Real Estate Terms  A   Abacus - The flat stone slab underneath the entablature that forms the top of the capital of a classical column supporting a beam.     Acanthus - A Stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical architecture. With its origins in Greece, it was adopted by Romans and transmitted into the general classical tradition.   Acropolis - The symbolic center of a Greek city-state, bringing together its most important sacred and civic buildings in one urban space, as in Athens where the Parthenon forms the heart of the Athenian acropolis. Adobe - Med bricks reinforced with straw. Used particularly in Latin America and southwestern USA, adobe produces a distinctive architectural style based on organic forms, a smooth finish, and a minimum of window openings. Aedicule - A term now applied to the frames surrounding a classical doorway or window flanked by a pair of columns and topped by a pediment, but which has its origins in the architectural treatment of the shrines of the classical period. A-Frame - A roof shape with a very steep pitch forming a gable or "A" shape. Agora - The public open space that formed the heart of ancient Greek cities and it's the origin of most western conceptions of public, or civic, space as center of for social interaction for ceremony and democratic life on a pedestrian scale. Air Space - A space provided in exterior wall construction to prevent passage of moisture and allow the wall to dry out. Aisle - The portion of a church flanking the nave and seperated from it by a row of columns or piers. In general, the space between the arcade and an outer wall. Alcazar - A building type that is a legacy of the Moorish occupation of Spain, a fortified palace found mainly in south of the country, particularly Seville and Granda. Align - The faces of objects that are in line with each other, or when their center-lines lie on the same axis. Aluminum Siding - Lightweight material that is often painted rather than left in its natural color. Alterpiece - A panel, painted or sculptured, situated above and behind an altar. Amphitheater - The circular structure characterized by rising tiers of stone seats contained within an arched stone outer wall that was used by Romans for circus performances and gladiatorial contest. Ambulatory - A covered walkway, outdoors (as in a cloister) or indoors: especailly the passwage around the apse and the choir (quire) of a church. Anchor Bolt - A bolt or threaded rod used to secure the sill to the foundation wall. Angle Iron - Provides supporting lintels for openings in masonry wall construction. Apron - The horizontal member directly beneath the stool or inside sill of a window. Apse - A semicircular and usually vaulted projection from a rectangular structure. Origins of the word are classical, but it is most commonly used to describe an element of a Gothic church. A recess, usually singular and semi-circular, at the east end of a Christian church. Arcade - A series of arches supported by piers or columns. Arcading - An uninterruped series of arcades. Arch - A curved structure used as a support over an open space, as in a doorway. A Semicircular opening in a wall, or a freestanding structure dependent for its structural stability on the horizontal load threatening to push it apart. Usually made from cut stone blocks forming interlocking wedges.. Architrave -ls Originally a simple, flat, structural lintel spanning an opening in a wall, it is th elowest part of the classical entablature. Subsequently a term used to describe any molded door or window frame. Archivolt - Onee of a series of concentric moldings on a Romanesque or a Gothic arch. Area wall - The retaining wall surrounding a basement window which is below ground level. Areaway - The excavated area between the Area wall and the basement window. Art Nouveau - A movement that embraced architecture, design, and visual arts throughout Europe. It was fashionable between 1890 and 1910, and particularly strong in France, Belgium, Germany, and Austria. In Britain, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was an important exponent: in Spain, Antonio Gaudi was the leading figure. It attempted to find what was sometimes called a modern style, using natural, organic forms and decorative motifs rather than historically derived elements. Marked by ornate use of undulation, such as waves, flames, floweer stalks and flowing hair. Arts and Craft - Galvanized by William Morris's disgust at what he perceived as the dehumanizing tendencies of mass production and the factory system, a group os architects and designers attempted to revive the traditions of simple handicraft techniques in 19th century Britain. In architecture they looked at the unselfconscious vernacular tradition of barns, mills, and cottages as an inspiration and at the aesthetics of the medieval period. Known as the Arts and Crafts movement, this design tendency spread across much of Europe to America and Australia. Art deco - A popular design of the 1920s and "30s characterized by bold outlines, geometric and zigzag forms. Asbestos - A fibrous, incombustible material once used in building construction. No longer allowed due to health risk. Asbestos Shingles - A shingling material made up of a nonconducting, fireproof mineral used in roofing and siding. No longer allowed due to health risk. Ash dump - A small opening located in the hearth of a fireplace having a cast iron cover, used to dump the ashes down into a cavity below the fire box. Ashlar - The practice of laying stone in smooth cut - or dressed - blocks in regular courses, seperated by only the thinnest of joints. Originated by the ancient Egyptians and adopted as an important element of classical architecture. Ashlar Masonry - Masonry construction using a square stone. Asphalt Shingle - A roofing material made of a brown or black tar like substance mixed with sand or gravel. Atrium - In the Roman period this was the inner courtyard of a house, left open to the sky, and generally built by the affluent urbam classes. In the 20th century the word has been adopted to describe dramatic enclosed glass-roofed indoor spaces associated with high-rise hotels and office buildings that are treated as substitutes for the public realm. Aumbry - A recess to hold sacred vessels, often found in castle chapels. Awning Window - A window hinged along the top edge. Axis (pl. axes) - The centerline of openings or objects that align in a row along an imaginary line. A primary element in architectural composition, around which it is possible to create a sense of symmetry both in plan and in the elevation of a building. Axonometric - A drawing technique devised to represent three dimensional objects on flat paper. Verticals are drawn to scale, but diagonal dimensions are distorted.  B   Bailey - Castle courtyard and surrounding buildings. Balcony - A platform projecting from an upper story and enclosed by a railing. Balloon Framing - A common type of house framing using a box sill and ribband (if a second floor exist). Baluster - Any of the small posts that make up a railing as in a staircase; may be plain, turned, or pierced. Balustrade - The combination of railing held up by balusters. Barbican - Outwork defending the entrance to castle Barge Board - The exterior board spanning the distance from the roof ridge to the cornice return. Baroque - An architecture of flamboyance and swaggering excess that characterized the 17th century. Taking as a starting point the elements of classicism, Baroque architects gave their buildings an unprecedented elaboration , creating particularly dramatic spatially complex interiors heighten by ornamentation and by the use of bold lighting effects. Barrel Roof - Like a covered wagon, or inverted ship; barrel vault is a plian vault of uniform cross-section. Barrel Tiles - Rounded clay roof tiles most often used on Spanish-style houses. Usually red, but available in many colors. Bartizan - Overhanging battlemented corner turret, corbelled out; common is Scotland (and France). Baseboard - Finish trim where the floor and walls meet. Base Molding - The decorative wooden strip along the top edge of the baseboard. Base Shoe - The wooden strip (usually quarter round) along the bottom face of the baseboard at the floor level. Basilica - The public hall that formed a gathering point in every Roman city, usually with a rectangular plan ending in as apse and divided by a double file of columns. It was the inspiration for the early Christian churches. Bastion - A solid masonry projection. Batt - A precut section of insulation designed to fit between studs. Batten Board - A small strip of wood used, for example, to cover the joints between vertical siding. Batter - An inclined face of wall; hence battered. Batter Boards - Boards erected at the corners of a proposed building to specifically locate and show corners and show foundation wall height. Battlements - A Parapet with indentations or embrasures, with raised portions (merlons) between; also called crenellations. Bauhaus - The architecture, design, craft, and fine art school established by Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919, transferred to Dessau in 1925, and finally moved to BERLIN IN 1932. It closed in 1933 under increasing political interference. Its influence was worldwide, providing the most coherent statement of architectural modernism, primary through functionalist principles. Bay - Buildings are often divided into repetitive elements, or bays, defined by the space between two horizontal beams, or pairs of vertical columns. Bay Window - A set of two or more windows that protrude out from the wall. The window is moved away from the wall to provide more light and wider views.. Bead Molding - A small, cylindrical molding enriched with ornaments resembling a string of beads. Beam - A Horizontal load-bearing element that forms a principal part of a structure, usually using timber, steel, or concrete. Bearing Partition - An interior wall supporting weight from above. Bed Board - A thin board (usually thin plywood) nailed to the underside of the return s and spanning the distance from the face board to the frieze. Now often referred to as the soffit. Bell-cast Eaves - A roof which curves, sloping more gently toward the bottom. Belt-course - A horizontal band similar to but thicker than a string course, marking subdivisions of a building. Berm - A level area sepereating ditch from bank. Beveled - A stone cut at angles for a more decorative display. Beveled Wood Ridge - A wood strip that covers the ridge pole; commonly found on wood-shake roofs. Bivalate - A hillfort defended by two concentric ditches. Black Asphaltum - A bituminous substance applied to the outside of foundation walls beneath the ground level to waterproof these walls. Blind Stop - A strip of material fastened to the inside perimeter of a window frame used to hold a sash in place. Board and Batten - Vertical siding where wood strips (battens) hide the seams where other boards are joined. Board Feet - A unit of measurement based on volume. 144 cubic inches of wood equals one board foot. Bond - A term adopted to describe the various patterns used to lay bricks in order to give them maximum strength. It is an approach that has its origins in the period before the invention of high-strength cement mortars, which made bonding of this kind unnecessary; but the patterns survive, representing a cultural tradition now, rather than a functional necessity. English bond, for example, has been in use for 400 years, and is based on a mix of bricks laid end on, and side on, in such a way that the cross joints are regularly spaced. Other patterns include Flemish bond, heading, stretching, and American. Refers to the pattern formed by mortar joints between bricks, blocks or stones. Boss - A carved stone positioned at the apex of a ribbed vault. Bottom Rail - The lower rail of the bottom sash of a double-hung window. Box Sill - A type of sill employing a continuous header with the appearance being responsible for the name. Bracket - A small supporting piece of wood or stone, often formed of scrolls or other decorative shapes, designed to bear a projected weight, such asa a window. Bratice - A timber towere, or projecting wooden gallery. Breeze Way - A roofed area usually found between the garage and house proper designed tp provide shelter and outdoor summertime comfort. Bricks - One of the oldest building materials, brick is based on a mix of clay with silt and sand pressed in molds and then burned in a kiln, which gives the characteristic slightly glazed finish. Standard brick sizes vary from country to country and over the years. In mainland Europe, for example, bricks are often more slender than those commonly used in the USA and Britain. Brick Sill - A common type of exterior window sill in brick walls with the bricks protruding past the wall line to allow water to fall directly to the ground. Brick Veneer - A type of wall constructed with facing brick covering a backing wall of frame or masonry. Bridging Cross - Wood or metal strips nailed diagonally between floor joist tp prevent lateral movement and dissipate weight. Bridging Solid - Wooden blocks used to separate floor joists beneath partition walls. Brief - The formal written instructions prepared by a client for an architect, setting out the necessary requirements for a building in functional terms. They usually include the required accommodation, size of rooms, and relationship of one space to another. Brutalism - A short-lived architectural movement of the 1960s that set itself in opposition to the picturesque Scandinavian-influenced mainstream of the period, and instead advocated the brutally frank expression of the nature of modern materials, characterized by unadorned concrete and the blunt detailing of joints and openings. Building Paper - A black building paper used to cover roof boards and sheathing to help control moisture and wind infiltration. Building Code - A set of laws drafted by the governing body of a borough, town or city to control building construction "to promote the public health, safety and general welfare" of the people in that locality. Buttress - A structure built against a wall to support or reinforce it. Usually an exterior masonry structure that opposes the lateral thrust of an arch or a vault and adds extra support.      C   Campanile - Bell tower, often set some distance away from its church. Canopy - A projection or hood over a door, window, niche, etc. Cantilever - A projecting elements, such as a beam or porch, supported at a single point or along a single line by a wall or column, stabilized by s counterbalancing downward force around the point of fulcrum. Capital - The elaboration at the top of a column, pillar, pier or pilaster. Carport - A roofed area attached to the house designed to protect the car. Caryatid - The human figure used as a sculptural column as part of a classical composition, often flanking a doorway, or as a decorative detail within an interior around a fireplace. Casement Window - A window that opens by swinging inward or outward much like a door. Casement windows are usually vertical in shape but are often grouped in bands. Casing - The trim bordering the inside or outside of a window or door, commonly referred to as "inside" or "outside" casing. Castellated - Decorated with battlements (a parapet with alternating indentations and raised portions); also called crenellation. Building with battlements are usually brick or stone. Caulking - A putty-like substance used to seal joints against the weather. Cedar Shingle - A roofing material made of durable pinewood.. Cement Blocks - Mass produced building blocks made from pouring concrete into a mold.. Cement Plaster - A mixture of sand and cement that is applied to the exterior foundation wall beneath ground level to aid in watering proofing. Ceramic Tile - Any of a wide range of sturdy floor and wall tiles made from fired clay and set with grout. May be glazed or unglazed. Colors and finishes vary. May be used in doors or out. Cesspool - A cesspool is a welled, underground cavity designed to receive the discharge from waste and soil pipes. Here, liquids are passed off while solida remain to undergo bacterial decomposition. Chair-rail molding - A wooden molding placed along the loweer part of the wall to prevent chairs, when pused back, from damaging the wall. Also used as decoration. Chancel - The easternmost part of a church, in which the alter is housed. Chatri - A domed pavilion supported by columns at each corner, which is a characteristic element of Mogul architecture in India. Chevet - The eastern end of a Gothic church, including choir (quire), ambulatory, and radiating chapels. Chevron - A decorative V-shaped line.; Zig-zag moulding (twelfth century). Chimney - A passage or structure extending above the roof, through which smoke escapes. Chiseled - A stone shaped by a sharp-edged hand tool. Chamfer - A beveled edge. Choir (also quire) - The space reserved for the clergy in the church, usually east of the transept but, in some instances, extending into the nave. Cinquecento - Sixteenth century. Circulation - Architecture is not experienced statically. Circulation routes, the means by which access is provided through and around a building, are very often key elements in creating an understanding of architecture as users move from one part of a building to another through a carefully considered sequence of spaces. That part of a room or building required for movement of people from place to place. Cladding - The lightweight outer skin of a building that does not carry any weight or support the building, but does keep wind and rain out. A term used to describe the siding or materials covering the exterior of a building. Clapboard - Tapered horizontal boards used as siding, thickest on their bottom edge; each overlaps the one below. Also know as weatherboard or siding. Classical - Refers to the architecture and design ideas of ancient Rome and Greece. Classicism - The architectural vocabulary that has shaped Western architecture ever since ancient Greece. Characterized by a set of compositional rules and architectural elements, in particular, columns and orders. It is a language that has continually reinvented itself, providing scope for successive generations to explore the fundamentals of design. Clean-Out - An opening in the fireplace foundation for disposal of ashes from the ash dump, or a fitting attached to waste and soil pipes to allow the system to be cleaned out. Clerestory - The fenestrated part of a building that rises above the roofs of the other parts.; Upper elements of a Romanesque or Gothic church, bringing light into the center of the building from side windows pierced through stone. Clerestory window - A window (usually narrow) placed in the upper walls of a room, usually at an angle, to provide extra light. Cloister - A court, usually with covered walks or ambulatorie along its sides. Cob - Unburnt clay mixed with straw. Collar Beam - Horizontal members spanning roof rafters to supplement roof strength and/or form ceiling joist in half-story construction. Colonnade - A row of columns forming an element of an architectural composition, carrying either a flat-topped entablature or a row of arches. Column - A slender, upright structure, usually a supporting member in a building. Freestanding or self-supporting structural element carrying forces mainly in compression; either stone, steel, or brick, or more recently, concrete. Common Brick - A brick used where strength in construction is required rather than a pleasing appearance. Competition - A means for selecting an architect for a significant commission: Architects are invited to take part in a competition, which can be either open to all comers or by invitation only. Open competition is reguarded as an important way of discovering innovative new talent. Compound pier - A pier composed of a group or cluster of members, especially characteristic of Gothic architecture. Concrete - A mixture of sand, cement and aggregate (stone or gravel) that may be reinforced with ferrous metals. Concrete Blocks - Masonry blocks commonly used for foundation and backing walls. Conical - A furnace cap, resembling or shaped like a cone. Conservation - Thye 20th century has seen the constructin of more new architecture than the total produced by all preceding centuries put together. But it has also seen the principle of preserving not just the most significant individual buildungs, but substantial groups of buildings, come to be universally established. Conservation, the art of the careful restoration and recyling of run-down and redundant buildings, has become an increasingly sophisticated practice. Constructivism - An avant-grade movement of the early 20th century that orginated in revolutionary Russia with work by the sculptor Naum Gabo. It had a vision of a new sense of space, an imaginative understanding of geometry, and an enthusiasm for modern materials. Architectural adherents included the brothers Alexander and Vladimir Vesnin, and Vladimir Tatlin, whose revolutionary but unbuilt tower commemorating the Communist International remains an icon of the period. Conservation - The 20th Century has seen the construction of more new architecture than the total produced by all proceeding centuries put together. But it has also seen the principle of preservation not just the most significant individual buildings, come to be universally established. Conservation, the art of the careful restoration and recycling of run-down and redundant buildings, has become an increasingly sophisticated practice Contractor - The responsibility for actually building an architect's design rests with the contractor, who commits to a particular price for the work, usually in competition, employs the workforce, and contracts out such specialist work as may be necessary. Coping - A flat cover of stone or brick that protects the top of a wall. Corbel - A projecting wall member used as a support for some elements of the superstructure. Also, courses of stone or brick in which each course projects beyond the one beneath it. Two such structures, meeting at the topmost course, creates an arch. Corbeling - Stone or wood projecting from a wall or chimney for support or decoration. Cornice - Decorative projection along top of wall. Corinthian column - In classical architecture, a column decorated at the top with a mixed bag of curlicues, scrolls and other lavish ormanentation. Corner Post - Three 2x4's nailed together and erected at all exterior corners of a house providing adequate nailing space for plaster lath. Corinthian - The type of Greek column characterized by simulated acanthus leaves. Cornice - The uppermost section of moldings along the top of a wall; any molded projection of similar form. Cornice Return - A short continuation of the face board at the gable end of a house. Course - A continuous row of building materials, such as shingle brick or stone. Crawl Space - The open space beneath the first floor in a basement less house. Cresting - The top line or surface of a structure. Crown molding - A molding where the wall and ceiling meet; uppermost molding along furniture or cabinetry. Cupola - A small, dome-like structure, on top of a building to provide ventilation and decoration. Cut stone - Large stones cut individually, used for a foundation or wall of a house.    D   Dado - The zone between a chair rail or lower part of a sill and the baseboard. Damper - An adjustable metal plate controlling convection currents in a fireplace. Dead Load - The weight of things and materials that are always present at the same place in a building. Deadening Felt - A thin sheet of felt between the sub-floor and the finished floor. Dental - A molding motif that projects from the edge of a roof line or cornice. Door Styles - Doors are made for interior or exterior use and are either flush or paneled. They may either be solid of honeycombed construction. Doric - The simplest of the three classical orders of Greek architecture. Dormer - The setting for a vertical window in the roof. Called a gable dormer if it has its own gable or shed dormer if a flat roof. Most often found in upstairs bedrooms. Double-hung Window - A window which operates by means of two sashes that slide vertically past each other. Down spout - A metal or plastic tubing connected to the gutter for runoff. Drain Title - Title pipe laid along the outside of footings to carry off excess water. Plastic perforated pipe often used for same purpose. Drip Cap - A projection found, along the top edge of exterior windows and doors to allow water to fall directly to the ground. Duct - A sheet metal enclosure carrying warm or cool air from a forced air heating or cooling plant. Dutch Door - A door divided horizontally in half; the halves may be opened together or individually.    E   Eave - The projecting lower edge of a roof. Elevation - An orthographic view of some vertical feature of a house. (Front, rear, side, interior elevation) Entablature - The area above an entryway in which the transom is contained. Excavate - To dig out a volume of earth for a basement, footings or foundation. Expansion Tank - A tank located near the heating plant of a hot water system used to help balance the pressure. Exterior Wall - An outside wall. Eyebrow Window - A small, horizontally rectangular window, often located on the uppermost story, aligned with windows below.    F   Facade - One of the exterior faces (walls) of a building. Face Board - The board nailed to the exposed ends of roof rafters. Face Brick - A finished, non-defective brick yielding good appearance and construction quality. Fanlight - A semi-circular or semi-elliptical window with a horizontal sill often above a door. Fascia - A horizontal band or board, often used to conceal the ends of rafters; the front of an object. Same as a face board. Fenestration - The stylistic arrangement of windows in a building. Fieldstone - A stone used in its natural shape. Finial - A knob-like ornament. Finish Floor - A finished walking surface. Fire Brick - A fire resistant brick used to line a fireplace. Fire Cut - An angled cut on joist ends found in solid masonry wall construction designed to prevent wall collapse in case of fire. Fire Stop - A board placed within a frame wall to prevent a flue-like action in case of a fire. Fish scale Shingles - A shingle having straight sides and rounded bottoms. Flashing - Sheet metal fitted around chimneys, valleys, drip caps, etc. to seal out moisture. Flat Roof - A pitch less roof type most favorable in dry climates. Fleche - A very small wooden spire. Floor Plan - An orthographic section of an intended floor layout with the cutting plane passing through windows and doors. Flue - The hollow passage that carries smoke and heat to the outside from the fireplace or furnace. Flue Liner - The fire resistant material that lines the flue. Flying Buttress - A detached pier supporting the weight of a wall. Footer - The concrete slab that supports all foundation walls. Footing - A type of stone edging on a masonry wall. Foundation - The base of a house providing stability and rigidness. Foundation Wall - The masonry wall that rest on the footer. Four-way Switch - Electrical switches connected between three-way switches in order to control a light from three or more stations. Foyer - An area just inside the main exterior door for the removal of wraps, overshoes, etc. Frame - Of wood construction. Framing Plan - A top view plan of the roof of floor level showing the layout of rafters, ridge, joist headers, trimmers, etc. French Drain - A basement floor drain designed to allow water to seep into the ground rather than be carried away through pipes. Frieze - A band with designs or carvings along a wall or above doorways and windows. Frost Line - The under ground level that frost will reach during the coldest days in a given locality. Furring Strips - Wooden strips nailed to masonry walls to provide the necessary air space between masonry and wood or plaster,    G Gable - A triangular area of an exterior wall formed by two sloping roofs. Gambrel - A roof where each side has two slopes; a steeper lower slope and a flatter upper one; a 'barn roof'. Often found in Colonial revival houses in the "Dutch" style. Gazebo - A small summerhouse or pavilion with a view, or a belvedere on the roof of a house. Girder - A strong, wooden member spanning foundation walls designed to support joist ends. Girt - Supports the second floor joist in two-story construction. Grounds - Wooden strips of plaster thickness found behind inside window and door casings and baseboards to provide adequate nailing surface. Glass Block - A window type formed by a compilation of small translucent cubes of glass. Gutter - A metal or plastic trough along the edge of a roof that collects water off the eave and carries it to the down spout.    H   Half-timber - A framed construction method where spaces between members are filled with masonry. Hanger - A formed sheet steel device that anchor together floor framing members that meet at right angles. Head - A term that applied to the construction that comprises the entire lintel of a door or window. Header - This term applies to several construction features; - The top horizontal support of a rough opening - The support for joist-ends on the foundation walls sill - The support for joist-ends in a floor or roof opening Hearth - The fireplace floor. Heat Loss - The heat that is lost (in BTU's) through ceilings, roof, floors and exterior walls of a house. Heating Systems - Different heating Methods for heating buildings: Hot Water, warm air, steam, electric, heat pump, geo-thermal, etc Hip Rafter - The rafter at the corner of a hip roof. Hipped roof - A roof with slopes on all four sides. The "hips" are the lines formed when the slopes meet at the corners. Home Styles - The different characteristic of a home influenced by the homes of immigrants: English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italians, and others. contemporary styes is a termed "release from tradition" and severs out ties with previous styles. House Shapes - The general top view of the house outline. (Square, Rectangle, L-shaped, U-shaped, H-shaped, etc.    I   I-Beam - A steel beam often used for floor support. Cross section of beam resembles a capital I. Infiltration - The act of wind blowing into the house through poorly weather-stripped windows and doors. Inside Stop - See blind stop. Insulation - A material designed to control the passing of heat and / or sound. Interior Elevation - An orthographic view of an inside wall. Ionic - The type of Greek column characterized by scroll-like decorations.    J   Jack Stud - A stud adding to the support of roof rafters. Jamb - The vertical members of a window or door frame. Jenkins-head Roof - A gabled roof with its apex truncated by a small hipped roof. Joist - Wood framing members, usually set 16" apart on center, carefully chosen to support all "live" and "dead" loads.    K   Keystone - The central, topmost stone of an arch. Knee Wall - A wall supported by jack studs in half- story construction.      L   Lally Column - A post supporting a girder or I-beam. Lath - Mesh metal, plasterboard, or thin wooden strips used as a foundation for plaster or stucco. Lattice - A grille created by cris-crossing or decoratively interlacing strips of material. Leaded Window - A window decorated by artistic inserts of lead. Leader - Down spout Ledger Strip - A wooden strip nailed along the bottom face of one support to aid in the support of another member brought. Light - A window glass. Lintel - A horizontal supporting crosspiece over an opening. Live Load - The weight of people, things and materials that are not always present at the same place in a building. Louver Vent - An opening fitted with a series of sloping slats arranged to admit light and air but shed rain.      M   Mansard - A roof type with two slopes on each of the four sides, the lower slope being steeper than the other; capped off with a cupola, typically Victorian. Masonry - Stonework or brickwork Meeting Rails - The name applied to rails of window sash that meet one another when the window is closed. Millwork - Finished woodwork, cabinetry, carving, etc. Modillion - A bracket supporting the upper part of a composite or Corinthian cornice. Modular Planning - Planning a home in multiples of four feet in order to reduce material waste and cut labor cost. Molding - Shaped decorative outlines on projecting cornices and members in wood and stone. Mullion - The vertical member separating adjacent windows. Muntin - Wood or metal strips separating lites.      N   Newel - The terminating baluster at the lower end os a handrail. Niche - A recess in a wall to place various decorations. Nosing - The rounded fore-edge of a stair tread.    O   Obelisk - An Egyptian monument with a tall, tapering shaft of stone with a pyramidal top. Outlet - A passage connecting the gutter to the Down spout. Outside Stop - A strip of wood or metal fastened to the inside perimeter of a window frame that holds the sash against the parting strip. Oriel - A box-like window projecting from the wall of a house.    P   Palladian - A motif having three openings, the center one being arched and larger than the other two. Palladian window - A three part window featuring a large ached center and flanking rectangular sidelights. Paneling - The lining of a wall with a wainscot. Parapet - That portion of the wall that extends above the roof (wall surrounding a flat roof). Parget - Roughest, plaster. (Parging is a colloquial term referring to the application of cement plaster.) Parquet Floor - Wood flooring laid to form geometric patterns. Parting Strip - A wood or metal strip fastened to the inside perimeter of a window frame used to separate adjacent sliding sash. Partition - The name given to an interior wall. Pediment - A low triangular gable above a cornice, topped by raking cornices and ornamented.. Used over doors, windows or porches. A classical style. Pendant - A bulbous, knob-like ornament which hangs downward. Pent Roof - A small roof protruding from a facade, separating stories. Picture Window - One single, large window pane that does not open from either side. Pilaster - A rectangular vertical member projecting only slightly from a wall, with a base and capital as will a column. Pier - A vertical, non-circular masonry support, more massive than a column. Pillar - Similar to but more slender than a pier, also non-circular. Pitch - The rate at which a roof or other surface slopes. Plancher - Same as a bed board or soffit Plaster - A surface covering for walls and ceilings applied wet, dries to smooth, hard protective surface. Plaster Board - A name applied to many commercial products on the market used as a backing for plaster. Plate - The 2x4 nailed along the top edge of all stud walls. A plate also is secured to the top of all solid brick or masonry walls. Plot Plan - A top view of your finished house and landscape orientation. Ply Cap - A plain shaped molding, 1/4 rounded to provide a smooth edge along the baseboard. Pocket door - A door which slides open into cavities within walls, seeming to disappear when open. Porch - An open or enclosed gallery or room on the outside of a building. Portico - A large porch usually with a pediment roof supported by classical columns or pillars. Prefabricated - A house whose substantial parts are made entirely or in sections away from the building site. Public Utilities - Those utilities including water supply, sewage, electricity, disposal, gas, telephone, cable, etc. that are available to the public.    Q   Quoin - A stone or block reinforcing or accenting the corners of a building.     R   Rafter - A roof beam sloping from the ridge to the wall. In most houses, rafters are visible from the attic. In styles such as a craftsman bungalows and some "rustic" contemporaries, they are exposed. Raking Cornice - The sloping moldings of a pediment. Return - A wooden member nailed between the rafter-end and the stringer for bed board support. Rib Band - A board set into the inside face of the stud to support a second floor joist. Ridge - The top- most portion of a roof from which roof sides fall away. Ridge board - A decorative board standing on edge, along the ridge of a roof. Ridgepole - The horizontal beam at the ridge of a roof, to which rafters are attached. Ridge Rafter - The wooden member supporting rafter-ends at the ridge of a roof. Rise - The vertical distance from one stair tread to the next. Riser - The vertical portion of a step. The board covering the open space between stair treads. Roof Pitch - Degree of roof slant stated in inches rise per foot. Roof Run - The horizontal distance from the outside of a bearing wall plate to the center of the ridge rafter. Roof Span - Equal to twice the roof run, or the horizontal distance between the outside faces of bearing wall plates. Roof Types - Style and shape of roofs - gable, gambrel, hip, mansard, shed, flat, butterfly, salt-box. Rough Opening - The frame wall opening to receive a door or window unit. Rough Sill - The bottom rail of a window rough opening. Rubble - Masonry construction using stones of irregular shape and size. Rusticated Stone - Stonework, sometimes roughly finished, distinguished by having the joints deeply sunk.      S   Saddle - A small ridged roof designed to carry water away from the back side of a chimney. Sash - An individual window unit (comprised of rails, stiles, lites, muntins) that fits inside the window frame. Schematic - An electrical diagram of electrical symbols. Scuttle - An opening in the ceiling leading to an unfinished half-story. Septic Tank - A concrete or bituminous- covered metal tank where sewage is digested by bacterial action. Shaft - A long, slender part of a pillar that adds support to an overhanging structure. Sheathing - A covering over the structural frame of a building, onto which the cladding is attached. Shed - A roof type with one high pitched plane covering the entire structure. Shingles - Wood, asphalt, or other material that is applied in small sections as an outside covering on roofs of exterior walls to convey the run off of water. Ship lap - A board siding with joints cut out of the board allowing pieces to fit together with no overlapping. Shutter - A movable cover for a window used for protection from weather and intruders. Shutter Dogs - Small metal structures used to hold the shutters against the wall. Siding - The finished covering on the outside of non masonry walls of houses and buildings. Shingles, wood siding, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, stucco, etc. Sidelights - Windows on either side of a door. Sill - A horizontal piece forming the bottom frame of a window or door opening. Site - The section of town or general location in which your building lot is located. Skylight - A window in a roof to give light to a loft or room without other lighting. Slate - A roof material made from a hard, fine-grained rock that cleaves into thin, smooth layers. Sleepers - Joist set in concrete to provide nailing strips for flooring. Sliding Window - A window that opens by sliding large panes from one side to the other. Smoke Chambers - The are immediately above the damper and smoke shelf of a fireplace in the chimney. Smoke Shelf - A shelf at the base of the smoke chamber that provides proper smoke circulation within this chamber above the fireplace in the chimney. Soffit - The underside of a member such as a beam or arch, or of an eave, overhang, dropped ceiling, etc. (Same as bed board) Solar Orientation - The relationship of room to the sun's light. Sole - The horizontal wooden member supporting wall studs. Spandrel - The part of a porch facade that reflects the balustrade. Spanish Clay Tile - A roofing material made from clay soil into red brick; common to Mediterranean Revival houses. Specifications - A document that takes up where drawn plans leave off. This includes quantity and quality of material and a general description of how the work should be done and what will be included. Spire - The pyramidal structure soaring from a tower or roof a church. Square - A unit of measure equal to 100 square feet. Three square of shingles, for example, will cover 300 square feet of wall or roof area. Stairwell - The enclosure of a stairway. Stile - The vertical sides of a window sash. Steel Siding - Heavy siding material which remains very durable and weather resistant. Stool - The inside window sill. Story - A horizontal division of a building, from the floor to the ceiling above it. String-course - Similar to a belt-course but thinner; a horizontal band or molding marking architectural subdivisions, such as stories. Stringer - The board nailed to the exterior wall sheathing to support returns. The diagonal supporting members for treads and riser, also called horses. Striking Joints - The act of forming the mortar at the joints of brick, stone , or tile construction for the purpose of decoration. Stucco - A mixture of cement, sand, lime and water spread over metal screening or chicken wire or wooden lath on wooden walls to form the exterior covering of and exterior wall. Stud - A vertical wood support in a frame wall. Sub-floor - A floor beneath the finish floor designed to strengthen the bearing surface and prevent dust from passing through floors. Surround(s) - The molding which outlines an object or opening. Swiss Cap - A decorative furnace cap that exhales smoke by spinning. Symmetrical - When two halves of an object are mirror images of each other.    T   Tail Beam - Joist supported by header at both ends, from a header in a floor opening to the sill header. Terra Cotta - A mixture of sand and baked clay commonly used to make pipe for sewage disposal systems. A mixture of sand and baked clay used to form a shingle used on certain styles of architecture. Terrazzo - A colorful flooring material made of cement and marble chips or certain stones. After the floor has hardened it is ground and polished to a smooth and durable finish. Thermopane - Two or more sheets of glass set apart from one another with a vacuumed space between to prevent condensation and reduce heat loss. Thermostat - An automatic device to control heating or cooling. Three-way Switch - Electrical switches installed in pairs to allow a light or appliance to be controlled from to locations. Threshold - The wooden or metal strip directly beneath an exterior door. Some have an added rubber or plastic strip feature for better weatherstripping. Throat Cut - The notch cut into rafters to allow proper seating on the plate. Timber - Large wooden boards used in creating the structure of a wall. Tongue and Groove - A type of wooden siding with the edge of one board fitting into the groove of the next. Top Rail - The upper rail of the top sash of a double hung window. Traffic Plan - A plan of room and door placement designed for convenience of movement in normal everyday activities. Transom - A small window just above a door. Trap - A plumbing device preventing sewage odors from entering the house. Tread - The horizontal portion of a step, usually with a rounded edge , or 'nosing' which overhangs the riser. Trellis - A system of horizontal joists supported on posts, designed to support growing plants. Trimmer - Two joists or rafters spiked together and run parallel to joists or roof rafters to supply needed support to a floor, ceiling or roof opening. Truss - A framework for supporting a roof. Turret - A small tower, often at the corner of a building. Common in Queen Anne Styles among others. A turret is a smaller structure while a tower begins at ground level.     U   Unite d'Habitation - Le Corbusier's name for an ideal housing type, the multistory block including social facilities, shops, and play space contained within a single building, around what he called streets in the sky. Realized by Le Corbusier himself most famously in Marseilles, but also in Berlin and at the new town Firminy, the Unite was to prove hugely influential, far from universally socially sucessful.   V   V-Type Ridge Cover - A series of clay shingles used to cover the ridge pole on tile and slate roofs. Valley - A low region on a roof between gables. Valley Jacks - Rafters that run from the ridge rafter to the valley rafter. Valley Rafter - The rafter under the valley proper. Veneer - A thin facing of finishing material Veneer Wall - The covering of one wall construction by a second material to enhance wall beauty. (Brick or stone over frame, brick or stone over concrete bloc. Vent Stack - A metal, plastic or composite pipe (usually 4 inch in diameter) leading from the sewage network out through the roof to prevent pressures during sewage flow. Vinyl - A synthetic type of siding used for its economic value and durability.   W   Wall Tie - A galvanized iron strip used to tie a veneer wall to its backing wall. Wainscot - A paneling applied to the lower portion of a wall. Waste Pipe - The name generally applied to all household drainage pipes. Water Closet - Commode Water Table - Similar to a drip cap in function, sometimes found around the perimeter of a house near the ground line. Weatherstripping - A strip of fabric, plastic, rubber or metal found around exterior wall openings to reduce infiltration. Well-Opening - A stair enclosure. Window Frame - The window unit less sash. Window Types : Double Hung - Two sash, vertical sliding Casement - Side hinged Awning - Top hinged Hopper - Bottom hinged Oriel - Windows that generally project from an upper story, supported by a bracket. Picture Window - Fixed sash Jalousie - Glass slats, Venetian blind principle Horizontal sliding - two or more sash designed to slide over one another Bay - Extends beyond the exterior face of the wall Bow - Projected window with a curved surface often in the glass itself. Combination - The integration of two or more of the above into one unit.    X        Y   Yoke - The top horizontal board of a window frame.        Z