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Summary: An explanation of terms used in the home improvement, building and construction trades for letter B.
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Building dictionary for the letter B - Page 4
Base
(1) The lowest part of anything upon which the whole rests. (2) A subfloor slab or "working mat," either previously placed and hardened or freshly placed, on which floor topping is placed. (3) The underlying stratum on which a concrete slab, such as pavement, is placed. (4) The protection covering the unfinished edge of plaster or gypsum board. (5) The lowest visible part of a building.
Base coat
(1) The plaster beneath the finish coat. (2) The initial coat of paint or stain applied to a surface.
Base course
(1) A layer of material of specified thickness constructed on the subgrade or sub-base of a pavement to serve one or more functions, such as distributing loads, providing drainage, or minimizing frost action. (2) The lowest course of masonry in a wall, pier, foundation, or footing course.
Base line
(1) The meticulously established reference line used in surveying. (2) In construction, the centre or reference line of location of a highway, railway, building, or bridge.
Basement
The bottom full story of a building below the first floor. A basement may be partially or completely below grade.
Baseplate
A plate used to distribute vertical loads from structural columns or machinery.
Basin
(1) A somewhat circular natural or excavated hollow or depression having sloping sides and usually used for holding water. (2) A similarly shaped plumbing fixture, such as a sink.
Basin wrench
A wrench with a long shank and ratcheted jaws used in plumbing for difficult-to-reach areas, as when installing a set of taps or mixer behind a sink.
Basket weave
A pattern of bricks placed flat or on edge and arranged in a checkerboard layout.
Basstimber (American linden)
A fine-textured softtimber used for carving, cabinet work, and paneling. Basstimber is also the primary source of excelsior.
Bastard file
A flat file whose grain is somewhat less than coarse and which is primarily used to smooth metal surfaces.
Bat
A burned brick or shape that, because it is broken, has only one good end. (2) A piece of brick. (3) A single unit of batt insulation.
Batch
The quantity produced as the result of one mixing operation, as in a batch of concrete.
Batch mixer
A machine that mixes concrete, grout, or mortar in batches in accordance to a design mix. Each batch is used completely before a second batch is started.
Batch plant
An installation of equipment including batchers and mixers as required for batching and mixing concrete materials. Called a mixing plant when mixing equipment is included.
Batement light
A window constructed with an angular bottom to fit a curved or sloping member.
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room used to maintain personal hygiene, usually containing a toilet, vanity or wall basin, shower and bath.
Batt insulation
Thermal or sound-insulating material, such as fibreglass or expanded shale, which has been fashioned into a flexible, blanket-like form, often with a vapor barrier on one side. Batt insulation is manufactured in dimensions that facilitate its installation between the studs or joists of a frame construction.
Batten
(1) A narrow strip of timber used to cover the joints between sheets of fibre cement. (2) A strip of timber placed perpendicular to several parallel pieces of timber to hold them together. (3) A furring strip fastened to a wall to provide a base for lathing or plastering. (4) In roofing, a strip of timber placed over rafters to provide a base for the application of concrete or terracotta tiles.
Batter
(1) To incline from the vertical. (2) A slope, such as that of the outer side of a wall, that is wider at the bottom than at the top.
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