Glossary Of Architectural terms
- Eaves,
- lower horizontal edge of roof assembly. Gutters are usually found here,
affixed to fascia of eaves.
- Elliptic Stairs,
- Those elliptic in plan, having converging treads
- Enamel,
- paint composed of pigments and a vehicle called varnish
- Extender,
- an inert pigment meant to increase coverage area of paints (eg. silica,
barium sulphate, calcium carbonate, gypsum)
- Façade,
- a false front, an artificial surface designed to imply that a structure is
constructed of a material that it is not.
- Fascia,
- exterior face of roof edge assembly, refers to narrow board on edge or aluminum
cover.
- Fenestration,
- a term applied to windows and doors, from the French "fenetre"
meaning "window"
- Flashing,
- ductile material used to shed water in exterior assemblies.
- Flight of Stairs,
- series of steps leading from one floor to another
- Flush gutter,
- see "Philadelphia gutter"
- Flyers,
- Steps in a flight that are parallel to each other
- Footprint,
- the area an object occupies on the surface upon which it is resting
- Foyer,
- small front room for the reception of guests and the stowage of outerwear
- Fresco,
- see "mural"
- Frieze,
- decorative strip below crown or cornice on wall, often embossed metal or
plaster.
- Front String,
- the exposed stringer over which the handrail is positioned
- Furring,
- thin strips applied to a surface to eliminate surface imperfections or
provide space for insulation
- Gabions,
- Metal cages or bins often filled with earth or stone, and stacked to
retain a slope.
- Gable,
- Arched or triangular wall under roof end
- Gammon line,
- String used to support a plumb bob.
- Gargoyle,
- Mythological demonic creature, statues of which guard the tops of many
very old buildings for superstitious reasons
- Gazebo,
- roofed shelter for outdoor entertaining
- Geometrical Stair,
- Stairs supported only by the wall to which it is attached
- Glazer's Points,
- small metallic wedges used to pin glass panes into muntins
- Graffiti,
- A mark or inscription on the possessions of others, denoting disrespect
for others by the intentional depreciation of value for the sole purpose of
demonstrating an opinion of triviality.
- Grille,
- framework placed against a single pane of glass, having apertures resembling
those produced by muntins
- Gypsum,
- mineral used in the production of plaster, wall board, etc.
- Hardwood,
- Wood coming from any deciduous tree. Not necessarily hard.
- Header,
- beam over windows and doors in bearing walls, designed to provide support
and distribute load to jack studs.
- Headroom,
- the distance between the spandrel of the nosing of a stair and the
overhanging ceiling at the edge of the well hole, typically 80".
- Hip,
- side corner of two perpendicular roofs meeting on angle
- Hollow Newel,
- an opening or well hole in the middle of a winding staircase
- ICF,
- 1. an acronym for insulated concrete forms
2. an acronym for insulation compatible fixture
- Intaglio,
- Sunken relief, as on certain carved cornice-work
- Jack stud,
- short stud which supports window and door headers
- Jalousie,
- type of window designed to open completely by means of several
horizontally-hinged panels pivoting in unison.
- Kalsomine,
- a cold water paint, it's vehicle is a solution of glue, casein, albumin or
some other binder.
- King wall,
- short wall supporting divided or undersized roof from inside attic area
- Knee,
- a convex bend in the back of a handrail
- Knee wall,
- short wall above foundation, supporting first floor
- Landing,
- resting place midpoint along a flight of stairs
- Latent Heat,
- Hidden heat load absorbed by melting solids or boiling liquids, and
released by condensing vapors or solidifying liquids
- Latex ,
- 1. a type of rubber occurring naturally, derived primarily from the milky sap of rubber
trees
- 2. as a paint, it's vehicle is the aforementioned latex rubber
- Lead,
- Lead is dangerous in it's composition. Contact, inhalation, or drinking
contaminated water poses risk. Lead is unlike many toxins in that it
apparently is absorbed into the victim's bones. Lead poisoning has a
cumulative effect. You cannot take a short break from exposure to it and come
back to finish a project. Lead doesn't want
to leave the body. Lead can only slowly dissipate from your body.
Most people are unaware that they still do have lead in their pipes. Most
plumbing valves are made of brass, and brass valves are made with lead. This
is not a serious danger compared to driving a car or air travel.
- Linseed oil,
- a vehicle derived from the seed of flax. it oxidizes and forms a
waterproof film. Available raw or boiled, boiling removes some of the
moisture. The resultant paint skins quickly, but cures slowly
- Lintel,
- large beam over a doorway, forming a header
- LVL,
- An acronym for Laminated Veneer Lumber. Usually employed as beams or shear
panels. constructed in similar manner to plywood. Created in huge 40' x 40'
sheets and cut to requested shapes
