Glossary
An introduction to key terms in architectural timber, cladding, and construction.
Timber & Construction Glossary
A guide to the most common terms used in architectural timber, cladding, and construction. This glossary helps designers, builders, and homeowners to speak the same language when working with wood.
A
- Air-Dried
- Timber that has been naturally dried to reduce its moisture content — also referred to as seasoned wood.
- ALS (American Lumber Standard)
- The grading system that defines quality, strength, and size standards for American softwoods.
- AWPA (American Wood Preservers Association)
- The authority that develops standards for wood preservation and pressure treatment.
B
- Band Saw
- A continuous steel blade with teeth on one or both edges, used to cut lumber or logs.
- Batten
- Parallel strips of lumber fixed to a surface for cladding or paneling.
- Beam
- A horizontal structural member that carries loads across an opening.
- Board-on-Board (Vertical)
- A cladding design using overlapping vertical boards to form a closed joint and textured surface.
C
- Cant
- A partially sawn log, square or rectangular in section, intended for further processing.
- Cavity
- The open space behind cladding, formed using battens, that allows for ventilation and drainage.
- Cavity Barrier
- A fire-safety component that limits the spread of flame within cavities.
- Chamfer
- An angled or beveled edge cut along the length of a timber piece for smoothness or decoration.
- Check
- A small crack or separation along the grain of wood, often caused by drying.
- Composite
- A manufactured wood product made from wood fibers bonded with resins under heat and pressure.
- Counter Batten
- A secondary vertical batten installed beneath horizontal battens to increase cavity depth and airflow.
- Countersink
- A conical recess that allows a screw or nail head to sit flush with the timber surface.
- Cup
- A distortion in wood where the board curves across its width due to uneven shrinkage.
D
- Density
- The mass of wood per unit volume — an indicator of strength and durability.
- Distortion
- Any change in shape due to drying or moisture variation — includes bowing, cupping, and twisting.
- Durability
- Timber’s natural or treated resistance to decay, moisture, and insect attack.
E
- Eaves
- The lower edge of a roof that projects beyond the walls.
- Edger
- Sawmill machinery that squares and trims the edges of boards after initial cutting.
- End Grain
- The exposed face of a board that shows the ends of the growth rings.
F
- Face Fixing
- Attaching cladding or boards by driving fasteners through the visible face of the timber.
- FBM
- FBM (Foot Board Measure) is a unit of measure where a piece of wood measuring 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long equals 1 FBM. FBM is also known as “board feet”.
- Fiberboard
- A composite wood panel made from bonded wood fibers.
- Fire Resistance
- The ability of a material or structure to resist and contain fire spread for a specified time.
- Flame Retardant Treatment
- A process or coating that reduces the flammability and smoke production of timber.
- Flitch
- A section of a log that’s sawn on multiple sides and ready for further cutting into veneer or boards.
- Forestry
- The science and practice of managing forests for timber production, biodiversity, and sustainability.
G
- Gang Mill
- A sawmill machine with multiple parallel saw blades for efficient cutting.
- Grade
- The classification of timber based on its quality, strength, and appearance.
- Grain
- The natural pattern of wood fibers that defines its texture, direction, and aesthetic character.
- Green Chain
- A moving conveyor used in sawmills to transport freshly cut lumber for sorting and stacking.
H
- Heartwood
- The inner, mature part of a tree — usually darker and more durable than sapwood.
- Headrig
- The primary saw in a mill used to make the first cuts on a log.
J
- Jamb
- The vertical frame member on either side of a window or door opening.
- Joint
- The meeting point where two or more pieces of timber are joined together.
- Joist
- A horizontal timber or engineered beam supporting a floor or ceiling.
K
- Kerf
- The width of material removed by a saw blade during cutting.
- Kiln Drying
- The controlled process of drying timber in a heated chamber to a precise moisture level, improving stability.
L
- Laminate
- Multiple layers of timber or veneer bonded together for added strength and stability.
- Lathe
- A machine that rotates logs for peeling veneer or shaping turned components.
- Lignin
- A natural compound in wood that binds cellulose fibers together, giving timber its rigidity.
- Lineal Foot
- A measurement of length only, where any material that is 12 inches long, regardless of width or thickness, equals 1 lineal foot.
M
- MBF
- A unit of measurement meaning “thousand board feet.”
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
- An engineered wood product made from fine wood fibers bonded under pressure for a smooth, uniform surface.
- Millwork
- Manufactured wood components such as trim, moldings, and frames used in building interiors.
- Moisture Content
- The percentage of water in wood relative to its oven-dry weight; affects movement and stability.
- Movement
- Expansion or contraction of timber caused by moisture variation — primarily across the grain.
P
- Panel
- A flat sheet product like plywood, MDF, or OSB used for walls, ceilings, or structural sheathing.
- Permeability
- How easily liquids such as preservatives or fire retardants can penetrate timber; varies by species.
- Planer
- A machine used to smooth and size boards to uniform thickness.
- Preservative Treatment
- Industrial impregnation of timber with chemicals to protect against decay and insect attack.
- Profile
- The specific shape or contour of a cladding or panel board.
Q
- Quarter Sawn
- A cutting method where logs are sawn at right angles to the growth rings, resulting in stable boards with a distinct grain pattern.
R
- Resaw
- To saw timber again, typically to produce thinner boards from a thicker piece.
- Resin
- A natural or synthetic substance that acts as a binder or adhesive in timber and composites.
S
- Sapwood
- The lighter, outer portion of a tree that transports nutrients and is less durable than heartwood.
- Seasoned
- Timber that has been dried to reduce moisture and improve performance in service.
- Sheathing
- Panels like plywood or OSB used to enclose wall or roof frames.
- Shrinkage
- The reduction in wood dimensions as it dries and loses moisture.
T
- Tongue and Groove (T&G)
- A joint system where one board’s tongue fits into the groove of another for a tight, aligned connection.
- Twist
- A distortion in timber where the ends rotate in opposite directions due to uneven drying.
V
- Ventilated Cavity
- An air space behind exterior cladding that promotes moisture evaporation and prolongs material life.
W
- Wane
- A missing edge or corner of wood where bark remains or material is absent.
- Weathering
- The gradual change in wood’s colour and texture due to exposure to sunlight and rain.
- Wood Modification
- Enhancement of timber through thermal or chemical processes to improve durability and stability.
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