House Framing

The top board of a wall.

• Cap plate

• Header

• Jack rafter

• King stud

The highest point on a roof

• Sill

• Stud

• Ridge

• Sole plate

The triangular shape formed on the end of a truss roof house.

• Bird's mouth

• Gable

• King stud

• Wall tie

Fascia

• The board that runs horizontally to support the ceiling

• A short board that runs vertically below or above windows

• A temporary board placed on a wall as support

• The board that attaches to the end of a truss, where the gutters attach.

Boards that run horizontally and support the ceiling or floor

• Joists

• Headers

• Cripples

• Sills

The opening left in a framed wall for a window or door.

• Rough opening

• Roughing in

• Truss opening

• Girder slot

The main support for a roof, normally at a 45 degree angle from other rafters

• Jack rafter

• Hip rafter

• King rafter

• Double rafter

Short boards that run vertically below and/or above windows and doors

• Cripples

• Headers

• Sills

• Trusses

Used to join two perpendicular walls

• Ridge plate

• Rafter

• Racking

• Wall tie

King stud

• The board that attaches to the roof rafters

• A temporary board placed to prevent racking

• The beam running horizontally above doors or windows

• The stud from the top to the bottom plate on either side of a window