Glossary

Construction Dictionary and Glossary of Construction Terms

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B

Term	Definition
Back Blocking	A short piece of gypsum board adhesively laminated behind the joints between each framing member to reinforce the joint.
Backup Strips	Pieces of wood nailed at the ceiling-sidewall corner to provide fastening for ends of plaster base or gypsum panels.
Balloon Frame	Method of framing outside walls in which studs extend the full length or height of the wall.
Bar Joist	Open-web, flat truss structural member used to support floor or roof structure. Web section is made from bar or rod stock, and chords are usually fabricated from "T" or angle sections.
Batten	Narrow strip of wood, plastic, metal or gypsum board used to conceal an open joint.
BCMC	Board for the Coordination of Model Codes; part of the Council of American Building Officials Association (CABO).
Beam	Loadbearing member spanning a distance between supports.
Bearing	Support area upon which something rests, such as the point on bearing walls where the weight of the floor joist or roof rafter bears.
Bed	To set firmly and permanently in place.
Bending	Bowing of a member that results when a load or loads are applied laterally between supports.
Board Foot (Bd. Ft.)	Volume of a piece of wood, nominal 19 x 129 x 18. All lumber is sold by the board-foot measure.
Brick Veneer	Non-loadbearing brick facing applied to a wall to give appearance of solid-brick construction; bricks are fastened to backup structure with metal ties embedded in mortar joints.
Bridging	Members attached between floor joists to distribute concentrated loads over more than one joist and to prevent rotation of the joist. Solid bridging consists of joist-depth lumber installed perpendicular to and between the joists. Cross-bridging consists of pairs of braces set in an "X" form between joists.