervious to penetration by water. 2. A liquid that penetrates wood which, after drying, materially retards changes in moisture content and in dimensions without adversely altering the desirable properties of wood. |
| Water Repellent Paper | A special paper treated to minimize wetting of the surface. |
| Water Resistant Core | A special gypsumboard core formulation with additives to reduce water absorption; water resistant gypsum backing board is recommended for use as a base for ceramic tile in bathrooms and other wet areas. |
| Water Resistant Gypsum Backing Board | A gypsumboard designed for use on walls as a base for the application of ceramic or plastic tile. |
| Water Resistant Gypsumboard | A gypsumboard designed for use in locations where it may be exposed to occasional dampness; plasterboard that has had a chemical treatment to make it resistant to moisture, but not necessarily waterproof. |
| Water Retentivity | That property of a mortar which prevents the rapid loss of water to masonry units of high suction; it prevents bleeding or water gain when mortar is in contact with relatively impervious units. |
| Water Service Pipe | The pipe from the water main or other source of water supply to the building serviced. |
| Water Slide | A sloping trough down which water is carried by gravity. |
| Water Softener | A device attached to a water system to remove unwanted minerals and substances. |
| Water Spotting | Spotty changes in the color or gloss of a paint film; may be caused by various factors, such as emulsification or the solution of water soluble components. |
| Water Stain | A colored dye that is soluble in water. |
| Water Supply System | The water supply system of a building is composed of the water service pipe, the water distributing pipes and the various connecting pipes, control valves and fittings in or on private property. |
| Water Table | 1. The level at which the pressure of water in the soil is equal to atmospheric pressure; effectively, the level to which ground water will fill an excavation. 2. The finish at the bottom of a house which carries water away from the foundation. 3. A proje |
| Water tap | The connection point where the home water line connects to the main municipal water system. |
| Water Valve | A device to regulate the flow of water in a pipe or other passage. |
| Water Vapor | Moisture existing as gas in the air. |
| Water Vapor Transmission (WVT) | See Permeability. |
| Water White | Transparent and colorless like water. |
| Water-Cement Ratio | The proportion of water to portland cement; the number of gallons of water per 94 pound sack of cement; only a small amount of water is needed to hydrate the cement and complete the chemical reaction; all additional water is for workability only and too m |
| Water-Cooled Condenser | Condensing unit which is cooled through use of water flow. |
| Water-Reducing Admixture | Material placed in concrete mix to increase slump or maintain workability with a reduced amount of water. |
| Water-Repellent Paper | Gypsumboard paper surfacing which has been formulated or treated to resist water penetration. |
| Water-repellent preservative | A liquid applied to wood to give the wood water repellant properties. |
| Water-repellent preservative | A liquid designed to penetrate into wood and impart water repellency and a moderate preservative protection. It is used for millwork, such as sash and frames, and is usually applied by dipping. |
| Water-Resistant Core | A gypsumboard specially formulated to resist water penetration. |
| Water-Struck Brick | See Soft Mud Brick. |
| Water-Thinned Paint | A paint whose thinner is mainly water; the binder may be a material that (1) requires water for setting, e.g., portland cement; (2) which is soluble in water, e.g., casein; (3) which is emulsifiable in water, e.g., flat wall paint binders. |
| Water-Tube Level | A leveling device consisting of a water-filled tube with a transparent section at each end; also called Water Level. |
| Waterbar | A rubber or plastic strip cast into concrete at joints to prevent water leakage; also called Waterstop. |
| Waterproof | So constructed or protected that moisture will not interfere with its successful operation. |
| Waterproof Cement | Portland cement to which waterproofing agents, such as surface repellents, have been added at time of blending materials at the mill. |
| Waterproof Membrane | An impermeable layer of plastic film, roofing material, bitumen, or other material placed to stop transfer of water or water vapor. |
| Waterproofing | 1. The act or process of making something waterproof. 2. A coating capable of stopping penetration of water or moisture. |
| Waters of the United States | Includes all dry land and water-covered areas below the ordinary high water marks on navigable and nonnavigable streams. |
| Watershed | An area confined by drainage divides usually having only one streamflow outlet. |
| Waterstop | See Waterbar. |
| Watertight | So constructed that moisture will not enter the enclosing case. |
| Watertight Manhole | A cover for a vertical access shaft that prevents the elements from coming in. |
| Watt | 1. A unit of electrical power. 2. The absolute meter-kilogram-second unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one absolute joule per second. 3. The rate of work represented by a current of one ampere under a pressure of one volt and taken as th |
| Watt-Hour | A unit of work or energy equivalent to the power of one watt operating for one hour. |
| Wattmeter | An instrument for measuring electric power in watts. |
| Wave | Any disturbance that advances through a medium with a speed that is completely determined by properties of that medium, such as sound or light. |
| Wave attack | Impact of waves on a streambank. |
| Wave height | The vertical distance between a wave crest and the preceding trough. |
| Wave Length | 1. The distance between successive similar points on two wave cycles. 2. In color, the computed distance between vibrations of light that produce visible color sensation on the eye; in the visible spectrum, red-orange has the longest wave length; violet t |
| Waverly | Very popular fabric vendor with traditional, English flair. A division of F. Schumacher. (79 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016) |
| Wavy-Grained Wood | Wood in which the fibers collectively take the form of waves or undulations. |
| Wax | 1. A fatty material obtained from the honeycombs of bees or from similar plant, animal, or mineral substances; used for providing an attractive, protective coating, as for wood; waxes may be used by themselves or combined with other ingredients to make ce |
| Wax, Floor | See Floor Wax. |
| WC | Water closet. |
| WCLIB | West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau. |
| Wearing Course | A topping or surface treatment to increase the resistance of a pavement or slab to abrasion. |
| Weather Cock | A weather vane in the shape of a cock. |
| Weather Delay | Lack of construction progress caused by inclement weather. |
| Weather Joint | A masonry joint where the mortar has been formed at a 45 degree angle, sloping down and out, exposing approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the brick above, for the purpose of shedding water. |
| Weather Seal | A flanged channel installed on the edges of an exterior door. |
| Weather Vane | A vane; a moveable device for showing the direction of the wind. |
| Weather-stripping | The process of reducing air or rain infiltration by covering joints of doors or windows with strips of resilient material. |
| Weatherability | Capability of withstanding the weathering process. |
| Weathered | In masonry, stonework which has been cut with sloped surfaces so it will shed water from rain or snow. |
| Weathered Joint | A mortar joint finished in a sloping profile that tends to shed water to the outside of the wall. |
| Weatherhead | A weather resistant fitting for feeding aerial electrical conductors into a building. |
| Weathering | 1. Changes in color, texture, strength, chemical composition or other properties of a natural or artificial material due to the action of the weather. 2. The mechanical or chemical disintegration and discoloration of a wood surface resulting from exposure |
| Weathering | Physical disintegration or chemical decomposition of rock due to wind, rain, heat, freezing, thawing, etc. |
| Weathering Steel | A steel alloy that forms a tenacious, self-protecting rust layer when exposed to the atmosphere. |
| Weatherization | Work on a building exterior in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling. Work involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping. |
| Weatherometer | A testing device intended to simulate atmospheric weathering. |
| Weatherproof | So constructed that exposure to the weather will not cause damage or loss of function. |
| Weatherproof Box | An electrical outlet or switch box which has been manufactured to withstand the outside elements. |
| Weatherproof Cover | A protective layer constructed so that exposure to the weather will not interfere with successful operation. |
| Weatherproof Duct | An enclosure for wires or cables constructed so that exposure to weather will not interfere with successful operation. |
| Weatherproof Insulation | A material used to reduce heat transfer, constructed so that exposure to the weather will not interfere with its successful operation. |
| Weatherproof Switch | A device designed to be used outdoors that opens, closes or changes the connection of an electric circuit and is weatherproofed against moisture. |
| Weatherstrip | Narrower or jamb-width sections of thin metal or other material to prevent infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors. Compression weather stripping prevents air infiltration, provides tension, and acts as a counter balance. |
| Weave Bead | A type of weld bead made with transverse oscillation. |
| Weaving | Process of forming carpet on a loom by interlacing the warp and weft yarns. |
| Web | 1. The vertical plate connecting the top and bottom flanges of a metal beam. 2. An interior solid portion of a hollow concrete block. |
| Web Belt | Commonly a used military type belt adapted to carry hand tools at the jobsite. |
| Web Members | The vertical and angular members between the top and bottom chords of a truss. |
| Wedge | A piece of material, such as wood or metal, tapering to a sharp edge that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them. |
| Weed Control | The act or process of spraying chemicals or placing powders to control the spread of weeds. |
| Weep Hole | 1. A small opening, the purpose of which is to permit drainage of water that accumulates inside a building component. 2. Openings placed in mortar joints of facing material at the level of flashing to permit the escape of moisture. 3. Openings in retainin |
| Weep holes | Small holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape. |
| Weep Screed | A plaster screed at the bottom of an exterior stucco wall that is designed to allow moisture to seep out. |
| Weephole | Opening left in a revetment or bulkhead to allow groundwater drainage. |
| Weeping Joints | A masonry joint treatment in which mortar extruding from the joint in laying is not cut off, but is allowed to harden; gives informal rustic appearance but difficult to waterproof. |
| Weft | Backing yarns which run across the width of the carpet; in woven carpets, the weft shot (filling) yarns and the warp chain (binder) yarns interlock and bind the pile tufts to the backing; in tufted carpets, pile yarns which run across the carpet are also |
| Weight | The force experienced by a body as a result of the earth's gravitation. |
| weights | Round pieces of lead-like metal, pierced with two holes in the center and used to weight hems of curtains, draperies, and shades so that they hang better. Covered chain weights are a form of weighted tape used in the hems of sheer curtains. |
| Weir | 1. A dam in a stream over which water flows; see Crest. 2. A dam in a stream to raise the water level or to divert the stream. 3. An orifice through which the liquid only partially flows. |
| Weir of a Trap | The highest portion of the inside channel through a plumbing trap; compare with Dip of a Trap; the depth of the water seal is the distance from the dip to the crown weir. |
| Weld | 1. A joint between two pieces of metal formed by fusing the pieces together, usually with the aid of additional metal melted from a rod or electrode. 2. To join two pieces of metal together by heating until fusion of material either with or without filler |
| Weld Bead | A weld deposit resulting from a pass. |
| Weld Crack | A crack in weld metal. |
| Weld Inspection | Methods to determine existence and extent of defects and discontinuities in welds. |
| Weld Plate | A steel plate anchored into the surface of concrete, to which another steel element can be welded. |
| Weld Test | Welding examination or inspection; the loading of welds to determine load capacity of welds is not normal practice. |
| Weld X-Ray | To examine, treat, or photograph the connection of surfaces that have been welded together. |
| Weld, Destructive Test | Methods to determine existence and extent of defects and discontinuities in welds which affect capabilities of weld and may require repairs after testing. |
| Weld, Liquid Penetrant Examined | Nondestructive method of inspection to determine existence and extent of discontinuities that are open to surface in weld being inspected; indications are made visible through use of dye or fluorescent chemical in liquid employed as inspection medium. |
| Weld, Nondestructive Examined | Nondestructive method of inspection to determine existence and extent of discontinuities in welds; finely divided magnetic particles applied to magnetized part are attracted to any magnetic leakage created by discontinuities in mass of sample; methods to |
| Weld, Radiographic Examined | Nondestructive method of inspection to determine existence and extent of discontinuities in welds; X rays are used to penetrate the weld to produce radiograph to detect defect. |
| Weld, Shielded Metal-Arc | See Shielded Metal-Arc Weld. |
| Weld, Ultrasonic Examined | Nondestructive method of inspection to determine existence and extent of discontinuities in welds; ultrasonic waves (frequency of mechanical vibrations above 20,000 vibrations per second) are used to penetrate weld to detect defects. |
| Weld, Visual Examined | Nondestructive method of inspection to determine existence and extent of discontinuities in welds; exposed weld surfaces are visually inspected (without auxiliary equipment) for evidence of existence and extent of discontinuities in welds. |
| Weldability | The capacity of a metal to be welded under the fabrication conditions imposed into a specific, suitably designed structure and to perform satisfactorily in the intended service. |
| Welded Joint | A union of two or more members produced by the application of a welding process. |
| Welded Pipe | Piping where connections and fittings are welded. |
| Welded Railing | Railing sections with the components fastened with welds. |
| Welded Truss | Trusses with components fastened together with welds. |
| Welded Wire Fabric | A series of longitudinal and transverse steel wires arranged substantially at right angles to each other and welded together at the intersections, in sheets or rolls, used to reinforce mortar and concrete. |
| Welder | One who is capable of performing manual or semiautomatic welding operations based on training, experience, testing, or certification, or any combination of these. |
| Welding | Fusing metallic parts by heating and allowing the metals to flow together. |
| Welding Electrodes and Rod | The electrode and rod are the components of the welding circuit through which current is conducted between the electrode holder and the arc. |
| Welding Goggles | Goggles with tinted lenses, used during welding or oxygen cutting, which protect the eyes from harmful radiation and flying particles. |
| Welding Inspector | One who is capable of inspection of welds based on training, experience, testing, or certification, or any combination of these. |
| Welding Leads | The work lead and electrode lead of an arc- welding circuit. |
| Welding Process | A metal-joining process wherein coalescence is produced by heating to suitable temperatures, with or without the application of pressure, and with or without the use of filler metal. |
| Welding Rod | Filler metal, in wire or rod form, used in gas welding and brazing processes, and in those arc-welding processes wherein the electrode does not furnish the filler metal. |
| Welding Technique | The details of a manual, machine or semi- automatic welding operation which within the limitations of the prescribed joint welding procedure are controlled by the welder. |
| Welding Test | The act or process of testing the strength of a weld. |
| Welding Tip | A welding-torch tip designed for welding. |
| Welding Torch | A device used in gas welding or torch brazing for mixing and controlling the flow of gases. |
| Welding Transformer | A transformer used to supply current for welding. |
| Weldment Connection | The assembling together of pieces by welding to create a unit. |
| Weldor | See Welder. |
| Well | 1. A pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water. 2. An open space extending vertically through floors of a structure. |
| Well Graded Aggregate | Aggregate having a particle size distribution which will produce maximum density of concrete or asphalt, that is, minimum void space. |
| Wellpoint | A perforated pipe surrounded by sand to permit the pumping of ground water. |
| Wellpoint System | A series of vertical pipes in the ground connected to a header and pump to drain marshy areas or to control ground seepage. |
| welting | Piping cord covered in fabric and sewn around the edges, often into the seams, of tiebacks, valances, curtains, etc., for decoration. |
| West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB) | PO Box 23145, Portland, Oregon 97281, (503) 639-0651. |
| Western Frame | See Platform Frame. |
| Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA) | 1500 Yeon Building, 522 SW Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204, (503) 224-3930. |
| Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) | 1500 Yeon Building, 522 SW Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204, (503) 224-3930. |
| Westgate Fabrics | Fabric vendor. (1000 Fountain Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75050) |
| Wet and Dry Bulb Hygrometer | See Hygrometer. |
| Wet Areas | Interior or exterior tiled areas subject to periodic or constant wetting; examples are showers; sunken tubs; pools; exterior walls; roofs; exterior paving, and interior floors. |
| Wet Cell Battery | Cell or connected group of cells that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by reversible chemical reactions. |
| Wet Edge Time | The length of time before a stretch of paint sets up without showing lap marks when the painter applies the next stretch. |
| Wet Film Gauge | In painting, a device for measuring wet film thickness. |
| Wet Film Thickness | Thickness of liquid film of paint immediately after application. |
| Wet Heat | Heating system using hot water heat or steam heat; see Hydronic. |
| Wet Location | A location subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as exposed to weather, washrooms in garages and like location; installations underground or on concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth are wet locations. |
| Wet Location Fluorescent | A watertight fluorescent fixture that is sealed to protect against moisture. |
| Wet Mixing Period | The interval of time between the beginning of application of asphalt material and the opening of the mixer gate. |
| Wet Niche | Underwater swimming pool light with a water cooled sealed beam unit. |
| Wet Sand | To smooth a finished joint of sheetrock with a coarse wet sponge. A preferred method to reduce dust created in the dry sanding method. |
| Wet Spray | Paint spraying so that surface is covered with paint that has not started to dry. |
| Wet Sprinkler System | A sprinkler system that is filled with water at design pressure for immediate use upon activation. |
| Wet Standpipe | A fire fighting pipeline in a building that is always full of water under pressure and ready for use. |
| Wet Vent | A pipe that acts as a drain or waste pipe and also as a vent when not carrying any liquids; this wet vent usually serves as a waste pipe for the fixture it is closest to; when this fixture is not in use, but other fixtures farther down the line are in use |
| Wet-bulb Temperature | The temperature indicated by the wet-bulb thermometer of a psychrometer. |
| Wet-Edge | Fluid paint boundary. |
| Wettability | A condition of a surface that determines how fast a liquid will wet and spread on the surface or if it will be repelled and not spread on the surface. |
| Wetting | The process in which a liquid spontaneously adheres to and spreads on a solid surface; the more viscous a fluid, and the higher its surface tension, the more difficult it is for the liquid to wet a material; certain additives, for example, water softeners |
| Wetting Agent | A substance capable of lowering the surface tension of liquids, facilitating the wetting of solid surfaces and permitting the penetration of liquids into capillaries. |
| Wetting Oils | Products used to promote adhesion of applied coatings when all mill scale and rust cannot be removed. |
| WF Beam | Wide Flange Beam. |
| WFI | Wood Flooring Institute. |
| WH | 1. Wall Hydrant. 2. Water Heater. |
| Wharf | A structure that provides berthing space for vessels, to facilitate loading and discharge of cargo. |
| Wheel Barrow | A small vehicle with handles and one or more wheels used for carrying small loads. |
| Wheel Chair Partition | A dividing wall in a bathroom or bathing room which forms the perimeter of a private area that has been made accessible to the disabled. |
| Wheel Stop | A concrete or wood bumper, approximately 4 to 6 feet (1.20 to 1.80 meters) long, at the end of a parking space to stop the car. |
| Wheelchair | A chair mounted on wheels to be propelled by its occupant manually or with the aid of electric power, of a size and configuration conforming to the recognized standard models of the trade. |
| Wheelchair Occupant | A person who, due to a physical impairment or disability, utilizes a wheelchair for mobility; also called Wheelchair User. |
| Wheelchair User | See Wheelchair Occupant. |
| Wheeled Extinguisher | A fire extinguisher mounted on a wheeled cart that can be pushed or pulled by a person. |
| Whiskering | See Efflorescence. |
| White Blast | Blast cleaning to white metal. |
| White Cedar Shingle | A light colored weather-resistant cedar wood used for roofing and siding. |
| White Cement | Cement made from materials with low iron content to produce mortar or concrete that is white in color. |
| White Coat | A term denoting a gauged lime putty trowel finish. |
| White Lead | 1. Basic carbonate white lead is a compound of lead, carbon dioxide and water; lead is melted and cast into disks or buckles, which are about six inches in diameter; the buckles are placed in porcelain pots containing dilute acetic acid; the pots are cove |
| White Metal | Any of several lead-base or tin-base alloys, such as babbitt metal, used for bearings and fusible plugs. |
| White-Rot | In wood, any decay or rot attacking both the cellulose and the lignin, producing a generally whitish residue that may be spongy or stringy rot, or occur as pocket rot. |
| Whitewash | A solution of quicklime or of whiting and size for whitening walls. |
| Whiting | Calcium carbonate, limestone, or chalk in pigment form; used extensively for making putty and as an extender in paints. |
| WHO | World Health Organization. |
| Whole house fan | A fan designed to move air through and out of a home and normally installed in the ceiling. |
| WI | Wrought Iron. |
| WIC | Woodwork Institute of California. |
| Wicking | The absorption of water by capillary action into the core of gypsumboard. |
| Wide Flange Section | Any of a wide range of steel sections rolled in the shape of a letter T or H. |
| Wide Stile Door | Wider than normal vertical members forming the outside framework of a door. |
| Wide-Selvage Asphalt Roll Roofing Surfaced with Mineral Granules | See Nineteen-Inch Selvage. |
| width | The distance from selvage to selvage on any fabric; usually either 48" or 54". |
| Width and Length | In a swimming pool, the actual water dimension taken from wall to wall at the maximum operating water level. |
| Wilton Carpet | A fabric woven on a loom controlled by a Jacquard pattern device, which raises one of from 2 to 6 surface yarns over a bladed pile wire that is then withdrawn to cut the tufts and give a plushlike face; the other yarns run dormant through the center and b |
| Winch | A hoist or windlass for lifting or moving heavy loads. |
| Wind Brace | A diagonal structural member whose function is to stabilize a frame against lateral forces. |
| Wind bracing | Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over "domino" fashion. |
| Wind Drift | Horizontal deflection of a frame caused by wind forces. |
| Wind farm | An area of land with a cluster of wind turbines for producing electrical power. |
| Wind Load | A load on a building caused by wind pressure. |
| Wind Pressure | The horizontal live load on the side of a structure imposed by the wind; it increases in magnitude at higher elevations and causes a suction on the leeward side of buildings and roofs. |
| Wind Restraint System | The collection of structural elements which provide restraint of the seismic-isolated structure for wind loads; the wind-restraint system may be either an integral part of isolator units or may be a separate device. |
| Wind Shelf | In a fireplace, the concave ledge just back of the damper at the bottom of the smoke chamber; its function is to direct the cold air downdraft in the flue to join the hot air in rising in the flue. |
| Wind T | he surface of a board when twisted (winding) or when resting upon two diagonally opposite corners, if laid upon a perfectly flat surface; wind rhymes with kind. |
| Wind Tunnel | A tunnel-like passage through which wind is blown at a known velocity past a model of an object to determine the effect of wind forces on the object. |
| Wind Uplift | Upward forces on a structure caused by negative aerodynamic pressures that result from certain wind conditions. |
| Windchill | The still-air temperature that has the same cooling effect on exposed human flesh as a given combination of temperature and wind speed; also called Chill Factor, Windchill Factor, or Windchill Index. |
| Windchill Factor | See Windchill. |
| Windchill Index | See Windchill. |
| Winder | A stair tread that is wider at one end than at the other, located at a turn in the stairway. |
| Window | An opening in the wall of a building or structure for the admission of light and air, closed by casements or sashes containing glass panes. |
| Window Blind | An adjustable window covering. |
| Window Box | A box on an outside window sill for growing flowers. |
| Window buck | Square or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall. A window will eventually be installed in this "buck" during the siding stage of construction. |
| Window Covering | Any window treatment such as curtains, draperies, or blinds, for regulating light, for decoration, or for privacy. |
| Window frame | The stationary part of a window unit; window sash fits into the window frame. |
| Window Frame | The structure which holds a window assembly in place. |
| Window Guard Lock | Tamperproof hasp and padlock for window guards. |
| Window Guard, Diamond Mesh | See Diamond Mesh Window Guard. |
| Window Guard, Steel Bar Grille | Guard fabricated from a steel bar grille. |
| Window Guard, Woven Wire | Guard fabricated of woven wire. |
| Window Head | The assembly of parts at the top of a window frame including the frame, stops, casing, shims, and flashing. |
| Window Header | A horizontal structural member placed across the top of a window opening to support the load above. |
| Window Pane | A pane of glass in a window. |
| Window sash | The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border. |
| Window Screen | A fine mesh screen fitted in a window frame to exclude insects. |
| Window Seat | A seat built into a window recess. |
| Window Shade | Any adjustable window covering to regulate light or provide privacy. |
| Window Sill | The horizontal member at the bottom of a window. |
| Window Stool | Wood, ceramic tile, or masonry installed on the plate at a window sill on the inside of the window, fitted against the bottom rail of the lower sash. |
| Window Treatment | The addition of hanging fabrics, curtains, or blinds to the interior of a window. |
| Window Unit | Air conditioner which is placed in a window. |
| Window Well | Recess located at or below grade to allow for natural light to reach a ground level or basement window, often created by use of corrugated metal in half-round shape. |
| Window, Drive-Up | See Drive-Up Window. |
| Window, Service | See Service Window. |
| Windowwall | The opening in a wall surface which contains a window assembly or wall of assemblies. |
| Wingwall | The end portion of a bulkhead, seawall, or revetment that cuts back in toward the bank, usually at a right angle to the main structure. The purpose of a wingwall is to help retard or prevent flanking. |
| Wiping Stain | See Pigment Oil Stain. |
| Wire | A metal drawn out into the form of a thread or thin flexible rod, used for fencing, binding, or to conduct an electrical current. |
| Wire Brush | 1. A hand cleaning tool comprised of wires for bristles. 2. The act of cleaning a surface with a wire brush, including power brushes. |
| Wire Cloth Lath | A plaster reinforcement of wire not lighter than No. 19 gauge, 2-1/2 meshes per inch and coated with zinc or rust-inhibitive paint; not to be used as reinforcement of exterior portland cement plaster. |
| Wire Cut Brick | A brick having its surfaces formed by wires cutting the clay before it is baked. |
| Wire Edge Joint | In wallpaper, a joint made by trimming both selvedges and lapping one edge slightly over the other. |
| Wire Glass | Glass in which a wire mesh was embedded during manufacture. |
| Wire Guard | Flexible strands of metal that have been manufactured into a unit to act as an enclosure around moving parts of machinery, around an excavation, equipment, or materials to prevent injury to the operator. |
| Wire Hanger | A wire that supports or connects material. |
| Wire Hook Hanger | Flexible strand of metal in the shape of a hook to hold a construction member in place. |
| Wire Mesh | A series of longitudinal and transverse wires arranged substantially at right angles to each other sheets or rolls, used to reinforce mortar and concrete. |
| Wire Mesh Partition | Dividing wall constructed of metal framing and wire mesh. |
| Wire Mesh Partition Adjustable Cap | Top capping channel that is tightly fitted over top of entire partition. |
| Wire Mesh Partition Adjustable Floor Shoe | Adjustable floor socket to permit level installation of wire mesh partition channel. |
| Wire nut | A plastic device used to connect bare wires together. |
| Wire, Aluminum | See Aluminum Wire |
| Wire, Chicken | See Chicken Wire. |
| Wire, Stranded | See Stranded Wire. |
| Wire-Cut Brick | Brick formed by forcing plastic clay through a rectangular opening designed for the purpose, and shaping of clay into bars; before burning, wires pressed through the plastic mass cut the bars into brick units. |
| Wires | In carpet making, metal strips inserted in the weaving shed under the surface yarns to form loops when the yarns are bound by the weft shuttle in the Velvet and Wilton weaves; a round wire will withdraw, leaving uncut pile loops for round-wire Velvet and |
| Wireway | A sheet metal trough with hinge or removable cover to carry several electrical cables. |
| Wiring, Flexible | See Flexible Wiring. |
| With Framing | Of gypsumboard application, see Parallel Application. |
| Withdrawing Room | Drawing Room. |
| Withe | 1. A single tier of brick or stone in a wall. 2. A masonry separation or partition between flues in a chimney with more than one flue. |
| Withering | Withering or loss of gloss is often caused by varnishing open-pore woods without filling pores, use of improper undercoating and applying topcoat before undercoat dried. |
| Witness | A person who observed events and is called to testify concerning those events at a hearing. |
| Wobble Friction | In prestressed concrete, friction caused by unintended deviation of prestressing sheath or duct from its specified profile. |
| Wobble Plate-Swash Plate | Type of compressor designed to compress gas, with piston motion parallel to crankshaft. |
| Wolfram | See Tungsten. |
| Wolmanized Lumber | Lumber treated with Wolman salts to resist decay. |
| Wood | The hard fibrous material that makes up most of the trunk and branches of trees. |
| Wood Alcohol | Poisonous alcohol obtained by destructive distillation of wood. |
| Wood Anchor | A bolt or fastening device which attaches wood to wood or wood to another material. |
| Wood and Plastics | A category of the CSI Masterformat which is represented in Division 6 of the format. Commonly called just Wood or Carpentry. |
| Wood Backing | See Backing, 2. |
| Wood Batten | Wood strips covering vertical joints on boards used as exterior siding. |
| Wood Beam | Horizontal wood structural member that supports uniform and concentrated loads. |
| Wood Blocking | Small pieces of wood used to secure, join, or reinforce members, or to fill spaces between members. |
| Wood Board Roof Sheathing | Wood board material placed diagonally and secured to exterior side of roof rafters or trusses used to create rigidity in building superstructure and serve as base to receive roofing. |
| Wood Board Subflooring | Wood board material placed diagonally and secured to top side of floor joists used to create rigidity in building superstructure and serve as base to receive flooring. |
| Wood Board Wall Sheathing | Wood board material placed diagonally and secured to exterior side of exterior wall studs used to create rigidity in building superstructure and serve as base to receive siding or veneer construction. |
| Wood Bottom Plate | 1. In Western or Platform Framing construction, a horizontal wood lumber member which supports wall studs and ties them together; rests on the floor sheathing. 2. In Balloon Framing construction, a flat horizontal member, also called a mudsill, that suppo |
| Wood Bridging | Diagonal or longitudinal wood members used to keep wood joist members properly spaced, in lateral position, vertically plumb, and to distribute load. |
| Wood Buck | Wood frame typically built into concrete or masonry wall to accommodate finish door frame. |
| Wood Bulkhead | with it's components identified. |
| Wood Bumper | Wood component used to absorb impact and prevent damage to other surfaces, such as at a loading dock. |
| Wood Cant Strip | Sloped wood strip used at perimeter of roofing membrane to transition membrane from horizontal to vertical surface. |
| Wood Cap | Wood member used on top of an assembly to provide termination or finish. |
| Wood Carriage | Sloping beam installed between stringers to support steps of wood stair. |
| Wood Chip Mulch | Wood chips, spread on the ground to prevent erosion, control weeds, minimize evaporation, and improve the soil. |
| Wood Chisel | A sharp ended hand tool used to carve special shapes into wood. |
| Wood Column | Vertical wood structural member, usually supporting a beam. |
| Wood Cornice | Horizontal wood molding that may be combination of several shaped pieces. |
| Wood Decking | Plywood, lumber, or glued laminated member placed over roof or floor structural members for structural rigidity of building frame and to provide a surface for traffic or substrate for roofing or flooring system. |
| Wood Diagonal Bracing | Diagonal wood member used to prevent buckling or rotation of wood studs. |
| Wood Failure | The rupturing of wood fibers in strength tests of bonded joints usually expressed as the percentage of the total area involved which shows such failure. |
| Wood Fascia | Flat vertical wood member of cornice, eaves, or gable or other finish, generally that part of the assembly to which the gutter is secured. |
| Wood Fiber | 1. A wood cell, comparatively long (1/25 or less to 1/3 inch) (1 to 8 millimeters), narrow, tapering, and closed at both ends. 2. Ground or shredded, non-staining wood used as an aggregate with gypsum plaster. |
| Wood Filler | A heavily pigmented preparation used for filling and leveling off the pores in open-grained woods. |
| Wood Finish Concrete | The act or process of using a wood float to smooth irregularities left in curing concrete; work the surface or compact the concrete. |
| Wood Float | A flat wooden trowel used for floating mortar, normally used just before the pure coat. |
| Wood Floor Joist | Horizontal structural member of a framed floor. |
| Wood Floor Removal | The act or process of tearing up old wood floors. |
| Wood Flooring | Floor coverings consisting of dressed and finished boards. |
| Wood Flooring Institute (WFI) | 1800 Pickwick Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025, (312) 724-7700. |
| Wood Flour | Wood reduced to finely divided particles, approximately those of cereal flours in size, appearance, and texture, and passing a 40-100 mesh screen. |
| Wood Frame | Floors, roofs, exterior and bearing walls of a building or structure constructed with wood. |
| Wood Furring | Strips of wood applied to surfaces (usually concrete or masonry) to provide a planar surface and to provide a fastening base for finish material. |
| Wood Girder | Large horizontal wood beam which supports concentrated loads at isolated points along its length such as the support of joists or rafters. |
| Wood Ground | Narrow wood strips used around openings and at the perimeter to provide a guide for strike off of plaster to provide a straight and level or plumb line for plaster. |
| Wood Header | Wood member placed across joist ends or at openings in a wall to support joists or studs at openings in a framing system. |
| Wood Joist | Horizontal framing member of a floor, ceiling or flat roof. |
| Wood Lath | Strips of wood, 1-1/4 inches wide by 3/8 inch thick, formerly used as a plaster base; now entirely replaced by gypsum lath. |
| Wood Lintel | Wood header over openings in wood frame wall construction. |
| Wood Nailer | Strip of wood attached to steel or concrete to facilitate making nailed connections. |
| Wood Pile | A long, slender wooden pole driven into the ground to act as a foundation; a member embedded into the ground that supports vertical loads. |
| Wood Plate | Horizontal wood lumber member on top or bottom of wall studs which ties them together and supports studs, joists, or rafters. |
| Wood Pole | A long piece of wood used to carry utility lines. |
| Wood Railing Newel | Principal wood post at foot of stairway or central support of a winding flight of stairs. |
| Wood Railing Post | Large vertical wood member to support railing. |
| Wood rays | Strips of cells extending radially within a tree and varying in height from a few cells in some species to 4 inches or more in oak. The rays serve primarily to store food and to transport it horizontally in the tree. |
| Wood Rays | Strips of cells extending radially within a tree and varying in height from a few cells in some species to 4 or more inches in oak; the rays serve primarily to store food and transport it horizontally in the tree; on quartersawed oak, the rays form a cons |
| Wood Ridge Rafter | Horizontal wood supporting member at top of sloping roof immediately beneath sheathing. |
| Wood Riser | The vertical wood board under the tread in a stairway system. |
| Wood Roof Cricket | Relatively small elevated area of wood roof constructed to divert water around chimney, curb, or other projection. |
| Wood Roof Curb | Wood member elevated above plane of roof surface used for mounting of equipment or other elements. |
| Wood Roof Decking | Plywood, lumber, or glued laminated member placed over roof structural members for structural rigidity of building frame and to proved surface for traffic or substrate for roofing system. |
| Wood Roof Edge Strip | Wood strip (usually in plane of roof insulation) at perimeter of roof secured to structural roof deck used for securing roofing membrane. |
| Wood Roof Nailer | Wood strip (usually in plane of roof insulation) secured to structural roof deck used for securing roofing membrane. |
| Wood Saddle | Short horizontal wood member set on top of wood column to serve as seat for a girder. |
| Wood Saw | See Handsaw. |
| Wood Screw | A screw for fastening objects in wood. |
| Wood Shake | A hand-split shingle. |
| Wood Shingle | Factory cut and shaped roof covering of wood (usually of cedar), cut into modular lengths, widths, and rectangular profile. |
| Wood Siding | Wood used as exterior surface or cladding for exterior framed wall to provide protection from the elements. |
| Wood Sill Plate | Horizontal wood lumber member on bottom of wall studs which ties them together and rests on concrete or masonry; horizontal timbers of a house which either rest upon the masonry foundations or, in the absence of such, form the foundation. |
| Wood Sleeper | Wood member laid on concrete floor to support and receive fastening of wood subfloor or finish flooring. |
| Wood Stain | Finish for wood containing a dye or pigment; stain sinks into fibers of the wood to a certain extent while paint and lacquer ordinarily do not penetrate the wood. |
| Wood Stair Framing | Wood structural members supporting stairs or stair openings. |
| Wood Structural Panel | A structural panel product composed primarily of wood; wood structural panels include all-veneer plywood, composite panels containing a combination of veneer and wood-based material, and mat-formed panels such as oriented strand board and waferboard. |
| Wood Substance | The solid material of which wood is composed. |
| Wood Threshold | Wood strip fastened to floor beneath door. |
| Wood Treatment | The act or process of applying a variety of stains or chemicals to retard fire, decay, insect damage or deterioration, due to the elements. |
| Wood Trim | Wood millwork, primarily moldings, used to finish off and cover joints and openings. |
| Wood Truss | A structural component formed of wood members in a triangular arrangement, often used to support a roof. |
| Wood Truss Joist | Joists of rigid open framework construction with top and bottom chords, fabricated of wood web and chord members or combination wood chord members with metal web members. |
| Wood Truss Rafter | Truss where chord members also serve as rafters and ceiling joists. |
| Wood Wool | Long, curly, slender strands of wood used as an aggregate component for some particleboards. |
| Wood-Fibered Plaster | Neat gypsum basecoat plaster containing wood fiber as an aggregate and designed for use either with or without addition of other aggregates. |
| Wooden Brick | Piece of seasoned wood, made the size of a brick, and laid where it is necessary to provide a nailing space in masonry walls. |
| Woodmates | 2" vinyl faux wood blind, made by Hunter Douglas. |
| Woodwinds blinds | 2" faux blind made by Comfortex. |
| Woodwork Institute of California (WIC) | 1833 Broadway, PO Box 11428, Fresno, California 93773, (209) 233-9035. |
| Woodwork, Architectural | A higher than average quality feature of finish work using wood for ornamental design. |
| Wool | 1. Fine soft wavy hair from the fleece of sheep, goats, and other animals. 2. A yarn produced from this hair. 3. Fabric made from it. 4. Any of various wool-like substances like steel wool, lead wool, or mineral wool. |
| Wool, Mineral | Any of various lightweight vitreous fibrous materials used for heat and sound insulation. |
| Woolen Yarn | Soft, bulky yarn spun from both long and short wool fibers which are not combed straight but lie in all directions so they will interlock to produce a felt-like texture. |
| Work Load | The electric conductor between the source of arc- welding current and the work. |
| Work Product Exclusion | A provision in a liability insurance policy that withholds coverage for damages to work performed by or on behalf of the insured. |
| Work Station | An area defined by equipment or work surfaces intended for use by employees only, and usually for one or a small number of employees at a time; examples include ticket booths, the employee side of grocery store checkstands, the bartender area behind a bar |
| Work Top | A counter top. |
| Workability | 1.The ease with which material can be worked or smoothly cut and shaped with hand or machine tools. 2.In masonry, the texture of mortar such that it behaves properly under the trowel. 3. In painting, the texture and consistency of the paint such that it s |
| Workbench | Table at which work is accomplished. |
| Workers Compensation | A system established by statute under which employers are responsible for medical expenses and disabilities of workers injured while on the job; compensation is payable even if the employer is not at fault and even if the carelessness of the worker contri |
| Working Capital | The amount of capital available for current use in the operations of a business measured by the excess current assets (cash and assets readily converted into cash) after current liabilities have been subtracted. |
| Working Day | A day on which construction work may be done, eliminating Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. |
| Working Drawings | Drawings of the project that are used in the construction of structure, they are part of the contract documents. |
| Working Life | The period of time during which an adhesive, sealant, or other material, after mixing with catalyst, solvent, or other compounding ingredients, remains suitable for use; also called Pot Life. |
| Working Properties | The properties of an adhesive that affect or dictate the manner of application to the adherends to be bonded and the assembly of the joint before pressure application, such as viscosity, pot life, assembly time, and setting time. |
| Working Stress | The maximum permissible stress used in the working stress design of a member. |
| Working Stress Design | A design theory that is used in the design of concrete and masonry members; safety is provided by limiting allowable stresses. |
| Workout | A procedure whereby a borrower negotiates a restructuring of a mortgage or trust deed in lieu of a foreclosure. |
| Worm Gear | Gear teeth spirally cut into a shaft meshing with a worm wheel; the worm gear, or worm, and the worm wheel are on perpendicular axes. |
| worsted | A hard-wearing wool fabric with a smooth texture which is useful for upholstery. |
| Worsted Yarn | Strong, dense yarn made from long staple fibers which are combed to align the fibers and remove extremely short fibers. |
| Woven Carpet | Carpet made by simultaneously interweaving backing and pile yarns on one of several types of looms from which the carpets derive their names. |
| Woven Wire Fabric | A plaster reinforcement of zinc-coated wire, not lighter than No. 18 gauge when woven into 1 inch openings, or not lighter than No. 17 gauge when woven into 1-1/2 inch openings; lath may be paper-backed, flat or self-furring. |
| WP | Water proofing. |
| Wraparound Deed of Trust or Mortgage | See All-Inclusive Deed of Trust or Mortgage. |
| Wrapped drywall | Areas that get complete drywall covering, as in the doorway openings of bifold and bipass closet doors. |
| WRCLA | Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. |
| Wrench | A hand or power tool, some adjustable, for gripping and turning bolts and nuts. |
| Wrinkle | 1. A pattern of ridges usually caused by roofing plies not being flat in the bitumen intermopping. 2. See Cockle. |
| Wrinkle Finish | A varnish or enamel film which exhibits fine wrinkles or ridges. Used extensively as a novelty finish. |
| Wrinkled Sheets | Pertaining to ceramic mosaics mounted on paper. Due primarily to rough handling in shipment. |
| Wrinkling | A surface defect resembling the skin of a prune. |
| Wrist Action | In using a spray gun, swiveling of wrist without arcing forearm. |
| Wrongful Death | Unlawful homicide, whether by negligence or intent. |
| Wrought Iron | A tough malleable, relatively soft, form of iron suitable for forging or rolling; not cast. |
| WWF | Welded Wire Fabric. |
| WWM | Welded Wire Mesh. |
| WWPA | Western Wood Products Association. |
| Wye | A Y-shaped pipe fitting which joins 3 pipes. |
| Wythe | 1. Each continuous vertical section or layer of masonry one unit in thickness; also called a Tier. 2. The thickness of masonry separating flues in a chimney. |