Mason 
Someone who works and builds with brick, concrete blocks, stone, etc. 

Masonite 
Trade name of a nonstructural building material, made of wood products and a binder, which creates a dense compressed board, which is useful where a smooth, flat flooring surface is needed. 

Masonry 
Construction made from brick, cement block, or stone, which provides structural support as well as a decorative finish. 

Masonry Anchor 
Masonry anchors attach masonry to other support structures, to other masonry, or attach additional pieces such as window frames, columns, etc. Fasteners attach building elements to masonry and masonry ties hold masonry to other masonry. Thee can be made of wire, sheet metal, galvanized rods, etc. Some types of anchors are placed in the form prior to pouring of concrete. 

Masonry Bit 
Twist drill bit, with a carbide tip used for drilling holes in all types of masonry. 

Masonry Block 
Concrete building blocks that are hollow. 

Masonry Bond Beam 
Concrete, hollow-top block, which adds reinforcement around the outside of a building, when used in several courses of the wall. Rebar is horizontally positioned in the hollow of the blocks, with concrete filling the remainder of the block, along the length of the wall. 

Masonry Cement 
Mix of Portland cement, hydrated lime and other materials that trap air so that the water retention and workability of the cement are improved. 

Masonry Joint 
Joints between masonry units. 

Masonry Lintel 
Block, mortar, or pre-cast concrete headers used for doors and windows in a masonry wall so that they match in appearance and usage. 

Masonry Paint 
Paint, containing acrylic emulsion or polyvinyl acetate, used on masonry surfaces. 

Masonry Primer 
Asphalt base, to which tar, sealing membranes, and other asphalt based materials will bond to provide a seal for moisture protection.

Masonry Reinforced Wall 
Steel reinforced stone, cement brick, concrete, etc. wall.

Masonry Symbols 
Symbols that identify different masonry types. 

Masonry Unit 
Blocks or brick, manufactured out of stone, cement, etc. or natural stone, which are, used as building units. 

Masonry Veneer 
Thin layers of brick that are used for appearance purposes rather than structural support. 

Masonry Wall 
Wall comprised of brick, stone, cement, etc. 

Masonry Wall Coping
Sloped top cap that is preformed for use on masonry walls, allowing water to run off. 

Masonry Wall Ties 
Mesh or heavy wire devices, which are set into the mortar between masonry units and then attached to an existing wall. 

Mass Appraising
Simultaneous appraisal of several pieces of property, most commonly used by the government for tax reassessment. 

Mass Coefficient (M) 
HVAC thermal calculation correction factor that adjusts for actual conditions. 

Mass Spectrometer
Device that has a vacuum inside it and can sense the presence of helium gas when checking around the joints in a vacuum system for leaks. The molecules in helium are small and are able to pass through the microscopic leaks that would place a limit on the vacuum. 

Mast 
Heavy conduit, through which incoming electrical supply wires pass, which runs from the service drop to the meter.

Mast Heads
Waterproof caps, also called weatherheads, entrance caps, or rain caps, which are placed at the upper part of an electrical mast at the point where the wires are run to the inside electrical meter. Wires hang from the pole to the entrance cap so that the entrance cap is not the low point in the downhill run from the pole because water will run to the low point before dripping to the ground. Wires enter the entrance cap at an upward angle through a tight insulator. Water is further stopped from getting through the entrance cap because of this entrance angle. 

Master Antenna Television System 
Central television antenna serving an apartment or other multi-family complex. 

Master Deed 
Deed filed by the developer or converter of a condominium for the purposes of recording all of the individual condominium units owned within a condominium complex. 

Master Lease 
A controlling lease in an apartment or office building that controls subleases. 

Master Limited Partnership
Unincorporated combination of limited partnerships in real estate together as a group. It is generally formed by a "roll-up" of existing limited partnerships that own property and typically has the advantage of ownership interests that are more marketable than individual limited partnership. 

Master Mortgage Loan 
The mortgage debt existing on a building used for cooperative housing. While each co-op tenant-shareholder is obligated for a portion of the loan, this debt is separate from the loans that may have been used to purchase the individual co-op shares. 

Master Plan 
Document that describes, in narrative and with maps, an overall development concept including both present property uses as well as future land development plans. The plan may be prepared by a local government to guide private and public development or by a developer on a specific project. 

Master Planned Community 
Development built according to a plan that includes commercial buildings, educational facilities, homes and community facilities. 

Mastic
1. One of a variety of quick drying, pasty cement for use when gluing tiles to a wall. 
2. Adhesive consisting of asphalt and nondrying oil. This type of adhesive must be heated to use. 
3. Construction adhesive, which is usually applied from a caulking gun.

Mastic Spreader or Trowel 
Thin metal serrated edge blade with curved handle, used to spread mastic in ridges, which are spread out once the pieces are pressed together. 

Mat 
1. Also spelled matte, it is a dull surface with no shine. 
2. A flat coarse fabric made of woven hemp, rope, straw, etc. to be used as a floor cover. 
3. Structural surface of a flat, smooth, layer of asphalt or concrete. 

Mat Foundation 
Slab foundation for a structure, constructed of reinforced concrete.

Matchboards or Matched Boards 
Boards that are purposely milled so that they will fit tightly with each other, such as tongue and groove. 

Match Line 
Mechanical drawing lines, which match a portion on one drawing with a portion on another drawing, usable with large building sections. 

Matched Boards 
Boards whose edges are cut to fit tightly together. 

Material Defect 
Problem in a specific property that could affect the property's value or salability. 

Material Fact
Information about a piece of property that could affect its salability and might change an individual's decision to purchase. 

Material Man 
A person who supplies materials used in the construction or repair of a building or other property. 

Material Man's Lien 
Legal lien on property on behalf of an individual who has not been paid for material furnished in constructing property. 

Material Participation 
A tax term introduced by the 1986 tax act, defined as year-round active involvement in the operations of a business activity on a regular, continuous and substantial basis. 

Matrix 
1. That from which something takes shape, originates, develops, etc. 
2. A die or mold used for casting. 
3. Rock or material, such as cement or mortar, in which pebbles, fossils, or other items are embedded. 
4. Set of items arranged in rows or columns to perform a specific function. 

Matte
Also spelled mat, it is a dull surface with no shine. 

Matte Finish 
Low sheen paint finish.

Maturity 
The due date when a mortgage or a loan must be paid. 

Maul 
Heavy, long handled hammer which splits wood by either hitting it directly or using to hammer wedges into the wood. 

Maximum Financing
Loan amount within 5 percent of the highest loan-to-value ratio allowable. 

MBA
Master of Business Administration degree or Mortgage Bankers Association of America.