jack plane
A woodworker's tool designed for shaving off small amounts of wood. The workhorse of the plane family, a jack plane is a good length for truing up boards, fitting doors, and similar tasks.
jalousie window
A window that consists of vertical rows of horizontal glass slats that operate together by a crank mechanism that connects all the slats.
jamb
A surface that lines an opening for a door.
J drain
Plastic matting and filter fabric providing force flow of water on concrete foundation walls.
joint
In carpentry, the place where two or more surfaces meet.
Joint Liability
Liability shared among two or more people, each of whom is liable for the full debt.
joint tenancy
A form of ownership or taking title to property which means each party owns the whole property and that ownership is not separate. In the event of the death of one party, the survivor owns the property in its entirety.
joist
Part of the framing that provides the structure for a floor. In most homes, floor joists are made of 2-by-8s or larger lumber set on edge and spaced 16 inches apart, from center to center.
joist hanger
A steel or iron stirrup used to support and align the ends of joists which are to be fastened to the girder.
judgment
A decision made by a court of law. In judgments that require the repayment of a debt, the court may place a lien against the debtor's real property as collateral for the judgment's creditor.
judicial foreclosure
A type of foreclosure proceeding used in some states that is handled as a civil lawsuit and conducted entirely under the auspices of a court. Other states use non-judicial foreclosure.
jumbo loan
A loan that exceeds Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s loan limits, currently at $227,150. Also called a nonconforming loan. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans are referred to as conforming loans.
Junior Mortgage
A mortgage subordinate to the claim of a prior lien or mortgage. In the case of a foreclosure, a senior mortgage or lien will be paid first.
