We have put together probably one of the most comprehensive pole building glossaries found on the internet today. And if you are like most people, if you can't see it, you still don't understand it very well.

If there is any pole building term you still don't understand, or one not yet listed here, please use the Contact Us page to email us. We will be glad to send drawings or pictures for illustration.

Click on the and a pop-up box will appear to give you a picture or drawing to show you what the glossary term means.

G
Gable:	On a roof system with a peaked end (or ends), the triangular portion of the endwall above the eaveline. Not structurally a good location for placement of fiberglass wall lights, as it breaks the endwall diaphragm.
Gable Roof:	A ridged roof terminating in gables. A roof with one slope on each side. Each slope is of equal pitch.
Galvanized:	Steel coated with zinc for corrosion resistance.
Gambrel Roof:	This is the "traditional barn" style roof. Similar to a gable roof, only has a pitch change from steep at the eaves to a lesser slope approximately mid-point between the eave and ridge. May have useable attic space.
General Contractor [from RCW 18.27.010(2)]:	A contractor whose business operations required the use of more than two unrelated building trades or crafts whose work the contractor shall superintend or do in part. "General contractor" shall not include an individual who does all work personally without employees or other "specialty contractors" as defined in RCW Chapter 18. The terms "general contractor" and "builder" are synonymous.
Girder:	A large, generally horizontal, beam. Commonly used in post-frame buildings to support trusses whose bearing points do not coincide with a post.
Girts:	Horizontal, secondary framing members attached (generally at a right angle) to endwall or sidewall columns to support wall coverings. They collect the wind-induced wall loads and distribute them to the post frame.
Glued-laminated (glu-lam) Timber:	A structural timber manufactured in a plant, consisting of assemblies of suitable selected and prepared wood laminations in which the grain of all lumber laminations is approximately parallel longitudinally, bonded together with adhesives.
Grade:	The term used when referring to the ground elevation around a building.
Grade Girt (or Skirt Boards):	Pressure treated lumber installed at grade line to which the bottom of the building siding is normally installed.
Grade Line (grade level):	The line of intersection between the building exterior and the top of the soil, gravel, and/or pavement in contact with the building exterior. For post-frame building, generally assumed to be no lower than the lower edge of the skirt board.
Ground Snow Load:	The load from snow accumulated on the ground. The actual load applied to the roof design is generally reduced to 70% of the Ground Snow Load, due to the effect of some snow blowing off the roof instead of accumulating.
Gruenwald Classic Columns:	Trade name for glu-laminated timbers manufactured by Gruenwald Engineered Laminates.
Gusset Plate:	A steel plate used to reinforce or connect structural elements (typically members of pre-fabricated roof trusses).