WC. An abbreviation for water closet (toilet)

wafer board. A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue; often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing

walk-through. A final inspection of a home before the legal closing to look for and document problems that need to be corrected

wall out. When a painter pray paints the interior of a home

wane. Bark, or other lack of wood from any cause, on edge or corner of a piece of wood

warping. Any distortion in a material

warranty. In construction there are two general types of warranties:

• warranty provided by the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance

• warranty for the labor (e.g., a roofing contract may include a 20-year material warranty and a 10-year labor warranty; many new homebuilders provide a one-year warranty)

waste pipe and vent. Plumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage system

water board. Water resistant drywall to be used in tub and shower locations; usually green or blue in color

water closet. Another name for toilet

water meter pit (or vault). The box /cast iron bonnet and concrete rings containing the water meter

water-repellent preservative. A liquid applied to wood to give the wood water repellant properties

water table. The location of the underground water, and the vertical distance from the surface of the earth to this underground water

water tap. The connection point where the home water line connects to the main municipal water system

watt. A measure of the electrical requirement of an appliance calculated by multiplying the voltage times the amperage (e.g., a 150-watt light bulb which uses 110-volt power needs a little less than 1 amp (110 volts X 1 amp = 110 watts)

weatherization. Work on a building exterior in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling; work involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping

weatherstrip. Narrow sections of thin metal or other material installed to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors

weep holes. Small holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape

whole house fan. A fan designed to move air through and out of a home and normally installed in the ceiling

wind bracing. Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over

window buck. Square or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall; a window will eventually be installed in this "buck" during the siding stage of construction

window frame. The stationary part of a window unit; window sash fits into the window frame

window sash. The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border

wire nut. A plastic device used to connect bare wires together

Wonderboard ™. A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a ceramic tile backing material. Commonly used on bathtub decks

wood rays. Strips of cells extending radially within a tree and varying in height from a few cells in some species to four inches or more in oak; serve primarily to store and transport food horizontally in the tree

wrapped drywall. Areas that get complete drywall covering, as in the doorway openings of bifold and bipass closet doors