Construction and Framing Terms: Walls, Roofs, and Structural Components

Cripple Stud

A short piece of stud used to transfer a load from a top plate to a header, or from a sill to a sole plate.

Header

A doubled 2x6 or 2x8 that is held up by trimmer boards. It is used to transfer the weight of the wall around an opening down to the sole plate.

Sill

The horizontal board below the opening of a window.

Sole Plate

A 2x4 that forms the base of the wall and lies horizontal on the floor. It allows for a good seal between the wall and floor and allows the wall to be anchored to the floor.

Stud

The name for the majority of boards used in constructing a wall. Typically 2x4s that go vertically from the sole plate to the top plate. They carry the load from the top of the wall to the floor.

Top Plate

A 2x4 that forms the top of the wall, and lies horizontally on top of the vertical studs.

Trimmer

Used to hold up a header. They transfer the load of the header down to the sole plate.

King Stud

Used to hold the trimmer and header in place. They transfer the load of the top plate down to the sole plate.

Level

What is this tool called?

Rough Opening

The opening left in a frame wall to receive a window or a door. It is 2" larger than the door/window so the carpenter can fit them both square and plumb.

On Center (O.C.)

Indicates that the given dimension applies to the distance between the center of one member to the center of the next member.

Anchor Bolt

Long threaded metal that is used to connect structural and non-structural elements to the concrete.

Plumb

Perfectly vertical framing member which gives it maximum load-bearing capacity. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to check.

Level Surface

Perfectly flat and smooth surface on a foundation or other horizontal surface when building a house.

Square

Two intersecting surfaces that form a 90 degree angle. (think geometry)

OSB (Oriented Strand Board)

Type of engineered wood formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in an alternating orientation. (It looks like plywood.)

Insulation

Material used to resist heat transfer, especially in a building.

Truss

An engineered web of triangles joined together to enable the even distribution of loaded weight.

Rafter

A sloped structural piece (typically wooden beams) that extend from the ridge to the wall plate. They're designed to support the roof weight. It uses a ridge beam in the center.

Eave

The part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.

Fascia

A thin long board that runs along the lower outer edge of your roof and covers the entire roofline. It is usually painted a different color than the house.