Actual Dimensions
The exact measurements of a piece of lumber.

Attached Deck
A deck with one or more sides supported by a ledger and attached to a house.

Baluster
One of a series of vertical supports used between posts of a railing.

Barbed Wire
Wire fencing that is constructed with barbs or points. Most often used in fencing for agricultural purposes.

Beam
A horizontal support member on which joists rest.

Block Plane
A plane used to finish off edges of a deck.

Bottom Rail
A rail attached to the bottom of the balusters.

Bracing
Structural supports that provide stability to the structure.

Bridging
Boards placed perpendicularly between joists to stiffen them.

Buglehead Screw
A screw that doesn't tear the wood when screwed down flush with the surface.

Cantilever
the allowable overhang past the joists.

Cap Rail
The top horizontal piece of a railing.

Carriage Bolt
A bolt used to hold structural pieces together.

Chain Link
A fence made from steel posts and chain link fencing.

Codes
Building regulations adopted by city, county, or state building departments.

Conduit
Metal pipes used to contain electrical wiring in outdoor settings.

Corner Post
The post that sits at the corner where two lines of fencing meet.

Cross fencing
Fence lines that divide pastures within a piece of property.

Decking
Boards used for the surface of a deck.

Double Swing Gate
A hinged gate with two leaves, most often used to gate driveways or other areas that demand a wide gate.

Elevated Deck
A deck requiring a structure of beams and posts to raise it off the ground to the desired level.

End Post
A fence post that is only punched on one side and marks the end of a line of fencing. End posts are used as the terminal post or as gate posts.

Electric Fence
Any fence through which an electric current is run, usually to keep livestock or animals inside a perimeter.

Eye Top
In chain link fencing the eye top is a cap for a line post that has a loop through which to pass the top rail.

Fascia Board
the boards used to cover joists.

Fence Line
The actual position of the fence.

Fence Laying
Delivering materials to the fence line and laying them out before the job starts.

Fencing Pliers
Pliers made specifically for fencing projects. Especially helpful when installing wire fencing.

Fence Tie
Ties that are used in chain link fencing to attach the fence to the line posts.

Footing
The support of a deck's post that is below ground.

Freestanding Platform Deck
A deck supported entirely by its own structure, typically used for remote decks.

Gate
structure that allows access through the fence.

Grade
A designation given to lumber indicating the amount of flaws and knots typically found in the wood.

Grade-Level Deck
A deck flush with the ground level.

Inset
part of the deck that has been cut out to for landscape elements such as trees.

Joist
Horizontal framing pieces that support decking.

Lattice Fencing
Wood fencing, usually cedar, constructed of prefabricated lattice panels.

Ledger
A board that is horizontally attached to the side of a house and holds up one edge of a deck.

Linear Feet
The total length of required lumber.

Line Load
The weight a deck is designed to support.

Line Post
A post between terminal posts that provides support for the fence.

Load Area
The area found by multiplying the beam spacing by the post spacing to determine the post thickness required by building codes.

Multilevel Deck
A deck that has several areas at different levels.

Ornamental Fencing
Any fence that is made of, or imitates, a cast iron fence. Provides for traditional fencing needs with added aesthetic appeal.

Perimeter Fence
Fence line around the outer boundary of a piece of property.

Picket Fence
Any fence in which the fencing is comprised of evenly spaced, vertical slats.

Post
The vertical structural that supports the beam.

Post Anchor
A metal piece that keeps the post from being exposed to moisture in the ground.

Post Cap
A small piece of wood attached to the top of the post to cover it.

Post Driver
A tool used for driving fence posts into the ground.

Post and Rail
Any fence made from horizontal rails fastened to vertical posts.

Pressure Treated Wood
Wood subjected to a high-pressure treatment of chemicals as a preservative.

Privacy Fence
A fence with close fitting vertical pickets that block views into a yard or area

Rail End
The post at each end or corner of a run of fencing.

Rail Post
A vertical structural support for the railing.

Rail Spacing
The distance between the rails on a fence. In general, the more rails there are, the closer the spacing.

Raking
The installation of fence sections that allow the fence to follow the grade.

Remote Deck
A freestanding platform located away from the house.

Rim Joist
A board fastened to the end of the joists.

Rise
The distance in height from one stair tread to another.

Riser
The up right piece between two stair steps.

Run
The distance in length from one stair riser to another.

Section
The run of fence between two posts.

Shade Structure
A structure built above a deck that provides a shaded area.

Skirt
A decorative board placed around the bottom of the deck to hide the support structure.

Span
The distance between supports.

Top Plate
Attaches to the Top Rail to support it.

Top Rail
The horizontal rail installed on the edge of the deck.

Torpedo Level
A level used in deck building to set posts level.

Tread
the surface of each step in a staircase.

Zoning Laws
Laws adopted by local governments for new construction.