Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Term of the Day: Tack rag A piece of cheesecloth or other fabric treated with turpentine and varnish to create a sticky or tacky quality so the rag will pick up and hold all the dust that it touches. Hairline Cracking Fine lines or incipient checks in the dried surface of finishing materials. Often caused by sudden temperature changes. Hammertone finish A paint finish which makes the surface look as though it has been peened. Such finishes usually employ aluminum flake pigments and silicone oils. Hand edger A hand tool used to round the edges of a concrete slab. Hardboard Manufactured pressed-wood panels; hardboard is specifically rejected by some manufacturers as an acceptable substrate for resilient floors. Hardener An activator curing agent, catalyst or cross linking agent. Hardness Also called calcium hardness. The amount of dissolved minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) in a body of water. In unbalanced water, high levels cause scale and low levels corrode surfaces and equipment. Hardware Wood, plastic or metal plated trim found on the exterior of furniture, such as knobs, handles and decorative trim. Hardwood Wood that comes from deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves in fall). Harmonious color scheme Also called analogous, a combination focused on neighboring hues on the color wheel. The shared underlying color generally gives such schemes a coherent flow. Haze The dullness of a surface removable by polishing. It usually results from faulty solvent balance or incompatibility of ingredients. Head jamb The top member of a door or window frame; on doors, the frame consists of a head jamb, two side jambs and a threshold; window frames are the same, except the bottom member is called a sill or stool. Head wall The wall that faces you when walking down a stairway. Header In wall framing, a horizontal structural member that forms the top of a window, door, skylight or other opening to provide framing support and transfer weight loads. Header thickness must equal wall width. Headroom (of stairs) The vertical distance from the nosing (the part of the tread that overhangs the face of the riser) to any object above. Heart grain Wood with a V-shaped grain pattern. Heartwood Wood near the center of a tree that is harder, stronger and usually more rot-resistant than wood closer to the outside. Heat Resistance The ability of a coating to remain intact and undamaged after exposure to a predetermined elevated temperature. Hide glue The traditional glue used by cabinetmakers. It comes in toffee-like sheets, in pearls or as a premixed liquid. Hide glue is reversible by applying heat and water. Hiding The ability of a coating to obscure the surface to which it is applied. High Build A term referring to a paint film which can produce a thick film in a single coat. High Solids Paint Paint containing 35 to 80 percent solids, These products have become popular because of the reduction in solvent emissions associated with their use. They are generally characterized by higher viscosities. High Velocity Ovens Ovens which use extremely hot, fast moving air to cure paint films. Their advantage is reduced floor space and fast cure times. Large or complex shapes are sometimes difficult to cure, however. High-density overlay (HDO) A resin-impregnated fiber bonded under high heat and pressure to one or both sides of a plywood panel. The tough overlay withstands severe exposure without the need for further finishing. Highlight The lightest tone in a room. Hinges Hardware used for hanging doors and lids. For cabinet doors, hinges are available in three basic types: overlay, inset and flush-fit. Hold Out The ability of a paint film to dry to its normal finish on a somewhat absorptive surface. Holiday A spot missed while painting a surface. Hollow-wall fastener This type of fastener is designed for use in walls made of plaster or drywall. It consists of an anchor bolt with a sleeve that expands against the inside of a wall. Honeycombing Checks often visable at the surface that occur in the interior of a piece of wood, usually along the wood's rays. Horizontal guideline A line used to align wallpaper or a border on a horizontal plane. Horizontal pattern sequence In wallpaper, the horizontal recurrence of a pattern or design across a wall surface. A straight-across match has the same pattern at the top of every strip. Horizontal working lines Level, horizontal lines that serve as a guide for laying horizontal courses of tile on a wall or other vertical surface. Hot Rolled Steel Steel which has been formed while still hot, generally characterized by the presence of bluish-black mill scale. Hot Spots Lime spots which are not completely cured and bleed through the coating on a plastered wall. Hot spraying Spraying of hot lacquers or paints, the viscosities of which have been reduced to spraying consistency by means of heat instead of by the addition of volatile solvents. By such a process, it is possible to apply materials with higher solid contents, and therefore achieve a better film build. Hue Synonym for color. Used most often to describe the color family to which a color belongs. Hydrocarbon Extracts from petroleum such as gasoline, lubricating oils, solvents, etc. Hydrolysis The interaction of water with a material resulting in decomposition. Hydrometer An instrument for determining the specific gravity of a liquid. Hydrophilic A substance which absorbs or has an affinity for water. Hydrophobic A substance which does not absorb or exhibit an affinity for water. Hygroscopic Absorbs and retains moisture from atmosphere or other sources.