Garage Glossary: 22 Terms Explained
The words that show up in garage specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- AWG
- American Wire Gauge, the number that tells you how thick a wire or extension cord conductor actually is.
- Read more about awg
- CFM
- Cubic feet per minute, the airflow number that decides whether a compressor can run a tool continuously.
- Read more about cfmRelated: Best Air Compressors
- Epoxy floor coating
- A two-part resin coating that bonds to concrete and seals it against oil, salt, and tire stains.
- Read more about epoxy floor coatingRelated: Best Epoxy Floor Coating
- Foot-pounds
- The unit of torque printed on lug nuts, bolts, and wrench specs, describing how hard a fastener is turned.
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- French cleat
- A pair of angled strips, one on the wall and one on the item, that lock together under the item's own weight.
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- GFCI outlet
- A ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet that cuts power the instant it senses leaking current.
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- Impact wrench
- A power tool that delivers rapid rotational hammer blows to loosen or drive fasteners far faster than a drill.
- Read more about impact wrench
- Interlocking floor tiles
- Snap-together plastic or rubber tiles that lay over bare concrete with no adhesive and can be lifted up later.
- Read more about interlocking floor tilesRelated: Best Garage Floor Tiles
- Jack stands
- Fixed metal supports placed under a raised vehicle frame that hold the weight once the jack is lowered.
- Read more about jack standsRelated: Best Jack Stands
- Load rating
- The maximum weight a shelf, hook, rack, or anchor point is designed to hold, usually listed per shelf or bracket.
- Read more about load ratingRelated: Best Heavy-Duty Shelving
- Lumens per square foot
- A rough planning number for garage lighting, since work benches need noticeably more light than a hallway.
- Read more about lumens per square footRelated: Best LED Shop Lights
- OBD-II scanner
- A handheld or Bluetooth tool that plugs into a car's diagnostic port and reads check-engine trouble codes.
- Read more about obd-ii scanner
- Overhead storage
- Ceiling-mounted racks that use the empty space above a parked car or garage door track for bins and gear.
- Read more about overhead storageRelated: Best Overhead Garage Storage
- Pegboard
- A perforated board that holds tools on movable hooks so a wall layout can change in minutes.
- Read more about pegboardRelated: Best Pegboards
- Pint capacity
- The daily moisture removal rating on a dehumidifier, based on controlled lab conditions rather than a real garage.
- Read more about pint capacity
- PSI
- Pounds per square inch, the pressure reading used for tire inflation, compressor tanks, and pressure washers.
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- R-value
- A rating of how well insulation resists heat flow, with higher numbers meaning better performance per inch.
- Read more about r-value
- Slatwall
- Grooved wall panels with horizontal channels that hold hooks, baskets, and shelves you can rearrange at will.
- Read more about slatwallRelated: Best Slatwall Panels
- Track system
- Horizontal rails bolted into wall studs that carry sliding hooks for bikes, ladders, and long-handled tools.
- Read more about track systemRelated: Best Tool Hanging Systems
- Voltage drop
- The loss of usable voltage that happens as electricity travels through a long or undersized cord or wire run.
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- Wall anchor
- A fastener designed to hold weight in drywall alone, used only when a stud is not available at that spot.
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- Wall stud
- The vertical framing behind drywall, usually spaced 16 inches apart, that anchors heavy garage storage.
- Read more about wall stud