Faced concrete
To finish the front and all vertical sides of a concrete porch, step(s), or patio. Normally the "face" is broom finished.
Face Brick
Brick made or selected to produce an attractive exterior wall.
Face nail
To install nails into the vertical face of a bearing header or beam.
Faceted Glass Window
A window made by bonding 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick glass pieces with an epoxy resin matrix or reinforced concrete.
Fatigue Strength
A measure of the ability of a material or structural member to carry a load without failure when the loading is applied a specified number of times.
Fatigue Test
A test to determine the behavior of a material under fluctuating stresses.
Fahrenheit Temperature
The temperature scale on which. at standard atmospheric pressure. the boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and absolute zero is 2459.69 degrees Fahrenheit.
Facing brick
The brick used and exposed on the outside of a wall. Usually these have a finished texture.
Fast Track
Method that telescopes or overlaps traditional design-construction process. Overlapping phases as opposed to sequential phases is keynote of the concept.
Fatigue Limit
The number of cycles of loading of a specified type that a specified material can withstand before failure.
Fatigue
Condition of material under stress that has lost, to some degree, its power of resistance as a result of repeated application of stress, particularly if stress reversals occur as with positive and negative cyclical loading.
Fan Coil Unit
The fan and heat exchanger for cooling and heating that are assembled in a common cabinet.
Fascia
Horizontal boards attached to rafter/truss ends at the eaves and along gables. Roof drain gutters are attached to the fascia. Board fastened to the ends of the rafters or joists forming part of a cornice.
Factor of Safety
Ratio of the ultimate unit stress to the working or allowable stress.
Female
Any part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another (male) part can be inserted. Internal threads are female.
FHA strap
Metal straps that are used to repair a bearing wall "cut-out", and to "tie together" wall corners, splices, and bearing headers. Also, they are used to hang stairs and landings to bearing headers.
Felt
Tar paper. Installed under the roof shingles. Normally 15 lb. or 30 lb. A sheet material made using a fiber mat that has been saturated and topped with asphalt.
Field measure
To take measurements (cabinets, countertops, stairs, shower doors, etc.) in the home itself instead of using the blueprints.
Filler
An inert material added to a plastic resin to alter the strength and working properties and to lower the cost.
Fiber Saturation Point
The moisture content of wood at which the cell walls are saturated but there is no water in the cell cavities.