| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Back Band | Back Band – Additional molding piece adhered to the outer edge of casing to create a more substantial appearance. |
| Baluster | The vertical supports of stair railing. Can range from very simple to very ornate turned pieces. |
| Balustrade | Balustrade – The railing that is supported by the balusters. |
| Bargeboard | Bargeboard – Elaborately carved trim used around the edge of gables, most commonly found on gothic revival homes. |
| Bas-Relief – Literally | Bas-Relief – Literally, “low-relief.” Raised or indented sculptural patterns that remain close to the surface plane. |
| Base Molding | Base Molding – The molding placed at the juncture of the floor and wall. |
| Batik | Batik – A method of applying dye to cloth that is covered, in part, with a dye-resistant, removable substance such as wax. After dyeing, the resist is removed, and the design appears in the original color against the newly colored background. |
| Beading | Beading – The process whereby decorative beads are sewn, glued, or otherwise attached to a surface. |
| Beam | Beam – The primary horizontal load-bearing element in a structure. |
| Bed | Bed – A coating of sedimentary rock. |
| Bedding Plane | Bedding Plane – Surface in sedimentary rock parallel to the original surface on which the sediment was deposited. |
| Beveled Glass | Beveled Glass – Plate glass that has its perimeter ground and polished at an angle. |
| Bidet | Bidet – A sanitary fixture for cleansing the genitourinary area of the body. |
| Bills of Lading | Bills of Lading – The form that the supplier provides to the truck driver to show what is being shipped and who has title to the goods. |
| Bleaching | Bleaching – Using chemicals, such as bleach, to dramatically lighten or to remove color in a wood. |
| Bleed | Bleed – Color penetrates through another coat of paint. |
| Board-and-Batten | Board-and-Batten – A form of vertical siding composed of boards laid side by side, with the resulting joints covered by narrow strips of wood, or battens. |
| Bonded Glass | Bonded Glass – Glass pieces that have been adhered together by glue, resin, or cement. |
| Bonsai | Bonsai – The art of dwarfing trees or plants by growing and training them in containers. |
| Book Match | Book Match – A look achieved when alternating pieces of veneer are placed so that adjacent edges meet. The name comes from the final appearance, which resembles the pages of an open book. This is one of the most common veneer methods. |
| Box Burns | Box Burns – Furniture damage caused when the shipping carton rubs against the fabric or frame materials. |
| Bracket | Bracket – Supporting element found below an eave. |
| Brass | Brass – An alloy of copper and zinc. Brass is yellow in color, and though harder than either of its constituents, it is appropriately malleable for jewelry making. |
| Breccia | Breccia – A clastic sedimentary rock with angular fragments. |
| Brickmould | Brickmould – Exterior wood moulding to cover the gap between a door or window and its frame. |
| Bronze | Bronze – Habitually, an alloy of copper and tin generally used in casting. The term is often applied to brown-colored brasses. |
| Burl | Burl – A dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree. Intricately patterned burl wood is often used by wood turners and furniture makers. |
| Burl | Burl – A swirl or twist in wood grain, usually occurring near a knot. This unusual pattern is used for decorative elements such as cabinet panels and veneers. |
| Butcher Block | Butcher Block – A surface made from thick cubes or strips of hardwood used for cutting or chopping food items. |
| Butt Hinges | Butt Hinges – Two metal plates joined with a pin, one being fastened to the door jamb or frame and the other to the door. |