Base shoe
Molding used next to the floor on interior base board. Sometimes called a carpet strip.
Bat
- A half-brick.
Basement window inserts
The window frame and glass unit that is installed in the window buck.
Batt
A section of fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation measuring 15 or 23 inches wide by four to eight feet long and various thicknesses. Sometimes "faced" (meaning to have a paper covering on one side) or "unfaced" (without paper).
Batten
Narrow strips of wood used to cover joints or as decorative vertical members over plywood or wide boards. Narrow strip of wood, plastic, metal or gypsum board used to conceal an open joint.
Batch
The amount of concrete mixed at one time.
BCMC
Board for the Coordination of Model Codes; part of the Council of American Building Officials Association (CABO).
Bay window
Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building, either square or polygonal in plan.
Beam
A structural member transversely supporting a load. A structural member carrying building loads (weight) from one support to another. Sometimes called a "girder". A straight horizontal structural loadbearing member spanning a distance between supports.
Bauxite
Ore containing high percentages of aluminum oxide.
Bearing partition
A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
Bearing Pile
A pile that carries a vertical load.
Bearing header
(a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural member over an opening (for example over a door or window).
Bearing Capacity
The ability of a soil to support load.
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.
Bedrock
A subsurface layer of earth that is suitable to support a structure. The hard, solid rock formation at or below the surface of the earth.
Bed
To set firmly and permanently in place.
Bearing Wall
A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight. A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to it's own weight.
Bearing point
A point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation
Bearing Plate
A steel plate placed under a beam, column, or truss to distribute the end reaction from the beam to the supporting member.