Glossary extracted starting with automatic seeds, with PTM for the domain art and language EN
| piscina | Hand basin with drain, usually set against or into a wall. |
| scrollwork | Ornamental work with curvilinear open patterns |
| contractor | An individual or firm that agrees, usually based on predetermined terms and specifications, to provide labour and materials and to be responsible for work (a specific job, overall construction or reconstruction). |
| eave | The horizontal roof overhang that extends outward and is not directly over the exterior walls or the building's interior. |
| sash | Narrow pieces of material, (i.e.wood, metal, or plastic) often used to frame the glazing inset into an opening, such as in a window, capable of being fixed or moved. |
| bifold door | Usually used for interior closet doors, a bifold door is made of two hinged panels that fold to one side of the opening. |
| crannog | Celtic Scotland timber-built fortified lake village. |
| auger | Also called "Earth Drill"; a horizontal rotating drill having a screw thread-type bit that carries cuttings up and away from the face. |
| normal slope application | Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot. |
| fogging | A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures or failed seals. |
| gothic | A style of art and architecture, and also a period of culture, usually associated with the Middle Ages, from c |
| ogee | Molding with both concave and convex curves |
| baffle | A material inserted in the weep holes of aluminium storefronts, fixed horizontal ribbon windows, and curtain walls to ensure nothing impedes the flow of water or air out of the framing system through weep holes. [top] |
| stucco | A decorative exterior wall coating usually made of lime, Portland cement, sand, water and other materials that add strength and flexibility; frequently applied over a metal or plastic mesh that helps the stucco bond to the wall material. |
| springlatch | A plain latch with a beveled latch-bolt that is activated by springs. |
| soffit | Underside of a beam, an arch, a stair, an eave, etc |
| article 4 direction | the power given to a local planning authority to take away specific permitted development rights and require a planning application to be submitted. |
| bastion | a small projection at the end of a wall or tower |
| representative number | Quantity of components chosen by a home inspector or commercial building inspector, usually one per room for multiple similar interior components such as windows, and electric receptacles; one on each side of the building or home for multiple similar exterior components. |
| terrace | An outdoor extension of a building, situated above the ground level, and open to the sky |
| reinforced concrete | Concrete strengthened with wire or metal bars. |
| butyl | A rubber material that seals the glass to the spacer, creating an airtight and water-tight insulated glass unit. |
| asphalt | A bituminous compound, dark brown or black in color, used in the manufacture of asphalt roofing shingles. |
| epdm | Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer |
| board of directors | an elected or appointed group of people charged with operating an organization; responsible for setting policy that ensures the organization's charter and by-laws are followed, seeing that the organization acts within the law, establishing fiscal policy and boundaries, providing adequate resources for activities of the organization, selecting and evaluating the chief executive (director), and promoting the work of the organization. |
| cloister | An enclosed walkway, usually forming four sides around a garden, which was the centre of medieval monastic life |
| subfloor | Material fastened directly to floor joist below the finish floor. |
| transom | Small window above door |
| wallpaper | A special paper, plain or printed, for pasting upon a smooth interior wall surface as decoration. |
| double-hung window | Window with two vertically moving sashes, each closing a different part of the window. |
| downspout | A pipe for draining water from roof gutters |
| concrete block | Precast hollow or solid building blocks of concrete. |
| ridge shingles | shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes |
| double-strength glass | Sheet glass between 0.115" and 0.133" (33.38 mm) thick. |
| perimeter frame | Chassis longitude (length) frame rails located outboard of tires (primarily used on units designed to remain in single location for longer periods) |
| battlements | the notched top of a defensive wall; crenelations |
| ninety-pound | A prepared organic felt roll roofing with a granule surfaced exposure that has a mass of approx |
| head | the common form of an arch over an opening. |
| spiral balance | See Sash Balance. |
| thermostat | A device for automatically controlling the supply of heat and air. |
| court housing | building type |
| solid core door | 1 |
| mortise | Pertaining to a method of installation in which only the face plate and trim is exposed |
| stack | A vertical pipe |
| complications | The act of becoming complex, intricate, or perplexing |
| architectural drawing | The schematic of the building drawn and provided by the Architect to Starline Architectural Windows; the architectural drawings are the schematic that Window Shop Drawings are based off of. [top] |
| lap | To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another |
| alignment notch | A cutout projection or slit on the sides or ends of shingles that act as guides in application to secure proper exposure. |
| hornwork | Freestanding quadrilateral fortification in front of the main wall. |
| stringcourse | Continuous horizontal mouldings on wallface |
| french doors | Two doors side by side that each consist of a frame surrounding many small panes of glass |
| blister | An enclosed raised spot evident on the surface of a building |
| tread | The horizontal part of a stair step. |
| gypsum | A white or colorless mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulfate |
| korad® | Very durable polymer covering wall panels which provide the benefits of scratch free, impact resistant, and virtually fade resistant |
| dry well | A covered pit with open-jointed linings through which drainage from roofs, basement floors, or areaways may seep or leach into the surrounding porous soil. |
| mother house | The house which founded another was known as its mother house |
| contamination | The presence of microbial growth and/or spores, which represents a shift in fungal ecology, and whose identity, location and amplification is not reflective of a normal microbial ecology for an indoor environment. |
| dry wall | A type of construction in which the interior wall finish is of a material other than plaster or similar material. |
| collar | Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening |
| collar | A metal cap flashing around a vent pipe projecting above a roof deck. |
| sealant | A compressible plastic material used to seal any opening or junction of two parts, such as between the glass and a metal sash, commonly made of silicone, butyl tape, or polysulfide. |
| adhere | to cause two surfaces to be held together by adhesion, typically with asphalt or roofing cements in built-up roofing and with contact cements in some single-ply membranes. |
| fillet | Narrow flat band. |
| sign-off | A sign-off is the procedure in which the Field Quality Assurance Department reviews an installed window, or point in the installation for deficiencies in the product, or installation procedure |
| nones | see None |
| column | A compression member, vertical or nearly vertical, the width of which does not exceed four times its thickness and the height of which exceeds four times its least lateral dimension. |
| continuo | A bass line, usually in Baroque music, written to a keyboard instrument in an ensemble where the keyboard player creates chords above a given bass note by interpreting the numbers written under the slave |
| equilibrium moisture | (1) the moisture content of a material stabilized at a given temperature and relative humidity, expressed as percent moisture by weight; (2) the typical moisture content of a material in any given geographical area. |
| newel | A post supporting the handrail at the top or bottom of a stairway. |
| thatched roof | A roof covered with straw, which is layered so as to shed rain quickly and effectively. |
| panel | A flat or raised surface, usually set into a frame. |
| altar | In the Roman Church, a table at which the celebration of the Eucharist takes place |
| coped joint | A term used to describe a joint between two framing members where one extrusion is cut to the profile of the second. [top] |
| header | The brick laid within a wall so that the short end is exposed and the wide side is parallel to the ground. |
| porch | A covered area attached to a house at an entrance. |
| dun or dum | An Iron Age fortified enclosure, built of dry-stone, often with galleried walls, dating from the 1st century AD |
| oriel | A projecting window of an upper floor, supported from below by a bracket. |
| gazebo | a small building or structure such as a summerhouse, which is often open on one or more sides to give views. |
| operator | Crank-operated device for opening and closing casement or jalousie windows. |
| dungeon | The jail, usually found in one of the towers. |
| gable | Upper triangular portion of wall at the end of a roof |
| scuttle | Small opening in a ceiling that provides access to an attic or roof. |
| chimney stacks and bundles | Chimney flues visible from the exterior of a house, and sometimes very decorative. |
| stepped foundation | A foundation wall or stem wall that may have various heights creating a stepped look |
| corrosion | The deterioration of metal, concrete or other material by chemical or electrochemical reaction; acid-induced oxidation resulting in a loss of surface or structural integrity. |
| awning | Windows are hinged at the top and open outward. |
| carotid | Heart-shaped. |
| raised roof | Abrupt transition of roof from a given height to an increased height. |
| original rural landholder | agent of change |
| anodize | Anodizing is a method of coating, colouring and finishing aluminium that both protects the aluminium and improves its aesthetic. [top] |
| exit light | (An illuminating sign above an exit identifying it as an exit. |
| solar | Upper living room of medieval house or castle; often over the hall |
| phylactery | A scroll or roll (made of parchment), usually shown unfurled, sometimes containing lettering, signifying the Word of God. |
| boss | Knob or projection to cover the intersection of ribs in a vault |
| joints | The space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies, as bricks, joined and held together, as by means of cement mortar, etc. |
| concrete | A hard, strong building material made by mixing a cementing material (e.g., Portland cement) and a mineral aggregate (e.g., sand, gravel) with sufficient water to cause the cement to set and bind the entire mass |
| peel | Originally a palisaded court |
| greek key | An ornamental motif consisting of continuous bands arranged in rectilinear forms. |
| thermal resistance | (R-value) A property of a substance or construction which retards the flow of heat; one measure of this property is R-value |
| rafters | The framework that holds up the roof deck and roofing materials. |
| protected landmark | A landmark whose owner has elected to permanently protect the landmark by foregoing the 90-day waiver certificate authorized by this article. |
| live loads | Moving roof installation equipment, wind, snow, ice or rain. |
| muntins | Dividing bars between panes of glass. |
| broch | Drystone freestanding tower with interior court, no external windows (which face into the court), spiral stair inside wall, typically iron age Celtic refuge in Scotland. |
| service connection | The electric wires to the building from the outside power lines. |
| clear span | The distance, or clear and unobstructed opening, between two supports of a beam; always less than the effective span. |
| spring bolt | A fastener for holding the sash in a fixed location by means of a spring-loaded bolt in the stile entering a hole in the jamb. |
| insert | A metal device cast into a unit normally used for anchoring or handling. |
| waterproofing | Treatment of a surface or structure to prevent the passage of water under hydrostatic pressure. |
| spandrel | A type of opaque glass most commonly used to conceal building elements between floors of a building so they cannot be seen from the exterior. [top] |
| hipped roof | A roof structure in which all sides slope down from a central peak or ridge, and the sides also meet at ridges. |
| skirt board | (Skirting) A lower wall extension installed to enclose the underside of a temporary building that spans from the floor framing to the ground. |
| monolithic | Term used for concrete work poured and cast in one piece without joints. |
| hall | Principle living quarters of a medieval castle or house |
| left or right | Whenever used in a term or definition regarding the fenestration industry always refers to the outside, looking in.*Example* - an EDL (end dam left) refers to a end dam that gets installed in the left side of the deflection channel from the outside looking in, from the interior perspective it would be installed on the right hand side. [top] |
| utility window | A window where the sash pulls into the house pivoting from the sill or from the header |
| clapboards | The outside covering of a house; siding. |
| dual pane | An insulted glass unit, comprised to two panes of glass built together using a sealant and a spacer bar. |
| splayed window | Window unit set at an angle in a wall. |
| lunette | Semicircular window or wall panel |
| particle board | A composition board consisting of distinct particles of wood bonded together with a synthetic resin or other added binder. |
| grade | (1) Finished surface of ground around a commercial building or home |
| fire wall | Any wall which subdivides a building to resist the spread of fire and which extends continuously from the foundation through the roof. |
| neoprene | A synthetic rubber having physical properties closely resembling those of natural rubber but not requiring sulphur for vulcanization |
| fire door | A metal sheathed door that will resist fire, often held from sliding shut by a fusible link |
| dew point | The temperature at which water vapor starts to condense in cooling air at the existing atmospheric pressure and vapor content. |
| glass mat | A thin mat composed of glass fibers with or without a binder. |
| gingerbreading | Wooden architectural ornament popular with American folk houses in the late-19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the Stick Style |
| returns | edges placed on the sides of a gambrel roof. |
| freestone | Soft, easily worked, high-quality sandstone or limestone |
| baptistery | A building or part of a church used for baptism. |
| heat transfer coefficient | (U-Factor) A value indicating the rate of heat flow through a building construction, expressed in units of 'Btuh per square foot of surface per degree F |
| strip lighting | A lighting assembly used to flood all or part of an area, consisting of a row of single lamps mounted in a trough with a reflecting hood. |
| reliquary | A container for relics |
| pier-and-beam | (Please refer to entry for Post-and-beam) |
| catacomb | Subterranean burial chamber used during the Roman Empite |
| eps board | Expanded polystyrene |
| block | One or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land bounded by streets, easements, rights-of-way, or other physical features or a combination thereof. |
| wooden shingles | Small, rectangular-shaped slats of wood that are nailed to an exterior surface, overlapping one another from top to bottom |
| polyurethane | Product produced by the reaction of a multi functional isocyanate with a polyol or other reactant containing two or more hydroxyl groups |
| cam-action lock and keeper | The mechanisms, which pull and secure the sashes together when placed in the locked position. |
| gambrel | A bilateral roof formation in which two slopes are used, the upper slopes shallow and the lower slope steep. |
| batten | A small rectangular piece of wood positioned vertically to cover the seam of adjoining siding boards. |
| slope | See Pitch. |
| gable end | A short end wall of a gable-roofed building, perpendicular to the ridge beam, which has a triangular shape at the top portion |
| double glazing | An insulating window pane formed of two thicknesses of glass with a sealed air space between them. |
| granules | Ceramic-coated colored crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products. |
| full screen | A screen that covers the entire area of a window that has the possibility of opening. |
| silicone | An enduring sealing agent that resists water. |
| obscure glass | Mainly used for decoration, diffusion, or privacy |
| toenail | Driving nails at an angle into corners or other joints. |
| nfrc | National Fenestration Rating Council |
| galilee | see Narthax |
| vapor barrier | Watertight material used to prevent the passage of moisture or water vapor into and through walls , from dirt floors into crawl spaces, and under concrete slabs. |
| humidifier | A mechanical device that controls the amount of water vapor to be added to the atmosphere of a home or building. |
| exposure | The exposed end of a shingle that sticks out from your roof. |
| deflection clip | The extruded aluminium retainer clip designed to couple with a corresponding Deflection Channel to hold an installed frame in place |
| pocket door | A space saving door style that slides into the wall rather than swinging open into a room or hallway. |
| curb stairs | Stairs with a closed string. |
| pantile | a clay roofing tile with an 'S'-shaped profile. |
| benedictines | Monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict, compiled in the sixth century by St Benedict of Nursia for his monks of Monte Cassino |
| drip edge | a metal flashing or other overhanging component, with an outward projecting lower edge, intended to control the direction of dripping water and help protect underlying building components |
| scarf joint | (Half-lap) When old timber is cut away and new timber attached a scarf join is used. |
| liquid applied membrane | Generally applied to cast-in-place concrete surfaces in one or more coats to provide fully-adhered waterproof membranes which conform to all contours. |
| mineral granules | Opaque, natural, or synthetically colored aggregate commonly used to surface cap sheets, granule-surfaced sheets, and roofing shingles. |
| percentage humidity | Weight of water vapor in air divided by weight of vapor contained in saturated air, expressed as a percentage. |
| cavity wall | A hollow wall formed by firmly linked masonry walls, providing an insulating air space between. |
| oratory | Private chapel in a house |
| column | A building element made up of a load-bearing base which supports a vertical shaft, topped with a capital |
| arch | A curved or pointed structural element that is supported at its sides. |
| plate glass | Flat glass produced by grinding and polishing to create parallel plane surfaces affording excellent vision |
| cross-and-orb | Modified cross slits to accommodate gunnery. |
| dry glazing | A method of securing glass in a frame that uses pre-formed resilient gaskets instead of a wet sealant or glazing compound. [top] |
| inscription | Characters incised into a unit. |
| set back | On a parcel of land, the distance between the street and the front of a building, or between a building and the side or back property lines |
| dimension stone | Large blocks of stone used in foundations |
| scallop | Carved in a series of semi-circles. |
| vermiculite | a natural mica expanded by heat to form lightweight thermal insulating material, used in the expanded state alone as loose fill or as aggregate with other materials. |
| excavation | Any man-made cavity or depression in the earth’s surface; formed by earth removal. |
| ashlar | Building stone precisely cut and finished to a smooth finish |
| top rail | See Rail. |
| adit | An opening or passage |
| wooden clapboards | Long slats of wood that are nailed to an exterior surface in a horizontal fashion, overlapping one another from top to bottom |
| allowable stress | The maximum unit stress permitted under working loads by codes and specifications. [top] |
| palladin window | One with an arched center section flanked by lower flat-topped sections |
| gusset | A brace or bracket used to strengthen a structure. |
| solatube | (Brand Name) Round skylight tube leading from roof lens to ceiling deflector. |
| priming | Sealing of a porous surface so that compounds will not stain, lose elasticity, shrink excessively, etc |
| tandem locks | Usually used in casement applications, where multiple locks are operated simultaneously from a single lever. |
| scupper | An outlet in the wall of a building or a parapet wall for drainage of water from a flat roof. |
| mosaic | A decoration created by setting small pieces of glass, stone, or marble in a matrix- often concrete |
| concrete slab | See Slab. [top] |
| monitor | A raised section at the top of a roof, usually with glazing in its vertical sides to allow illumination of the center of a building |
| air infiltration | The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors. |
| keep | The inner stronghold of the castle; A strong stone tower; main tower; donjon; stronghold; A freestanding defense tower in a castle complex. |
| hillfort | Bronze or iron age earthwork defenses of concentric ditches and banks. |
| hose bibb | Water faucet made for the threaded attachment of a hose; also called a sill-cock. |
| sapwood starts. heart face | The face grain surface of a plank that is all heartwood (that is, that face contains no sapwood, although the other side of the plank might) |
| arrow loop window | a narrow vertical slit cut in the castle walls through which only an arrow could be fired from inside |
| pocket sill | The bottom part of the window where the sill has no slope or angle to it |
| benedictine | from the monastic order founded by St |
| formica | The trade name for a hard durable plastic laminated sheeting used for table, sink and countertops or for wall covering; resistant to heat and chemicals. |
| wall-stair | Staircase built into the thickness of a wall |
| inhabited initial | an illuminated initial containing animals or human figures such as naked fighters |
| central hallway | A passageway that cuts through the center of a building, from front to back, and off of which rooms open to the sides. |
| concerto grosso | A piece for orchestra where a small group of soloists (concertino) interplay or contrast with a large group of instruments (ripieno) |
| picture window | Large fixed windows. |
| topographical drawing | A drawing which shows the topography of a place, i.e |
| terra cotta | Hard fired clay, either glazed or unglazed, molded into ornamental elements, wall cladding and roof tiles. |
| rabbet | A rectangular notch (consisting of two surfaces) cut parallel with the grain of wood along the edge |
| tower | An exceptionally tall portion of a building. |
| backhearth | The part of the hearth inside the fireplace. |
| daub | A mud of clay mixture applied over wattle to strengthen and seal it. |
| bearing wall | A wall which supports any vertical load in a building as well as its own weight. |
| cistercian order | The Cistercian Order had its origins in the marshy forests of Cîteaux, south of Dijon, and became one of the most important of the new religious orders to emerge from the eleventh-century reform movement |
| matins | The Canonical Hour celebrated before Prime |
| mantlet | Detached fortification preventing direct access to a gateway; low outer wall. |
| anchor bolt | A bolt with the threaded portion projecting from a structure, generally used to hold the frame of a building secure against wind load. |
| garderobe | A small latrine or toilet either built into the thickness of the wall or projected out from it; Projects from the wall as a small, rectangular bartizan. |
| satin nickel | Matt chrome finish used for architectural ironmongery |
| drain | A pipe for carrying waste water out of a building. |
| building envelope | A building envelope is the separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building |
| cured concrete | concrete that has attained its intended design performance properties. |
| heat loss | The transfer of heat from the inside to the outside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house is considered to be 'heat loss'. [top] |
| pvc backer | See Aluminium or PVC Backer. [top] |
| plate glass | A flat sheet of glass, such as may be inserted into a window or door. |
| back-to-back | building type |
| clasping | Encasing the angle. |
| memorabilia | Objects that have a specific use at the time they are made, such as a baseball or a trophy, but which tend to gain value over time as a result of their associations and history, rather than for their original utility. |
| half blind sliding dovetail | A sliding dovetail joint in which the slot is not cut all the way across the plank that it is in, but rather stops just before the edge on one side, thus making for a hidden joint when seen from the front (but obviously a dovetail when seen from the rear) |
| blockhouse | Small square fortification, usually of timber bond overlapping arrangement of bricks in courses (flemish, dutch, french, etc.) |
| dead bolt lock | A lock worked only by key from both sides or combination key and lever, and having no door knobs. |
| stronghouse | Mansion capable of being defended |
| cloister | Four-sided enclosure with a covered walk along each side connecting a church with the principal administrative and domestic buildings |
| leed | A green building rating system that stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" |
| brewhouse | Building or room where ale was brewed |
| reformation | The religious movement that attempted to reform the Catholic Church in the mid-sixteenth century. |
| jetty | The overhanging or projecting part of a timber-framed building. |
| special-purpose outlet | Point of connection to the electrical system for a particular piece of equipment, normally reserved for the exclusive use of the equipment, sometimes called a dedicated circuit. |
| sash lift | Handle for raising the bottom sash in a double-hung sash window |
| bailey | The ward or courtyard inside the castle walls, includes exercise area, parade ground, emergency corral |
| foyer | An entrance hallway within a living unit or building. |
| east end | Refers to the end of the church where the main altar is placed and where the main part of the service takes place |
| ridging | An upward, tenting displacement of a roof membrane frequently occurring over insulation joints, deck joints and base sheet edges. |
| abbot | The head of the religious community |
| sub-contractor | A sub-contractor refers to secondary construction trade contracted by the General Contractor to complete a required scope of work such as dry walling or fenestration. [top] |
| rabbet | A groove cut in a board to receive another board. |
| catalyst | 1 |
| anchor | Any device used to secure a building part or component to adjoining construction, or to a supporting member. [top] |
| design pressure | A measurement of the structural performance of a window or door |
| soffit vent | A perforated or louvered material attached to the tail of the truss and the sidewall to allow air movement within the truss system. |
| aisle | The space between an arcade and the outer wall |
| roll roofing | Smooth-surfaced or mineral-surfaced coated felts. |
| acoustical board | Any type of special material, such as insulating boarding, used in the control of sound or to prevent the passage of sound from one room to another. |
| envelope | A continuous membrane edge seal formed at the perimeter and at penetrations by folding the base sheet or ply over the plies above and securing it to the top of the membrane |
| tread | The step or horizontal member of a stair. |
| cramp | "U" shaped metal anchors used to attach two abutting units. |
| vice | Spiral stair |
| vermiculite | An aggregate used in lightweight insulating concrete, formed by the heating and consequent expansion of a micaceous mineral. |
| mantel | A shelf over a fireplace. |
| boss | A projecting carved section in a vault or ceiling, found where two or more supports meet |
| steward | Official in charge of running a lord's estate; managing work, keeping accounts, etc. |
| non-sag | A sealant formulation having a consistency that will permit application in vertical joints without appreciable sagging or slumping |
| see | Seat or area of authority of bishop or archbishop, also known as diocese |
| coloring | The process of (or material used for) tinting the hue of Cast Stone |
| coating | A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules are embedded. |
| article 14 direction | a power given to the Secretary of State to serve notice on a local planning authority preventing it from granting permission for a particular planning application while he or she considers whether the application should be "called-in". |
| warm-edge technology | The use of low-conductance spacers to reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glazing. |
| arris | Sharp edges of square cut timber are lightly sanded to remove the arris or sharp point |
| sash and frame | A window and its casing frame. |
| half blind joint | Describes a joint, such as a dado joint, which could go from one edge of a board to the other but instead is stopped before reaching one edge |
| corrodian | see Corrody |
| quirk | V-shaped nick. |
| pylon | A rectangular, shortened, or pyramidal member used to designate an opening or mark a boundary. |
| roll roofing | Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form. |
| convection | A heat transfer process involving motion in a fluid (such as air) caused by the difference in density of the fluid and the action of gravity |
| level | The level or floor of the installation or the condition of perfect horizontal alignment. [top] |
| double coverage | Application of asphalt roofing such that the lapped portion is at least two inches wider than the exposed portion, resulting in two layers of roofing material over the deck. |
| curtain wall | In a tall commercial building of steel-frame construction, an exterior wall that is non-load-bearing, having no structural significance. |
| tenement | A block of dwellings usually built to provide high density housing at low cost; generally refers to buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. |
| assembly number | A unique number assigned to each RoofNav (FM Approval software tool) assembly |
| king post | In a roof truss, the central upright piece. |
| exterior glazing | Exterior glazing is a method in which glass is secured in an opening from the exterior of the building. [top] |
| inside opening | Interior measurement of the sealed unit opening. [top] |
| cfm | see "cubic feet per minute" |
| hanging arch | An arch which has, or seems to have, no vertical supports. |
| boston lap | A method of finishing the ridge of a shingle course, using ovefrlapping vertical joints. |
| butt | An exposed end of a shingle, larger than others. |
| crack | a non-linear separation or fracture occurring in a material |
| sling psychrometer | A measuring instrument with two thermometers (dry-bulb and wet-bulb) used for determining the dewpoint and relative humidity of air; its relation to windows is ascertaining the point at which moisture will condense on the inside surface of the glass |
| facade | The face of a building, usually referring to the front. |
| crossbow | Weapon with a bow arranged at a right-angle to a wooden stock; it was used to fire metal bolts |
| nookshaft | Shaft set in angle of jamb or pier. |
| donjon | Another name for a great tower or keep |
| vent | A screened opening for ventilation |
| laminated shingles | Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. Also called three-dimensional shingles. |
| stepped | Recessed in a series of ledges. |
| polyvinyl butyral | Plastic material used as the interlayer in the construction of some types of laminated glass. [top] |
| sash eye | (sash pull) Type of sash lift with a ring shape. |
| centrally-planned building | A building in which the sides are of equal length and in which the main space is symmetrical when bisected laterally and longitudinally |
| fosse | Ditch |
| constable | Official in charge of castle in owner's absence |
| conversus | see Lay brother |
| insulation | Insulation refers to a material that has the ability to reduce heat or cold transmission. [top] |
| colonet | Small decorative column |
| anodic coating | Anodic coating refers to the surface finish resulting from anodizing |
| vaulted ceiling | A ceiling that slopes up to a peak. |
| bas relief | Shallow carving of figures and landscapes |
| billets | Small cubes, cylinders or prisms placed at regular intervals, so that their axis and that of the entire series is parallel to the general direction of the molding. |
| beam | One of the principal horizontal wood or steel members of a building. |
| interval tower | One of a number of towers set along the length of a curtain wall |
| stick style | Type of Victorian architecture featuring many exposed horizontal and vertical beams on exterior walls |
| service box | Within a building a metal box located at the point where the electric service conductors enter the building |
| tie | A structural member used to bind others together. |
| board & batten | A style in which a narrow strip of siding appears to cover the seam between two wider boards |
| passing notes | Notes that don't belong to the underlying harmony but are part of the melodic line. |
| surface temperature | The temperature of the surface of the roof, wall, etc |
| oubliette | Dungeon or pit under the floor, reached by a trap-door, used for incarcerating prisoners |
| welded window | A window that has the ends of the master frame parts heated to several hundred degrees and pressed together during cooling so as to fuse the parts into one continuous piece |
| net vault | A vault on which a complex of ribs gives a net-like appearance |
| plates | Pieces of wood placed on wall surfaces as fastening devices |
| nonwoven | a term used to describe fabrics, mats or scrims that are produced using processes other that weaving or knitting |
| hoarding | Covered wooden gallery with holes in the floor, which was attached to the top of the external wall of a stone castle so that defenders could see and fire upon assailants at the base of the wall |
| campshedding | Facing of piles of boarding along a bank |
| grisaille | A greenish-grey medieval glass with geometric design. |
| transverse rib | The projecting bands which mark the transverse arches of a rib vault |
| counterscarp | Outer slope of ditch. |
| prime coat | First coat of paint applied to wood or metal to prime the surface for succeeding coats. |
| postern | Small doorway useful for entering or leaving a castle after the main gates had been closed |
| fixed light | A pane of glass installed directly into non-operating framing members; also, the opening or space for a pane of glass in a non-operating frame. |
| counterflashing | Formed metal or elastomeric sheeting secured on or into a wall, curb, pipe, rooftop unit or other surface, to cover and protect the upper edge of a base flashing and its associated fasteners. |
| triple glazing | Three panes of glass with two air spaces between. |
| expansion joint | A structural separation between two building elements that allows free movement between the elements without damage to the roofing or waterproofing system. |
| hanging sash | (Hung Sash) Sash hung on a cord connected to a counterweight. |
| deck or decking | The structural "skin" of a roof over which roofing in applied |
| ringwork | Circular earthwork of bank and ditch. |
| millwork | Window sash and other wood products made in a wood-working plant. |
| central air conditioner | An air conditioner which provides service to an entire structure from a single, central source. |
| cob | Unburnt clay mixed with straw |
| containment | The isolation of an area of contamination within a building in order to prevent the spread of contaminate materials, by erecting a barrier of plastic sheeting or similar material. |
| chancel | The space between the altar and the rail inclosing it. |
| cruciform | Shaped in a cross; the common layout for the church. |
| novicemaster | The monastic official who had charge of the novices and provided them with advice and instruction. |
| horizontal sliding window | (Horizontal Slider) Windows which slide horizontally. |
| sound transmission class | The STC is a rating measuring a window's acoustic properties or its ability to reduce sound transmission |
| glazing reglet | The recessed channel in aluminium framing systems designed to receive glazing infills. [top] |
| latch | The locking in of a circuit by means of a holding contact; used in relay logic when a momentary initiation is required. |
| cinder block | A building block made of cement and cinder. |
| spudding | The process of removing the roofing aggregate and most of the bituminous top coating by scraping and chipping. |
| garderobe | a medieval toilet |
| gablet | A small gable, or gable -shaped canopy formed over a niche. |
| rail | (Head Rail) (Top Rail) (Bottom Rail) (Meeting Rail) Horizontal member of a window sash. |
| mail or chain mail | Flexible armour made of interlocking metal rings |
| anchor | Metal device used for securing Cast Stone to a rigid structure. |
| party wall | Wall common to adjoining buildings in which both home owners share, such as a wall between row houses or condominiums. |
| keystone | A wedge-shaped detail at the crown of an arch. |
| bundle | A package of shingles |
| millwork | Finish carpentry work or that woodwork done in a mill and delivered to the site; relates to interior trim. |
| chase | A continuous recess or enclosure built into a wall to receive pipes, wiring, ducts, etc |
| hydrostatic pressure | The pressure exerted from the outside by water under a basement floor or against the building's foundation wall. |
| catch basin | An underground structure for drainage into which the water from a roof or floor will drain |
| psychrometric chart | A chart which shows dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures used to determine the relative humidity of air and the dew point temperature |
| pitch | The incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise (in inches) to the run (in feet). |
| six-foil | six-lobed |
| mask head | An animal head employed in conjunction with interlace or foliage motifs. |
| glazing clip | Metal clip for holding glass in a metal frame while putty is applied. |
| thermal conduction | Heat transfer through a material by contact of one molecule to the next |
| interior finish | See Inside Casing. |
| access | A passageway or means of approach to a room or building; a corridor between rooms; also a term used in building construction referring to points at which concealed equipment may be reached for inspection and repair. |
| sally-port | Small heavily fortified side door from which the defenders can rush out, strike, and retire. |
| billet molding | A molding composed wholly or in part of a series of billets |
| burg | German stronghold. |
| thermally improved | Framing systems which for the most part have a continuous thermal insulator between the exterior and interior aluminium framing members but which have intermittent contact between the exterior and interior by a highly conductive material such as aluminium or a steel fastener used on popular pressure bar framing systems creating a thermal shortcut. [top] |
| sweep lock | A sash fastener located at the meeting rails of a double-hung window, which rotates and clamps the two rails closer together. |
| nineteen-inch selvage | A prepared roofing sheet with a 17-inch granule surfaced exposure and a non-granule-surfaced 19-inch selvage edge |
| green chains | undeveloped open land providing links between larger areas of open land, for walking, cycling or wildlife corridors. |
| insect screen | (Window Screen) - (Screen) Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects. |
| clawing | The downward curving of the butt portion of the shingle |
| escutcheon | A flange on a pipe, used to cover a hole in a floor or wall through which the pipe passes |
| wattle | a mat of woven sticks and weed used in wall construction |
| glazing | The glass or plastic panes in a window, door, or skylight. |
| reinforcing rods | Steel rods or metal fabric placed in concrete slabs to increase their strength |
| cutoff | A detail designed to prevent lateral water movement into the insulation where the membrane terminates at the end of a day's work, or used to isolate sections of the roofing system |
| cant strip | A triangular-shaped strip of material used to ease the transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane |
| masonry | Construction made by the laying of units of substantial material such as brick, block and Cast Stone. |
| prior | The head of a priory or the second-in command in an abbey |
| capillary action | The movement of a liquid through a slender pathway |
| elevation | One vertical side of a building or structure. |
| galvanized pipe | A steel or iron pipe which has been galvanized by coating it with a thin layer of zinc. |
| low slope application | Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between two and four inches per foot. |
| heat gain | The transfer of heat from outside to inside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house. |
| scope of work | The scope of work is the pre-determined work required to be completed by a contractor or sub-contractor as dictated by the Contract. [top] |
| hammer drill | A version of the power drill that has a specially designed clutch that provides an in/out motion in addition to the normal rotary motion of the drill |
| petit appareil | Small cubical stonework. |
| pile height | The height of piles in a rug measured from the top surface of the backing to the top of the pile. |
| brickmould | A decorative border that runs along the entire perimeter of a window and is visible on the exterior. |
| cap flashing | That portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing. |
| garden window | A three-dimensional window that projects from the exterior wall and usually has glazing on all sides except the bottom, which serves as a shelf. |
| latticework | Thin strips of wood or plastic arranged in a gridlike pattern |
| sputter-coating | A secondary manufacturing process in which a thin layer of materials, usually designed to offer low-emissivity or solar control benefits, is applied to glass |
| curtain walling | a non-load-bearing wall applied in front of a framed structure, using metal, glass or thin masonry units to form the external finish to a building |
| cant strip | Angular shaped member used to eliminate a sharp, right angle, often used on flat roofs on commercial buildings. |
| moat | Ditch around an enclosure, either filled with water or dry |
| dos d'ane | A drop-leaf desk. |
| hinge dimensions | The graphic below describes the various dimensions that apply to "standard" hinges such as the butt hinge (but not to some other types such as the European hinge). |
| modified bitumen | (1) a bitumen modified through the inclusion of one or more polymers (e.g., atactic polypropylene, styrene butadiene styrene, etc.); (2) composite sheets consisting of a polymer modified bitumen often reinforced as sometimes surfaced with various types of mats, films, foils and mineral granules. |
| mezzanine | Partial story between two main stories; usually projects as a balcony |
| irc | International Residential Code |
| illuminated initial | In manuscript illumination, a highly ornamented letter, usually the first letter of a word |
| hex head bolt | A bolt with a 6-sided head that can be easily turned with a crescent wrench |
| lancet | a window or arch coming to a narrow point and much used in Gothic architecture. |
| bay | a part of a building or other structure marked off by vertical elements; an opening or recess in a wall; an extension or a building |
| developer | agent of change |
| slab | a term for the concrete division between two floors of window wall. [top] |
| position | The layout of a chord |
| joists | Any of the small timbers or metal beams ranged parallel from wall to wall in a structure to support a floor or ceiling. |
| sash window | Glass is set in two wood, metal or plastic frames to form a sash window, one or both of which can be moved up and down with the aid of pulleys so that the windows can be opened. |
| iecc | International Energy Conservation Code published by the ICC |
| adhesion | The property of a coating or sealant to bond to the surface to which it is applied. |
| arcade | A series of arches supported by columns or other vertical elements. |
| dead ground | Close to the wall, where the defenders can't shoot. |
| lattice | Grillwork made by crossing small wooden strips. |
| blockhouse | Small fortified barrack |
| refectory | Communal dining hall |
| marcher lordship | see Marcher lord |
| intercept spacer | A roll formed "U" shaped spacer that offers much better thermal resistance in the IG unit than ordinary rectangular spacer |
| faience | a form of terracotta, usually white, with a glazed finish, used as a cladding for walls. |
| deadbolt | A bolt operated manually and not actuated by springs |
| õlite | Granular limestone. |
| roofer | The trade name for the workman who applies roofing material. |
| crockets | an ornamental device, usually in the form of a cusp or curling leaf placed along the outer angles of pinnacles and gables |
| coverage | Amount of weather protection provided by the roofing material |
| glazing | The installation of glass in a window opening. |
| henrician | Fortresses dating from the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47) |
| keystone | Central wedge in top of arch. |
| fascia | A band of molding that runs horizontally along the uppermost edge of a wall, just below the eave. |
| chapter house | A meeting place for the chapter or governing body of a monastery or a cathedral |
| shoring | Lumber placed in a slanted position to support the structure of a building or home temporarily. |
| re-covering | The process of covering an existing roofing system with a new roofing system. |
| salient | Angle that points outward (opposite of re-entrant) |
| icbo | International Conference of Building Officials |
| veneered wall | A thick sheet of wood, single facing of masonry units or similar materials securely attached to a wall for the purpose of providing ornamentation, protection or insulation, but not bonded or attached to intentionally exert common action under load. |
| vassal | a person granted land in return for military service |
| latticework | An ornamental, lattice framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern. |
| bourg | From the tenth century the bourg became increasingly associated with trade and agriculture with seigneurial and monastic bourgs comprising groupings of tenants but also demarcating areas of intensified trade, commerce and craftmanship |
| nave | The central longitudinal space of a bascilican church |
| bedding | Method of glazing in which a thin layer of putty or glazing compound is placed in the glass rabbet, the glass pressed into the bed, the glazier's points (metal tabs) driven, and the sash is face-puttied over the points. |
| return | An external corner of a profiled unit. |
| elongation | the ability of a material (e.g., roofing membrane) to be stretched by the application of a force. |
| u-factor | A measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly |
| embrasure | a space in a wall that has a wide opening on the inside tapering to a narrow slit on the exterior used for shooting at the enemy |
| mastic | Mastic, a waterproof, putty-like paste used in building as a joint-sealer or filler. [top] |
| buttress | Wall projection for extra support; flying - narrow, arched bridge against the structure; pilaster - gradually recedes into the structure as it ascends. |
| viscosity | The internal frictional resistance offered by a fluid to change of shape or to the relative motion or flow of its parts. |
| hollowing tool | A lathe tool; this is a somewhat generic name for any number of different lathe tools that all have the same purpose, namely that of hollowing out the inside of a turned vessel (e.g |
| drum | A cylindrical wall which supports a dome. |
| flash point | The critical temperature at which a material will ignite. |
| calcium chloride | A highly hygroscopic compound (CaCl2) used in an anhydrous (dry) state for testing moisture content of various surfaces |
| coal tar | Adark brown to black, semi-solid hydrocarbon obtained as residue from the partial evaporation or distillation of coal tar. |
| shifting house | Building where gunpowder is checked and prepared |
| cocci | A spherically shaped bacterium. |
| fac | Fire alarm component. |
| krystal kote® | Clear coating that prevents scratches, corrosion, and discoloration for long-lasting beauty |
| bridge | Bridge refers to the aluminium bridge on an extruded profile being used as a thermally broken framing component |
| incise | To cast concave or engrave. |
| check | A small crack running parallel to the grain in wood and across the rings; usually caused by shrinkage during drying. An inspector should determine if it is structurally significant. |
| dielectric fitting | In a home or commercial building's water supply system, a special type of adapter (such as a union) used to connect a pipe containing copper with a pipe containing iron; used between dissimilar metals to prevent galvanic action from causing corrosion failure. |
| fresco | painting on wet plaster wall |
| blind arch | An arch applied to a wall; A 'dummy' arch. |
| gauged | bricks shaped to fit together closely, as in an arch or head. |
| habit | The customary monastic garb |
| variable coupler corner | A type of coupler that allows for almost any dimension and angle that may be required for the installation |
| cantilever | A structural member or surface that projects horizontally beyond its vertical support. |
| control joint | A groove which is formed, sawed, or tooled in a concrete or masonry building to regulate the location and amount of cracking and separation resulting from the dimensional change of different parts of the building. |
| efflorescence | White powder that forms on the surface of brick. |
| lumber | The product of the saw mill and planing mill not further manufactured other than by sawing, resawing, and passing lengthwise through a planing machine, crosscut to length and matched. |
| basement | Lowest, subordinate story of building often either entirely or partially below ground level. |
| coping | The covering piece on top of a wall exposed to the weather, usually sloped to shed water. |
| facing mix | Materials used for the portion of Cast Stone which is exposed to view after installed. |
| unitary development plan | the statutory plan which sets out the Council's planning policies. |
| crazing | A series of hairline cracks, normally less than a thirty-second of an inch in depth in the outer surface of a concrete product |
| bituminous emulsion | (1) A suspension of minute globules of bituminous material in water or in an aqueous solution; (2) a suspension of minute globules of water or an aqueous solution in a liquid bituminous material (invert emulsion). |
| condensation | The formation of frost or drops of water on inside walls, and when warm vapor inside a room meets a building's cold wall or window. |
| deck | The surface, installed over the supporting framing members, to which the roof is applied. |
| longitudinal barrel vault | a barrel (or tunnel) vault which follows the main longitudinal direction of the nave |
| heat pump-cooling/heating | A refrigerating system designed so that the heat extracted at a low temperature and the heat rejected at a higher temperature may be utilized alternately or simultaneously for cooling and heating functions respectively. |
| osb | Oriented Strand Board. A decking made from wood chips and lamination glues. |
| combination frame | A combination of the principal features of the full and balloon frames. |
| lock stile | The vertical member (stile) of a casement sash which closes against the surrounding frame. |
| central nervous system | The brain, spinal cord and connecting nerve tissues |
| mastic | See asphalt plastic cement. |
| desmene | Area of land reserved for a lord |
| spiral staircase | A staircase whose steps wind around a central, vertical axis. |
| notching | A rectangular cut across the grain of the wood member at the end of the board (See Rabbet). |
| weathertight | Sealed to prevent entry of air and precipitation into the structure. |
| texture | The finish structure consisting of visual and tactile surface qualities. |
| terra cotta | Fired clay used for decorative ornamental details |
| bypass duct | A bypass frame that is installed over a bypass slab containing an in-slab duct requires a bypass duct be installed in the frame over the in-slab duct |
| half screen | A screen that is only large enough to cover the opening of one sash on a double hung or single hung window |
| sash window | a window that slides vertically on a system of cords and balanced weights. |
| fabrication sketch | Schematics created with the program Window Maker designed to show the updated fabrication sizes and standards of a particular frame including colour, hardware, that Starline's Shop will use to manufacture the frame prior to shipping and installation. [top] |
| relieving arch | Arch built in a wall to relieve the thrust of another opening |
| hvac | Heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment. |
| ultraviolet light | The invisible rays of the spectrum that are outside of the visible spectrum at its short-wavelength violet end |
| cambridge fastener | (Meakins Fastener) Allows remote operation of the sash with the use of assistor cords and pulley's |
| weatherboarding | overlapping timber boards cladding the outside of a building. |
| carta caritatis | see Charter of Charity |
| silicone | (Silicone Sealer) An enduring sealing agent that resists water |
| fixed panel | An inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or slider window. |
| belvedere | A small, square cupola that functions as a lookout tower, located at the top of a building |
| grab bar | A short length of metal or plastic bar attached to a wall in a bathroom, near a toilet, in a shower or above a bathtub. |
| aluminum paint | An oil based coating mixed with aluminum particles, used for protecting asphalt roofs from UV rays & preserving a roofs life. |
| cistern | A receptacle for holding water or other liquid, especially a tank for catching and storing water |
| batter | Sloping part of a wall at ground level, particularly of a great tower |
| seismic | Installations or components with the prefix 'Seismic' refer to either an installation project that needs to conform to seismic requirements, or components used on a 'seismic installation' |
| lightwell | an opening within or next to a building that allows natural light to reach windows that would otherwise be obscured, e.g |
| drain | A device that allows for the flow of water from a roof area. |
| interlocker | An upright frame member of a panel in a sliding glass door which engages with a corresponding member in an adjacent panel when the door is closed |
| pedal point | A note sustained below changing harmonies. |
| stc | Sound Transmission Coefficient. |
| hall | Principal room or building in a castle, used for meals, meetings and formal occasions |
| donjon | A great tower or keep. |
| floor plan | Horizontal cross-section of a building as the building would look at ground level |
| volunteer /docent | a person who renders aid, performs a service, or assumes an obligation voluntarily. |
| water hammer | In water lines, a loud concussive noise which results from a sudden stoppage of the flow |
| casemate | a chamber in a wall with openings for arrows |
| tufa | Cellular rock; porous limestone. |
| spatial development strategy | planning strategy for London, being prepared by the Mayor of London. |
| moline | Ends curling outward. |
| home inspection | The process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home, and describes those systems and components in a home inspection report. |
| realism | A development in mid-19th-century France lead by Gustave Courbet |
| restrictors | The component of a vent that determines how it will pivot and restricts how far it can open. [top] |
| rustication | An incision cast around the outer edges of a unit to produce a shaded affect. |
| jute | Derived from fibrous plant native to India and the far East |
| stationary sash | A fixed sash; also referred to as a picture, studio, vista, or view sash. |
| membrane | See Self Adhesive Membrane. [top] |
| lantern | Small structure with open or windowed sides on top of a roof or dome to let light or air into the enclosed space below; A small circular or polygonal structure, with windows all around the base, which opens above a larger tower or dome. |
| glaze | The thin, smooth, often decorative coating that waterproofs pottery and usually gives it color and sheen. |
| environmental impact assessment | studies required to be undertaken by a developer in respect of some major developments to demonstrate to the local planning authority the likely impact of the proposal on the environment. |
| inorganic | Being or composed of matter other than hydrocarbons and their derivatives, or matter that is not of plant or animal origin. |
| split system | Compressor is located outside the building envelope and air handler/heater are located inside building. |
| hagiography | Writings on saints and venerated persons. |
| collar | Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe opening |
| cross bracing | Boards nailed diagonally across studs or other boards to make framework rigid. |
| pitch | The slope of a surface, e.g., a roof. |
| bearing wall | Any wall that carries a structural load. |
| dowel | Round (usually non-corrosive) metal pin used in anchoring and aligning Cast Stone. |
| applicant | agent of change |
| doh/hcd | Department of Housing/Housing & Community Department – Code to which most commercial buildings apply to. |
| hand countersink | A manual tool that allows you to drill out the upper portion of a hole so that the head of a screw will sit flush with the face of the object it is put into |
| post | A vertical structural element that supports a horizontal structural element (beam) laid across its upper ends. |
| plinth | Horizontal course(s) of finer stones at the base of a wall to provide better foundation, often projecting from the wall face |
| mansard | A roof of French origins such that each side is made up of two slopes, the lower slope steeper than the upper slope. |
| groin | Junction of two curved surfaces in a vault |
| blocking | Small wood framing members that fill in the open space between the floor and ceiling joists to add stiffness to the floors and ceiling. |
| caster | Container with perforated domed top for sprinkling sugar or spices, they come in a variety of styles but are usualy cylindrical or octagonal on a spreading rim foot. |
| sealed double glass | Two panes separated by a sealed space |
| gable vent | Slated vent usually found near attics at the top of the home. |
| chronic exposure | Long-term contact with a substance, usually lasting from several weeks to a lifetime. |
| safety glass | A laminate consisting of two or more sheets of flat glass, usually plate or sheet, with an intermediate layer of transparent plastic bonded together by a heat and pressure treatment. |
| dovecote | a shelter for doves |
| footings | Bottom part of wall |
| drum tower | A large, circular, low, squat tower built into a wall. |
| bow string truss | A roof structural member having a bow shaped element at the top and a straight or combined element connecting the two ends |
| coarse | Aggregate predominately retained on the No |
| landing | A platform in a flight of stairs. |
| capillarity | The action by which the surface of a liquid (where it is in contact with a solid) is elevated or depressed, depending upon the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid. |
| bottle ticket | A small silver plaque hung around the neck of a bottle to identify the contents |
| constructivism | A form of sculpture using wood, metal, glass, and modern industrial materials expressing the technological society |
| transom | (Transom Bar) - A horizontal member separating a door from a window panel above the door, or separating one window above another. |
| intake ventilation | The part of a ventilation system used to draw fresh air in |
| carcinogen | A substance or agent that can cause a growth of abnormal tissue or tumours in humans or animals |
| glass | Sheet glass that has been made translucent instead of transparent |
| insulating glass | Double- or triple-glazing with an enclosed, dehydrated, and hermetically sealed air space between the panes; the space is commonly from 3/16" to ¾". |
| general chapter | An annual general meeting attended by the heads of houses |
| transom window | A window that is placed above a doorway. |
| bastle house | Small tower house with a living room over a byre |
| saturated felt | A felt that has been partially saturated with low softening point bitumen. |
| ambulatory | A semicircular or polygonal aisle. Usually an ambulatory leads around the east end of the choir; separating the choir from apses or chapels; Aisle round an apse. |
| lighting outlet | Connection to branch circuit, made in a protective box, to which a light fixture or lamp holder is directly attached or from which wires are extended to fixtures. |
| nrca | The National Roofing Contractors Association. |
| colonial windows | Windows with small rectangular panes, or divided lites, designated as 12-lite, 16-lite, etc. |
| order | A classical style of architecture |
| moulding | Masonry decoration |
| class "a" | The highest fire-resistant rating issued by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for roofing. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building. |
| sliding sash | (Sliding Windows) A window which moves horizontally in grooves or tracks. |
| m&o | Maintenance and Operations. |
| calibration | A measurement or comparison against a standard |
| ridge | The highest part of a roof where the sloped roof planes meet |
| cladding | The lightweight material used to cover the exterior surface of a load-bearing structure for aesthetic reasons or as a shield from the weather. |
| cinder block | Also known as: CMU or Concrete Masonry Unit. |
| vertical sliding window | One or more sashes that move in a vertical direction. |
| sash | Window frame |
| step | Part of a stairway, consisting of a tread (horizontal piece upon which one steps) and a riser (the vertical piece between steps). |
| peaked roof | A roof rising either to a point or ridge. |
| lap | To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another. |
| cross gable | A roof shape that features two sets of gables; one set facing the front and back of the house and the other facing the sides, which cross to form a right angle. |
| cast-in-place | Mortar or concrete which is deposited in the place where it is required to harden, as opposed to "pre-cast". |
| dropback | A reduction in the softening point of bitumen that occurs when bitumen is heated in the absence of air. |
| axis | An implied or visible straight line in painting or sculpture in the center of a form along its dominant direction |
| tegular tiles | Ceiling tiles with recessed edges that allow the tile to hang below the ceiling grid of a commercial building. |
| selvage joint | A lapped joint designed for mineral-surfaced cap sheets |
| screw chase | See Key chase [top] |
| crack perimeter | The total length of the crack around a sash through which outdoor air could leak into the room |
| jamb depth | Width of the window frame from inside to outside. |
| fire door | A fire-resistive door assembly, including frame and hardware, which is capable of providing a specified degree of fire protection when closed |
| mansard roof | A four-sided hipped roof featuring two slopes on each side, the lower slopes being very steep, almost vertical, and the upper slopes sometimes being so horizontal that they are not visible from the ground |
| edge venting | The practice of providing regularly spaced protected openings along a roof perimeter to relieve moisture vapor pressure. |
| pitch | Pitch is the slope of a roof usually expressed as a ratio of vertical rise over horizontal run |
| colony | A visible growth of micro organisms on a culture medium. |
| airspace | This is a component placed at the perimeter of an insulting glass unit to separate lites – or single panes – of glass. |
| casing | Pieces of wood trim surrounding a window or door. |
| stud | An upright post or support, esp |
| mechanically-fastened membranes | generally used to describe membranes that have been attached at defined intervals to the substrate |
| herringbone | A decorative pattern of stone, brick or tile that looks like the spine of a herring with the ribs extended from opposite sides in rows of parallel, slanting lines. |
| set back/off | Ledge on wall face. |
| drum-tower | Large, circular tower, usually low and squat |
| corner board | A flat trim board applied to an exterior corner of a wood-frame building |
| bonding | Joining of metallic parts to form a conductive path that has the ability to safely conduct electrical loads. |
| double header | Two or more timbers joined for strength. |
| great tower | Main tower of a castle, often containing a hall, private chambers and storerooms; also known as a keep or donjon |
| corbel | A projection or a series of step-like projections of masonry units constructed to form a decorative or supporting ledge or shelf. |
| pitch | The angle of slope of a roof. |
| chord | Applied to an arch |
| revision | An updated version of a released document (Window Shop Drawings etc.) [top] |
| barrel vault | one curve that spans a long space such as a barrel vaulted ceiling. |
| urethane coating | Urethane coating is a two component elastomeric coating |
| system | A combination of interacting or interdependent components in a building or home assembled to carry out one or more functions. |
| dormer window | A perpendicular window located in a sloping roof; triangular walls join the window to the roof |
| coping | Stone unit used to cap off the top of a wall |
| toilet partition | One of the panels forming a toilet enclosure. |
| shiplap | Siding Boards of special design nailed horizontally to vertical studs with or without intervening sheathing to form the exposed surface of outside walls of frame buildings. |
| suburbia | settlement type |
| semi-dome | A half dome. |
| oratory | Private in-house chapel; small cell attached to a larger chapel. |
| futurism | This early 20th-century movement originating in Italy glorified the machine age and attempted to represent machines and figures in motion |
| parapet | A low wall bounding the precipice of any surface, e.g., bridge edge or house-top. |
| merlon | Part of a battlement, the square "sawtooth" between crenels; The high segment of the alternating high and low segments of a battlement. |
| westwork | An entrance area at the west end of a church with upper chamber and usually with a tower or towers |
| crowning | A condition that develops when wood flooring materials are sanded and refinished before they are fully dried |
| screen | An apparatus with circular apertures from separating sizes of materials. |
| board and batten | A form of wood siding for exterior walls, consisting of long vertical boards and thin strips, or battens, which extend over adjacent boards or joints (the spaces between adjacent surfaces). |
| round arch | arch with a rounded top. |
| hand of door | The description of swinging door operation, always viewed from outside the room, building, and so forth |
| splay | Chamfer, or sloping face |
| pane | A sheet of glass used for glazing a window |
| fail-safe lock | An electric lock that automatically unlocks with any power interruption. |
| plat | A map or chart of an area showing boundaries of lots and other parcels of property. |
| niche | A recess in the thickness of a wall |
| hall | Principal room or building in complex. |
| folio | A printing term that refers to the largest standard size of a book, based on the folded sheets of paper that comprise it |
| codex | pl |
| forebuilding | An extension to the keep, guarding it's entrance. |
| spec | Project manual and specifications. |
| solar | the private living quarters of the lord often over the great hall |
| finish | Final exposed surface of Cast Stone |
| exterior wall | Any outside wall or vertical enclosure of a building other than a party wall. |
| apophyge | The part of a column where it springs from its base or joins its capital |
| double-strength glass | Sheet glass with a thickness between 0.115 to 0.133 (3 to 3.38mm). |
| bond | the pattern in which bricks are arranged in a wall, e.g |
| bivalate | Hillfort defended by two concentric ditches |
| finger-joint | A toothed joint used to connect two pieces of wood end to end. |
| puddled | Made waterproof. |
| bituminous grout | A mixture of bituminous material and fine sand that will flow into place without mechanical manipulation when heated. |
| dimensional shingle | A shingle that is textured, overlayed, or laminated and designed to produce a three-dimensional effect |
| laminated shingles | Shingles made from two separate pieces that are laminated together |
| medallion | An ornamental block. |
| fasteners | Nails or staples used to secure roofing to the deck. |
| cunette | Trench in the bottom of a ditch |
| threshold | Wood, metal, or stone member at the floor within the door jamb |
| clerestory | (also Clearstory High-Light Window) A window in the upper part of a lofty room that admits light to the center of the room. |
| bond | The adhesive and cohesive forces holding two roofing components in intimate contact. |
| batten | Small thin strips covering joints between wider boards on exterior building surfaces. |
| billet | A cylindrical shaped section of aluminium alloy used as the starting stock in an extrusion. [top] |
| ibc | International Building Code |
| sub-penthouse | The second highest floor in a building or installation project. [top] |
| fire-stop | In a concealed, hollow construction, a material or member which fills or seals the open construction to prevent or retard the spread of fire through a building or home. |
| contractor/general contractor/ | The commercial entity or person contracted by the owner of the construction project to oversee the construction of the building; the contractor is responsible for hiring and monitoring the sub-contractors (construction sub-trades such as electrician, dry wall installation or window installation etc.) [top] |
| frame | See Window Frame. |
| gun-loops | Round holes pierced through the walls of castles and manor houses from the fifteenth century onwards |
| hand held drum sander | A drum sander in which the drum is somewhat like that used in a drill press drum sander except that it has a smooth shank on one end (like that for a drill press) but the other end, instead of just having a tightening nut, it has a handle that has a bearing that allows it to rotate |
| crenelation | Battlements at the top of a tower or wall. |
| ringwork | Circular earthwork of bank and ditch |
| gasket | Gaskets are contoured, extruded E.P.D.M |
| warming house | see Calefactory |
| s-value | Section modulus of the cross section of a member about the neutral axis perpendicular to the loads.This section property is used to calculate the stress on a member under loads and is directly proportional to the capacity of the member |
| felt layer | A machine used for applying bitumen and built-up roofing felts. |
| accessibility | (DSA code AC) The condition resulting from the inclusion of appropriate architectural elements to permit unrestricted entrance to, exit from, and use of buildings and facilities. |
| corbel | A horizontal projection from a wall, forming a ledge or supporting a structure above it. |
| i-value | "I" is a numerical value which describes the area of the cross section of a member about the neutral axis perpendicular to the loads |
| perm | A unit of water vapor transmission defined as 1 grain of water vapor per square foot per hour per inch of mercury pressure difference (1 inch of mercury = 0.49 psi). |
| expressionism | A 20th-century European art movement that stresses the expression of emotion and the inner vision of the artist rather than the exact representation of nature |
| bow | something that is bent, curved or arched |
| clapboard | A board, thicker on one side than the other, used to overlap an adjacent board on a building or home's siding. |
| class "b" | Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building. |
| sealant | Usually 'parabond' applied to all mitres and butt joints to prevent water penetration. [top] |
| stc | Structural calculations. |
| septic tank | A concrete or steel tank where sewage is reduced to liquid and gases by bacterial action |
| approved compatible sealant | A sealant recommended by the manufacturer that is guaranteed to be compatible (causing no adverse effects) with every material in close proximity to it for an indefinite period. [top] |
| gudgeon | The "hole" part of a pintle and gudgeon hinge |
| u-factor | A value indicating the rate of heat flow through a building construction, expressed in units of 'Btuh per square foot of surface per degree F |
| elastomer | A macromolecular material that returns rapidly to its approximate initial dimensions and shape after substantial deformation by a weak stress and the subsequent release of that stress. |
| stringcourse | A continuous projecting horizontal band set in the surface of a wall and usually molded. |
| hollow-core door | A flush door in which plywood or hardwood for both faces is glued to a skeleton framework |
| lierne | A minor rib in a complex rib vault |
| mezzanine | Low storey beween two higher ones (entresol) |
| diaper | A pattern formed by small, repeated geometrical motifs set adjacent to one another, used to decorate stone surfaces in architecture and as a background to illuminations in manuscripts, wall painting or panel painting. |
| below grade | The portion of a building that is below ground level. |
| barbican | The gateway or outworks defending the drawbridge. |
| water table | The architectural feature that consists of a projecting drip mold on the surface of a wall for the purpose of preventing moisture from creeping up the rear of the cladding surface |
| elevation | A face, front or façade of a building |
| offset | Ledge in a wall followed by reduced thickness of the wall |
| keep | A strong stone tower; main tower; donjon; stronghold. |
| vellum | Very thin calf skin used as a writing material, as a cover for precious books or to face surfaces within buildings. |
| jamb | A vertical member at the side of a window frame, or the horizontal member at the top of the window frame, as in head jamb. |
| condensation | A deposit of moisture droplets from humid air on surfaces that are cooler than that air |
| power vents | Electrically powered fans used to move air from attics and structures. Installed through the decking. |
| double-hung sash window | A window having two panels (sashes), each of which is framed to hold one or more panes of glass, and both of which can be moved up and down. |
| brass | A metal alloy consisting of copper and zinc |
| gallery | An upper story over the aisle which opens onto the nave or choir |
| steening | Brickwork without mortar. |
| tinted glass | See Heat-Absorbing Glass. |
| hypalon® | a registered trademark of E.I |
| squinch | An arch, or a system of concentrically wider and gradually projecting arches, placed at the corners of a square base to act as the transition to a circular dome placed on the base. |
| paviors | small brick-like paving units. |
| coved glazing beads | A contoured piece of vinyl that holds the glass in place within the sash and adds an elegant, finished look. |
| sill | The horizontal structural member at the base of a wall, window or door opening, to which vertical members (such as studs or posts) are attached. |
| boca | Building Officials and Code Administrators. |
| keyed different | A different individual key operates each cylinder (or group of cylinders). |
| stock brick | a traditional clay brick commonly used in house construction; often called London stocks because of the frequency of use locally |
| icc international code council | A national organization that publishes model codes for adoption by states and other agencies |
| deflection channel | Channel installed at the head of the opening to provide seismic deflection as well as secure the top portion of the frame to the rough opening. [top] |
| reinforced membrane | A roofing or waterproofing membrane reinforced with felts, mats, fabrics or chopped fibers. |
| trap | U-shaped pipe below plumbing fixtures which provides a water seal to prevent sewer odors and gases from entering habitable areas in a building or home. |
| squint | Observation hole in wall or room |
| shgc value | The number expressing the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. [top] |
| roof nav | A password-protected software tool accessible on the FM Approval website which allows users access to the roof-specific portions of the FM Approvals Guide |
| strip mopping | A mopping pattern in which hot bitumen is applied in parallel bands. |
| burh | Saxon stronghold; literally a "neighborhood". |
| triple glazing | Three panes of glass with two air spaces between, commonly consisting of an insulating glass with a separate storm sash |
| drop ceiling | A false or lowered ceiling, typically a T-Bar system. |
| thermal conductivity | Heat transfer property of materials expressed in units of 'Btu per hour per inch of thickness per square foot of surface per one degree F |
| r-value | The resistance of conductive heat transfer in one hour through a one square foot area of a specific IG Unit, for each degree Fahrenheit temperature difference, between the indoor and outdoor air |
| differential settlement | Relative movement of different parts of a building or home caused by uneven sinking of the structure. |
| campanile | Italian name for a bell tower, usually one that is detached from the main building. |
| rebar | Reinforcing bar that is used to strengthen concrete structures. |
| clear coat | A transparent finish; the application of such a finish. |
| quarrel | A diamond- or square-shaped glass piece set diagonally |
| hood | Arched covering |
| billet | Ornamental moulding used in Norman architecture, consisting of raised cylindrical or rectangual blocks at regular intervals |
| ambiguity | Something which admits of interpretation in two or more possible senses |
| infirmarer | The monastic official who took care of the sick and the infirm; he had oversight of the infirmary. |
| ground-fault circuit interrupter | An electrical device that breaks an electric circuit when an excessive leakage current is detected |
| scappled | Cut to a smooth face. |
| mop sink | A low, deep sink used for janitors. |
| absorptivity | Each surface has a default emissivity and solar absorptivity |
| cyclopean block | Rock faced blocks often used in foundations |
| elevation | A scale drawing of the upright parts of a structure. |
| dog tooth | An ornamental motif consisting of a square, four-leafed figure, the center of which projects in a point |
| campanile | A tower |
| coverage | The surface area continuously covered by a specific quantity of a particular roofing material. |
| party wall | a wall or fence that straddles a boundary between two or more properties or stands entirely on land in one ownership but used to separate two buildings in separate ownership/occupation. |
| drywall | A wall constructed of material which is put in place without the use of plaster |
| sliding patio doors | A combination of fixed and sliding glass door panels that operate solid brass roller trucks |
| hardboard | (Trade Name: Hardie Panel) Wood fibers and a bonding agent joined together under pressure to form a sheet of material. |
| single hung window | A window where the top portion is stationary and the bottom sash moves up and down. |
| deck | An exterior floor system generally above grade. |
| flashing cement | An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials |
| asphalt plastic cement | An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials. Also known as flashing cement or mastic. |
| deflection | The measure of movement of a member from its static position when subjected to loads. [top] |
| ice & water shields | Prevent leaks and ice dams, which can wreak havoc on a home's roofing and walls. |
| urn | Large, vase-like container that may exhibit elaborate ornamentation. (Illustration) |
| hygroscopic | Attracting, absorbing and retaining atmospheric moisture. |
| perpendicular | An English Gothic architectural style, dating from c |
| face glazing | Common glazing set with putty in a rabbetted frame. |
| atrium | An open courtyard at the entrance of a church, usually surrounded by covered aisles |
| mineral-surfaced roofing | Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are covered with granules. |
| celsius | A centigrade scale of temperature measurement based on 0° as the freezing point and 100° as the boiling point of water |
| course | Horizontal scope of units incorporated in a wall. |
| emittance | The ratio of the radiant flux emitted by a specimen to that emitted by a blackbody at the same temperature and under the same conditions. |
| springer | The lowest voussoir on each side of an arch |
| half sheet sander | A power sander that uses 1/2 of a sheet of sandpaper (thus the name) |
| cohesive failure | Internal splitting of a compound resulting from over-stressing of the compound. |
| art nouveau | A period and/or style of decoration which first appeared in England in the 1880's and spread throughout Europe, particularly Belgium, France and Germany, in the early 1890s |
| checking | Small cracks at closely spaced but irregular intervals on the surface of mortar, concrete or paint. |
| moisture barrier | Treated paper or metal that retards or bars water vapor, used to keep moisture from passing into walls or floors. |
| impost | A wall bracket on which rests the end of an arch |
| brighton pattern fastener | Sash window catch that offers better security over many traditional catches |
| member | Any structural part of a window, such as a rail, stile, or lintel. |
| feather edge | A thin edge with an arris considerably less than ninety degrees |
| overexposed | Installing shingle courses higher than their intended exposure. |
| gutters | A channel attached to the fascia board designed to carry away water that runs off the roof surface. |
| pvc | (Polyvinylchloride) - An extruded or molded plastic material used for window framing and as a thermal barrier for aluminum windows. |
| keystone | the architectural piece at the crown of a vault or arch and marks its apex, locking the other pieces into position. |
| crawl space | In a building or home without a basement, an unfinished accessible space below the first floor which is usually less than a full story in height; normally enclosed by the foundation wall. |
| doe-2.1e | A building-simulation computer program used to calculate total annual energy use. |
| marcher lord | Anglo-Norman lords entrusted with guarding the border regions (Marches) |
| module | Single unit of multi unit building; the largest section which can be transported. |
| insulation glass | Double or more glazing with an enclosed, humidity free and sealed space between the glass panels. |
| brunelleschi | Italian architect, celebrated for work during Florentine Renaissance |
| super spacer | The linear object that separates and maintains the space between the glass surfaces of sealed units. |
| recessed lighting fixture | A lamp fixture which has its bottom edge flush with the ceiling. |
| carrier | (Flat or 'T' carrier) Brown or white uPVC strip with a channel used to fix our pile weatherstripping. |
| colonial | An architectural style associated with an early American period; Early American style c |
| grange | An agricultural centre from which the community co-ordinated farming and industrial work. |
| eave | The underside of the house wall that is visible, found on sloped roofs. |
| segmental arch | An arch whose arc is shorter than that of a full semi-circle. |
| imitation | The repetition of a melodic phrase played by one part in another part. |
| thermogram | An image of an object taken with an infrared camera that shows surface temperature variations. |
| grotesque | A marginal figure or animal, or hybrid combination of human and animal or plant, frequent especially in Gothic manuscript illumination and especially in marginal illumination. |
| apse | Area projecting eastwards from the church; may be rectangular, semicircular or polygonal. |
| micron | One millionth (10-6) of a metric meter. |
| commercial building inspection | The process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a building used for commercial purposes and which describes those systems and components in a property condition assessment report. |
| telegraphing | When shingles reflect the uneven surface beneath them |
| eclecticism | In architecture and other disciplines (such as music, art, and literature), the use of principles or elements derived from various sources |
| arch | A curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight, including but not limited to the following types: |
| pent roof | A roof structure composed of a single slope. |
| aor | Architect of Record |
| cam locks | The hardware that locks the sash to the frame of the window. |
| tile field | Open-joint drain tiles laid to distribute septic tank effluent over an absorption area or to provide subsoil drainage in wet areas. |
| fresco | A painting on plaster, Frescoes once featured extensively in medieval churches and buildings |
| loads | Live load: The total of all moving and variable loads that may be placed upon a building or home. |
| archway | An opening with a curved or pointed top. |
| bailey | The defended outer enclosure of a castle |
| natural convection | A heat transfer process involving motion in a fluid (such as air) caused by difference in density of the fluid and the action of gravity This is an important part of heat transfer from the glass surface to room air |
| arch | A curved structure across an opening or recess which comprises wedge-shaped elements |
| unilateral undertaking | see planning obligation. |
| solid glass door | A door in which the glass essentially provides all the structural strength. |
| job-average basis | A technique for determining the average dimensions or quantities of materials, by analysis of roof test cuts |
| rise | The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge. |
| castellan | an officer in charge of a castle |
| waterproof underlayments | Modified bitumen based roofing underlayments |
| flying buttress | A free-standing buttress attached to the main vessel (nave, choir, or transept wall) by an arch or half-arch which transmits the thrust of the vault to the buttress attached to the outer wall of the aisle. |
| vancouver building bylaw | The Vancouver Building Bylaw sets out technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings in Vancouver. [top] |
| asbestos | A group of natural, fibrous, impure silicate materials. |
| hydration | Mineral hydration is an inorganic chemical reaction where water is added to the crystal structure of a mineral, usually called a hydrate |
| damper | A device used to vary the volume of air passing through an air outlet, inlet, or duct. It does not significantly affect the shape of the delivery pattern |
| meeting rail | Used in single hung windows, it is a rail that connects both jambs at the middle of the window. |
| kynar coating | Architectural coating that is UV stable and suitable for exterior use on aluminum and other metal surfaces. |
| wainscoting | The lower three or four feet of an interior wall when lined with paneling, tile or other material different from the rest of the wall. |
| gable | Wall beneath the slopes of a roof |
| retaining wall | A wall, either freestanding or laterally braced, that bears against an earth or other fill surface and resists lateral and other forces from the material in contact with the side of the wall, thereby preventing the mass from sliding to a lower elevation. |
| horned dado | On a stacked head dado cutter for a circular saw, the outside blades on some sets cut just a little deeper than the inside blades (the chippers) and this results in what can, with a great deal of imagination, be looked at as a flat-topped head with little bitty horns sticking up at the sides, thus it is called a horned dado cut |
| wall-walk | Flat pathway, usually protected by battlements, on top of a castle wall |
| ul label | Label displayed on packaging to indicate the level of fire and/or wind resistance of asphalt roofing. |
| shake | A hand-split wood shingle. |
| inside sill | See Stool. |
| sealed unit | A combination of two or more lutes of glass separated by a sealed space. |
| conflicts | Limitations, complexities, or complications that result in a disagreement between the parties involved as to how the remediation is to be performed. |
| concertino | See Concerto Grosso. |
| loophole | Narrow opening through which defenders could shoot |
| public right-of-way | An area dedicated to the public for the passage of people or goods. |
| flush tank | A tank that holds water for flushing one or more plumbing fixtures. |
| bond breaker | A material used to prevent adhesion of newly-placed concrete to the substrate or additional concrete. |
| classical | Classical architecture refers to the building styles of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece |
| metal drip edge | A narrow strip of non-corrodible metal used at the rake and eave to facilitate water runoff. |
| tree preservation order | an Order made by the Council to protect a tree or group of trees |
| wrought iron | Iron that is worked by being forged or hammered. |
| corbiestep | Stepped-end gable |
| chancel | The area around the High Altar in the east end of the church. |
| benedict of nursia | see St Benedict |
| carat | The common unit of measurement for precious stones and pearls |
| aia | American Institute of Architects. Sealoflex is approved by the AIA as a registered provider |
| ballista | Engine resembling a crossbow, used in hurling missiles or large arrows. |
| sf | Square Feet. |
| transom | A picture window that is usually located or mulled above another window. |
| rubble | Fill; unsquared stone not laid in courses. |
| satin chrome | (Chrome plated brass) is a matt finish used on architectural ironmongery |
| knight | Man who served his lord as a mounted warrior |
| shaft | Narrow column. |
| spline | A rectangular strip of wood or metal inserted between two boards, which have been slotted to receive it. |
| mangonel | an offensive weapon with projectile arms that turn and hurl rocks |
| permeance | An index of a material's resistance to water vapor transmission. |
| baseboard | A board along the floor against walls and partitions to hid gaps. |
| stucco | A plaster used as a coating for walls and ceilings, and often used for decoration; it is common to many parts of the world, particularly to the Mediterranean region and to the regions of the United States once colonized by Spain (i.e., Florida and California). |
| outside glazing | Glazing installed from the outside. |
| pantile | Roof-tile of curved s-shaped section |
| none | Canonical office celebrated at the ninth hour (mid-afternoon). |
| register | The open end of a duct in a home for warm or cool air. |
| restoration | The act or process of accurately recovering the form and details of a building, structure, object or site and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by the removal of later work, or by the replacement of missing earlier work or both. |
| batter | A sloping part of a curtain wall |
| curing | The process of hydrating the Portland Cement in Cast Stone to a specified age or compressive strength in a warm, moist environment. |
| volt | A unit of electromotive force |
| louvers | Horizontal slats or fins, sometimes movable, which are set into an opening at a slant to admit light and air but keep out rain. |
| jettied story | An upper story of a building that projects out over the story beneath it, common in Colonial American architecture. |
| mineral stabilizer | A fine, water-insoluble inorganic material, used in a mixture with solid or semi-solid bituminous materials. |
| clamp | A device used to strengthen, or to hold in place. |
| chancel | Early and medieval churches were carefully made up of different sections |
| spandrel | The material that fills the space between the exterior of two arches from the apex at the top of the arch to the point at which they meet on the side |
| balance spring | Device for counterbalancing a sliding sash, usually associated with a double-hung window, so sash may be held open at any given position. |
| astragal | An interior moulding attached to one of a pair of doors, or side-hinged windows to prevent swing |
| laird | a minor baron or small landholder |
| tracery | Fine decorative carving in either wood or stone found in the design of windows, vaults, screens and panels. |
| fasteners | Devices for jointing two parts together, such as screws nails and bolts. |
| mastic | An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials |
| splay | Chamfer, or sloping face. |
| double glazing panel | A double glazing panel is a removable interior glass panel which creates an air space between the exterior glazing and itself |
| enceinte | The enclosure or fortified area of a castle; An enclosing wall, usually exterior, of a fortified place. |
| stool | A shelf-like board of the interior part of the window sill, against which the bottom rail of the sash closes. |
| incompatibility | Unable to exist, cooperate, or function, because of an adverse chemical reaction |
| clapboard | A narrow, horizontally laid board with one edge thinner than the other, attached to an exterior surface so that the wide edge of each board overlaps the thin edge of the board just below it |
| r-value | (Thermal Resistance) A measure of resistance to heat flow of a material or construction; a higher value indicates a better heat insulating property |
| feudalism | Social system operating in the Middle Ages, according to which land was granted to nobles in return for services |
| groove | A long, narrow cut on the face of a wood member; a groove across the grain is a Dado; one parallel with the grain is a Plough |
| iso board | Polyisocyanurate Board-a polyurethane foam supplied in board form primarily as an insulation material for the construction industry. |
| damp-proofing | Treatment of a surface or structure to resist the passage of water in the absence of hydrostatic pressure. |
| dogtooth | Diagonal indented pyramid. |
| insul-deck™ | High-performance deck flooring using structural insulated panels composed of EPS foam core with TCA-Guard® Protection sandwiched between OSB panels. |
| latin cross | A cross with three short arms and one long arm. |
| cross and orb | Modified cross slits to accommodate gunnery. |
| polarity | The correct flow of electricity, which is achieved when the hot and neutral wires of the power supply circuits are connected to the corresponding hot and neutral wires of an appliance or outlet. |
| plenum | The large metal box attached to the furnace from which heating ducts emerge. |
| embrasure | The low segment of the altering high and low segments of a battlement. |
| oolite | Granular limestone |
| earth drill | (Also known as: auger) A horizontal rotating drill having a screw thread-type bit that carries cuttings up and away from the face. |
| bond | Arrangement of bricks in courses |
| modified bitumen | Are composite sheets consisting of a copolymer modified bitumen often reinforced and sometimes surfaced with various types of films, foils and mats. |
| polyamide thermal break | An element of low heat conductivity placed in an assembly to reduce or prevent the flow of heat between highly conductive materials; used in some metal window or curtain wall designs intended for installation in cold climates |
| class "c" | Rated to withstand light exposure to fire. |
| rusticated | Stonework with beveled or angled edges |
| brace | A diagonally positioned structural element used as a support between horizontal and vertical structural members. |
| dorter | see Dormitory |
| chemical family | A group of single elements or compounds with a common general name |
| pillar | A post or newel that extends to the ceiling height. |
| hearth | That part of the floor directly in front of the fireplace, and the floor inside the fireplace on which the fire is built |
| ampere | The unit used in the measure of the rate of flow of electricity |
| linenfold | decorative motif in the form of a folded piece of linen cloth |
| ppgs | Planning Policy Guidance Notes published by the Government. |
| hollow ground | (1) A concave bevel on the cutting edge of a knife, chisel or other edged tool |
| exedra | Wall alcove with bench space |
| saltire | Diagonal, equal-limbed cross |
| lintel | A unit spanning an opening and carrying the load of a wall above. |
| parados | Bank behind a trench or other fortification, giving protection from being fired on from the rear |
| shading coefficient | TThe ratio of the rate of solar heat gain through a specific IG Unit, to the rate of solar heat gain through a single piece of 1/8" clear glass in the same situation |
| hi lo thread | A type of screw thread where there are actually two courses of thread, one higher than the other |
| tuscan column | Simple column with plain shaft |
| fenestration | The placement of window openings in a building wall, one of the important elements in controlling the exterior appearance of a building |
| iecc | International Energy Conservation Code |
| truss | A rigid framework, as of wooden beams or metal bars, which supports a structure, such as a roof. |
| softwood | Easily worked wood or wood from a conebearing tree. |
| gypsum plasterboard | A common building material made with a core of gypsum or anhydrite plaster usually enclosed between two sheets of heavy paper |
| clas | Ancient mother churches |
| pikeman | Soldier carrying a pike or similar long-handled weapon |
| wall-stair | Staircase built into the thickness of a wall. |
| apron | A paved area, such as the juncture of a driveway with the street or with a garage entrance. |
| crossing tower | The tower which sometimes occurs above the space at the intersection of the nave, chancel, and transept of a church. |
| ansi | American National Standards Institute |
| infilling or webbing | The vault surface between the ribs of a rib vault. |
| foyer | A subordinate space between an entrance and the main interior. |
| swale | A drainage channel formed on a property where two slopes meet. |
| truss | A roof system that distributes weight to the ceiling joist. |
| soffit vent | Air vents that are flush with the ceiling or wall ventilation system indoors. |
| fill-type insulation | Loose insulating material which is applied by hand or blown into wall spaces mechanically. |
| vent sleeve | See "Collar". |
| emissivity | The measure of a surface’s ability to emit long-wave infrared radiation. |
| cone-shaped roof | A roof shaped like a cone. |
| confessio | A type of crypt which consists of a series of linked passages |
| particle board | Sheets made from compressed wood fiber. |
| valley flashing | an additional water barrier, made from aluminum or galvanized steel, that is installed after the roof and valley have been covered with underlayment Vent: any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such as a pipe or stack for the purpose of added ventilation Vent flashing: made from aluminum or galvanized steel, this additional water barrier is installed after the roof and valley have been covered with underlayment Vent sleeve: see collar |
| "hot stuff" or "hot" | The roofer's term for hot bitumen. |
| insulating glass | Two or more pieces of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between |
| can | A housing for a recessed fixture. |
| saddle bead | Glazing bead for securing two panes. |
| metropolitan open land | open land of strategic significance, which contributes to the structure or character of the Borough as a whole and provides breaks in the built-up area. |
| gothic revival | An artistic movement dating from the eighteenth century onwards |
| campylobactor | A highly infectious gram-negative bacterium, often found in sewage |
| concentric | Having two sets of walls, one inside the other. |
| order | One of a series of concentric mouldings. |
| shore a hardness | The relative hardness of elastic materials such as rubber or soft plastics can be determined with an instrument called a Shore A durometer |
| split finish | Interior and exterior finishes of are different |
| lintel | A horizontal building structural member over an opening, which carries the weight of the wall above it; usually of steel, stone, or wood. |
| english renaissance | The progressive Renaissance architecture of Italy was out of bounds to most English artists and patrons |
| dressing | Carved stonework around openings. |
| under-floor crawl space | The area within the confines of the building's foundation and between the ground and the underside of the floor. |
| split | A membrane tear resulting from tensile stresses. |
| compatibility | Compatibility is the ability of two or more materials to exist in a close and permanent proximity for an indefinite period of time with no adverse effects on each other. [top] |
| transom light | A narrow window, sometimes hinged at the top, positioned over a doorway or larger window. |
| arts and crafts | derived from an artistic movement of the late C19, based on the ideas of William Morris, which promoted traditional forms of design and the use of craft techniques in construction |
| chord | 3 or more notes played together. |
| crossing | The central space in the church where the choir, nave and transepts intersect. |
| register | The appliance at the end of a duct for incoming or escaping air, sometimes used to direct airflow or control the volume of air passing through it. |
| lintel | A horizontal beam over an opening in a wall that carries the weight of the structure above. |
| outrigger frame | Chassis longitude (length) frame rails located inboard of tires (primarily used on commercial units designed to be moved more than once). |
| hopper window | A bottom-hinged sash window that opens inward for ventilation. |
| dsa | Division of State Architect – State agency which reviews and approves all projects in which public funds are used. |
| handel | Baroque composer |
| corner post | An extruded aluminium coupler designed to hold two frames together at a desired angle, Corner posts utilizing more than one extruded profile are called variable corner couplers. [top] |
| smooth-surfaced roofing | Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules (coated). |
| coping | The covering piece on top of a wall, conventionally covered with metal |
| vigils | see Nocturns |
| shiplap | Boards with lapped joints along their edges. |
| rough opening | The framed opening in a wall into which a window or door is to be installed. |
| stringcourse | Continuous horizontal moulding on wallface. |
| flaking | detachment of a uniform layer of a coating or surface material, usually related to internal movement, lack of adhesion or passage of moisture. |
| weephole | Small holes drilled along the bottom edge of storm sash or combination storm-screens to permit moisture condensation or wind-driven rain to drain away from the sill to the outdoors. |
| casework | Cabinetry or shelving inside a building. |
| hooked bar | A reinforcing bar with the end bent into a hook to provide anchorage. |
| gun-loop or gun-port | Opening in a wall for a gun |
| benefactor | A donor who suported the community with financial or other aid. |
| anchor | 1 |
| jump duct | HVAC ducting used to connect individual room to main area to transfer return air-eliminates need for return air duct to individual rooms. |
| picture window | A large, fixed window framed so that it is usually, but not always, longer horizontally than vertically to provide a panoramic view. |
| half shaft | Roll-moulding on either side of opening. |
| packaged air conditioner | A factory assembled air conditioning unit ready for installation |
| poteaux-en-terre | A mode of wall construction in French Colonial America in which tall posts are rammed into the ground, and the spaces between them are filled with mud plaster, also known as bousillage |
| rubble brick | Rough-edged brick, often of variegated colors. |
| historic district | U.S |
| credence table | A small table or shelf in the sanctuary where the bread, wine and water were placed before the Mass. |
| gothic arch | Arch with pointed top |
| leat | An open watercourse feeding water to a mill. |
| mortar | A mixture of cement, sand, and water, used as a bonding agent by the mason for binding bricks and stones. |
| choir screen | A screen, made of wood or stone, usually decorated with painting orsculpture, which separates the choir from the rest of the church. |
| girder | A large or principal beam used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length. |
| backfill | Earth or other material used to replace material removed during construction. |
| gargoyle | Carved figure with grotesque features; often on corners of buildings. |
| portal | Any doorway or entrance but especially one that is large and imposing. |
| meurtriere | An opening in the roof of a passage where soldiers could shoot into the room below |
| concrete | A construction material that consists, in its most common form, of Portland Cement, aggregate (usually gravel and sand) and water |
| degree-day | A measure of heating demand, based on the difference between the mean daily outdoor temperature and 65°F |
| e.p.d.m | Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer |
| thermal conductance | A unit of heat flow that is used for specific thicknesses of material or for materials of combination construction, such as laminated insulation. |
| curtain wall | An exterior building wall which carries no roof or floor loads and consists of a combination of aluminium, glass, and other surfacing materials supported solely by the aluminium framework. [top] |
| astm international | American Society for Testing and Materials |
| hardware | All the necessary equipment to retain, operate, and lock or unlock the sash, leaf, or panel within the frame. [top] |
| yett | Iron gate |
| hvac | Acronym for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. |
| fab sketch | See Fabrication Sketch. [top] |
| high chair | A chair-shaped device used to hold reinforcing steel off of the bottom of formwork. |
| hip roof | A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides |
| sill plate | The lowest member of the house framing resting on top of the foundation wall |
| mastic | Flexible adhesive for adhering building materials. |
| steep slope application | Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot. |
| section drawing | An architectural drawing showing its structure as if cut through vertically. |
| deck | The substrate over which roofing is applied |
| interior length | The interior height heel dimension on a bypass, measured from the bottom of the slab above you to the top of the slab below you, making appropriate deductions for deflection etc |
| mineral-surfaced roofing | Built-up roofing materials whose top ply consists of a granule-surfaced sheet. |
| weather stripping | Strips of fabric or metal fastened around the edges of the windows and doors of a home to prevent air infiltration. |
| sole plate | The horizontal framing member directly under the studs. |
| single-strength glass | Glass with thickness between 0.085 to 0.100" (2.16 mm to 2.57 mm). |
| fixed sash window | A picture window with an non-operable sash used to create matching sightlines in a operable window. |
| cfu | Colony Forming Units (CFU) - A descriptive acronym used in assessing the growth of micro organisms on fabrics or surfaces |
| granules | Ceramic, color-coated crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products. |
| thermal insulation | A material applied to reduce the flow of heat. |
| bargeboard | a timber piece fitted to the outer edge of a gable, sometimes carved for decorative effect. |
| footing | Concrete base on which a foundation sits. |
| entresol | Low storey within two high ones (mezzanine) |
| aisle | The area on either side of the nave or chancel. |
| gallery | a long covered walkway or corridor |
| crenelation | the notched fortifications on top of a wall; battlements; a license to “crenelate” was official permission to fortify a structure |
| pot life | The time interval following the addition of an accelerator before chemically curing material will become too viscous to apply satisfactorily |
| fishmouth | (1) a half-cylindrical or half-conical shaped opening or void in a lapped edge or seam, usually caused by wrinkling or shifting of plysheets during installation. |
| stud | A vertical framing member usually used to create walls. |
| california building code | The California Building Code sets out technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings in California. [top] |
| triforium or triforium passage | A narrow passage in the thickness of the wall with arches opening onto the nave |
| artillery | Firearms, such as handguns and cannons |
| screeding | The wood or metal straightedge used to strike off or level newly placed concrete when doing cement work |
| canon tables | A table of concordance for two or more parallel texts of the Gospels, usually the one compiled by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fourth century. |
| nave | Principal hall of a church, extending from the narthex to the chancel. |
| ashlar | Finely worked stone, with a smooth finish |
| ballista | Siege engine taking the form of a giant crossbow, mounted on a stand |
| niche | Wall recess reserved for statue |
| cames | The lead portions of stained glass windows |
| terrazzo | Wear-resistant flooring in commercial buildings made of marble chips or small stones embedded in cement matrix that has been polished smooth. |
| longitudinal ridge rib | A rib which runs down the apex of the vault in a longitudinal direction |
| settlement | Compression of the soil or the members in a structure. |
| thermal barrier | (Thermal Break) - A material of high thermal resistance placed between two metal sash, or installed between adjoining metal framing of metal windows, in order to reduce thermal conduction from indoors to outdoors. |
| mating beam | The beam on top of the mating wall for support of the roof system, or the beam in the floor system for mating of the two floors. |
| liquid membrane | An alternative to self adhesive membrane applied as a wet coat that takes approximately 2-4 hours to dry |
| exposure | The area on any roofing material that is left exposed to the elements. |
| newel | Post supporting one end of a handrail at top or bottom of stairs |
| asphalt shingles | Composition roof shingles made from asphalt impregnated felt covered with mineral granules. |
| backup | Mix Concrete, normally composed of concrete, sand, gravel, and grey cement; used for the unexposed portion of Cast Stone. |
| miter joint | Two members joined at an angle, commonly 45 degrees. |
| blister | An enclosed pocket of air mixed with water or solvent vapor, trapped between impermeable layers of felt, or between the felt and substrate. |
| alligatoring | A defect in roofing material consisting of intersecting cracks and ridges in the surface. |
| finial | a decorative device to finish off a building element with a flourish, most commonly seen on railings. |
| shadow line | The shadow cast by the sun on the butt edge, making the panel look deeper from a distance |
| egress opening | The space between the top of the sill of the frame of an open window and the bottom part of the raised sash, times, the space between the jambs of the opening |
| bargeboard | Decorative boards located at the end of a gable |
| rosette | A round floral ornament, usually carved or painted. |
| efflorescence | Visually observable signs of saline discharge onto a portion of a masonry wall. |
| niche | Vertical recess in a wall, often to take a statue |
| common wall | A single wall that serves two dwelling units in a building. |
| cinematic | Pertaining to devices, usually visual, characteristic of films and filmmaking. |
| corbel | Bracket or block projecting from the face of a wall |
| bridging | Small wood or metal pieces placed diagonally between floor joists. |
| meeting stile | The vertical member in a pair of stiles, as in abutting casement windows. |
| btu | An abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, the heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. |
| vapor migration | The movement of water vapor from a region of high vapor pressure to a region of lower vapor pressure. |
| slate | A finely-grained, foliated rock, native to Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York, and found in many colors |
| blackberry | A small bubble or blister in the flood coating of a gravel-surfaced roof membrane. |
| wing-wall | Wall downslope of motte to protect stairway. |
| bitumen | Any of various mixtures of hydrocarbons occurring naturally or obtained through the distillation of coal or petroleum. |
| sss | Structural Safety. |
| intensive | A Green Roof with plantings such as trees and large bushes |
| curlicue | A spiral or looping line. |
| cloister | An open quadrangle (garth) surrounded by a covered walkway or arcade; connects the domestic offices with the church. |
| gate hook | [also gatehook] A type of hooking system most often used to keep screen doors closed |
| mud room | A small room or entranceway in a house where muddy overshoes and wet garments can be removed before entering other rooms of the home. |
| sandwich panel | A type of box shaped panel that is installed by fastening into it's flanges. [top] |
| keeper | See Strike Plate. [top] |
| fenestration | A word used to describe the window arrangement of a building |
| galvanic corrosion | An electrochemical action which takes place when dissimilar metals are in contact in the presence of an electrolyte, resulting in corrosion. |
| pyrolytic glass | A product that is coated, usually to provide low-emissivity or solar control benefits, during manufacturing process at the molten glass stage |
| infirmarian | see Infirmarer |
| finish casing | (Finish Trim) Interior trim boards around a window unit. |
| opus dei | see Canonical Hours |
| horseshoe arch | Arch in which the bottom is smaller than the mid-span; found in Moorish architecture |
| collation | The daily reading from John Cassian's Collationes Patrum (Conferences) or from another edificatory work which took place usually in the north claustral walk and before Compline. |
| post-and-beam construction | Wall construction in which beams are supported by heavy posts rather than many smaller studs. |
| bevel | See Chamfer. |
| caming | The metal used in the construction of decorative glass panels |
| humanism | philosophy which states that humans are the utmost important thing, even above god. |
| muntin grilles | Wood, plastic, or metal grilles. |
| flame spread classification | A standard test rating of fire resistive and protective characteristics of a building material. |
| wood molding | Wood strips factory-shaped in commercially available patterns. |
| class "b" | Rated to withstand moderate exposure to fire. |
| knocked-down | Not assembled; parts for a window frame pre-manufactured for assembly at a later date on the job site. |
| gusset | Plywood or metal plate used to strengthen joints of a truss. |
| ashlar | Squared building stone laid in parallel courses |
| annealed | Annealing is the process of heating above the critical or re-crystallization temperature followed by controlling the cooling of metal, glass, or other materials to eliminate the effects of cold working (relieve internal stress). [top] |
| burl | Wood from an abnormal or diseased portion of a tree root or trunk (often caused by injury to the bark) |
| mortar | A blend of cement, lime, sand, and water which is applied at a pliable consistency to bond masonry units. |
| mil | Measurement often used to determine thickness of a roofing membrane. 1 mil = .001 inch (1/1000) or 25.400 microns |
| shakes | Handcut wood shingles. |
| metal clad fire door | A flush door with a wood core or a heat insulating material covered with with sheet metal. |
| dewpoint | The temperature at which water vapor in air will condense at a given state of humidity and pressure. |
| superimposed loads | Loads that are added to existing loads |
| jamb | An upright piece forming the side of an opening, as a door or fireplace. |
| spalling | describes surface failure in which chips are shed from a contact point |
| base | The architectural element on which a column or pier rests |
| double window | Two windows separated by a mullion, forming a unit |
| fan vault | A vault which consists of fan-shaped half cones which usually meet at the center of a vault |
| float glass | Smooth glass formed on the top of molten tin surface; a flat glass sheet. |
| screen | A close-mesh woven screening material of metal, plastic or fibreglass used to block out insects and debris, while allowing light and fresh air into a home or building. |
| hip | The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof, which have their wall plates running in different directions. |
| soil stack | Vertical plumbing pipe that carries sewage. |
| triple window | A term generally referring to any tripartite group of windows with square heads |
| cornerstone | The first stone laid at the intersection of two walls, forming the foundation of the building |
| bressumer | Beam to support a projection. |
| casement | A metal or plastic frame into which a plane of glass is inserted into a window construct or sash, where the panel is made operable by a set of hinges on one edge of the frame. |
| interior corner | A corner coupler installed in a building that has the center of the coupler angles radius on the exterior side of the building |
| monstrance | Container for eucharistic wafers which contains an opening through which they can be viewed |
| thermal break | An element of low conductance placed between elements of higher conductance to reduce the flow of heat |
| cob | Unburned clay mixed with straw. |
| imbrication | Overlapping of shingles or tiles |
| cinquefoil | An ornamental foliage having live points or cusps. |
| cresting | Line of ornamentation finishing a roof |
| brooming | Embedding a ply of roofing material by using a broom to smooth out the ply and ensure contact with the adhesive under the ply. |
| putlog | Beams placed in holes to support a hoarding; horizontal scaffold beam. |
| balloon frame | A structural system developed in the United States that became popular through the industrialization of lightweight manufactured wood, metal upright studs and horizontal joists |
| lavatorium | see Laver |
| machicolations | These openings project out from the tops of walls in medieval castles and manor houses, just below the battlements |
| low relief | Sculpture in which the carved forms project only slightly from the background. |
| act of supremacy | Through this Act of 1534 Henry VIII (1509-47) declared himself head of the Church in England |
| site instruction | A site instruction is the most common type of change order |
| roofing tape | An asphalt-saturated tape used with asphalt cements for flashing and patching asphalt roofing. |
| storm sewer | A sewer that is designed to carry away rain water from a property, but not sewage. |
| osb | Oriented strand board (OSB) is cheaper than plywood, but not as strong as plywood, and does not hold nails as well as plywood |
| meurtriere | Arrow loop, slit in battlement or wall to permit firing of arrows or for observation; An opening in the roof of a passage where soldiers could shoot into the room below. |
| dormitory | The room where the brethren slept in common; in the later Middle Ages some dormitories were partitioned into cubicles to provide privacy. |
| fuse | A strip of soft metal inserted in an electric circuit and designed to melt and open the circuit should the current exceed a predetermined value. |
| meurtrière | Alternative name for murder holes |
| tracery | Curving, lacy patterns in a Gothic window |
| sleeper | Lowest horizontal timber (or low wall). |
| sext | Office celebrated at the sixth hour. |
| bulkhead | Horizontal or inclined door over exterior stairway to cellar |
| lavabo | A water basin or washing place. |
| septic tank | A sewage settling tank in which part of the sewage is converted into gas and sludge before the remaining waste is discharged by gravity into a leaching bed underground. |
| valve | A device that regulates the flow of material in a pipe. |
| double-splayed | Embrasure whose smallest aperture is in the middle of the wall. |
| three way switch | (3 Way) Electrical wall switch used in tandem with another three way switch so fixture can be operated from either. |
| franciscan | from the monastic order founded by St |
| chemosterilant | 1 |
| bearing wall or partition | A wall supporting any vertical load in a building other than its own weight. |
| double-hung sash windows | A window with two sashes that move independently of each other. |
| dgs | Department of General Services California government agency which contains the Office of Public School Construction resides. |
| thermal insulation | A material that resists heat flow |
| cem-clad | (Formerly CEM-STONE) Decorative fiber-reinforced cement board designed for interior & exterior cladding applications |
| vertical sliding | A type of exterior cladding consisting of side matched boards. |
| romanesque | Architectural style, 8th - 12th century with rounded arches |
| scarp | Slope on inner side of ditch |
| upping stocks | Raised platform used to mount a horse |
| hip roof | A home with a hip roof has a roof place sloped upward and toward the middle of the home |
| fabric | A woven cloth of organic or inorganic filaments, threads or yarns. |
| string course | a horizontal band in a wall, usually raised and often moulded. |
| heat-absorbing glass | (Tinted Glass) Window glass containing chemicals (with gray, bronze, or blue-green tint) which absorb light and heat radiation, and reduce glare and brightness. Shading coefficient of this glass varies from about 50% to 70%. |
| abc | Associated Builders and Contractors - National association representing construction related firms. |
| refectory | Communal dining hall; A dining room in a monastery. |
| choir | The eastern part of the church occupied by the monks who gathered here to celebrate the Canonical Hours. |
| batch | Quantity of concrete or mortar mixed at one time. |
| loē³ glass | Coated insulated glass that transmits light, blocks solar gain, and reflects heat in the summer while reducing the loss of radiant heat in the winter |
| gothick | A term describing buildings and design from the earliest phase of the Gothic Revival, from the mid eighteenth century onwards |
| iron age | In Britain from c.600 BC to Roman period |
| high nailing | When shingles are nailed or fastened above the manufacturer's specified nail location. |
| spackle | To cover wallboard joints with plaster. |
| peel strength | the average force (or force per unit width) required to peel a membrane or other material from the substrate to which it has been bonded. |
| rake | The sloped edge of a roof over a wall. |
| cracking | After long exposure, a fissure or fissure pattern appearing on the shingle or roofing due to weathering of the asphalt. |
| story | Space between two floors of a building or home. |
| apsidal | see Apse |
| air conditioner – window | Self-contained room conditioner arranged to be supported in, or connected with a window opening, circulating outside air over the high side and room air over the low side. |
| order of friars preacher | see Dominicans |
| stable block | small square stone or clay pavior traditionally used as flooring in stables and similar buildings. |
| aumbry | Recess to hold sacred vessels; typically in a chapel. |
| carchesium | An ancient form of drinking cup with a shallow foot and wider than it is deep and with handles higher than the edge, said to be one of the oldest forms of goblets. |
| knights of st john | see Knights Hospitaller |
| skip debridging | The process of intermittently debridging lengths of thermal bridge and leaving behind gaps of bridge web after the thermal break cavity has been filled |
| splice plate | A component installed between two pieces of connecting deflection channel to hold them together |
| windlass | a mechanical device used to raise and lower the drawbridge |
| equal leg | A type of extrusion typically associated with patio door frames that are similar to a rebate extrusion with the exception that the interior leg is extended to be parallel with the exterior rebate leg. [top] |
| hopper | A window unit with a hinged bottom in which the top of the sash swings inward towards the interior of the building. [top] |
| top of slab | Slabs of concrete divide the floors or levels of an installation, the top of the slab refers to the ground of each floor. [top] |
| bulwark | Bastion or (in first half of 16th century) a blockhouse |
| portcullis | a heavy grating made of wood or iron that dropped in front of a castle entrance to prevent passage |
| shim | Thin tapered piece of wood used for leveling or tightening a stair or other building element. |
| building code | U.S |
| miter | The splicing of two Cast Stone profiles at an angle |
| edge effect | Heat transfer at the edge of an insulating glass unit due to the thermal properties of the spacers and sealants. [top] |
| desiccant | A drying agent, such as silica gel, used by some manufacturers between the panes of insulating glass to prevent fogging between the panes. |
| water closet | A plumbing fixture used to receive human waste and then allow for flushing to a waste pipe |
| bituminous | Containing or treated with bitumen |
| dog legged | With right-angle bends. |
| buttress | A structure built against another to support or strengthen it. |
| roughcast | A coarse plaster of lime, shells, and pebbles used for outside wall surfaces. |
| end for end | Reversing ends. |
| steep slope roofing | Generally all slopes higher than 4/12 are considered steep slopes. |
| sleeper | Strip of wood laid over concrete floor to which the finished wood floor is nailed or glued. |
| cant strip | A beveled strip used under flashing to modify the angle at the point where the roofing or waterproofing membrane meets any vertical element. |
| counterscarp | Outer slope or wall of a ditch |
| structure | That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. |
| sample | The specimen submitted to represent the color and texture of Cast Stone |
| incandescent lighting | A light source consisting of a glass bulb containing a filament in a vacuum that may be kept incandescent by the transmission of an electric current. |
| class 4 | The highest impact resistant shingle. |
| seal | (1) a narrow closure strip made of bituminous materials; (2) to secure a roof from the entry of moisture. |
| pivot window units | Window units in which the sash hardware is located near the midpoint of the stile or rail to permit sash rotation. |
| fluorescent lighting | A light source in which light is produced by a fluorescent power, phosphor coated on the inner surface of a glass tube |
| vernacular | Vernacular architecture is the term used to indicate that the architecture is local to the region in which it is found and generated by the people of that region |
| baroque | An elaborately ornamented style which was popular in Europe from approximately 1600 to 1750 |
| arcading | see Arcade |
| unit | See Sealed Unit. [top] |
| infill | Various materials glazed into a framing system. [top] |
| cast-in-place | Mortar or concrete which is deposited in the place where it is required to harden, as opposed to “pre-cast”. |
| king-post | The middle post of a truss |
| noncontributing structure | A building, structure, object or site that does not reinforce the cultural, architectural, or historical significance of the historic district in which it is located, and is identified as noncontributing upon the designation of the historic district in which it is located. |
| finial | Decorative vertical roof ornament |
| end dam | The aluminium component installed in the end of a deflection channel against rough opening jambs |
| ceramic tile | A thin, flat piece of fired clay, usually square and attached to walls, floors, or countertops with cement or other adhesives creating durable, decorative and dirt-resistant surfaces. |
| r-value | A measure of a construction materials’ ability to retard the flow of heat |
| fleur-de-lys | A stylised flower, usually based on the lily and with three petals |
| acquisition | the act of gaining physical possession of an object, specimen, or sample and associated records. |
| dew point temperature | The temperature of the air at which the water vapor in the air starts to condense in the form of liquid or as frost. |
| daystairs | Staircase providing access from the cloister to the monks' dormitory. |
| drawing | See Window Shop Drawings. [top] |
| knights templar | In the twelfth century the Knights Templar developed into a Military Order |
| lias | Greyish rock which splits easily into slabs. |
| laminated fiber wallboard | Fiber board made in thin layers cemented together |
| bulk head | An aluminium extrusion places on the head of the rough opening above the deflection channel to allow another trades system to pass through the window wall (i.e |
| tau cross | Plain T cross with equal limbs. |
| transverse arch | Supporting arch which runs across the vault from side to side, dividing the bays |
| stucco | A coating for exterior walls made from Portland cement, lime, sand, and water. |
| tooled finish | A finish obtained by texturing either the mold or the Cast Stone (ex |
| supplementary planning guidance | guidance which explains and amplifies the planning policies in the Council's Unitary Development Plan, and provides additional advice to applicants. |
| springer | Point from which an arch or vault is struck from a wall face |
| two-step distributor | An industry term for a wholesale company which buys building products from the manufacturer and sells them to lumberyards and home centers which in turn sell them to builders, contractors, and homeowners. [top] |
| model | The positive shape that represents the final product |
| cîteaux | The mother house of the Cistercian Order, which was situated in Burgundy |
| column | A supporting pillar consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital on top of the shaft |
| acrylic | Acrylic is a thermoplastic with good weather resistance, shatter resistance, and optical clarity, used for glazing. [top] |
| smooth-surfaced roof | A built-up roof membrane surfaced with a layer of hot-mopped asphalt, cold-applied asphalt clay emulsion, cold-applied, asphalt cutback, or sometimes with an unmopped inorganic felt. |
| spandrel | Area between top of a column or pier and the apex of the arch springing from it. |
| crozier | A staff carried by a bishop, archbishop, abbot or abbess |
| therm | In technical usage, the term is a convenient measure of heating value, namely 100,000 Btu |
| insulated glass unit | The same as thermal glass |
| sheathing | Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material |
| heat loss | The transfer of heat from inside to outside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house. |
| hosteller | see Guestmaster |
| truss | A structural system made of straight wooden or metal members arranged into triangular units; typically used in a bridge building or to support a roof, because a truss can carry heavier loads and span greater distances than a simple beam. |
| crypt | An underground chamber for relics or tombs |
| easement | A section of the handrail for stairs which allows the hand to glide easily from one level to another, or around an angle; an ease-off. |
| ultra-violet radiation | Extremely short wave length invisible radiation, which is a component of solar radiation, and merges into the visible spectrum; attributed as a source of skin sunburn and color fading of draperies and carpeting. |
| bearing wall | A bearing wall refers to a wall that supports structural loads in addition to its own weight |
| buttery | Chamber used for storing and preparing food and drink |
| parging | A rough coat of mortar applied over a masonry wall as protection or finish; may also serve as a base for an asphaltic waterproofing compound below grade. |
| condensation | The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface. |
| humidistat | An instrument used for measuring and controlling moisture in the air. |
| osb | Oriented Strand Board, made from wood ground into thin wood strands |
| rf | Radio Frequency |
| rear-arch | Arch on the inner side of a wall. |
| mandorla | An almond-shaped motif in which Christ sits; sometimes used also for the Virgin. |
| pc | Pre Check Design or plan which has already been approved by California DSA. |
| readily accessible | Available for visual inspection without requiring moving of personal property, dismantling, destructive measures, or any action that will likely involve risk to a home inspector, building inspector or property. |
| standpipe | A pipe or tank used for the storage of water, especially for emergency use. |
| rafter | A structural member that rets on the top of a wall or other supporting surf ace and rises at a slope to the ridge or peak of the roof; a series of rafters supports the roof deck and eaves. |
| apse | Rounded and usually of a chancel or chapel. |
| cement | A substance which, by curing between the two surfaces to which it has been adhered, binds them together. |
| newel | The upright post or the upright formed by the inner or smaller ends of steps about which steps of a circular staircase wind |
| patio door | 4500T series sliding door used for residential or commercial applications. [top] |
| machicolations | Dtone structure that projected from the top of a wall with gaps through which defenders could drop heavy objects, such as rocks, onto attackers below |
| court | An open space surrounded partly or entirely by a building. |
| ridge vents | A vent mounted along the entire ridge line of the roof to allow the passage of air through the attic or cathedral ceiling. |
| site directive | A site directive is an instruction to proceed issued by the Contractor |
| washington state building code | The Washington State Building Code sets out technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings in Washington State. [top] |
| dog-legged | With right-angle bends. |
| cove base | Made of vinyl, rubber, tile and/or metal in a variety of heights and shapes for a wide range of sheet goods and tile installations. |
| drip | Groove cut into the underside of a cill to stop water running back into the building. |
| lintels | the horizontal beam that forms the upper member of window or door frame and supports part of the structure above it |
| polyvinylchloride | See PVC. |
| board-and-batten | A wooden siding treatment in which wide, vertically oriented boards are separated by narrower strips of wood called "battens," which form the joints between the boards |
| cusp | Curves meeting in a point. |
| countersink | To form a depression to fit the conic head of a screw or the thickness of a plate so that the face will be level and flush with the surface. [top] |
| cast iron | A hard, brittle, nonmalleable iron-based alloy containing 2.0% to 4.5% carbon and 0.5% to 3% silicon, cast in a sand mold and machined to make many building products. |
| convection | Air currents induced by the different densities of warm and cool air. |
| exposure | Portion of the shingle exposed to the weather |
| engineering | The application of scientific knowledge for the design, control, or use of building structures, equipment, or apparatus. Engineering evaluations are beyond the scope of a commercial building inspection or a home inspection. |
| abc | Associated Builders and Contractors – National association representing construction related firms. |
| handicapped | Persons who are limited from using the physical environment because of physical or mental limitations. |
| scarp | Slope on inner side of ditch. |
| icc | International Code Council |
| hanger bolt | A metal cylinder (not tapered and most commonly steel) with screw threads on one end and machine threads on the other end and the center either fully threaded or ,more often, "plain" which means there is a section without threading to make installation easier (you can grip the unthreaded part with vise grips) |
| mansard roof | Roof with four sides instead of two and with two slopes on each side |
| arcade | Row of arches, free-standing and supported on piers or columns; a blind arcade is a "dummy". |
| fixed light | (Fixed Sash) Window which is non-operative (does not open). |
| chemical cartridge assembly | A respirator that uses a chemical cartridge to purify inhaled air of certain gases and vapours |
| rococo | A French style of interior decoration developed during the reign of Louis XV consisting mainly of asymmetrical arrangements of curves in paneling, porcelain, and gold and silver objects |
| glazing gasket | Special extruded plastic shape for attaching window glass to metal or masonry wall openings |
| mandatory repair | A repair of a building or structure that is necessary to comply with Article IX of Chapter 10 of Houston Code of Ordinances as evidenced by an order of the hearing official or the building and standards commission or by a citation. |
| stain | A color in a dissolving vehicle |
| soldered | A term that describes two pieces of metal, such as silver, that are fused by melting an alloy metal, often tin and lead, along their joint. |
| chalk line | A line made on the roof by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Used for alignment purposes. |
| rococo | An artistic and architectural style typified by light and highly elaborate detail; a light, frothy flourish towards the end of the Baroque period. |
| georgian window | A double-hung window. |
| bottom plate | Horizontal framing member located at bottom of wall. |
| tie | A wood member which binds a pair of principal rafters at the bottom. |
| flashing | Metal shields that keep water out of intersections of your roof as well as joints or valleys. |
| roof deck | The roof deck is the structural member upon which the roofing material (shingles or tiles) are installed |
| single strength glass | Glass with thickness between 0.085 to 0.100" (2.16 mm to 2.57 mm). |
| concealed nailing | Application of roll roofing in such a manner as to conceal or cover all nails heads used to fasten the roofing to nailable decks |
| low-e glass | Is a coating applied to a thermal window that reflects radiant heat |
| friar | Popular name for the Mendicant Orders which emerged in the thirteenth century |
| gargoyle | Like corbels and bosses, gargoyles are projecting features in Gothic architecture |
| collateral | Damage sustained by unaffected materials during the course of necessary remediation work. |
| palletized deck | Wood framed floating deck |
| heraldry | The system of coats of arms used to identify noble families |
| brace | A reinforcing and/or stabilizing element of an architectural frame. |
| plumb | The condition of exact vertical alignment. [top] |
| dead loads | Non-moving rooftop loads, such as mechanical equipment, air conditioning units, and the roof deck itself. |
| glass | A hard, brittle substance that is typically transparent; made by fusing substances such as soda ash (NA?CO?), limestone (CaCO?), and sand under high temperatures and pressures. [top] |
| brace | Any stiffening member of a building's framework. |
| central heating | A system of heating in a building which depends upon one source, with distribution ducts. |
| felt mill ream | The mass in pounds of 480 square feet of dry, unsaturated felt; also termed "point weight". |
| glazing rabbet | See Rabbet. |
| flashing | Sheet metal or other material applied to seal and protect the joints formed by different materials or surfaces. |
| slider | Both sashes slide horizontally in a double-sliding window |
| wing-wall | Wall down slope of motte to protect stairway |
| glazing bead | (Glass Stop) (Wood Stop) (Sill Bead) A removable trim that holds the glass in place. |
| cut | Beveled cut in a stone sill to divert water. |
| crow-step gable | A feature found much in Scottish architecture |
| stick work | the decorative stick-like pieces of wood placed in diagonal, vertical, and horizontal patterns of the outside of a wood-frame building; usually found in gable ends and around windows. |
| green lumber | Lumber which has been inadequately dried and which tends to warp or "bleed" resin. |
| shingle tile | A flat clay tile used for roofing. |
| valley | Method of valley construction is which shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line snapped on each side of the valley. Shingles do not extend across the valley. Valley flashing is exposed. |
| guglio | an obelisk -- that is, a tapering column of stone, square or rectangular rather than cylindrical, and topped by a pyramid -- often acting as a fountain. |
| modular building | A system of building construction where individual sections of the building are manufactured off-site in factories then transported to the final building site |
| joist | Timber stretched from wall-to-wall to support floorboards |
| corrosive | A strongly acid substance which can cause damage or injury. |
| putto | Statue of naked chubby baby; similar to a cherub with no wings |
| paneled door | A door which consists of raised or indented panels |
| supply only | A contract where Starline supplies only the windows and the contractor takes responsibility for the installation. [top] |
| shingling | (1) the procedure of laying parallel felts so that one longitudinal edge of each felt overlaps and the other longitudinal edge underlaps, the adjacent felt |
| box bay | A window that uses 90° mullion to connect the windows together |
| bead and reel | A decorative motif consisting of oval motifs alternating with round or elongated bead-shaped motifs |
| combination window unit | (Combination Storm Sash and Screen) A window assembly containing a half screen and two glass storm panel; in frame, exposing the screen panel. |
| dry-wall construction | Interior wall covering other than plaster, usually referred to as "gypsum board" or "wallboard." |
| armory | a weapons storeroom |
| mausoleum | Structure for a tomb. |
| carport | An automobile shelter not fully enclosed. |
| safety glass | A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering, such as glass for storm doors and some windows |
| slab foundation | A foundation in which a concrete slab foundation floor creates the first floor of a home |
| betec | Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council |
| mural | Wall |
| californian bungalow | Californian Bungalow style architecture is characterised by generally low, single-storey buildings which have two to three gabled roofs, with terracotta tiles and large pillars supporting a front verandah. Raesonably sized they were often constructed of dark brick and commonly used materials on the walls and columns included painted render, face brick, sandstone and pebbledash. They were common in Australia from 1915 to the 1940s. |
| half timbering | A method of construction in which the wooden frame and principal beams of a building are exposed, and the spaces between them are covered with plaster or masonry |
| voc | Volatile Organic Compound – Low VOC adhesives and paints emit lower levels of VOCs some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects when inhaled. |
| shell-keep | Circular or oval wall surrounding inner portion of castle; usually stores and accommodations inside the hollow walls. |
| spacer | The linear object that separates and maintains the space between the glass surfaces of insulating glass. |
| respond | Half-pier bonded into a wall to carry an arch. |
| window shop drawings | Schematics of a window project showing the specific details of the installation as well as any pertinent requirements of the project (Seismic requirements, deflection requirements, drainage requirements etc.) Approved by an engineer, a consultant and the contractor to ensure the requirements are met and the details are deficiency free. [top] |
| drip edge | A non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the eaves and rakes, flush with the fascia, to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying construction. |
| diaphragm | Wall running up to the roof-ridge. |
| dripstone | Projecting moulding above an arch or lintel to throw off surface water |
| loose-laid membranes | membranes that are not attached to the substrate except at the perimeter of the road and at penetrations |
| argon | An inert, non-toxic gas used to insulate glass against the cold, and to reduce heat transfer to and from the interior of a home or building. |
| wattle | A mat of woven (willow) sticks and weeds; used in wall and dike construction. |
| hogging | Removing a large amount of wood |
| knocked-down | Not assembled |
| double splayed | Embrasure whose smallest aperture is in the middle of the wall. |
| fenestration | architectural term |
| elevation | A view of an architectural model taken horizontally, looking at a vertical surface in a design. |
| selvage | The non exposed area on rolled roofing |
| gambrel roof | A ridged roof with two slopes at each side, the lower slopes being steeper than the upper slopes. |
| trefoil | Clover-leaved pattern |
| newel | Center post of spiral staircase. |
| desiccant | A material used to absorb moisture from within the sealed airspace of an insulated glass unit. [top] |
| purlin | Timber used to support roof deck. |
| primer | A thin, liquid bitumen applied to a surface to improve the adhesion of subsequent applications of bitumen. |
| natural convection | A heat transfer process involving motion in a fluid (such as air) caused by difference in density of the fluid and the action of gravity |
| service equipment | Assembly or switches and switch-like devices which permit disconnecting all power, distributing it to various branch circuits through over current devices such as fuses or circuit breakers |
| fortalice | Small fort or outworks of a fortification |
| compensation channel | Compensation channel is the sleeve that is installed on the rough opening jamb of every seismic installation to provide the project with compensation on either side of the frame for seismic drift |
| shot-hole | Hole for firearms, generally smaller than a gun-port |
| dead-ground | Close to the wall, where the defenders can't shoot. |
| sound transmission loss | Sound transmission loss is a measure of the sound-insulation value of a partition; it is the amount, in decibels, by which the intensity of the sound is reduced in transmission through the partition. [top] |
| alcove | A recessed space connected at the side of a larger room. |
| setting | The mason's process of installing and anchoring Cast Stone. |
| building permit | A permit issued by a municipal government authorizing the construction of a building, house, or other structure. |
| cap flashing | That portion of the flashing built into a vertical surface to prevent the flow of water behind the base flashing |
| battered wall | Wall leaning inward from its base rather than outward |
| messuage | A dwelling house with adjacent buildings and cartilage and the adjoining lands used in connection with the household |
| blind arcade | A row of decorative arches applied to a wall; A 'dummy' arcade. |
| caulk | Fill in a joint with mastic or cement. |
| ribbon footing | (Grade Beam/Strip Footing) A narrow strip of concrete upon which walls are constructed. |
| cutback | Solvent-thinned bitumen used in cold process roofing adhesives, flashing cements and roof coatings. |
| cement | 1 |
| oubliette | A dungeon reached by a trap door; starvation hole |
| front façade | The elevation of a building that is parallel to an adjacent public right-of-way, on a corner lot, or lot adjacent to more than one public right-of-way;also contains the main entrance to the building. |
| foundation | Lower parts of walls on which the structure is built. |
| msds | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| rehabilitation | The act or process of returning a building, structure, object or site to a state of utility that makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions or exterior features that are historically, architecturally and culturally significant. |
| clunch | Hard chalky material. |
| xystus | Tree-lined walk |
| nail-on | A type of door or window frame that utilizes a 'Nailing Fin' to be installed/fastened to the rough opening. [top] |
| yett | an iron lattice gate |
| lock | A fastening device in which a bolt is secured and can be operated by a key |
| quatrefoil | Four-lobed motif; usually in block shape |
| excavation | Cavity or pit produced by digging the earth in preparation for building or home construction. |
| mansard | A roof with two slopes on each side, the lower slope typically being almost vertical |
| chronic effect | An adverse effect on a human or animal body, with symptoms that develop slowly over a prolonged period, or that occur frequently |
| exterior casing | See Casing. |
| embattled | Battlemented; crenelated. |
| mansard roof | A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides |
| dropped ceiling | A dropped ceiling is created by constructing a ceiling plane lower than the actual ceiling height |
| eremitic | One who lives as a solitary or a hermit. |
| cantilever | A projecting beam or joist, not supported at one end, used to support an extension of a structure. |
| prime window | Window with single or multiple glazing to which storm sash may be installed. |
| narthex | Enclosed passage between the main entrance and nave of a church; vestibule. |
| garland | Ornamental detail in the shape of a band of flowers |
| faà§ade | the front face or elevation of a building |
| wind load | The force exerted on a surface by moving air. [top] |
| caustic | The property of a chemical (usually a base) that enables it to burn, corrode, dissolve or eat away other substances |
| dowel | A round stick, commonly used in gluing up, as a substitute for a mortise joint, and in strengthening the joints in a wide board. |
| string course | Horizontal band of masonry wrapping around entire facade of building |
| nfrc | National Fenestration Rating Council. |
| interior glazes | Glazing installed from inside of the building structure. |
| bundle | A package of shingles. There a generally 3 bundles to a square but can be 4 or 5 depending on weight. Ex |
| reflectance | The ratio of reflected radiant energy to incident radiant energy. |
| hung sash | See Hanging Sash. |
| parting bead | (Parting Strip) (Parting Stop) A vertical strip on each jamb that separates the sashes of a double-hung window. |
| equity | Broadly, any interest which will receive recognition in a court of equity, whether or not such interest rests on legal ownership; specifically, the interest, usually expressed in money, of the equitable owner of a property over and above all liens against the property. |
| application rate | The quantity (mass, volume, or thickness) of a material applied per unit area |
| caulking | A compound used for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air. |
| vestibule | The small chamber set off to the side of an entrance. |
| wall cabinet | A wall cabinet is sometimes called an overhead cabinet |
| stack vent | A vertical outlet in a built-up roof system designed to relieve the pressure exerted by moisture vapor between the roof membrane and the vapor retarder or deck. |
| cellarer | One of the most important monastic officials he had charge of the monastery's provisions. |
| ply | A layer of felt in a built-up roof membrane system |
| u value | Rate of heat flow through the complete heat barrier, from room air to outside air |
| radiant heat system | (In Floor System) System in which heated fluid is circulated through tubes or passages embedded below surface of floor to indirectly warm building |
| ballast | an anchoring material, such as aggregate or precast concrete pavers, which employs the force of gravity to hold (or assist in holding) single-ply roof membranes in place. |
| fire-escape window | (Emergency Exit Window) Window which opens onto fire escape; window designed for emergency exit. |
| counterflashing | A strip of sheet metal, often built into masonry and turned down over other flashing; used to prevent water from entering the joints and the exposed upturned edges of base flashing on a roof. |
| apse | the circular- or polygonal-shaped end of a tower or chapel |
| structural component | A building component that supports non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or weights (live loads) in a building or home. |
| barometric damper | An automatic adjustable device for regulating the draft through a fuel-burning appliance, thereby making operation of the appliance nearly independent of the chimney draft over its normal range of operation. |
| rebar | A deformed steel unit used for reinforcing Cast Stone. |
| palmette | Looped like a palm-leaf. |
| post & beam construction | Wall or foundation construction consisting of large, widely spaced posts to support horizontal beams. |
| condensation | The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air. |
| mould | (Moulding) British spelling of mold, and molding. |
| astm | The American Society for Testing and Materials. |
| chevet | The eastern part of the church comprising the ambulatory, sanctuary and radiating chapels. |
| icf | Insulated Concrete Forms. |
| pitch | The slope/angle of your roof, this is determined by a ratio of rise to distance. |
| grounds | Pieces of wood embedded in plaster of walls to which skirtings are attached |
| stringer | One of the sides of a flight of stairs |
| cape | extension to the footpath to narrow the road width. |
| bx cable | Electricity cable wrapped in rubber with a flexible steel outer covering. |
| greek revival | Italian Renaissance architects revived Roman architecture only |
| podii | a low wall serving as a foundation |
| patera | Round or oval disc, usually ornamented with a rosette in the center |
| load-bearing wall | Building wall designed to support the weight imposed upon it from above. |
| frieze | A trim member placed at the top of an exterior wall where the soffit of an eave and the wall surface meet. |
| footings | Bottom part of wall. |
| carpet density | The number of pile tuft rows, per inch, for the length of the carpet. |
| rib | An arch of masonry, often molded, which forms part of the framework on which a vault rests |
| desiccant | A chemical put onto the spacer of an insulated glass unit to help absorb moisture from inside the IG unit. |
| open joint | Wide space between faces of stones |
| pavilion | A small but prominent portion of a building that juts out from a main building, either above its roof line, or to the side, and which is identified by a unique (usually diminutive) height and individual roof type |
| lozenge | Diamond shape. |
| insulated window | A window with multiple glazing that provides one or more air spaces between layers of glazing. |
| barmkin | The small walled yard attached to a pele tower (generally Scottish) |
| hinge | A movable joint enabling a window to swing open. |
| single coverage | Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck. |
| capillarity | The general behaviour of fluids acting with surface tension on interfaces or boundaries. |
| forebuilding | A projection in front of a keep or donjon, containing and guarding the stairs to the main entrance. |
| tempered glass | Specially treated, high-strength safety glass providing shattering into safer, small particles |
| export ware | A product made primarily for a foreign rather than a local market, usually referring to decorative objects made in Islamic countries, or in Vietnam, Japan, and China, for export to the West. |
| footprint | The outline of a commercial building or home's foundation; this means the building or home's outermost points, and is used for site planning. |
| fascia | The front facing surface of trim on a house above the soffit but below the roof line. |
| coated sheet felts | (1) an asphalt felt that has been coated on both sides with harder, more viscous asphalt; (2) a glass fiber felt that has been simultaneously impregnated and coated with asphalt on both sides. |
| shading coefficient | A measure of a window's ability to transmit solar heat, relative to that ability for 1/8" clear glass |
| gambrel | a ridged roof having two slopes on each side, the lower slope having the steeper pitch |
| tierceron | A major rib in a complex rib vault Tiercerons spring from the main springers |
| trickle vent | Starline's trickle vents recycle stale interior air with fresh outdoor air without causing cold air drafts |
| waste stack | A vertical pipe in a plumbing system that carries the discharge from any fixture. |
| crazing | Minute cracks in a surface or coating caused by force bending a material beyond the recommended radius. [top] |
| mitre | A joint made up of two components, each of which is cut one half the total desired angle of the joint. [top] |
| hammer wedge | Today's hammers are often made from single piece of steel with a a rubber handle around the tang, but early versions were made (and some are today as well) with wooden handles around a steel head, and this form requires a wedge to be driven into a slot in the top of the handle where it enters the head, to create expansive pressure that keeps the head from coming off of the handle |
| trebuchet | War engine developed in the Middle Ages employing counterpoise. |
| dormer | A building element that projects from a sloping roof surface, often inset with a window or vent to provide light and ventilation to a room or attic space. |
| angle brakeshape | The brakeshape utilized by a variable coupler corner that determines the angle and/or dimensions of the corner post |
| drip cap | A horizontal molding to divert water from the top casing so that the water drips beyond the outside of the frame. |
| pointing | See Tuck Pointing. |
| latticework | thin pieces of wood that form a pattern. |
| carpet pitch | The number of yarns across the width of the carpet expressed in yard ends per 27 inches of width. |
| plate height | The distance from the subfloor of a building to the top of the framed wall. |
| offset | Ledge marking the narrowing of a wall's thickness. |
| weep hole | A small hole in the bottom butt edge of the vinyl siding panel, allowing condensation to escape. |
| city beautiful movement | U.S |
| plywood | Plywood is strong, durable, and light |
| knee wall | Low wall in upper story resulting from 1 1/2 story building or home construction. |
| tempered glass | Special heat-treated, high-strength safety glass which shatters into pebble-sized particles and not in slivers. |
| customary | A directory of customs regulating the daily organisation of the monastery and liturgical practice. |
| glazing channel | A groove cut into the sash for the mounting of glass. |
| panel box | The electrical box located on the wall where the incoming electrical service is connected and then distributed throughout the building. |
| squint | Observation hole in wall or room. |
| chamfer | A bevel upon the corner of a square piece of wood. |
| deadlatch | A latch in which the latchbolt is positively held in the projected position by an auxiliary mechanism. |
| nylon fiber | A thermoplastic polyamide resin derived from coal tar base, air and water. |
| astm | American Society for Testing and Materials |
| joust | Combat, put on for entertainment, in which two knights rode towards each other with lances |
| ul | Underwriters Laboratories Inc |
| high collar lock washer | An extra thick split ring lock washer |
| asphalt | (1) A dark brown to black bituminous substance that is found in natural beds and is also obtained as a residue in petroleum or coal tar refining that consists chiefly of hydrocarbons |
| verge board | An ornamental board attached to the projecting edge of a gable roof; also known as a barge board. |
| baseboard | Finish board covering the interior wall where the wall and floor meet. |
| air conditioner | One or more factory made assemblies which include an evaporator or cooling coil and an electrically driven compressor and condenser combination, and may include a heating function. |
| sprinkle mopping | A random mopping pattern in which heated bitumen beads are strewn onto the substrate with a brush or mop. |
| elevation | A scale drawing of any side of a building; or, refers to the height above a specific reference point, especially sea level. [top] |
| hinge | A hardware device consisting of two bodies that are connected to the door frame and the door leaf respectively and joined together by a pin which supports the door and connects it to its frame, thus enabling it to swing open or closed. [top] |
| sash balance | A device for counter-balancing a sash of a double-hung window to hold it in the up position. |
| refectory | a communal dining hall |
| wall stair | Staircase built into the thickness of a wall. |
| asphalt shingles | Composition roof shingles made from asphalt-impregnated felt covered with mineral granules. |
| stable door | (Dutch Door) A door cut through horizontally at about half its height with each half hung separately. |
| carriage | The member which supports the steps or treads of a stair. |
| intrados | The inner portion of an arch. |
| design heat loss | The calculated values, expressed in units of Btu per hour (abbreviated Btuh), for the heat transmitted from a warm interior to a cold outdoor condition, under some prescribed extreme weather conditions |
| eyebrow window | Roof dormer having low sides; formed by raising small section of roof |
| elephant trunk | (Also known as: drop chute) An articulated tube or chute used in concrete placement. |
| reinforcing | Rebar placed into a Cast Stone unit during the manufacturing process to augment the unit during handling or to enable it to carry a structural load (i.e |
| eclecticism | A mixing of various architectural styles and ornamentation of the past and present, including ornamentation from Asia |
| hollow metal door | A hollow-core door constructed of channel-reinforced sheet metal usually 18ga |
| honour | Large feudal estate, usually centred on a castle |
| water-leaf | Plain broad leaf moulding. |
| hill fort | Bronze or Iron Age earthwork of ditches and banks |
| softening point drift | A change in the softening point of bitumen during storage or application. |
| chase | Vertical space within a building or home for ducts, pipes or wires. |
| fresco | Painting on wet plaster wall. |
| curtain wall | A connecting wall hung between two towers surrounding the bailey. |
| ceramic tile | Thin, flat pieces of fired clay, attached to walls, floors, or other surfaces. |
| uncoursed masonry | Not set in layers; no continuous horizontal joints |
| tongue & groove | Sheeting, usually wood, in which one edge of the sheet is cut with a projecting tongue that fits into corresponding groove or recess in the edge of the next sheet. |
| aia | American Institute of Architects |
| relieving arch | An arch which encloses an arch or a window or other opening |
| pop art | In this return to representational art, the artist returns to the world of tangible objects in a reaction against abstraction |
| mendicant | A reliance on charity or begging for subsistence; generally used for the Mendicant Orders such as the Franciscans and Dominicans. |
| broch | Round tower-like structure, open in the middle, the double wall of dry-stone masonry being linked to form internal galleries at varying levels |
| hanging | Mounting a sash in its frame. |
| slag | A hard, air-cooled aggregate that is left as a residue from blast furnaces, used as a surfacing aggregate. |
| grade line | The point at which the ground rests against the foundation wall. |
| mod line | Joint where two modules meet. |
| op art | The 1960s movement known as Optical Painting is characterized by geometrical forms that create an optical illusion in which the eye is required to blend the colors at a certain distance. |
| grey friars | see Fransicans |
| hopper light | (Hopper Vent) - (Hopper Ventilator) Inward opening sash hinged at the bottom. |
| measured drawing | Unlike a sketch, a measured drawing is a closely observed drawing with a scale attempting to accurately represent the features of a building. |
| prefabricated buildings | Buildings or homes that are built in sections or component parts in a factory, and then assembled at the site. |
| laminated wood | A piece of wood built up of laminations that have been joined either with glue or mechanical fastenings. |
| jutty | Upper story projecting beyond the one below; also called jetty |
| sterling | A term created to describe the standard metal mix in the U.S |
| double doors | Two adjacent doors that share the same door frame, and between which there is no separating vertical member |
| depressed arch | A flattened arch, slightly pointed on top |
| ninety-pound | A prepared organic felt roll roofing with a granule surfaced exposure that has a mass of approximately 90 pounds per 100 square feet. |
| glass | An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides. |
| barrel vault | an architectural element formed by the extrusion of an arch along a given distance. |
| conservator | a specialist, educated and trained in the preservation and treatment of physically or chemically unstable objects. |
| edging | The hand tooling of the arris. |
| brakeshape | Aluminium sheet stock bent or 'broken' to desired shape as required by job specific conditions (Typically used for flashing or variable corner post assembly. [top] |
| change directive | A change directive is an instruction to proceed issued by the Contractor |
| portcullis | Wood and iron grille-pattern gate which was raised and lowered in grooves by ropes or chains, in front of or behind an entrance |
| uv resistance | The ability of a roof material to prevent degradation caused by exposure to Ultraviolet rays |
| boca | Building Officials and Code Administrators |
| escalade | Scaling of a castle wall |
| counter flashing | The metal or siding material that is installed over roof-top base flashing systems. |
| tilt latch | A device at the top of the sash that prevents the sash from falling into the room until the latches are disengaged |
| grout | A mixture of cementitious materials and aggregates to which sufficient water has been added to produce pouring consistency without segregation of the constituents. |
| chord | A principal member of a timber or steel roof truss which extends from one end to the other, primarily to resist bending. |
| split level | A house in which various sections of the floor plan have different floor and ceilings heights. |
| class “b” | fire resistant rating that indicates roofing materials that can withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from outside sources Class “C”: fire resistance rating that indicates roofing materials that can withstand light exposure to fire originating from outstide sources Collar: pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening |
| cistern | A tank or other reservoir to store rainwater run off. |
| low-e coating | (Also known as: Low-emissivity) Coating applied to window glass surface to reduce the amount of infrared light transmitted. |
| quoins | Units of cut stone or brick used to accentuate the vertical corners of buildings |
| tufa | a white porous limestone rock seen in French castles |
| sab | State Allocation Board – California government agency responsible for allocation of state resources used for the new construction and modernization of local public school facilities and administration of the School Facility Program, the State Relocatable Classroom Program, and the Deferred Maintenance Program |
| organic shingle | An asphalt shingle reinforced with organic material manufactured from cellulose fibers. |
| cubic capital | A very simple cube-like capital with bottom corners tapered |
| garderobe | A small latrine or toilet either built into the thickness of the wall or projected out from it; ; projects from the wall as a small, rectangular bartizan |
| "l" flashing | Continuous metal flashing consisting of several feet of metal |
| distribution box | (Also known as: Distribution Panel) In electricity, an insulated board from which connections are made between the main feed lines and branch lines. |
| ambient temperature | The temperature of the air. |
| copping | wall covering used prior to wallpaper or paint. |
| conical roof | Roof shaped like a cone |
| order of friars minor | see Fransicans |
| stained glass window | A window with a painted scene or pattern that has been fired into the glass |
| heraldry | the rules concerning a nobleman’s use of patterns used on flags, armor, and shields |
| bughole | An unacceptable air void in a finished surface. |
| bar hole | Horizontal hole for timber bar used as a door-bolt. |
| palisade | a defensive wooden fence |
| operator | Crank-operated device for opening and closing casement awning windows. |
| barracks | Building or group of buildings used to accommodate soldiers |
| glazing gasket | A pre-formed elastomeric or plastic material applied between the face of the glass and the glazing pocket of the framing to seal and secure glass into frames by a dry glazing method without using compounds or tapes. [top] |
| bead moulding | decorative moulding to the outside junction of the frame lining and brickwork. |
| glass | An elastic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of aluminum, boric, or magnesia oxides |
| trefoil | Three-lobed |
| obedientiary | A monastic office-holder who was entrusted with an aspect of the monastery's administration; for example, the cellarer looked after the provisions of the house and the sacrist was in charge of the church and timekeeping. |
| radiation | The transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves from one separate surface to another |
| agent | agent of change |
| osb | Oriented Strand Board |
| stile | The vertical-edge members of a window sash. |
| ready-mixed concrete | Concrete manufactured for delivery to a project site in a plastic and unhardened state. |
| bracket | A building element (often a piece of wood or stone) used to support or strengthen an overhanging element, such as the eave of a roof; also, a decorative element that appears to be, but does not function as, a structurally supporting member. |
| overdriven | The term used for fasteners driven through roofing material with too much force, breaking the material. |
| sexpartite rib vault | A rib vault which is divided into six sections by three ribs. |
| square | In roofing, 100 sq ft of roofing material. |
| vault | an arched ceiling usually of stone |
| cutout | The slot between shingle tabs to create the distinctive 2 or 3 tab appearance. |
| cash | Coalition for Adequate School Housing – California based organization comprised of school officials and private sector companies involved in school facilities. |
| rim joist | A joist at the outer edge of a floor platform to which the floor joist ends meet. |
| impost | Wall bracket to support arch. |
| asce | American Society of Civil Engineers [top] |
| pillar | A column used for supporting parts of a building or home. |
| background | See also, spatial depth and overlap. |
| eps | A rigid plastic foam insulation that provides high insulation values in addition to having strong structural integrity, being environmentally safe, and having a closed cell structure that prevents excessive moisture absorption. |
| relative humidity | The percentage of moisture in the air in relationship to the amount of moisture the air could hold at that given temperature |
| sound rated door | A door constructed to provide greater sound attenuation than that provided by a normal door, usually rated in terms of its sound transmission class (STC). |
| delamination | Separation of the plies in a roof membrane system or separation of laminated layers of insulation. |
| inventory | a physically-checked, itemized list of the objects in a repository/museum's collections. |
| loophole | Narrow, tall opening, wallslit for light, air, or shooting through. |
| fha title 2 | A system of mutual insurance of mortgages secured by residential property under the National Housing Act. |
| lag-screws or coach-screws | Large, heavy screws, used where great strength is required, as in heavy framing or when attaching ironwork to wood. |
| fluid-applied elastomer | a liquid Elastomeric material that cures after application to form a continuous waterproofing membrane. |
| bleeding | Seeping of resin or gum from lumber |
| ashlar | smoothed even blocks of stone masonry. |
| tympanum | Triangular face of a pediment |
| hung window | Window with one or more hanging sashes. |
| oilette | A round opening at the base of a loophole, usually for a cannon muzzle |
| communicable diseases | One whose causative agent is directly or indirectly transmitted from person to person. |
| st benedict | The Father of Western monasticism, he compiled a rule for his monks of Monte Cassino c |
| certification | A process that indicates a representative sample of a product line has been tested, that the product meets specified requirements, and that the product is subject to ongoing inspections by an outside certification agency. [top] |
| sash | A sub-frame component that surrounds a sealed unit |
| bond | The joining together of building materials to ensure solidity [top] |
| revetment | a retaining wall to prevent erosion; to face a surface with stone slabs |
| citadel | Stronghold within or close to a city |
| machicolations | Projecting gallery on brackets, on outside of castle or towers, with holes in floor for dropping rocks, shooting, etc. |
| chase | A groove in a masonry wall or through a floor to accommodate pipes or ducts. |
| cage | A rigid assembly of reinforcement steel ready for placing in position within a concrete form. |
| flat roof | A roof having only minimal slope for drainage. |
| solid mopping | A continuous mopping of a surface, leaving no un-mopped areas. |
| dominicans | Members of the Friars Preacher, a Mendicant Order founded by St Dominic (d |
| felt | A flexible sheet that is saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment, sometimes called "tar paper". |
| scale | Carving resembling overlapping fish scales. |
| insulated shutters | Insulating panels that cover a window opening to reduce heat loss. |
| putlog | Beams placed in holes to support a hoarding; horizontal scaffold beam Putlog Hole - A hole intentionally left in the surface of a wall for insertion of a horizontal pole. |
| sink | A plumbing fixture consisting of a water supply, a basin and a drain connection. |
| minstrel’s gallery | an area where musicians performed |
| cavitation | The formation of partial vacuums in a fluid, caused by high frequency sound waves. |
| stem wall | A foundation wall section generally made of concrete below the framed section and above the footing. |
| flat glass | (Window Glass) (Plate Glass) (Float Glass) (Rolled Glass) (Cylinder Glass) Glass sold in flat sheets and named according to the method used in its manufacture. |
| soil stack | Vertical plumbing pipe for waste water. |
| sett | a small block of hard stone, such as granite, used for paving. |
| splayed | an oblique slope given to the sides of an opening in a wall so that the opening is wider at one face than the other |
| vent pipe | A pipe which allows gas to escape from plumbing systems. |
| ashpit | The area below the hearth of a fireplace that collects the ashes. |
| concrete | A mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water. |
| radiant heating | A system using heating elements in the floors, ceilings, or walls to radiate heat into the room. |
| trefoil | Three-lobed. |
| dome | A hemispherical vault. |
| plough | (Plow) A rectangular groove or slot (with 3 surfaces) cut parallel with the grain (See Dado). |
| lug sill | One that extends beyond bottom window |
| weep channel | The channel used to ensure the weep hole is not blocked by sealant while doing the exterior sealing of the window during installation. [top] |
| mansard roof | A form of pitched roof designed to provide more space for rooms |
| load-bearing wall | A strong wall capable of supporting weight. |
| critical barrier | One or more layers of polyethylene sealed over openings into a work area or any other similarly placed physical barrier |
| intersecting arches | Arches which cross over each other in an arcade. |
| eave | The overhanging lower edge of a roof. |
| arcade | A decorative feature, used in Romanesque and Gothic architecture |
| thermal bridge | See Bridge. [top] |
| secondary glazing | Additional glazed frame applied to the inside of an existing frame, often used on protected or listed buildings to achieve higher levels of thermal and sound insulation without compromising the look of the building. |
| ply | The number of layers of roofing: i.e |
| putlog hole | A hole intentionally left in the surface of a wall for insertion of a horizontal pole. |
| low-e | A special coating that can be applied to one side of the glass to help reduce heat transference |
| counterfort | Defence work of besieging force |
| sbs modified | Roofing material with a modifier of asphalt (see modified bitumen) that enhances the bitumen's ability to resist the effects of weather and aging. |
| lites | Separated glass areas in a window, usually separated by some sort of grid pattern. |
| cross bridging | Bracing between floor joists to add stiffness to the floors. |
| cohesion of soil | The quality of some soil particles to be attracted to similar particles |
| wall plate | Horizontal roof-timber on wall-top. |
| window sill | The bottom horizontal trim member at the base of a window projecting outward. |
| gable dormer | a dormer that has a gable.Examples: |
| crocket | Curling leaf-shape. |
| composite column | Elaborate combination of Ionic and Corinthian features |
| expansion joint | a structural separation between two building elements that allows free movement between the elements without damage to the roofing or waterproofing system. |
| lease/leaseback | Financing option in which the developer leases the land from the district for minimal amount ($1) then builds facility on land |
| application rate | the quantity (volume or thickness) of material applied per unit area. |
| perpendicular | English architectural style (1330-1540). |
| jalousies | Window blinds or shutters with fixed or movable horizontal slats of wood, metal or glass sloping upward from the outside to admit light and air serving to exclude rain, water and sunlight; somewhat like a Venetian blind. |
| thomas more | He was a English humanist that contributed to the world today by revealing the complexities of man |
| plywood | A fabricated wood product constructed of three or more layers of veneer joined with glue, usually laid with grain of adjoining piles at right angles. |
| strut | A brace or any piece of a frame which resists thrusts in the direction of its own length; may be upright, diagonal, or horizontal. |
| sound-resistive glass | See Sound-lnsulating Glass. |
| vinyl | See PVC. |
| hospital tip hinge | A butt hinge with a (hinge) barrel that is beveled on both the top and the bottom towards the door when the door is closed |
| fiberglass | A composite material made by embedding glass fibers in a polymer matrix |
| open valley | Valley installation using metal down the valley center. |
| great hall | a principal building that held the meeting and dining areas or a throne room |
| post-and-beam | A simple type of construction system, composed of vertical structural members that support a horizontal structural member. |
| transmittance | The percentage of radiation that can pass through glazing |
| casemates | Artillery emplacements in separate protected rooms, rather than in a battery. |
| pier | Square pillar or post |
| culvert | A passage for water below ground level. |
| galvanize | To plate with zinc, originally by shock galvanic action, providing protection from rust. |
| second empire | Architectural style popular in the second half of the nineteenth century |
| horarium | The daily timetable in the monastery that was structured around the Canonical Hours. |
| carpet pile | The tufts of yarn that stand erect from the base of the carpet, forming the pile which is walked upon |
| admixtures | Chemicals used to improve the physical properties of Cast Stone. |
| construction manager | See Contractor. [top] |
| glazing channel | The groove in a sash to hold glass. |
| surround | An encasement of an opening. |
| ridge board | The horizontal beam at the central apex of a roof, to which the upper end of the rafters are attached. |
| turpet | Small tower on corner of building supported by corbels |
| permitted development | development that has been given "blanket permission" by statute and which therefore does not require a planning application to be made to the local authority. |
| arch | A curved construct spanning an opening, which is supported by and rests upon two points; often supports overhead weight. |
| exposure | (1) The traverse dimension of a roofing element not overlapped by an adjacent element in any roof system |
| b.t.u. | An abbreviation for British Thermal Unit |
| fiber-cement | A roofing material that has cellulose (wood fiber) mixed into it |
| cat ion | Positively charged ion. |
| flatted terrace | building type |
| chem sponge | See DRY SPONGE. |
| keyway | The channels or grooves in a lock that the key must pass through that distinguish one type of lock cylinder from another |
| fogging | A deposit or film left on an interior surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extreme conditions or failed seals. [top] |
| tie rod | A rod in tension, used to bind parts of a building together. |
| baptismal font | A receptacle for water, used for baptism. |
| retirata | Improvised fieldwork to counter an imminent breach. |
| corrody | The stipend given to an individual by the community either in return for gifts received or as a reward for previous services |
| polywrap | A protective polypropylene wrap applied to the exterior face of any window components to protect them from damage during shipping and damage caused by other trades after installation. [top] |
| feudalism | a political and economic system under which land was granted by a landowner to a person in exchange for military service or other duties |
| ridge | The peak where two sloped roof sections meet. |
| air leakage | The rate of air movement around a window, door, or skylight in the presence of a specific pressure difference across it |
| clean | To remove residues or contaminates caused by a specific incident or damage, as distinguished from pre-existing or normal conditions. |
| permeability | The rate of flow of a liquid or gas through a porous material. |
| sill track | The track provided at the sill of a sliding glass door |
| exterior feature | An element of the architectural character and general arrangement of the external portion of a building, structure or object, including building material, that is visible from a public right-of-way. |
| shingle | 1 |
| wing | Building part projecting from a central or main part |
| newel | A support post placed vertically, generally joining sections with railing and balusters. |
| ridge roll | Rounded cap covering exterior peak of roof |
| richardson romanesque | Style of architecture similar to the revived Romanesque architecture of Europe |
| pieter bruegel | Flemish painter of landscapes and peasant life |
| edge sheets | Felt strips that are cut to widths narrower than the standard width of the full felt roll, used to start the felt shingling pattern at a roof edge. |
| slider door | A door composed of two sections |
| justiciar | Chief political and judicial officer under Norman and early Plantagenet kings |
| great hall | The building in the inner ward that housed the main meeting and dining area for the castle's residence; throne room |
| framing | Wood skeleton of a building or house constructed one level on top of another. |
| drawbridge | A heavy timber platform built to span a moat between a gatehouse and surrounding land that could be raised when required to block an entrance. |
| landing | A level platform that is between two sections of stairs. |
| tunnel vault | See Barrel Vault. |
| wall sheathing | Sheets of plywood, gypsum board, or other material nailed to the outside face of studs as a base for exterior siding. |
| coquillage | Seashell-styled decoration |
| sistering | Reinforcing a structural member by nailing or affixing a strengthening piece to a weakened piece. |
| turbine vent | A powered vent that circulates air up and out of the home. |
| fuse | A short plug in an electric panel box which opens (breaks) an electrical circuit when it becomes overloaded. |
| condensation | Condensation is caused by water vapour from the air being deposited on any cold surface (which has a temperature below the dew point) when warm air meets the cold surface |
| roll roofing | Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form. Used on low to no sloped roofs. |
| nosing | The rounded edge of a stair tread. |
| lap joint | Joint produced by lapping and joining two similar members. |
| nec | The National Electrical Code is Part 70 of a set of codes and standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| clunch | Hard chalk used as a building material |
| building paper | Heavy paper used in walls or roofs to dampproof. |
| hatchet | A type of short axe used for chopping wood; the hatchet has a much shorter handle and a lighter head than an axe |
| stop | (Bead, Side Stop, Window Stop, Parting Stop) The molding on the inside of the window frame against which the window sash closes, or in the case of a double-hung window, the sash slides against the stop. |
| patterned glass | One or both surfaces of glass with a rolled design; used for privacy and light diffusion. |
| conditioned space | The part of a building that is designed to be thermally conditioned for the comfort of occupants or for other occupancies or for other reasons. |
| organic | Being or composed of hydrocarbons or their derivatives, or matter of plant or animal origin. |
| cantilever | A beam or other structure projecting from a wall and supporting an extension to a building, as on a cantilevered balcony or upper story. |
| caponier | Covered passage within a ditch |
| infrared radiation | Invisible, electromagnetic radiation beyond red light on the spectrum, with wavelengths greater than 0.7 microns. |
| elliptical arch | an oval arch |
| double swing door | A swing door frame consisting of two swing door leaves separated by an astragal. [top] |
| portcullis | A heavy timber or metal grill that protected the castle entrance and could be raised or lowered from within the castle |
| pitching | Rough cobbling |
| put-log | Beam inserted into a special hole in a great tower, gatehouse or curtain to support hoarding, or as scaffolding for building or repairs |
| lath | A building material used as a base for the application of plaster. |
| sheathing | The outer cover of a framed wall or roof section. |
| complexities | Any condition that causes the job to become more difficult or detailed, but work can still be performed. |
| d.i.g. window | The use of two sheets of glass with an inert gas sealed into the space between them to provide insulation against the passage of heat. |
| floor sign-off | A quality assurance procedure that takes place in various stages throughout the installation to monitor the performance of the installer and to ensure the quality of the installation. [top] |
| tear off | A term used to describe the complete removal of the built up roof membrane and insulation down to and exposing the roof deck. |
| gas fill | A gas other than air, usually argon or krypton, placed between window or skylight glazing panes to reduce the U-factor by suppressing conduction and convection. |
| contaminant | Any physical, chemical, biological or radioactive substance that can have an adverse effect on air, water or soil, or on any interior or exterior surface. |
| glacis | A bank sloping down from a castle which acts as a defence against invaders; broad, sloping naked rock or earth on which the attackers are completely exposed |
| great chamber | Lord's solar, or bed-sitting room. |
| rampart | Defensive stone or earth wall surrounding a castle or town |
| cold air return | Large ducts that lead cold air, or return air, to a furnace. |
| mesh | The square opening of a sieve. |
| cricket | A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney to prevent accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water around the chimney. |
| batter boards | Any type of special material, such as insulating boarding, used in the control of sound or to prevent the passage of sound from one room to another. |
| nailhead | Pyramid moulding. |
| brick tie | Metal anchors installed to secure brick veneer to the exterior wall. |
| stile | The side part of a sash that connects the lock rail and the lift rail. |
| odd-pitch roof | A roof on which the rise is not an even fraction of the run, also called low slope. |
| make up air | The air that is brought into the building to compensate for air lost from bathroom exhaust fans and or hoods |
| federation | Australian architectural period c |
| leaching bed | Tiles in the trenches carrying treated wastes from septic tanks. |
| three tab shingles | Flat asphalt roofing shingles. 20,25 & 30 year warranty. The cheapest form of shingles. |
| sash | Frame in which the glass panes or a window are set |
| kitchener | The monastic official in charge of the kitchen. |
| hinge | A movable joint that enables a window to swing open. |
| coenobitic | This refers to communal living and describes monks who lived as a community rather than as solitaries. |
| truss chord | The horizontal bottom member of a truss that creates the ceiling on the interior of a structure. |
| fresco | Painting on wet plaster wall |
| keyway | The keyhole of a cylinder lock [top] |
| picture window | Large fixed windows; introduced in the 1940s. |
| plinth block | A decorative block of wood often used at the bottom of door casings where the baseboard meets the door. |
| stile | One of the vertical parts of the frame of a door, window, etc |
| shelf life | Used in the glazing and sealant business to refer to the length of time a product may be stored before beginning to lose its effectiveness |
| embrasure | The space between merlons on a battlemented wall, also known as a crenel |
| toluene | Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenyl methane, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners |
| awning window | A sash hinged at the top. |
| grilles | Ventilation panels, often highly decorative. |
| wall-plate | Horizontal roof-timber on wall-top. |
| ciborium | A box in which the Host (wafers or bread for the Eucharist) is kept; A canopy resting on columns over the altar. |
| inner curtain | The high wall the surrounds the inner ward. |
| foundation wall | A wall below the floor nearest grade serving as a support for a wall, pier, column or other structural part of the building. |
| draft hood | A device placed in and made part of the vent connector, chimney connector, or smokepipe, from an appliance, or in the appliance itself |
| confined space | Any area that has: limited openings for entry and exit; where escape would be difficult in an emergency; which lacks ventilation; which contains known or potential hazards, and which is not intended nor designed for continuous human occupation. |
| gusset plate | [also just "gusset"] Large-area sections of steel or plywood, nailed or bolted to adjacent timber members in a truss or other frame structure for added strength |
| bousillage | A form of plaster made of mud, clay and moss used in poteaux-en-terre construction in French Colonial architecture, particularly in Louisiana. |
| niche | Recess in a wall. |
| beak-head | An ornamental motif resembling a bird's head with a prominent beak |
| beam ceiling | A ceiling in which the ceiling beams are exposed to view. |
| self-sealing strip or spot | Factory-applied adhesive that bonds shingle courses together when exposed to the heat of the sun after application |
| clean out | A plugged opening to drainlines and some traps to facilitate removal of a blockage with a plumber's snake or auger. |
| ward | courtyard enclosure of a castle; a bailey |
| dry glazing | A form of glazing in which the glass is secured in the frame with a dry gasket, wood stops, or metal stops, instead of by a glazing compound |
| rath | Low, circular ringwork |
| caulking | See Caulk [top] |
| thermal resistance | A property of a substance or construction which slows the flow of heat; one measure of this property is R-value. |
| azulejos | decorative ceramic tiles |
| wall walk | Passage along castle wall; may be roofed; The area along the tops of the walls from which soldiers could defend the castle |
| back stop | A back stop is a mechanical feature of a door closer which completely stops the opening swing of a door at a pre-set position. [top] |
| gauntlet | Armoured glove, often with long cuff |
| bay window | A window generally consisting of three wall segments |
| hygroscopic | The ability to 'give off' and 'take on' moisture, as in wood exposed to changes in relative humidity of air. |
| cdx plywood | CDX plywood is produced by gluing together sheets of veneer, with each layer being glued the opposite grain to the one below it |
| lap cement | An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing. |
| parados | Low wall in inner side of main wall. |
| academy | The first academy of art was founded in Florence, Italy in 1562 by Giorgio Vasari who called it the Accademia del Disegno |
| cup | To warp across the grain. |
| chivalry | the rules for polite and honorable behavior that knights were expected to follow |
| square | A measurement of roof area that equals 100 square feet (an area 10' by 10'). |
| ftg | Footing. |
| cryptosporidium | A highly infectious parasitic micro organism, often found in sewage that can cause chronic and severe intestinal disease in both adults and children. |
| convection | See Natural Convection and Forced Convection |
| studs | In wall framing, the vertical members to which horizontal pieces are nailed |
| box vents | Vents on the pitch of a roof that come out horizontally from the attic. |
| dual-duct system | An HVAC system using two ducts, one for supply and one for return air |
| casing | Exposed moulding or framing around a window or door used to cover the space between the window frame or jamb and the wall |
| conduit | A manmade water supply. |
| loophole | Narrow, tall opening; Wall slit for light, air, or shooting through. |
| flat skylight | Roof window opening that is almost flat |
| organic mat | Material made from recycled wood pulp and paper. |
| solar absorptivity | Solar Absorptivity is a fraction which represents the difference between how much solar radiation is absorbed by a material versus that which is absorbed by a standard black surface |
| relative humidity | Weight of water vapor in air divided by the weight of water vapor in completely saturated air at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage. |
| accordion door | Folding doors supported by carriers with rollers which run on a track; the doors fold up in a manner similar to the bellows of an accordion, hence the name. |
| buttress | Projecting pillar added to a wall to strengthen it |
| gable | The generally triangular portion of a wall between the two sloped edges of a roof |
| ceiling | Narrow matched boards; sheathing; the surface which encloses the upper side of a room. |
| specialty eaves flashing membrane | A self-adhering, waterproofing shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due to ice dams or wind-driven rain. |
| batten | A thin strip of lumber often used to seal a seam. |
| gutta | Droplike element found underneath a triglyph or in a mutule |
| chamfer | Surface made by smoothing off the angle between two stone faces |
| brattice or hoarding | Covered wooden gallery with holes in the floor, which was attached to the top of the external wall of a stone castle so that defenders could see and fire upon assailants at the base of the wall |
| finished opening | A term used to define a window frames opening after the miscellaneous preparation material (Deflection channel, installation angle etc.) has been installed |
| approved shop drawings | Starline's Shop Drawings that have been approved by the architect, an engineer representing Starline, the Contractor, and the Prime Consultant (architect). [top] |
| blind arcade | Line of arches on the face of a solid wall for decoration |
| crackbridging | A characteristic of a coating (e.g., Sealcoat Elastic, Coraflex) which indicates good adhesion and resistance to cracking under stress or pressure. |
| saltbox roof | A saltbox too is a type of gable roof where the ridge (or peak) is off center because the pitch of the roof is different on each of the two roof sections. |
| beaux arts | Elaborate and formal architectural style characterized by symmetry and an abundance of sculptured ornamentation |
| mineral-surfaced sheet | A felt that is coated on one or both sides with asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules. |
| baluster | support post taking on a rounded or squared shape, often found in a series as a railing. |
| re-entrant | Recessed; opposite of salient. |
| bullseye window | small oval window, set horizontally. |
| adhesive failure | Loss of bond of a coating or sealant from the surface to which it is applied. |
| non-potable | Not fit or suitable for drinking. |
| long-wave infrared radiation | Invisible radiation, beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (above 3.5 micro meters), emitted by warm surfaces such as a body at room temperature radiating to a cold window surface. |
| keystone | Wedge-shaped stone found in the center of some arches |
| ashrae | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E |
| pitch | Also known as "slope", pitch is the measure of how "steep" a roof is |
| butt joint | The junction where the ends of two timbers or other members meet in a square-cut joint. |
| french doors | Two adjacent doors that share the same door frame, and between which there is no separating vertical member |
| coated | Rebar coated with a zinc alloy or epoxy |
| shark fin | An upward-curled felt side lap or end lap. |
| iaq | Indoor Air Quality. |
| organic shingles | Shingles made from organic (paper) mats. |
| institution | agent of change |
| parthenon | One of the most iconic buildings of the classical world, erected in Athens around 440 B.C.E |
| grille | Grating that protects a window, a door, or another opening |
| prime sash | The balanced or moving sash of a window unit. |
| hole saw | A metallic cylinder with saw teeth on one rim and with the other end curving over into a plate with a usually hexagonal cutout that fits into a special arbor |
| cross-wall | Internal dividing wall in a castle |
| alligatoring | A condition of paint or aged asphalt brought about by the loss of volatile oils and the oxidation caused by solar radiation |
| punch | To perforate by pressing a non-rotating tool through the work. [top] |
| class "a" | The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing as per ASTM E-108 |
| precast | A concrete product not poured in place. |
| olite | Granular limestone. |
| oubliette | a dungeon entered by a trap door where prisoners were left to die; from the French word oublier—“to forget” |
| insulation | A non-conductor used to separate conducting bodies to prevent transfer of electricity, heat or sound. |
| bas-relief | Sculpture in which the carved forms project only slightly from the background. |
| gradient | Inclination of a road, piping, or the ground, expressed in percent. |
| hand-sealing | The method to assure sealing of shingles on very steep slopes, in high wind areas, and when installing in cold weather. |
| undercut doors | The action or result of cutting away the bottom of the door |
| tempered glass | Special heat-treated, high-strength safety glass which shatters into pebble-sized particles but not into slivers. |
| heat gun nozzle | a shaped metal tube used at the end of a heat gun to direct the flow of hot air over a particularly shaped surface |
| solar radiation | The total radiant energy from the sun, including ultraviolet and infrared wave lengths as well as visible light. |
| flashing | Weatherproofing that bridges joints formed by different materials or surfaces |
| frost line | The greatest depth to which ground material may be expected to freeze |
| cistern | A tank to catch and store rain water. |
| crown molding | A decorative molding placed at the joint of a ceiling and wall surface. |
| panic-proof locks | Locks that provide immediate exit from the inside at all times. |
| dual durometer | A material that has two or more levels of flexibility or hardness. [top] |
| usgbc | United States Green Building Council – provides guidance and rating standards for green construction. |
| arcade | a series of arched supports |
| hollow form | A term wood turners use to describe a turned container that has only a small opening through which the turning tools can be inserted while the turning the inside |
| suspended ceiling | Finish ceiling hung below the underside of the building or home structure, either floor or roof. |
| spacer | An object placed between two or more pieces of glass which helps to maintain a uniform width between the glass, and prevent sealant distortion. |
| reversible extension blind stop | An extension blind stop that is rabbetted to receive l/2 or 25/32-in |
| breastwork | Timber palisade used to strengthen earthwork defences |
| capital | Distinctly treated upper end of a column. |
| envelope consultant | The Contractors consultant hired to maintain and ensure a competent building envelope. [top] |
| mantlet | Mobile wooden protective shield on wheels |
| development brief | guidance published by the Council (as Supplementary Planning Guidance) for an individual site, indicating the kind of development the Council would support and encourage, as well as any specific requirements of the Council or other bodies. |
| fines | Aggregate passing a #4 sieve. |
| ashi | Acronym for American Society of Home Inspectors. |
| west end | The area of the church opposite the east end |
| carbon monoxide | (CO) - A colourless, odourless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete combustion of carbon |
| captive agent | An insurance agent who represents a single insurer exclusively. |
| short circuit | The condition that exists when a hot wire comes in contact with a neutral or grounded wire or conductor within a circuit |
| apron | Horizontal trim board under a window stool. |
| mural | Wall (adjectival). |
| hammer beam | A short horizontal beam, usually made of wood, extending from the top of a masonry wall outward towards the center of the enclosed space, but not completely traversing it |
| pellet | Circular boss. |
| embossing | A process that raises the surface of an object, creating a three- rather than two-dimensional design, often used in decorative arts such as jewelry, book-making, and silversmithing. |
| cluniac order | A reformed branch of the Benedictine Order which emerged from tenth-century Burgundy and dominated monasticism in the tenth and eleventh centuries |
| rough-in | Putting up the skeleton of the building or home. |
| head jamb | Depending on the exact construction technique used at the top of a door, this term can be either of two different constructs |
| chair rail | A plain or molded strip on a wood or plaster wall as a protection against chair backs. |
| member | A single piece of building material used in a structure. |
| ultraviolet light | Invisible rays of solar radiation at the short-wavelength voilet end of the spectrum |
| cellulose | A polysaccharide of glucose units that is the basic building block of plant cells (cp "cotton; jute") |
| cap flashing | The portion of the flashing that is built into a vertical surface to prevent water seepage behind the base flashing |
| circle-top | See Arched Top. [top] |
| lite | A single pane of glass. |
| slight | To damage or destroy a castle to render it unfit for use or occupation as a fortress |
| buttery | Next to the kitchen, a room from where wine was dispensed. |
| butyl tape | See Sealant. |
| panic hardware | A door locking assembly that can be released quickly by pressure on a horizontal bar. |
| crawl space | In cases where buildings have no basements, the space between the first floor and the surface of the ground; large enough for a man to crawl through for repairs and installation of utilities |
| parquet flooring | Flooring, usually wood, laid in an alternating or inlaid pattern to form various designs. |
| jamb extender | See Extension Jamb. |
| further evaluation | Examination and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman, or service technician, beyond that provided by an inspector in a home inspection or a commercial building inspection. |
| allure | Walkway along the top of a wall. |
| wall-walk | Passage along castle wall; may be roofed. |
| frequency | The number of complete operations or cycles that take place within a given period of time (normally one second), as in the AC line frequency of 6OHz (61) cycles per second). |
| non-prorated warranty | A warranty which provides full replacement costs for the item(s) covered during the full term of the warranty |
| irc | International Residential Code developed by the International Code Council (ICC). |
| setting pads | Non-corrosive pads used to set Cast Stone on in order to prevent the bed joint from compressing at the time of setting. |
| service | Repairing deficiencies in the product after its manufacture. [top] |
| struct-link | The process of intermittently debridging the aluminium thermal cavity leaving a small portion intact to create a structural link between the exterior and interior surfaces without compromising materially the thermal performance of the system |
| fransicans | Members of the Friars Minor, a Mendicant Order founded by St Francis of Assisi (d |
| anchor strip | Board around a window frame nailed to house framing |
| tear-off | Removal of existing roofing materials down to the roof deck. |
| plastic cement | A compound used to seal flashings and in some cases to seal down shingles as well as for other small waterproofing jobs |
| beam | A horizontal structural element that transfers the load of a building or structure to a foundation or to posts/piers set into the ground. |
| sprinkler system | An arrangement of overhead pipes equipped with sprinkler heads or nozzles |
| tenon | Male part of a mortise & tenon joint |
| under layments | Roofing paper that has been impregnated with asphalt |
| thermal conductance | Same as Thermal Conductivity except thickness is 'as stated' rather than one inch |
| benedictine order | see Benedictines |
| flashing | A thin strip of metal or synthetic material that diverts water away from a window or skylight. [top] |
| increment | The amount by which a varying quantity increases between two of its stages. |
| inner ward | The open area in the center of a castle. |
| voussoir | Wedge-shaped stones forming curved parts of an arch |
| aluminium or pvc backer | Aluminium or PVC Backer provides a base to put backer rod in and caulk against when coupler frames are butted up against the rough opening. [top] |
| weathering | Sloping surface to throw off rainwater. |
| light to solar gain | The ratio between the SHGC and VT |
| blank window | See false window. |
| foot candle | (Ft-C) A quantitative unit for measuring illumination |
| ogee arch | An arch consisting of two opposing "S"-curves meeting in a point at the apex |
| head casing | Top or upper member of any element or structure |
| condensation | Moisture that forms on glass surfaces due to cold temperatures, high humidity, or poor air flow |
| foundation | The ground beneath a building; or, the base supporting structure beneath a building or structure, which transfers loads to the ground. |
| profiles | The actual siding panels are called profiles |
| gravel | Course, granular aggregate, with pieces larger than sand grains, resulting from the natural erosion of rock. |
| slippage | Relative lateral movement of adjacent components of a built-up membrane |
| mold | (Molding) A relatively narrow strip of wood used to conceal a joint or to emphasize ornamentation of a structure. |
| obscure glass | Also known as frosted glass |
| draught excluders | Weather seals attached to the bottom of doors. |
| laminated glass | Two or more sheets of glass with an inner layer of transparent plastic to which the glass adheres if broken |
| skirtings | Narrow boards around the margin of a floor; baseboards. |
| piscina | Handbasin, usually set in or against a wall, with drain |
| jointing scheme | The jointing pattern shown on contract documents. |
| shingle | (1) a small unit of prepared roofing material designed for installation with similar units in overlapping rows on inclines normally exceeding 25 percent; (2) to cover with shingles; (3) to apply any sheet material in overlapping rows like shingles. |
| chassis | The body of the lock itself, without any trim. |
| arch | A curved structure that will support itself by mutual pressure and the weight above its curved opening. |
| saturant | Asphalt used to impregnate an organic felt base material. |
| osd plywood | OSD plywood (which is also commonly known as OSB or oriented strand board) is produced by binding wood chips together with a mix of glue and resin |
| device | A pattern or symbol |
| arch | curved piece that covers a small or large space and can hold weight. |
| grinding wheel dresser | A device for dressing the surface of a grinding wheel |
| heat-strengthened glass | Glass that is reheated, after forming, to just below melting point, and then cooled, forming a compressed surface that increases its strength beyond that of typical annealed glass. |
| sump | A pit in a basement floor to collect water, into which a sump pump is placed to remove water. |
| jamb | All of the vertical members at the side of the window frame. |
| checks | Splits or cracks in a board, generally called shakes. |
| inside trim | See Inside Casing. |
| rincleau | Scroll or vines cut in stone |
| forced convection | A heat transfer process, aided by mechanical circulation of a liquid (such as water) or a gas (such as air) |
| template | A type of model used to convey the pattern, shape, or profile to be used by the manufacturer in the molding process. |
| wood shingle | A thin roofing unit of wood, usually cut from green wood to stock lengths, widths, and thicknesses, and then kiln-dried |
| neo- | Prefix meaning new or revived, as in |
| lockset | A locking device, complete with trim, mounting hardware and strike. |
| stucco | A durable finish for exterior walls, usually composed of cement, sand, and lime, and applied while wet. |
| cmu | Concrete Masonry Unit made from Portland cement and aggregate. |
| accretion | Conzenian terminology |
| barbican | The gateway or outworks defending the drawbridge; An outwork or forward extension of a castle gateway. |
| joist | A horizontal framing member usually spaced at a regular interval and used to support a floor or ceiling. |
| duramen | Heart wood. |
| dubbing | Ceremony in which a monarch or high ranking lord gives another person the title of knight; usually involving tapping each shoulder with a sword |
| key blank | Uncut keys before they are cut into a working key. |
| supplementary planning guidance | guidance which explains and amplifies the planning policies in the Council's Development Plan, and provides additional advice to applicants. |
| french baroque architecture | A form of Baroque architecture that evolved in France during the reigns of Louis XIII (1610-43), Louis XIV (1643-1714), and Louis XV (1714-74) |
| joggled | Keyed together by overlapping joints. |
| terce | The third Office. |
| pipe rolls | Annual accounts of sheriffs rendered to the king |
| pro | Professional Remodelers of Ohio is the remodeling industry resource in Northeast Ohio for information and advocacy for consumers, community and members. |
| vault | Stone roofing. |
| pen flourished initial | An ornamental initial characterized by abstract, rhythmic patterns, usually drawn in red or blue ink |
| asphalt felt | An asphalt-saturated felt or an asphalt-coated felt. |
| crosswall | Interior dividing wall; structural. |
| celsius | (c or C) - An international thermometric scale (cp "centigrade"). |
| head-lap | The minimum distance, measured at 90 degrees to the eaves along the face of a shingle or felt, from the upper edge of the shingle or felt to the nearest exposed surface. |
| compound | A combination of substances, which results in a reaction that forms a new substance which differs from either of its components. |
| motte | Mound, often man-made, on which a castle was built |
| organic felt | An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers. |
| crenel | The low segment of the alternating high and low segments of a battlement. |
| kalsomine | A white or tinted paint medium containing zinc oxide, water, glue, and color that is used as a wash for walls and ceilings. |
| corner bead | A strip of wood or metal for protecting the external corners of plastered walls. |
| aama | American Architectural Manufacturers Association |
| wash cut | Beveled cut in a stone sill to divert water. |
| coated glass | A window glass with an outside surface provided with a mirror reflective surface; the shading coefficient ranges from 20% to 45% |
| nail hem | The top portion of a vinyl siding panel |
| twisted ribbon | An ornamental motif of thin, continuous bands arranged in in a rectilinear fashion, and represented as if the bands were three dimensional. |
| impost block | The slab at the top of a capital between the capital and the architectural member above |
| soffit | The underside of a construction element, such as a roof eave. |
| back nailing | The practice of blind-nailing roofing felts to a substrate in addition to hot-mopping to prevent slippage. |
| aggregate | A surfacing material or ballast for a roof system |
| wainscot | Facing of wood paneling, usually covering lower portion of interior wall |
| cellulosic composite | Generally a material combining an organic material, such as wood fibre, extruded with plastic. [top] |
| positive lock | Area below the nailing hem that the buttlock locks into. |
| hardboard | (Trade Name: Hardi Panel) Wood fibers and a bonding agent joined together under pressure to form a sheet of material. |
| perpendicular | English architectural style, c |
| breezeway | A roofed walkway with open sides |
| built-up roof | An outer covering of a comparatively flat roof, consisting of several layers of saturated felt |
| arrow-loop or slit | Long, narrow and usually vertical opening in a wall or merlon, through which arrows were shot |
| sunburst light | See Fan Light. |
| termite flashing | Sheet metal placed where the wood framing members are attached to the concrete foundation used to prevent insects from getting into the wood framed structure. |
| edge stripping | Application of felt strips cut to narrower widths than the normal felt roll width to cover a joint between flashing and built-up roofing. |
| ram | Battering ram |
| cove molding | Trim molding with a concave face. |
| selvage | That portion of roll roofing overlapped by the succeeding course to obtain double coverage. |
| lay brother | This initially referred to an adult convert to the religious life but later, with the emergence of the new religious orders, it described a non-monastic member of the community who took vows but was essentially responsible for agricultural and industrial work in the monastery |
| cross contamination | The spread of contaminants from an affected area or person to an unaffected area or person. |
| electronic lock | is a locking device which operates by means of electric current |
| corbel | A projection from a wall which sometimes supports (or appears to support) a structural member such as a shaft; A projecting block of stone built into a wall during construction; step-wise construction, as in an arch, roof, etc. |
| plastomeric | A plastic-like polymer consisting of any of various complex organic compounds produced by polymerization which are capable of being molded, extruded or cast into various shapes or films |
| operable window | Window which can be opened for ventilation. |
| pier | Support for archor vault, usually square as opposed to pillar (round) |
| loggia | Arcade or gallery open on at least one side |
| basement window | (Basement Sash) (Cellar Sash) A wood or metal in-swinging sash that is hinged at either the top or the bottom. |
| furring | Thin wood, or metal applied to a wall to level the surface for lathing, boarding, or plastering, to create an insulating air space, and to damp proof the wall. |
| baroque | The word itself is elusive; it does not accurately define or even approximate the meaning of the style to which it refers |
| circuit breaker | An electric device for opening and closing a circuit, designed to open the circuit automatically upon flow of a predetermined value of abnormally high current; may be repeatedly reclosed and reused as an automatic overcurrent protection device without replacement of any components. |
| half-shaft | Roll-moulding on either side of an opening |
| segmental | Less than a semicircle (e.g |
| percent elongation | In tensile testing, the increase in the gauge length of a specimen measured at or after fracture of the specimen within the gauge length |
| mill scale | thin layers or flakes of metal that are usually remnants of the manufacturing process. Mill Scale should be removed prior to application of any product. |
| daub | a mud and clay mixture applied over wattle to strengthen and seal it |
| lock rail | The part of the sash the lock or keeper is attached to. |
| base cabinet | A cabinet that generally rests on the floor with a toekick and countertop. |
| slit | Narrow opening in a wall for admitting light and for firing arrows |
| ecclesia | Personification of Church |
| vestibule | A small lobby or entrance room in a house. |
| diffusing glass | Glass with an irregular surface for scattering light; used for privacy or to reduce glare. |
| stack | the part of the chimney breast visible above the roof. |
| fenestration | The placement of window openings in a building wall; one of the important elements in controlling the exterior appearance of a building. |
| siding | A finish covering on the exterior walls of a building or home in the form of a series of horizontal strips or boards; made of such cladding materials as wood or aluminum |
| spandrel | section of glass that differentiates between two floors. |
| pier foundation | Piers are created by filled drilled holes in the ground with concrete reinforced with steel. |
| prow | Acute-angled projection. |
| garrison | The soldiers who manned and occupied a castle or fort |
| relative humidity | Weight of water vapour in air divided by the weight of water vapour in completely saturated air at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage. |
| moisture barrier | (Vapor Barrier) A material which retards the passage of water vapor from one space to another |
| stacked window units | A combined grouping of awning, hopper, casement, or non-operative windows to form a large glazed unit. |
| corinthian order | One of the three principal classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, the column often exhibits thin fluting along its length stopping short of the base, and a highly ornamented capital. |
| mill finish | Product that is installed without coating or finishing the surface with another product, shows the milled edges. [top] |
| folding doors | The assembly of two or more hinged leaves which, when straightened in a line, can close the opening. |
| alloy | A composition of two or more metals fused together to obtain a desired property. [top] |
| porte cochere | A covered, drive-through structure that extends from the side of a home, providing shelter for people getting in and out of vehicles. |
| weep holes | Openings cut into siding or accessories to allow for water runoff. |
| webbing or infilling | The vault surface between the ribs of a rib vault. |
| perm | A unit of water vapor transmission, defined as one grain of water vapor per square foot per hour per inch of mercury (Hg) pressure difference (1 inch of mercury = 0.491 psi). |
| waxed cord | Traditional cotton cord for use in double hung windows |
| ogee | a double curve with the shape of an elongated "S" |
| thermal expansion | Change in dimension of a material as a result of temperature change. |
| sill | The horizontal members at the bottom of the window or door frame. |
| plate armour | Armour made of jointed metal plates |
| cut | Assault tower |
| coal-tar felts | A felt that has been saturated with refined coal tar. |
| chancel | The space surrounding the altar of a church. |
| double-hung window | A window that has two vertical operating sashes. |
| opsc | Office of Public School Construction California government agency which verifies applicant school districts meet specific criteria in order to receive funds for school construction |
| water vapor | Moisture existing as a gas in air. |
| filled insulation | A loose insulating material poured from bags or blown by machines into walls. |
| rubble | Undressed broken stone used in construction |
| fsc | Forest Stewardship Council – Establishes standards for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes and products with FSC logo were harvested from certified well managed forest. |
| bite | Bite refers to the distance by which the leg of the aluminium frame glazing pocket or leg overlaps the glass. [top] |
| belt course | Narrow horizontal band projecting from exterior walls, usually defining interior floor levels |
| crenellations | Another term for battlements, but used to describe decorative battlements |
| building | Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy. |
| load bearing wall | A wall that supports loads in addition to its own weight |
| groin vault | also known as square vault, made by intersecting two barrel vaults at right angles |
| kiln-dried | Artificial drying of lumber, superior to most lumber that is air dried. |
| canopy | A covering above a niche, pulpit, entry, loading dock or the like. |
| knob and tube | An early electric wiring system without conduits, where insulated wires are supported with porcelain knobs and tubes when passing through wood construction members. |
| circuit breaker | A safety device which opens (breaks) an electric circuit automatically when it becomes overloaded. |
| narthex | A low projection at the western end of a church, like a porch |
| u block | Block which looks the same as a standard block from the front or back, but whose cells are open on the top so that grout can flow outward to the other block on each side |
| retable | An altarpiece, decorated with painting or sculpture which stands at the back of an altar. |
| corbel | A corbel is an architectural bracket or block projecting from a wall. |
| acoustical tile | Special tile for walls and ceilings made of mineral, wood, vegetable fibers, cork, or metal.Its purpose is to control sound volume, while providing cover. |
| knights hospitaller | The Hospitallers seemingly had their origins in the late eleventh century with the foundation of a pilgrim hospital in Jerusalem, near the Holy Sepulchre |
| halved joint | A joint that is basically a box joint but with one huge finger and one huge open space on the end of each plank |
| icyene insulation | Expandable spray foam insulation which can be VOC, Formaldehyde and CFC free. |
| picture window | A picture window that does not move or operate. |
| abacus | The flat slab forming the upper section of a capital |
| shake | A thick wood shingle with an uneven surface; usually formed either by splitting a log into tapered radial sections or by sawing. |
| schloss | a German castle or baronial mansion, usually a little more refined than a burg |
| alcazaba | a Moorish defensive structure including massive square towers, extensive walls, and labyrinthine paths |
| simulant | Inexpensive yet decorative stones used by jewelers to simulate more valuable gems such as sapphires, rubies, or diamonds. |
| beam | A horizontal structural member in a building that carries a load. |
| reeve | Peasant appointed as supervisor of work on the lord's land |
| parge coat | Thin coat of cement mortar applied to a masonry wall for refinement or dampproofing. |
| caulk | To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt cement to prevent leaks. |
| ampere | The rate of flow of electricity through electric wires. |
| vitrified | Material reduced to glass by extreme heat. |
| weep hole | A small hole in a wall which permits water to drain off. |
| trap | A bend in a water pipe to hold water so gases will not escape from the plumbing system into the house. |
| weather strip | A strip of resilient material used to cover the joint between the window sash and frame to reduce air leaks and prevent water from entering the structure. |
| miter joint | Joint made with ends or edges of two pieces cut at 45-degree angles and fastened together. |
| conduction | Heat transfer through a solid material by contact of one molecule to the next |
| bivalate | A hillfort defended by two concentric ditches. |
| bib or bibcock | A water faucet to which a hose may be attached, also called a hose bib or sill cock. |
| visconti & sforza | Milanese nobles |
| atrium | architectural term |
| sculptural forms | Architectural elements that have the appearance of having been sculpted. |
| absorption | Percentage of moisture absorption by weight after immersion in water. |
| z-plan | Distinctive Scottish form of tower-house in which two corner towers are added to provide extra protection |
| shiplap | A type of board lumber fabricated with overlapping edge rabbit joints; often used as a supporting member and siding found on the interior of historic wood frame houses. |
| cold joint | A joint formed when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch of concrete is placed against it. |
| blueprint | An architectural type drawing used by workers to build from |
| sash stop | A piece of vinyl used to stop the travel of the sash at the top and bottom of the window. |
| crenel | the open spaces between the merlons of a battlement |
| dead level | Absolutely horizontal, or zero slope. |
| tension | Pulling or stretching force |
| water repellent | Normally a clear sealer sprayed or brushed on the exposed portion of a masonry wall to deflect moisture. |
| access control | is a system which allows controlled access to areas and resources in a given physical facility or computer-based information system. |
| half hip | A half hip roof has two gabled ends |
| aluminum-clad window | Window with an aluminum covered wood construction. |
| balance shoe | This is the part that connects the balance to the sash through the use of the pivot bar |
| sun screen | See Shade Screen. |
| arch | Curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening |
| ada | The Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| tempered glass | The same as safety glass |
| shed roof | A single sloped roof section which covers and entire area |
| extra to contract | Any additions to the original scope of work defined by the contract are considered extra's to the contract. [top] |
| blanket insulation | Insulation in rolled-sheet form, often backed by treated paper that forms a vapor barrier. |
| barbican | a house or tower that defends a gate or drawbridge |
| condensation | The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a window glass or frame that is exposed to cold outdoor air |
| reflective glass | Window glass coated to reflect radiation striking the surface of the glass. |
| dressing | Carved or smoothed stonework around openings or along edges |
| vignette | Refers to an image that does not have a definite border around it |
| matte finish | Finish free of gloss or highlights. |
| slab | A flat concrete plate, often reinforced with steel rebar, that forms the floor of a building. |
| grilles | a metal grating used as a screen, barrier or decorative element as in a window or gateway |
| sbcci | Southern Building Code Congress International |
| murder hole | Opening in ceiling through which defenders could fire or drop missiles on enemies below |
| siding | Any type of exterior finish applied to the exterior wall. |
| cladosporium | A fungus commonly found in the outdoor environment (e.g., soil, leaves). |
| handrail | A rail attached firmly to a surface or supporting structure, designed to be grasped for added stability. |
| btu | Abbreviation for British thermal unit; a standard unit for measuring heat gain or loss. |
| vapor barrier | Material such as paper, metal or paint which is used to prevent vapor from passing from rooms into the outside walls. |
| corner bead | A metal molding built into plaster corners to prevent the accidental breaking off of the plaster. |
| cornice | a decorative projection along the top of a wall |
| belt course | Narrow horizontal band projecting from exterior walls, usually defining interior floor levels. |
| sill | (Sill Plate) (Inside Sill) (Outside Sill) The horizontal members at the bottom of the window frame; a masonry sill or sub-sill can be below the sill of the window unit. |
| tempered glass | Glass that is strengthened by reheating it to just below the melting point and then suddenly cooling it |
| masonite | A brand name for a hardboard product having a variety of uses such as roofing, siding, paneling and door skins. |
| daylight opening | The edge of the glazing leg surface, which allows maximum light penetration [top] |
| demi-bastion | A semicircular tower projecting from an outer wall, from which the front of the wall can be defended |
| cantilever | A projecting beam or other structure supported only at one end. |
| ridge | The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. |
| fish-mouth | (1) A half-cylindrical or half-conical opening formed by an edge wrinkle; (2) in shingles, a half-conical opening formed at a cut edge. |
| breezeway | A covered passage, open at each end, which passes through a house or between two structures increasing ventilation and adding an outdoor living effect. |
| impression | An impression is a single piece of paper with an image printed on it from a matrix |
| valley | The angle formed where two sloping roof surfaces intersect. |
| slab construction | A reinforced concrete floor and foundation system. |
| roof ridge | The horizontal intersection of two roof slopes at the top of a roof. |
| murder hole | an opening in a roof over a passageway through which hot oil, rocks, and arrows could be thrown down on the attackers below |
| scratch coat | The first coat of plaster |
| cantilever | Projecting overhang |
| riser | The upright piece of a stair step, from tread to tread. |
| united inch | The measurement of the width of the window plus the height of the window |
| vct | Vinyl Composite Tile – 12″ squares of semi flexible tile used on floors. |
| grain | The embossed pattern pressed into the vinyl, simulating wood grain or texture. |
| flashing cement | See Asphalt plastic cement. |
| asphalt mastic | A mixture of asphalt material and graded mineral aggregate that can be poured when heated, but requires mechanical manipulation to apply when cold.Asphalt Primer:A solution of asphalt in petroleum solvent, used to prepare concrete roof decks for the application of hot asphalt |
| padlock | A detachable and portable lock with a shackle which locks into its case. |
| baroque | The period from about 1600 1750 Originally used in architecture, the word Baroque means bizarre, flamboyant, and elaborately ornamented |
| french patio doors | A two panel glass door where both panels operate and swing either inward or outward. |
| dog tooth | Diagonal indented pyramid. |
| girder | A horizontal beam supporting the floor joists in a building or home. |
| projected window | An awning-type window that swings either inwards or outwards at the top or the bottom |
| lavatory | A bathroom sink. |
| vent | An opening designed to convey water vapor or other gases from inside a building or a building component to the atmosphere, thereby relieving vapor pressure. |
| ul | Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. |
| carpet | Can refer to a rug however more commonly referring to a textile floor covering that is permanently laid wall to wall |
| underlayment | A layer of asphalt saturated (sometimes referred to as tar paper) which is laid down on a bare deck before shingles are installed to provide additional protection for the deck. |
| cartulary | A manuscript that contained various charters relating to land, rights and legalities. |
| awning window | A top-hinged sash |
| quotation or quote | A price quoted by a contractor, sub-contractor, material supplier, or vendor to furnish materials, labor, or both. [top] |
| collations | see Collation |
| black friars | see Dominicans |
| city-states | ifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers |
| longbow | Large, powerful wooden bow, used to shoot arrows, often over long distances |
| gull wing roof | A Gull wing roof is the opposite of a gambrel roof where each side of the gable is divided into two sections |
| base flashing | That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering. |
| built-up roofing | A built-up roofing consists of piles or layers of roofing felt bonded together on site with hot bitumen |
| cartouche | Ornamental panel; oval or scroll-shaped |
| ornament | A building element that is decorative rather than structural; may be used to conceal structural elements, indicate the function of a part of the building, or express a particular style or type of design. |
| crenelation | A notched battlement made up of alternate crenels (openings) and merlons (square sawteeth); A parapet with alternating openings (embrasures) and raised sections (merlons), often used on castle walls and towers for defense purposes. |
| vespers | Office celebrated at the approach of dusk. |
| float glass | 90% of the worlds flat glass is now made using the Pilkington process |
| consultant | agent of change |
| high pressure sodium lamp | A sodium vapor lamp operating at a partial vapor pressure of 0.1 atmosphere that produces a wide spectrum yellow light. |
| annealed glass | Float glass is the most common example of an annealed glass; during manufacture it is heated to a transition point and slowly allowed to cool |
| a/e | Architect/Engineer; normally engaged by an Owner. |
| arrow loop | A narrow vertical slit cut into a wall through which arrows could be fired from inside. |
| accelerator | Any material added to stucco, plaster or mortar which speeds up the natural set. |
| aerogel | Aerogel is a microporous, transparent silicate foam that is currently under development for potential use as a glazing cavity fill material, offering very high thermal performance. [top] |
| plumb | Said of a building member when it is in true vertical position as determined by a plumb bob or vertical level. |
| knot | An imperfection or non-homogeneity in materials used in fabric construction, the presence of which causes surface irregularities. |
| hoodmold | Decorative projecting trim above a window |
| jamb extension | A board (wood or PVC) used to increase the depth of window frame jambs to fit any thicknesses of wall. |
| bullseye window | small round or oblong window, often made of hand blown glass. |
| counterguard | A long, near-triangular freestanding fortification within the moat. |
| glass | Glass in which wire mesh is embedded to prevent shattering. |
| beam | A framing member usually significantly larger than other framing members that carries roof or floor loads over a certain span. |
| conjunctivitis | Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the eyeballs. |
| redan | Outwork with two faces forming a salient angle |
| mullions | The structural units that divide adjacent windows. |
| spectrally-selective glass | A coated or tinted glazing with optical properties that are transparent to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others |
| lite | A piece or section of glass, set within a frame in a window or door |
| dry in | To make a building waterproof. |
| eng | Energy calculations |
| weathering | Sloping surface to throw off rainwater |
| plasterboard | Gypsum board, used instead of plaster. |
| header | (Lintel) (Beam) Supporting member or beam above window opening which transfers building weight above to the supporting wall structure on each side of the window |
| simulated divided lites | A decorative bar mounted on the exterior and interior of a sealed window unit, giving the illusion of multiple sealed units. |
| hip-on-gable | A roof structure in which the peak of a gable roof, instead of rising to a point, is clipped short and appears to turn downward |
| mordent | Ornamentation of a melodic note by playing the melodic note and adding a single rapid note a minor second below for a lower mordent and the note a minor second above for an upper mordent. |
| rib | Raised moulding dividing a vault. |
| hemicycle | The group of columns, arranged in a semicircular formation, that divide the east end of a choir from the ambulatory. |
| vapor barrier | (Vapor Retarder) A membrane or coating which resists passage of water vapor from a region of high vapor pressure to low pressure, more accurately called a Vapor Retarder. |
| stockade | Solid fence of heavy timbers. |
| bypass | A type of window wall that bypasses the concrete slab between floors; the exterior side of the frame exceeds the length of the interior side to create an aesthetic impression of uniformity that hides the concrete from the exterior view of the building. [top] |
| herm | a statue of the head of a Greek god set on a square stone pillar. |
| valley flashing | Sheet metal flashing that is shaped to contour the valley of a roof where two roof sections meet. |
| fenestration | The system (arrangement and proportioning) of openings penetrating an exterior wall system; also, an opening in an exterior surface or membrane. |
| fha title 1 | A system of insurance of modernization loans for alteration, repair or improvement of existing structures. |
| drip edge | A metal strip that runs along the edge of the roof that sheds water away from eves or siding. |
| stick-work | A wooden grid of boards overlaid atop an exterior surface |
| double-hung windows | Windows with two sashes sliding up and down |
| reflective glass | Window glass coated to reflect visible light and solar radiation striking the surface of the glass. [top] |
| cement asphaltic plastic | A mixture of asphalt, solvent, and mineral stabilizer used for example to adhere flashings or to fill pan flashings. |
| asphaltic roof fill | A blend of asphalt and perlite aggregate typically installed at precise drainage slopes. |
| joist | A structural member laid horizontally in a series from wall to wall or beam to beam, to support the weight of a floor, ceiling or roof |
| fireplace surround | A molding about a fireplace, often highly decorated. |
| fascia | architectural term |
| air trap | A U-shaped pipe filled with water and located beneath plumbing fixtures to form a seal against the passage of gases and odors. |
| hip shingles | Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. |
| fillet | Narrow flat band |
| order of cluny | see Cluniac Order |
| kick plate | A plate applied to the face on the bottom of a door or sidelight to protect against abrasion or impact loads or to maintain sight lines. [top] |
| mylar | Trade name for a clear, durable plastic sheet used for covering an inside storm panel or for removable, roll-up glazing over an entire window frame. |
| keystone | The vertical wedge-like architectural piece set at the crown of an arch or vault, designed to lock the other pieces into position. |
| historiated capital | A capital which is decorated with figures of animals, birds, or humans, used either alone or combined with foliage |
| nonbearing wall | A dividing wall in a building or home that does not support a vertical load. |
| historiated initial | An illuminated initial containing a figure, a group of figures, or a narrative scene |
| effluent | The liquid discharge from a septic tank after bacterial treatment. |
| segmental | Less than a semi-circle. |
| daughter house | A monastery founded by another was known as its daughter house |
| drawbridge | Wooden bridge that could be raised and lowered, sited in front of a tower or gatehouse, across a ditch |
| heat gain | The transfer of heat from the outside to the inside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house. [top] |
| shade screen | (Sun Screen) A specially fabricated window screen of sheet material with small narrow louvers formed in place to intercept solar radiation striking a window; the louvers are so small that only extremely small insects can pass through |
| nave | The main body of the church occupying the western part of the building. |
| quadripartite rib vault | A rib vault which is divided into four sections by two diagonal ribs |
| deed | A written instrument whereby an estate in real property is conveyed by a grantor to a grantee. |
| princess line | A sleek-fitting dress line achieved by making a garment without a waist seam |
| nailing fin | Used to attach windows to a house in new construction applications. |
| core shadow | A core shadow, sometimes called body shadow or mass shadow, is the area of an illuminated object that is fully turned away from the light source, on which light is cast from a single direction |
| ambulatory | A semicircular or polygonal passageway running behind the High Altar; generally an extension of the apse. |
| divine office | see Canonical Hours |
| handicap water cooler | A water cooler set low and operated by push-bars or levers for convenience to persons with physical impairment. |
| great chamber | Lord's solar, or bed-sitting room |
| brick molding | A standard milled wood. |
| perfa-tape | Perforated paper joint tape approximately two inches wide; used to cover the joints in gypsum wall board. |
| furring | Strips of wood or metal applied to a wall or other surface to even it, to form an air space, or to give an appearance of greater thickness. |
| thermal conductivity | The heat energy that will be transmitted by conduction through one square foot of one inch thick homogeneous material in one hour when there is a difference of one degree Fahrenheit perpendicularly across the two surfaces of the material. |
| back surfacing | Fine mineral matter applied to the back side of shingles to keep them from sticking. |
| extensive | A Green Roof with plantings such as grasses or small plants |
| interior glazes | Glazing installed from inside of building. |
| vault | A ceiling or roof formed by one or more arches, usually made out of wood or stone. |
| plumbing vent flashing | Plumbing vent flashing prevents rainwater from running into holes cut for pipes in the roof |
| board and batten | A type of siding composed of wide boards and narrow battens |
| chloride | A compound of chlorine with another element or group; a salt of hydrochloric acid. |
| monolithic slab | A single slab foundation for a house that incorporates footings at its edge without any joints. |
| bench mark | A point of known or assumed elevation used as a reference in determining other vertical elevations. |
| ornament | Embellishments and decorations of a melody as expressed through small notes or special signs. |
| heating degree day | Term used by heating and cooling engineers to relate the typical climate conditions of different areas to the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a building |
| iconography | Conveying a message using religious symbols |
| house | building type |
| racking | The forcing out of plumb of structural components, usually by wind, seismic stress, or thermal expansion or contraction. [top] |
| yoke | Top of a double-hung window |
| italianate | Style of architecture developed in Great Britain in 1802 that imitates the style of architecture of the Italian Renaissance |
| masonry | anything constructed of such materials as bricks, stone, concrete blocks, ceramic blocks or concrete. |
| standing seam | This type of roofing is available in several variations of the seaming method |
| acoustical tile | Any tile composed of materials having the property of absorbing sound waves, hence reducing the reflection of sound; any tile designed and constructed to absorb sound waves. |
| wall mount | Self contained AC unit mounted on outside of building wall (commonly front wall) |
| ashlar | Squared blocks of smooth stone neatly trimmed to shape. |
| app modified | Asphalt based raw roofing, usually torch-applied. |
| cusp | A projecting point formed where two curves meet |
| widow's walk | Narrow platform on roof; usually with wooden or wrought-iron |
| culdees | Eremitical communities who occupied isolated sites such as Puffin Island and Bardsey. |
| beehive arm fastener | Sash Window Catch similar to a quadrant catch but with a turned 'beehive' knob. |
| mansard roof | A hip roof in which each face has two slopes, the lower one steeper than the upper. |
| asphalt | Bituminous sandstones used for paving streets and waterproofing flat roofs. |
| tribune or gallery | An upper story over the aisle which opens onto the nave or choir. |
| niche | A small opening or recess in a wall, usually built to accommodate a statue, but sometimes included just to add greater relief to a building, introducing shadow to a façade. |
| grotesque | Carving or sculpture of a figure, animal or hybrid. |
| shim | An thin object made of a specified material designed to displace anonther object to help position it in the proper place. [top] |
| tolerance | Allowable deviation from specified dimensions. |
| climate-controlled | An area or building that has Air Conditioning deployed to Control the Environment or the indoor climate. |
| moisture content | Percentage of dry weight of material which is composed of water, such as in wood. |
| palisade | A sturdy wooden fence built to enclose a site until a permanent stone wall could be constructed |
| crf | Condensation Resistance Factor |
| gypsum board | Wallboard made of gypsum, with a covering of paper. |
| box sash window | Traditional weight balanced, vertically sliding window |
| helicline | Curved ramp |
| dwg | Working drawings. |
| stile | A vertical face frame member of a cabinet between two doors. |
| lites | Individual panes of glass |
| coping | a sloping or curved, overhanging section of stone on top of a wall or parapet designed to protect the masonry from rain water. |
| deficiency | A product containing a fault which is responsible for the product not conforming to quality standards. [top] |
| bakelite | An inexpensive plastic that became popular during the 1930s and 40s as a material for all kinds of consumable goods, including jewelry, cameras, billiard balls, and radios. |
| transept | A rectangular area which cuts across the main axis of a basilica-type building and projects beyond it |
| flemish bond | a pattern of brickwork in which the long side of the brick is laid alternated with the end of the brick |
| lattice | Laths or lines crossing to form a network. |
| sump | An intentional depression around a drain. |
| fls | Fire & Life Safety – DSA code pertaining to protection of building occupant. |
| plate | In printing, a flat sheet of metal, usually copper, steel or zinc, used as a matrix for a print |
| ior | Inspector of Record. |
| raggle | The remaining marks in a wall where a roof one was |
| relief | Ornamentation. |
| non-seismic | Installations or components with the prefix 'Non-Seismic' refer to either an installation project that need not conform to a seismic building code, or components used on a 'non-seismic installation' |
| bard | A professional poet engaged by a patron, often an abbot |
| footing | A footing supports foundation or bearing walls carrying the weight of upper floors, roof structures etc |
| glacis | A bank sloping down from a castle which acts as a defence against invaders; broad, sloping naked rock or earth on which the attackers are completely exposed. |
| underlayment | A layer of material under the roofing and on top of the decking. Mainly felt, #15 or #30. |
| firebrick | A brick that is especially hard and heat-resistant |
| ashrae | American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers |
| specifications | The written or printed direction regarding the details of a building or home not included in the set of working drawings. |
| rood screen | A divider, generally made of carved wood or stone, that separates the chancel of a church or cathedral from the rest of the nave. |
| screens | Wooden partition at the kitchen end of a hall, protecting a passage leading to the buttery, pantry, and kitchen. |
| blow-offs | When shingles are subjected to high winds, and are forced off a roof deck. |
| cylinder | The portion of a lock containing the plug with keyway and a body with the pin tumbler mechanism |
| radiant heat | Coils of electricity, hot water or steam pipes embedded in floors, ceilings, or walls to heat rooms. |
| sheathing | Exterior grade plywood or tongue-and grove boards used as a roof deck. |
| page | Young boy of noble birth who served the household of a lord, and sometimes became a squire |
| head flashing | Flashing installed in a wall over a window. |
| gabion | a cylinder or wide mesh basket of wicker of woven metal to be filled with earth, rubble or stone blocks to form a wall or other solid feature. |
| asphalt | A bituminous waterproofing agent used in various types of roofing materials. |
| grilles | Dividing bars inserted between panes of glass to add a decorative flair. |
| screen | See Insect Screen. |
| stem wall | Perimeter foundation of concrete or concrete block |
| flat arch | Arch without rounded underside |
| revetment | Retaining wall to prevent erosion; to face a surface with stone slabs. |
| class "c" | Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building. |
| adobe bricks | Bricks formed out of mud or clay, and baked in a kiln or under the sun |
| novice | Anyone who wished to become a monk of the house entered as a novice and during this time was a probationary member of the monastic community, usually for a year |
| mannerism | painting style which emphasizes or exaggerates body parts. |
| top hat panel | A type of panel utilizing flanges that flare out in all directions from the mouth of the box panel. [top] |
| extrusion | The process of producing vinyl or aluminum shapes by forcing heated material through an orifice in a die |
| valley | The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes to provide water runoff. |
| coping | The capping at the top of a wall for protection from weather elements. |
| vct | Vinyl Composite Tile – 12” squares of semi flexible tile used on floors. |
| truss | An engineered framing member used for bridging spans and supporting loads like a roof or floor |
| antiquity | Antiquity is a broadly applied term which refers to the history and culture of a period of Western civilization |
| lally column | A steel tube sometimes filled with concrete, used to support girders or other floor beams. |
| canopy | An ornamental roof-like covering supported by posts or suspended from a wall; a sheltering member, as over a niche, a doorway or a seat of honor. |
| revetment | Retaining wall |
| shop sink | A deep sink set low on a wall used to clean mops and to empty and clean pails. |
| elastomeric material | A term often used for rubber and polymers that have properties similar to those of rubber; thermal break polymers having the elastic properties of natural rubber. [top] |
| vinyl covered tackboard | Wall panel covered with vinyl. |
| joist | One of a series of parallel beams used to support floor and ceiling loads, and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls. |
| eifs | Exterior Insulating Finish System; exterior wall cladding system consisting primarily of polystyrene foam board with a textured acrylic finish that resembles plaster or stucco. |
| elastomer | A natural or synthetic material which, at room temperature, can be stretched under low stress and, upon immediate release of the stress or force, will return quickly to its approximate original dimensions |
| commercial standard | A voluntary set of rules and regulations covering quality of product (or installation), method of testing, rating of the product, certification, and labeling of manufactured products. |
| aketon | A quilted garment usually worn beneath mail armour or as a protective garment in its own right |
| segmented arch | Arch that does not form complete semi-circle |
| keystone | Wedge-shaped stone or brick occupying the center of a stone or brick arch |
| rebar | Steel reinforcing bar. |
| fixtures | Any electrical, HVAC or plumbing appliance or article that is attached to the structure |
| sump | A pit in the basement in which water collects to be pumped out with a sump pump. |
| casement window | A window frame that is hinged on one vertical side, and which swings open to either the inside or the outside of the building |
| knee wall | A short wall on an upper floor that is not regular height because a roof plane extends through its surface at a lower point |
| closed valley | A valley where the flashing is covered by shingles. |
| cam | A rotating eccentric piece attached to the end of a cylinder plug to actuate a lock or latch mechanism. |
| parapet | A low wall, located at the top of any sudden drop, such as at the top of the facade of a building. |
| fill | Soil or other materials used to raise grade. |
| terrace | Open area connected to building; usually paved |
| circulation | describes the flow of people throughout a building. |
| trowel finish | A finish normally given to the back or unformed side of Cast Stone |
| lift rail | The part of the sash, the operator uses to raise or lower the window. |
| operable transom | Panel usually glazed over a door which may be opened for ventilation. |
| i beam | A steel beam with an I-shaped cross section. |
| pre-hung door | A packaged unit consisting of a finished door mounted in a frame. |
| caulk | Sealants used to seal fixed and moveable construction joints and prevent infiltration. [top] |
| fortress church | A church built so that it might be used for defensive purposes. |
| chronic toxicity | Adverse (chronic) effects resulting from repeated doses of, or prolonged exposure to, a substance over a relatively prolonged period, with resulting long-term, poisonous human health effects. |
| equiviscous temperature | The temperature at which the viscosity is 75 centipoise for asphalt and 25 centipoise for coal tar products; the recommended temperature plus or minus 25º F at the time of application. |
| re-cover | The installation of a new roof system over an existing system without removing an existing system. |
| satin glass | Opaque finish |
| flange | Typically refers to an extruded leg that sticks out beyond the typical perimeter of the frame, as a means of being fastened to the opening or holding a sealed unit (also known as a leg). [top] |
| portland cement | A hydraulic cement, extremely hard, formed by burning silica, lime, and alumina together and then grinding up the mixture. |
| interrupted cut. gibraltar board | synonymous with drywall gimlet --- a hand tool for drilling small holes in wood |
| mouldings | To introduce depth, shadow and a greater sense of line, materials like stone, brick and wood can be carved or manipulated |
| planning obligation | a commitment made by a landowner under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act in conjunction with the granting of planning permission, either in the form of an agreement with the local planning authority or as a unilateral undertaking. |
| foliate initial | An illuminated initial filled with decoration in leaf scroll |
| gable | triangular raised decoration that lays flush with the roofline. |
| return air duct | Ducts through which the cold air or return air passes on its way back to the heating or cooling unit. |
| mansard roof | (from the article `roof`) ...Gable and hip roofs can also be used for homes with more complicated layouts |
| header | The top part of the master frame. |
| subfloor | Usually, plywood sheets that are nailed directly to the floor joists and that receive the finish flooring. |
| keychase | The part of an extrusion designed to receive and hold self tapping machine screws. [top] |
| nocturns | The Night Office which was traditionally celebrated at midnight, in accordance with Psalm 119: 162 'At midnight I rose to give thanks to Thee' |
| roof vents | Rooftop rectangular shaped roof vents |
| fabric | a woven cloth or material of organic or inorganic filaments, threads or yarns used for reinforcement in certain membranes and flashings |
| tongue-and-groove | Carpentry joint in which the jutting edge of one board fits into the grooved end of a similar board. |
| panel | A smooth surface, usually rectangular (or sometimes circular) in shape and framed by a molding, and often featuring decorative, sculptural carving. |
| trimmer | A vertical framing member that supports a window or door header on its ends. |
| stringer | The angled member of a stair section that support the risers and treads. |
| wrought iron | pieces of iron hand turned and hammered into shape. |
| handsaw | In the USA, this is the standard manual saw for cutting planks |
| step flashing | Flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. |
| crownwork | Freestanding bastioned fortification in front of main defenses. |
| revolving door | rotating door with separate areas placed inside. |
| top plate | Horizontal framing member located at top of wall. |
| lock rail | See Meeting Rail. |
| double glazing | In general, two thicknesses of glass separated by an air space within an opening to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission |
| k value | The k-value, or heat transfer coefficient, is the measured value of the heat flow which is transferred through an area of 1 m² at a temperature difference of 1 K |
| mono-pitch truss | An assembly of lumber with a horizontal bottom chord and a pitched top cord, separated by diagonal web members and slopes to one side only. |
| egress | This refers to the size of open space in certain windows |
| modernism | A design style dating from the 1920s characterised by clean lines and a search for proportion in which form follows function; decoration is minimal |
| bow window | A window consisting of many wall segments that create an overall arch or curve out from the main wall surface |
| demolition | An act or process that destroys in whole or in part any building, structure, object or site. |
| cluny | The mother house of the Cluniac congregations that was founded in Burgundy in 909 by William of Aquitaine |
| sealant | A compressible plastic material used to seal any opening or junction of two parts, such as between glass and a metal sash |
| crawl space | In a building without a basement, an unfinished space below the ground floor which is normally enclosed by the foundation wall; an unfinished interior space of limited height, located between floors, containing ductwork, piping, or wiring. |
| filled and debridged | Filling and Debridging is the process of filling the extruded thermal break cavity in an extrusion that separates the interior and exterior sides of the extrusion with a liquid polyethylene and letting it cool, then removing the aluminium 'bridge' that spans the thermal break cavity by milling it with the process of debridging. [top] |
| square-tab shingles | Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure. |
| terra cotta | unglazed clay used mainly for wall covering and ornamentation, but can be structural. |
| centigrade | (c or C) - A scale for measuring temperature |
| duct | 1 |
| squire | Young man who served a knight, helping him with his horses and armour, who hoped to become a knight himself |
| relative humidity | The ratio of the weight of moisture in a given volume of air-vapor mixture to the saturated (maximum) weight of water vapor at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage |
| drum pier | Massive circular support. |
| penthouse | The highest floor/suite in a building [top] |
| merlon | The high segment of the alternating high and low segments of a battlement. |
| deck | The structural surface to which the roofing or waterproofing system is applied. |
| spectrally selective coating | A coated or tinted glazing with optical properties that are transparent to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others |
| outlet | Any type of electrical box allowing current to be drawn from the electrical system for lighting or appliances. |
| aumbry | A small niche or cupboard to store the vessels used in the celebration of Mass. |
| chapterhouse | Each day the community assembled in the chapterhouse for a meeting which began with a reading from the Rule of St Benedict |
| roof pitch | The slope of a roof surface expressed in inches of vertical rise per twelve inches of horizontal distance. |
| heat sink | A device (often a metal plate) that conducts and dissipates unwanted heat |
| columniation | Arrangement of columns |
| green lumber | Lumber that still contains moisture or sap. |
| fleur-de-lis | Stylized lily which served as symbol for the French monarchy. |
| shower stall | The compartment and plumbing provided for bathing utilizing an overhead spray. |
| re-roofing | Ahe process of replacing an existing roofing system with a new roofing system. |
| herculaneum and pompeii | Ancient Roman cities buried by volcanic rock with the eruption of Mt |
| flame spread | Per ASTM E 84, a measure of relative combustibility |
| sill | Bottom member of a window or door |
| flashing cement | A trowelable mixture of cutback bitumen and mineral stabilizers, including asbestos or other inorganic fibers. |
| screen passage | Service passage screened off at the service end of a hall |
| mangonel | A form of catapult |
| corridor | A long passage wall or hall connecting parts of a building. |
| battlement | Parapet with indentations or embrasures, with raised portions (merlons) between: Crenelations; A narrow wall built along the outer edge of the wall walk to protect soldiers against attack; A parapet with alternating openings (embrasures) and raised sections (merlons), used here on castle towers for defense purposes. |
| active leaf | The active leaf is usually the first operating leaf in a door having a pair of leaves; the leaf in which the latching or locking mechanism is installed. [top] |
| hearth | A platform at floor level that extends in front of a fireplace |
| brattice | Timber tower or projecting wooden gallery; hoarding. |
| caulking | The process of filling seams with mastic material to prevent leaking. |
| btu | British Thermal Unit |
| area divider | A raised, double wood member attached to a properly flashed wood base plate that is anchored to the roof deck |
| recess | A depression in a flat surface. |
| keystone | decoration placed in the middle of an arch. |
| sale plan | data source |
| batten | Pairs of horizontal boards nailed to wood slates; used as a guide to elevations and to outline the building. |
| laitance | a layer of weak non-durable material containing cement and fines from aggregates, brought by bleeding water to the top of over wet concrete |
| spandrel | The area of wood or stone that lies above an arch or a vault. |
| vent | Any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such as a pipe or stack |
| motte | A mound of earth on which a tower was built; artificial conical earth mound (sometimes an old barrow) for the keep |
| window unit | A complete window with sash and frame. |
| earthwork | Fortification made of earth mounds, banks and ditches |
| head | The top or upper member of any element or structure; in windows, it refers to the top of the frame, as in Round Head Window |
| postern | Side entrance |
| gatehouse | The entrance building in a curtain wall; usually one of the most heavily fortified parts of a castle |
| dogtooth | Diagonal indented pyramid |
| factory square | 108 square feet of roofing material. |
| awning | An overhang or covering placed on the exterior of a building, often above the upper edge of an opening or window; often functions to provide shade, filter light, or provide shelter from weather. |
| diaper work | Decorative effect on walls achieved with diamond or square patterns |
| covered way | Protected communication all round the works of a fortress on the outer edge of a ditch, covered by earthworks from enemy fire |
| menage | A dwelling house |
| alien priory | A small religious foundation dependent on a foreign mother house |
| coating | A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded |
| choir | The part of a cruciform church east of the crossing. |
| forestair | an external open stair leading to the upper floors |
| hall house | Defensible two-storey building containing a hall above a basement |
| tuck pointing | The final tooling or pointing of a raked out mortar joint. |
| strip shingles | Asphalt shingles that are approximately three times as long as they are wide. |
| circle-head | See Arched Top. [top] |
| off-site construction | Structures built at a different location than the location of use |
| selvage | An edge or edging that differs from the main part of (1) a fabric, or (2) granule-surfaced roll roofing material. |
| self adhesive membrane | A self-adheisive elastomeric material applied to the surface of the rough opening to waterproof the opening. [top] |
| revival | Style of architecture that revives many of the characteristics of a previous style, such as Gothic and Romanesque. |
| novitiate | The trial period that every newcomer had to undertake before he was admitted as a full member of the monastic community, during which he received instruction |
| durometer | An instrument with a blunt probe used to measure the hardness of elastomeric glazing gaskets and setting blocks on a scale of 0 to 100. [top] |
| brace | A piece of wood or other material used to form a triangle and stiffen some part of a structure. |
| classicism | A form of art derived from the study of Greek and Roman styles characterized by harmony, balance, and serenity |
| duratemp | Brand name of plywood siding with surface of tempered wood to resist weather degradation. |
| berm | Level area separating a wall or tower and its moat |
| interior glazing | A method in which glass is secured in an opening from the interior of the building. [top] |
| thermohygrometer | a battery-operated device for measuring temperature and humidity levels; gives a digital or analog reading. |
| load-bearing wall | Any wall which bears its own weight and the transferred load of other adjacent structural systems; part of the load path in a structural system. |
| gutter | The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts. |
| augustinian canons | Canons who observe a regular life but unlike monks are not required to withdraw from the world and engage in pastoral work, after the example of the Apostles |
| outer curtain | The wall the encloses the outer ward. |
| sound-insulating glass | (Sound-Resistive Glass) Double glass fixed on resilient mountings and separated so as to reduce sound transmission. |
| stairs | A series of steps. |
| laver | A long trough with running water for washing. |
| spine | The part of a book seen when it is standing on a shelf |
| plenum | Chamber or space forming a part of an air conditioning system |
| thermal cavity | An integral channel shaped cavity designed to receive and hold poured polyurethane thermal break material during the filling process before getting debridged. [top] |
| appeal | the right of an applicant to seek a review from the Secretary of State of a decision made by the local planning authority in respect of an application |
| lauds | The first Canonical Hour of the day that was celebrated at dawn. |
| batten | Narrow strip of wood nailed over the vertical joints of boards to form board-and-batten siding. |
| nightstairs | A staircase that linked the monks' dormitory to their choir in the eastern part of the church; this provided a covered access to the church for the night Office of Vigils. |
| motte-&-bailey | Earth mound with wood or stone keep, surrounded by ditched and palisaded enclosure (or courtyard). |
| wire glass | A type of window glass in which wire with a coarse mesh is embedded to prevent shattering of glass in case it is broken; also, to protect a building against intruders. |
| coping | Covering stones. |
| granules | Crushed rock that is coated with a ceramic coating and fired, used as top surface on shingles. |
| cesare borgia | younger son of Pope Alexander VI, prototype of Niccolò Machiavelli's Prince —intelligent, cruel, treacherous, and ruthlessly opportunistic |
| muntin bar | Applies to any short or light bar, either vertical or horizontal, used to give a divided light appearance to a sealed unit. [top] |
| nsf | Currently, the letters "NSF" do not stand for any specific words |
| through-wall flashing | A water-resistant membrane or material assembly extending through a wall and its cavities, positioned to direct water entering the top of the wall to the exterior. |
| addendum | An addendum is a document that is added to a contract to amend it; or it is in addition to the main body of the contract. [top] |
| master keyed | all cylinders in a group can be operated by one master key, although all cylinders may be keyed differently (not to be confused with keyed alike). |
| condensation | The conversion of water vapor or other gas to liquid as the temperature drops or the atmospheric pressure rises. |
| crenellation | A sequence of alternating raised and lowered wall sections at the top of a high exterior wall or parapet |
| springer | A unit that is located at the spring line of an arch. |
| dew point temperature | The temperature at which water vapour in the air starts to condense in the form of liquid, or as frost. |
| crenel or crenelle | The space between merlons on a battlemented wall, also known as an embrasure |
| stage anchor | A stage anchor is a component installed on the exterior side of a window frame that provides an anchor for swing stages, typically those used by window washers. [top] |
| smooth-surface roofing | Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules. |
| sill-cock | Water faucet made for the threaded attachment of a hose; also called a hose bibb. |
| cistercian | a branch of the Benedictine monastic order |
| electrochromic glazing | Glass or other glazing material that can be switched from clear to opaque electronically. [top] |
| ell | An extension of a building at right angles to its length. |
| pin tumbler mechanism | Small sliding pins in a lock cylinder that work against coil springs |
| mangonel | Stone throwing catapult used as a siege engine |
| extended head | Used in the 4000 and 9000 series, it has a taller toe and heel surface to accommodate deflection channels during installation. [top] |
| color harmony | Color harmony can be cautiously defined as a successful combination of colors, whether it pleases the eye by using analogous colors, or excite the eye with contrast |
| dual seal | Refers to sealed units manufactured with a primary and secondary seal for longer sealed unit life. [top] |
| plenum | A chamber which can serve as a distribution area for heating or cooling systems, generally between a false ceiling and the actual ceiling. |
| post | A perpendicular building support member. |
| fascine | Huge bundle of brushwood for revetting ramparts or filling in ditches |
| relieving arch | Arch built up in a wall to relieve thrust on another opening. |
| board | Lumber less than two inches thick. |
| chps | Collaborative For High Performance Schools – California non-profit which provides guidance on "green" buildings. |
| grade beam | A horizontal load-bearing foundation member which forms a foundation. |
| picture window | A non-operational window without a sash. |
| chantry | An endowment to finance the chanting of masses or prayers for the dead. |
| transept | The areas of a church that extend out from its centre to form a cross-shape ground plan. |
| weep hole | An opening built into an exterior masonry wall, which allows water to pass from inside a wall system to the outside. |
| soffit | A boxed area usually built above cabinets to fill the gap between the cabinet top and the ceiling. |
| crawl space | A shallow, unfinished space beneath the first floor of a house which has no basement, used for visual inspection and access to pipes and ducts |
| oratory | a small private room for prayer usually in a private house |
| air duct | Pipes that carry warm air and cold air to rooms and back to furnace or air conditioning system. |
| ogee | A moulding having the profile of an 'S' shaped curve. |
| modified bitumen | Rolled roofing membrane with polymer modified asphalt and either polyester or fiberglass reinforcement. |
| oculus | Circular opening in a wall |
| prefabricated buildings | Structures consisting of sections constructed in a location different than final use |
| hl hinge | Similar to an H hinge except that there is a long horizontal tab on one leaf which means it HAS to be face mounted rather than edge mounted |
| riser | The vertical board in a stairway between two treads. |
| basement | lowest area of a building, usually located below the ground. |
| ridge shingles | Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. |
| apse | Semicircular projection, most often found forming the eastern termination of a chapel |
| in-slab duct | An in-slab duct is a vent in a concrete slab dividing floors that is covered by a bypass frame |
| banister | A handrail for a staircase. |
| coping | Top course of a wall |
| sash and frame | A window and its cased framing. |
| impost | Horizontal band from which arch begins |
| wind pressure | The pressure produced by stopping the wind velocity; the main cause of air infiltration. |
| back check | A resistance used to cushion and slow down the opening swing of a door before reaching the closer swing limit. [top] |
| socle | A low projecting base for a wall or statue. |
| ground | Intentional or accidental connection (bonding) between a circuit or equipment and the earth or other conducting material. |
| gallery | Long passage or room. |
| auger | Also called “Earth Drill”; a horizontal rotating drill having a screw thread-type bit that carries cuttings up and away from the face. |
| fasten | To mechanically attach components together with fasteners such as screws, bolts, pins, nails, hooks, etc. [top] |
| vcg | Vinyl Covered Gypsum – Gypsum (wall sheeting) covering with thin layer of vinyl. |
| siege engine | Large weapon or device, such as a battering ram or big catapult, used to attack a castle |
| stamped finals | The first revision of the Window Shop Drawings that have been approved by the Contractor, the Consultant, and the Engineer. [top] |
| font | A receptacle for water, used for baptism. |
| ice dam | When a snow load melts on a roof and re-freezes at the eave areas |
| overhang | The projecting area of a roof or upper story beyond the plane of the lower wall. |
| cantilever | a projecting beam supported at only one end |
| arrow slits | Found in medieval buildings, these narrow openings are often in a cross shape, enabling archers to fire arrows in a number of directions whilst being protected |
| wicket | a small door forming part of a larger one |
| processional cross | A large cross on a staff, carried in processions on feast days of various church holidays. |
| chemical sensitivity | A chronic physical response induced by certain substances, involving discomfort, loss of function or other allergic symptoms. |
| eight-square | Of octagonal shape. |
| r-value | Residential to thermal transfer or heat flow |
| pointing | The material with which joints in a masonry wall are filled |
| square | The term used to describe 100 square feet of roof area. |
| freestone | High quality sand- or lime-stone. |
| wall stud | an upright piece of wood used to frame a house and support the walls of the structure Water and Ice/Winterguard : waterproofing shingle underlayment that aims to protect the most vulnerable places in the roof against water penetration. |
| low-emissivity coating | Coating for glass surfaces that reflects radiant heat energy away from the glass |
| nsa | National Sunroom Association is an international, member-directed trade association dedicated to the advancement of the manufacture and construction of safe, energy efficient and environmentally conscious sunrooms, patio rooms, and solariums. |
| chicken ladder | Hooks over the ridge by means of broad 2x4s nailed to the top, to provide safe footing on steep pitches. |
| figured initial | an illuminated initial containing a figure, a group of figures, or a narrative scene |
| tar paper | See "Felt" |
| veneer | A very thin layer of material, usually wood, affixed to the surface of a piece of furniture for decorative effect. |
| berm | Flat space between the base of the curtain wall and the inner edge of the moat; level area separating ditch from bank. |
| pilaster | Rectangular pier attached to a building wall for the purpose of strengthening the wall; also a decorative column attached to a wall. |
| effluent | Treated sewage from a septic tank or sewage treatment plant. |
| baseboard | A moulding which goes around the perimeter of a room at the base of the walls. |
| conservation area | an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance |
| cupping | A condition that develops on wood plank flooring materials when the joints between planks absorb moisture and swell, causing expansion and raising of the edges of each plank. |
| above-grade | The portion of a building that is above ground level. |
| mineral fiber felt | A felt with mineral wood as its principal component. |
| nrca | National Roofing Contractor Association |
| corbel | A supporting piece of stone or wood, projecting out from a wall |
| crossing pier | In the interior of a building, a support that is placed at one of the corners of the crossing. |
| slope | The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in inches, to the run, in feet |
| use classes order | a statute that groups uses into various categories and which specifically states that permission is not required to change from one use to another within the same class. |
| pyramidal roof | A type of hipped roof with a square base and four sides that meet at a central peak. |
| hoarding | Upper wooden stories on a stone castle wall; the living area; sometimes, a temporary wooden balcony suspended from the tops of walls from which missiles could be dropped. |
| j box | Junction box |
| reeded | Parallel convex mouldings. |
| prestressed concrete | Concrete in which internal stresses are introduced of such magnitude and distribution that the tensile stresses resulting from the service loads are counteracted to a desired degree |
| department store | building type |
| jamb | A vertical member at the side of the window frame; also refers to the horizontal member at the top of the window frame, as in Head Jamb and Window Jamb. |
| dado | A rectangular slot or groove (with 3 surfaces) cut across the grain of a wood member, into which another board is fitted |
| galvanized steel | steel coated with zinc for corrosion resistance. |
| consequential loss/ damage | Loss of value that does not arise as a direct result of an event, but which is incidental to it. |
| half-shaft | Roll-moulding on either side of opening. |
| re-entrant corner | An inside corner of a surface, producing stress concentrations in the roofing or waterproofing membrane. |
| cantilever | A self-supporting projection without external bracing in which a beam or series of beams is supported by a downward force behind a fulcrum. |
| gypsum | Gypsum is the more common name for a mineral compound called calcium sulphate dihydroxide |
| egress | Building codes regulate egress windows by establishing a minimum size requirement that can be adequately used as a fire escape. |
| l-plan tower house | Distinctive Scottish form of the tower house in which a wing was added at right angles to the main tower block |
| vent pipes | Small ventilating pipes extending from each fixture of a plumbing system to the vent stack. |
| jade | A hard, typically green stone that is often used for ornaments and implements |
| meander or greek key | An ornamental motif consisting of continuous bands arranged in rectilinear forms. |
| frilling girth | The distance around a tree; the circumference |
| annealed glass | Standard sheet of float glass which has not been heat-treated. |
| side laps | The area on rolled material where one roll overlaps the rolled material beneath it |
| air conditioning | The process of treating air so as to control simultaneously its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution to meet comfort requirements of the occupants of the building's conditioned space. |
| coli form | Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of mammals |
| head track | The track provided at the head of a sliding glass door |
| fiberglass mat | An asphalt roofing base material made from glass fibers. |
| waterproofing | A term which refers to the process where a building component is made totally resistant to the passage of water and/or water vapor. |
| caulking | A mastic compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air, commonly made of silicone, bituminous, acrylic, or rubber-based material. |
| lantern | Found on the top of buildings, lanterns are usually windowed, delicate structures designed to let light in to the roof and rooms below |
| leed | Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – US Green Building Council Certification national measurement for the design, construction, & operation of high performance green buildings in the following areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection & indoor environmental quality. |
| collection | a related group of objects or specimens and/or associated documents and data in the care of a repository/museum. |
| dismantle | To take apart or remove any components, device, or piece of equipment that would not be taken apart or removed by a homeowner in the course of normal home maintenance |
| flashing | Sheet metal provided for drainage of water and to prevent water penetration into building. |
| laminated beam | Beam made of superimposed layers of similar building materials (usually wood) by uniting them with glue under pressure. |
| grout | Mortar of pouring consistency. |
| reproduction | A copy of an original, openly advertised as being a copy. |
| backfill | Replacement of excavated earth into a pit or trench, or against a building. |
| ambulatory | Aisle round an apse. |
| low-emissivity coating | Coating for glass surfaces which reflects radiant heat energy rather than allowing that energy to radiate through the glass surface |
| caulking | A mastic compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air; commonly made of silicone- bituminous- acrylic- or rubber-based materials. |
| brick veneer | The outside facing of brickwork used to cover a wall built of other material; an outer covering of a four inch brick wall tied to a wood-frame wall. |
| emulsified asphalt | Straight run asphalt liquefied by clay emulsifiers and water |
| describe | To identify in a home inspection report in writing a system or component by its type or distinguishing characteristics. |
| veranda | Roofed porch that may extend around the corner of the front of a house, |
| expansion joint | Flexible joint used to prevent cracking or breaking due to thermal expansion and contraction. |
| housed mortise and tenon | A mortise and tenon joint in which the piece that has the mortise also has a slight recess into which the piece with the tenon fits |
| sally-port | Side gate for defenders to go out on an attack; the postern was often used for this purpose |
| baseboard | A horizontal decorative element used to cover the joint between a wall and floor. |
| concrete | A composite material which consists essentially of a binding medium within which are embedded particles or fragments of aggregate, Portland cement, and water |
| primer | A material of relatively thin consistency applied to a surface for the purpose of creating a more secure bonding surface and to form a barrier to prevent migration of components |
| camera | Private room used for both living and sleeping, set apart from the more public areas of a house |
| concrete | A combination of sand, broken stone, and cement used in foundations, building construction, and for walks. |
| victorian sash lift | A rail type sash lift |
| adulterine | Castle that was constructed or a building that was crenellated without a Royal licence |
| cable moulding | Norman moulding carved like a length of rope |
| enamel | A hard, glassy element consisting of colored glass ground up fine in oil and applied as decoration to an object, typically either of metal or glass, and then fused on with heat. |
| cushion floor | (also underlay) - Any material placed under carpet to increase insulation, sound absorption, wear life (resiliency) and aesthetics (soft feel) when walked upon. |
| genre | This French word meaning “type” now refers to paintings that depict scenes of everyday life without any attempt at idealization |
| outer ward | The area around the outside of and adjacent to the inner curtain. |
| extension jamb | (Jamb Lining) (Jamb Extender) A board used to increase the depth of the jambs of a window frame to fit a wall of any given thickness. |
| wallboard | Wood pulp, gypsum, or similar materials made into large rigid sheets that may be fastened to the frame of a building to provide a surface finish. |
| fixed lite | A pane of glass installed directly into non-operating framing members; also, the opening or space for a pane of glass in a non-operating frame. |
| keep | A 16th Century term for the great tower, usually the strongest and most important part of a castle |
| contemplated change order | A contemplated change order is a request from the contractor declaring that they are thinking of issuing a change to the contract or scope of work, and that they want input from the Sub-Contractor such as an estimated cost, or time frame before issuing a change order. [top] |
| improvisation | To create and perform simultaneously. |
| step sheathing | Step sheathing is used alone or in combinations with solid sheathing for installation of tiles or shakes |
| scaffolding | The temporary wooden frame work built next to a wall to support both workers and materials. |
| capella ante portas | The chapel by the gate; this was usually beside the main entrance to the precinct and was often used by layfolk and pilgrims. |
| saltbox roof | A gable roof whose rear slope is longer than its front slope |
| supply and install | A contract where Starline supplies the product as well as the installation, either with Starline installation crews or a sub-contracted installation company [top] |
| turning bridge | A drawbridge that pivots in the middle. |
| half timber | The common form of medieval construction in which walls were made of a wood frame structure filled with wattle and daub. |
| multi-lite sash | A sash divided into many lites. |
| enceinte | Fortified enclosure |
| column | Round vertical support |
| groin vault | A vault produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel (tunnel) vaults |
| cesspit | The opening in a wall in which the waste from one or more garderobes was collected. |
| fluid applied | An elastomeric material, fluid at ambient temperature, that dries or cures after application to form a continuous membrane |
| solar | Upper living room , often over the great hall; the lord's private living room. |
| mec | Model Energy Code Established by Energy Policy Act of 1992 to serve as baseline for state energy codes |
| back surfacing | Granular material added to shingle's back to assist in keeping separate during delivery and storage. |
| ionic column | Slender, fluted, with spiral volutes on capital |
| quattrocento | an Italian designation referring to the 15th century |
| charter of charity | This set out the constitutional framework of the Cistercian Order and defined the familial arrangement of the houses which were subject to an annual visitation from the Father Immediate |
| dca | Department of Community Affairs – Department which oversees modular building construction in Florida. |
| hahc | The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. |
| substrate | The surface, or material onto which systems are applied. |
| aisle | Space between arcade and outer wall. |
| fosse | Ditch. |
| aluminum-clad window | A window with wood construction covered with aluminum sheet having a factory-applied finish (to provide a longer maintenance-free life). |
| particle dispersed glazing | Glazing in which the orientation of small particles between two sheets of glass is controlled electrically, thus changing its optical properties. |
| chancel arch | The arch which separates the chancel (sanctuary or choir) from the nave of a church. |
| crazing | Random hairline cracks forming a network pattern on or under a surface of plaster, concrete, glazed ceramic, paint or transparent finish. |
| pedestal | The base or block beneath a structural or decorative element, essentially structurally supporting the object above. |
| laminated shingles | Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness |
| hinge finial | A finial that is put on the top or bottom of a hinge pin to give the hinge a more decorative appearance |
| radiation | The transmission of energy through space without heating the air between, as in Solar Radiation. |
| keystone | The unit at the center of an arch |
| sapwood). herbaceous vegetation | Low growing, non-woody plants, in a the understory portion of a forest |
| ceramic granules | Roofing granules in which color is fused to rock under extreme heat to provide a long lasting finish. |
| embattled | To have battlements |
| molding | A decorative strip of wood. |
| glazing bead | The removable wooden element that fixes glass. |
| on center | Method of indicating spacing of framing members by stating the distance from the center of one member to the center of the next. |
| dry-glazing | The use of glazing tapes, spacer blocks and wooden glazing bead instead of linseed putty. |
| battering ram | Large beam used to break down the walls or doors of a fortification |
| check rail | (Meeting Rail) (Lock Rail) The horizontal members (of a double-hung window) which come together. |
| roll | Moulding of semi-circular section. |
| granular deterioration | The wearing away of the shingle by weather or sunlight. |
| foliate capital | A capital decorated with foliage elements. |
| combination window | A combination of two or more complete windows attached together to add architectural appeal to a home. |
| voltage | The term most often used (in place of electromotive force, potential, potential difference, or voltage drop) to designate electrical pressure that exists between two points and is capable of producing a flow of current when a closed circuit is connected between the two points. |
| blockhouse | a small square fortification |
| shatter-proof glass | (Laminated Glass) Two sheets of glass with a transparent plastic sheet sandwiched between to form a pane resistant to shattering. |
| cut and fill | The process of cutting into a hillside and using the material removed to fill a downslope portion of the site |
| agc | Associated General Contractors of America – Trade association compromised of general contractors and industry related companies. |
| palisade | A sturdy wooden fence usually built to enclose a site until a permanent stone wall can be constructed. |
| ravelin | Outwork with two faces forming a salient angle; like in a star-shaped fort. |
| flashing | A thin impervious material placed in construction to prevent water penetration and/or provide water drainage, esp |
| vassal | Person who held land of a lord and owed fealty to him |
| main disconnect | A mechanical means of completely shutting off electrical service to the entire building. |
| soil stack | A vent pipe that penetrates the roof. |
| asphaltene | A high molecular weight hydrocarbon fraction precipitated from asphalt by a designated paraffinic naphtha solvent at a specified temperature and solvent-asphalt ratio. |
| non-bearing wall | A wall which merely separates space into rooms but does not carry overhead partitions or floor joist loads. |
| change order | A change order is a certification from the Contractor declaring that they accept the terms and conditions of the appropriated change |
| heat pump | A refrigerating system employed to transfer heat into or out of a space |
| incline | The slope of a roof expressed either in percent or in the number of vertical units of rise per horizontal unit of run. |
| laminated glass | See Shatter-Proof Glass. |
| bronze age | In Britain, c |
| paten | A plate on which the eucharistic wafer was placed |
| misericord | This literally means 'mercy' and was used to describe the room in the monastery where monks could eat meat since they were forbidden to eat meat in the refectory |
| basement | A story of building that is wholly or partially below ground level. [top] |
| collectible | An object or category of objects that is collected by enthusiasts; virtually any objects may be considered collectibles if markets exist which establish their values. |
| arch | a section above a door or window with the structural function of dispersing the weight from above around the opening |
| insulation | Construction materials used for protection from noise, heat, cold or fire |
| rigid insulation | An installation component used by other trades to insulate [top] |
| laps | The area where roll roofing or rolled underlayments overlap one another during application (see also side laps and end laps). |
| energy star® | The ENERGY STAR program is a joint venture between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) designed to encourage homeowners to purchase energy-efficient products |
| inspection report | Results of a home inspection or commercial building inspection or a lead inspection communicated in writing. |
| softening point | the temperature at which bitumen becomes soft enough to flow, as determined by an arbitrary, closely defined method. |
| construction | The act of expanding an existing building, structure or object or the erection of a new building, structure or object on a lot, site or other property. |
| hardwood | The close-grained wood from broad-leaved trees such as oak or maple. |
| calefactory | Also known as the warming house |
| cross section | A diagram showing a building as if it had been cut at right angles to the ground plan. |
| flying buttress | A supporting structure which converted the pressure from the vault to the exterior of the building; it either connected two walls of the nave, choir or transept with an open half-arch or a complete arch or joined a wall running across the roof of the aisle to the main buttress. |
| blazon | a coat of arms |
| reinforced concrete | Concrete in which webbing or steel bars have been embedded for strength. |
| uv | The invisible rays of the spectrum that are outside of the visible spectrum at its short-wavelength violet end |
| butyl | A synthetic rubber formed by the co-polymerization of isobutylene with isoprene |
| re-entrant | Angle that points inwards (opposite of salient) |
| furring strips | Thin strips fastened to walls or ceilings for leveling and for attaching finish surface material. |
| astm | The American Society for Testing and Materials |
| lanai | Furnished |
| hardware | The metal fittings of a building, such as locks, latches, hinges, handles, and knobs. |
| square | A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet. |
| siding shingles | Relatively small individual siding units which overlap each other to provide weather protection |
| air-leakage | See Air Infiltration. [top] |
| partition/partition wall | Interior walls used to define or create spaces such as rooms, closets, etc |
| cowl | Part of the monastic garb, this was a full cloak with wide sleeves and a hood worn that was worn by the brethren over the tunic in the church, chapterhouse and refectory. |
| t-bar | An extrusion used to separate lites of glass and other various infills in a sealed unit. [top] |
| tab | The bottom portion of traditional shingle separated by the shingle cut-outs. |
| oilette | A round opening at the base of a loophole, usually for a cannon muzzle. |
| military orders | See Knights Hospitaller; Knights Templar |
| coffered ceiling | A coffered ceiling generally follows the underside of the roof planes up to a specific height where the ceiling is then flattened. |
| shutters | Pairs of solid or slatted window coverings, traditionally hinged to the exterior of a building to either side of a window, used to block light or wind from the interior of a building. |
| roof | A type of roof which has its slope broken by an obtuse angle, so that the lower slope is steeper than the upper slope; a roof with two pitches. |
| longitudinally planned building | A building developed along a horizontal axis |
| swale | A wide shallow depression in the ground to form a channel for storm water drainage. |
| lectio divina | Divine reading |
| gatehouse | a large structure containing a fortified gate |
| extrados | The outer portion of an arch. |
| meeting rail | (Lock Rail) One of the two horizontal members of a double-hung sash which come together See Check Rail. |
| escutcheon | a shield on which a coat of arms is depicted |
| counter flashing | That portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing. |
| blind nailing | Nails driven in such a way that the heads are not visible. |
| low-e argon | The same as Low-E, except that there is clear Argon gas in the insulated glass unit instead of air providing for a better R-Value. |
| castellan | Officer in charge of a castle |
| guestmaster | The monastic official in charge of hospitality; he oversaw the reception and care of guests and the organisation of the hospice / guesthouse. |
| attic | The accessible space between the ceiling framing of the topmost story and the underside of the roof framing |
| conduit | A channel built to convey water or other fluids; a drain or sewer |
| cell | The smallest structural part of living matter capable of functioning as an independent unit. |
| ashlar | a squared block of building stone |
| compline | The final daytime Hour which was celebrated at sunset and concluded the monk's day |
| setting | Drawing which the Cast Stone manufacturer submits for approval detailing all aspects of the installation with piece markings and final locations of stones. |
| coal-tar pitch | A bituminous material produced by distilling crude tar residue derived from the cooking of coal |
| cottage window | A single hung or double hung window where the lower sash is taller than the upper sash (or IG unit) |
| rath | Low, circular ringwork. |
| grade | 1 |
| photovoltaic panels | (Also known as: PV panels) Photovoltaic cells grouped together to produce electricity from solar energy. |
| tape & texture | Treatment of gypsum sheetrock wall panels to smooth joints and add texture to surface. |
| end lap | The amount of overlap at the end of a ply on the application of roll roofing felts for built-up roofing. |
| cantilevered | A projecting structure, such as a beam, that is supported at one end and carries a load at the other end or along its length. |
| nailhead | Pyramid moulding |
| slope | The degree of roof incline expressed as the ration of the rise, in inches, in the run in feet. |
| balance cover | A thin piece of vinyl used to cover the balance for aesthetic reasons only. |
| steyned | Lined (like in a well). |
| checking | Cracks in timber due to uneven seasoning; also a series of fine map cracks in painted and transparent finishes. |
| mil | One thousandth of an inch, or 0.0254 millimeter. |
| felt | A flexible sheet manufactured by the interlocking of fibers through a combination of mechanical work, moisture and heat |
| condensation | Mist of water vapor that forms on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point |
| greek cross | A cross with four arms of equal length. |
| sheathing | Rough covering over the framing of a building or home, either roof or wall, which is not exposed when finish material is applied. |
| absorptance | The ratio of radiant energy absorbed to total incident radiant energy in a glazing system. [top] |
| barbican | Outwork defending the entrance to a castle |
| run | The horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directly under the ridge |
| ravelin | Outwork with two embankments forming a salient angle |
| porosity | The density of substance and its capacity to pass liquids. |
| hopper | Windows are hinged at the bottom and open inward. |
| drawbridge | a heavy bridge that could be raised or lowered over a moat |
| outside casing | (Outside Facing) - (Outside Trim) - (Exterior Casing) - That portion of the window frame which is exposed to the outdoors, See Casing. |
| refectory | Communal dining hall. |
| jacobean | from the period of King James I of England (1603-1625) |
| braced framing | Construction technique using posts and cross-bracing for greater rigidity. |
| gault brick | a light cream/yellow brick commonly made in East Anglia (hence Suffolk gaults). |
| pendant | A hanging architectural member formed by ribs |
| bracketed | supported with brackets |
| wall-hung water closet | A water closet mounted on a wall so the area beneath is clear for cleaning. |
| hinged patio doors | A two panel glass door where one panel is stationary or fixed, while the other operates and swings either inward or outward. |
| keep | the main tower of a castle often containing living quarters |
| positive lock | Positive Lock ensures that the panels can be locked together, but can also easily slide back and forth for ease in installation |
| tape balance | See Sash Balance. |
| ponding | Water that remains on a roof 48 hours after a rain. |
| fiberglass mat | Fibers condensed into strong, resilient mats for use in roofing materials. |
| throat | A passage located directly above the fireplace opening where a damper is set. |
| shellac | A purified lacquer in the form of thin yellow or orange flakes, often bleached white and widely used in varnishes, paints, inks, sealants, and formerly in phonograph records. |
| fixed window | Fixed panes that don't open |
| dry rot | A term applied to many types of decay, especially an advanced stage, when the wood can be easily crushed to a dry powder. |
| object | A material thing of a functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical or scientific value that may be moveable by nature or design, yet related to a specific setting or environment. |
| cmu | Concrete Masonry Unit – Type of building construction utilizing cinder block or concrete block. |
| latch | (Catch) (Lock) A device which holds a window shut, such as the latch at the meeting rail of a double-hung window or one mounted on the stile of casement windows, often referred to as a lock. |
| rafters | The inclined, sloping framing members of a roof, and to which the roof covering is affixed. |
| metal gutters | A type of attached gutter prefabricated of sheet metal. |
| çade | Front or face of a building |
| cloister | Part of a monastery; a quadrangle surrounded by covered passages |
| energy star | A program sponsored by the US Department of Energy which establishes minimum performance standards for a window to be recognized as energy efficient |
| retaining wall | A structure that holds back earth |
| embedment | (1) the process of pressing a felt, aggregate, fabric, mat, or panel uniformly and completely into hot bitumen or adhesive; (2) the process of pressing granules into coating in the manufacture of factory prepared roofing.Emulsion: the intimate dispersion of an organic material and water achieved by using a chemical or clay emulsifying agent. |
| wave | Sinuous moulding. |
| relocation | Any change in the location of a building, structure or object. |
| multivallate | Hillfort with three or more concentric lines of defence |
| ceiling | Interior finish of an overhead surface. |
| thermocouple | A safety device on most gas- or oil-fired appliances that shuts off the supply of fuel if the pilot light blows out |
| batt | Insulation in the form of a blanket, rather than loose filling. |