Jargon Buster - Letter W

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Wainscot
Wood panelling or boarding on the lower part of an internal wall.

Wall Plate
A horizontal timber which runs along the top of a wall to support the ends of joists and spread their load.

Waney edge
An un-smoothed, natural wavy edge on a plank, which could be covered by tree bark.

Warp
To bend or twist as a result of damp or heat.

Wastepipe
Drainage pipe for baths, basins, WCs.

Water Hammer
Knocking noises caused by vibration in pipes which is caused by fluctuating water pressure.

Weathered
Wear and tear caused by exposure to the weather.

Weep Hole
A small hole at the bottom of a wall which allows water absorbed by the wall to drain away outside.

Wet Rot
Damage and decay of timber caused by damp, less serious than Dry Rot. Latin name: Coniophora Puteana.

Wet Trades
All plastering and rendering, both of which require large amounts of water.

Woodworm
Colloquial term for beetle infestation, by far the most frequently encountered insect attack in structural and joinery timbers.