D

Dado Joint

A groove cut across the face of a board to receive the end of another board. Often used in quality shelf and cabinet construction.

Damper

A movable plate, which regulates the draft of a stove, fireplace, or furnace.

Dead Load

All the unmovable weight in a structure and the weight of the structure itself.

Deed

Actually, any one of many conveyancing or financing instruments, but generally a conveyancing instrument, given to pass fee title to property upon sale.

Dentil

One of a series of small projecting rectangular blocks forming a molding under an overhang, most common in colonial-style homes.

Dimension Lumber

Framing lumber, which is 2 in. thick and from 4 to 12 in. wide.

Distribution Panel

The main box through which electrical power is brought into the home and then distributed.

Dome

A roof used over an entryway or a complete structure in the form of a hemisphere.

Dome Structures

Structures incorporating design elements of the geodesic dome or triangular space frames.

Door

A sliding or hinged structure, covering an opening to a cupboard, closet, room, building, etc. May be used as an entrance or exit. Usually constructed of wood, glass, or metal, depending on its service.

Doorjamb

Two vertical pieces held together by a head jamb forming the inside lining of a door opening.

Doorstop

The strips on the doorjambs against which the door closes.

Dormer

An opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which projects out to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings.

Double Glazing

Making a pane of two pieces of glass with air space between and sealed to provide insulation.

Double Header

Two or more timbers or lumber joined for strength.

Double Hung

Refers to a window having top and bottom sashes, each capable of movement up and down.

Douglas Fir

A yellow to pale reddish soft wood. The leading veneer wood primarily converted into plywood and widely used in building and construction. Lumber used in general construction. Mill products used for sash, flooring, and doors.

Downspout

A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater from roof gutters.

Dressed Size

The actual size of lumber after jointing and surfacing.

Drip Cap

A molding placed on the exterior topside of a door or window frame to cause water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.

Dry Wall

Interior covering material, such as gypsum board or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.

Dry Well

A pit located on porous ground, walled up with rock, which allows water to seep through; used for the disposal of rainwater or as the effluent from a septic tank.

Ducts

In a house, usually round or rectangular metal pipes for distributing warm air from the heating plant to rooms, or air from a conditioning device or as cold air returns. Ducts are also made of composition materials.

Duplex Outlet

Electrical wall outlet having two plug receptacle.

Dwarf Wall

A low wall built to retain an excavation or embankment.