Terminology

A

Astragal

A moulding, attached to one of a pair of swinging doors, against which another door strikes.

B

Backband

A rabbeted (grooved or notched) moulding that is used to surround the very outside edge of a casing. Backband is often added to give casing profiles a ticker, more prominent appearance.

Baluster

Vertical posts designed to support a staircase handrail. Balusters provide a safety barrier and add to the character and style of the staircase.

Base

Applied where the floor and walls meet. Baseboards conceal the joint between flooring and walls, protect the walls from damage, and provide an architectural finish for a room.

Base Cap

A decorative piece installed on top of a baseboard, often an S4S board, to create a layered or built-up appearance.

Base Shoe

Installed flush to the baseboard at the place where the baseboard meets the floor. This will conceal any uneven surfaces or cracks.

C

Casing

The trim or moulding that surrounds a door or window opening. This will cover the gap between the frame and the wall.

Cove

A curved, concave trim profile usually applied to the transition where a wall meets the ceiling. Cove may also be applied as a decorative element to cabinets, shelving, staircases, and mantels.

Crown

A moulding applied to the transition where a wall and ceiling meet to add architectural detail and enhance a room's aesthetic.

Chair Rail

A horizontal trim piece, typically at the height of the back of a chair, installed to protect the wall from damage caused by furniture.

D

Door Jamb

The vertical portion of a door frame that supports the door's weight. Hinges are installed to one side, and a strike plate is installed to another. Two vertical door jambs and a header complete a door frame.

Door Casing

Also known as door trim, door casing is installed around the perimeter of a door to conceal the gap between a door frame and the wall.

E

Extension Jamb

A piece of moulding added to the interior of a window or door frame to extend the frame's depth to match the thickness of a wall.

F

Fillet

Fillet moulding is a small, decorative piece used as a transition or edge within a build-up or framing.

Full Round

A cylindrical piece of material used for decorative or functional purposes, such as closet rods and curtain rods.

Finger Joint

When two pieces of wood are joined by interlocking projections or grooves (that may resemble fingers).

H

Header

A horizontal piece placed at the top of a door or window to distribute the weight of the structure above the opening.

Handrail

The rail attached to balusters or a wall to add support and character to a staircase.

Hardwood

Wood from trees that are broad-leaved, deciduous and that reproduce through flowering plants. These trees usually have a complex wood structure, grow at slower rates and are denser and more durable compared to softwoods.

Half Round

A piece of moulding designed as a half-circle, used to add detail to windows, doors, frames, and cabinets.

Hinge Joint

The vertical strip of wood onto which the door and hinges are secured.

J

Jamb

The vertical frame pieces of a window or door frame.

K

Kick Plate

A protective plate added to the lower section of a door to prevent daily wear and damage.

L

Linear Foot

A measure of strictly length stated in feet or metric

M

Mull

The joining of two units at an angle that bisects the angle of a whole junction. Mouldings are typically mitered at a 45-degree angle.

Millwork

Products primarily manufactured from lumber in a planning mill or woodworking plant.

Moulding

Decorative trim installed within a home to protect walls, doors, and windows, as well as to enhance the architectural appeal of a space.

Miter Joint

The joining of two units at an angle that bisects the angle of a whole junction. In mouldings this is usually a 45 degree angle.

N

Nosed

A rounded edge.

O

Outside Corner

Moulding that covers and protects the exterior corners where two walls or surfaces meet in order to conceal raw edges.

P

Primed

When a wood piece has been coated with paint primers either in the factory or on site.

Panel Cap

Decorative moulding designed to cover the top edge of wainscoting or recessed wall panels to create an elegant, finished look.

Plinth Block

This piece of moulding acts as a transition piece and base for the door casing or pilaster.

Panel Moulding

Moulding installed to create a series of framed panels on a wall. Panel moulding may also be known as picture frame moulding.

Q

Quarter Round

A convex moulding that makes up a quarter of a circle. This moulding is often used as a base shoe.

R

Rail

Horizontal pieces of a door or window’s framework.

Riser

A vertical piece installed to connect the treads of the staircase.

Raised Moulding

Any moulding not on the same level or plane as the wood pieces to which it is attached.

S

S4S

S4S is industry shorthand for "surfaced four sides." Lumber has been milled to be smooth on all four sides of the piece.

Shim

A spacer used between the jamb and opening in a door or window to keep correct frame placement during installation.

Sill

The main horizontal element that makes up the bottom of the frame of a door or window.

Stop

A small piece of moulding installed to a jamb to prevent a door from swinging through the frame.

Stain

A discoloration of the wood. The stain does not affect the strength of the wood, only the color.

T

Tread

The horizontal part of a step on a staircase that is stepped on when walking up or down a staircase.

Transom

A window, usually rectangular, above a window or door that lets in more light to an area.

Threshold

A type of moulding used to create a transition between two types of flooring, such as hardwood flooring and carpet.

T-Astragal

The T-shaped piece of moulding installed vertically to one of a pair of double or French doors. This seals the gap between the two doors and stops the second door from swinging through.

V

V-Groove Paneling

A style of wall paneling that features a beveled edge, creating a "V" shaped groove where boards are joined.

W

Wainscoting

Wooden paneling that covers the lower portion of an interior wall to a certain height. It provides some protection but is mostly decorative.