Tab - The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.

Tack - A temporarily nailed. An object it "tacked" into place to assist in positioning, measuring, handling, etc.

Tail Beam - A relatively short beam or joist supported in a wall on one end and by a header at the other.

Tailpiece - Section of pipe that runs between a fixture outlet and the trap.

Tail Joists - Relatively shorter joists that join against a header or trimmer in floor framing.

Taping - The process of covering drywall joints with paper tape and joint compound.

Tapping Block - Block of wood used directly against the edge of laminate boards during installation when tightening the joints with a hammer.

T Bar - Ribbed, "T" shaped bars with a flat metal plate at the bottom that are driven into the earth. Normally used chain link fence poles, and to mark locations of a water meter pit.

Teco - Metal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. Sometimes called a hurricane clip.

Tee - A "T" shaped plumbing fitting.

Teflon Tape - Tape made from Teflon that is wrapped around threads and helps to seal threaded pipe joints.

Telepost - are columns made up of steel cylinders topped by a couple of steel plates joined by a large threaded rod. This threaded rod allows the overall height of the telepost assembly to be adjusted by turning the rod. Teleposts are installed underneath the beams that support floor joists, which make them an integral part of the floor structure. (See Jack Post)

Tempered - Strengthened tempered glass will not shatter nor create shards, but will "pelletize" like an automobile window. Required in tub and shower enclosures and locations, entry door glass and sidelight glass, and in a windows when the window sill is less than 16" to the floor.

Tensile Strength - The greatest longitudinal stress a structural member can resist without adverse affects (breaking or cracking).

Termites - Wood eating insects that superficially resemble ants in size and general appearance, and live in colonies.

Termite Shield - A shield, usually of galvanized metal, placed in or on a foundation wall or around pipes to prevent the passage of termites.

Terra Cotta - A ceramic material moulded into masonry units.

T & G, Tongue and Groove - A joint made by a tongue (a rib on one edge of a board) that fits into a corresponding groove in the edge of another board to make a tight flush joint. Typically, the sub-floor plywood is T & G.

Thermopane - Two or more sheets of glass set apart from one another with a vacuumed space between to prevent condensation and reduce heat loss.

Thermoply ™ - Exterior laminated sheathing nailed to the exterior side of the exterior walls. Normally ¼ " thick, 4 X 8 or 4 x 10 sheets with an aluminumized surface.

Thermostat - A device which relegates the temperature of a room or building by switching heating or cooling equipment on or off.

Thermostatic Valve - Pressure-balancing shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control. When temperature or pressure fluctuations occur at the water inlets, a thermal actuator adjusts the hot and cold ratio to maintain the original temperature setting.

Thin-Set Mortar - A mixture of Portland cement and sand used to adhere the tile to the substrate.

Three-Dimensional Shingles - Laminated shingles. Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called "architectural shingles".

Three-Way Switch - An electric switch that has three terminals; used to control a circuit from two different locations.

Threshold - The bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior door frame. Generally they are adjustable to keep a tight fit with the door slab.

Throw - The distance a bolt or latch projects from the faceplate or case of a lock in the extended position.

Time and Materials Contract - A construction contract which specifies a price for different elements of the work such as cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit, etc. A contract which may not have a maximum price, or may state a 'price not to exceed'.

Tip Up - The downspout extension that directs water (from the home's gutter system) away from the home. They typically swing up when mowing the lawn, etc.

Title - Evidence (usually in the form of a certificate or deed) of a person's legal right to ownership of a property.

TJI or TJ - Manufactured structural building component resembling the letter "I". Used as floor joists and rafters. I-joists include two key parts: flanges and webs. The flange or from of the I joist may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 ½" width. The web or center of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists are available in lengths up to 60'' long.

T-Molding - Molding piece that finishes the space between two areas of wood or laminate flooring. For laminate, it also fills the gap at doorways.

Toggle Bolt - A two-piece assembly consisting of a threaded bolt and an expanding clip that can fit through a drilled hole. The clip can spring outward to provide anchorage from the blind side.

Toe Kick - Indentation at the bottom of a floor-based cabinet.

Toenailing - To drive a nail in at a slant. Method used to secure floor joists to the plate.

Ton (H.V.A.C.) - The unit of measurement for air conditioning system capacity; one ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 BTU's of heat energy per hour from a home. Central air conditioners are sized in tons. Residential units usually range from 1 to 5 tons.

Top Chord - The upper or top member of a truss.

Top Plate - Top horizontal member of a frame wall supporting ceiling joists, rafters, or other members.

Top Soil - The upper layer of usually dark soil, which supports vegetation.

Track And Accent Lighting - Condition specific lighting that meets special lighting requirements, providing variable lighting degrees of light and may distribute light in multiple directions.

Transition Strips - Installation accessory that bridges two floors of different heights to equalize the height differential. Transition strips are functional and decorative.

Transmitter (Garage Door) - The small, push button device that causes the garage door to open or close.

Transom - A small window just above a door.

Trap - A plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air, gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture.

Travelers - Wires that carry current between three-way and/or four-way switches.

Tread - The walking surface board in a stairway on which the foot is placed.

Treated Lumber - A wood product which has been impregnated with chemical pesticides such as CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Often used for the portions of a structure which are likely to be in contact with soil and water. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.

Trellis - A system of horizontal joists supported on posts, designed to support growing plants

Trim (Plumbing, Heating, Electrical) - The work that the "mechanical" contractors perform to finish their respective aspects of work, and when the home is nearing completion and occupancy.

Trim - Interior - The finish materials in a building, such as mouldings applied around openings (window trim, door trim) or at the floor and ceiling of rooms (baseboard, cornice, and other mouldings). Also, the physical work of installing interior doors and interior woodwork, to include all handrails, guardrails, stair way balustrades, mantles, light boxes, base, door casings, cabinets, counter-tops, shelves, window sills and aprons, etc.

Trim - Exterior - The finish materials on the exterior a building, such as mouldings applied around openings (window trim, door trim), siding, windows, exterior doors, attic vents, crawl space vents, shutters, etc. Also, the physical work of installing these materials.

Trimmer - The vertical stud that supports a header at a door, window, or other opening.

Truss - An engineered and manufactured roof support member with "zig-zag" framing members. Does the same job as a rafter but is designed to have a longer span than a rafter.

TSSA – Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA)

Tub Trap - Curved, "U" shaped section of a bath tub drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through tubs water drain.

Tuck Pointing - Tuck pointing removes cracked or otherwise deteriorated mortar from joints by chiseling or grinding. New mortar is then carefully applied and smoothed to fill in the joints.

Turpentine - A petroleum, volatile oil used as a thinner in paints and as a solvent in varnishes.

Tyvek - DuPont™ Tyvek® acts like a windbreaker and wrapped over the sheathing and under the exterior siding—cut out around windows and doors and taped securely at the seams—resists air infiltration and water intrusion and makes for a more comfortable, energy-efficient home or building.