Abacus: flat slab under entablature which forms the top of the capital of a column, which supports a beam. -
Aedicule: Frames which surround a classical doorway/window, flanked by columns and topped by a pediment. -
A-Frame: Roof that forms an "A" shape. -
Air Space: Space made in exterior construction that supplies a way for moisture to escape and the walls to dry. -
Aisle: Part of church flanking the nave and separated by rows of columns/piers (space between arcade and outer wall). -
Align: Faces of objects are in line with one another, or if their center-lines lie on the same axis. -
Aluminum Siding: Lightweight that's usually painted; not left in natural color. -
Alterpiece: Panel (painted or sculptured) behind and above the altar. -
Anchor Bolt: Bolt or threaded rod that secures the sill to the wall. -
Apron: Under the stool or inside sill of a window; horizontal. -
Arcade: Series of arches that are supported by piers/columns. -
Arch: Curved structure; often over a doorway (used as support). -
Area wall: Retaining wall surrounding a basement window, below ground level. -
Asbestos: Used to be used in building construction. Not allowed anymore because of health risks. -
Asbestos Shingles: Shingles made of asbestos, which is a fireproof, fibrous material that's no longer used due to health risks. -
Atrium: Indoor rooms with glass roofs; often hotels and high-rise office buildings will have them. - Balcony: Platform on upper stories of house with a railing. -
Baluster: Small posts/columns that make up a railing on a staircase; plain, turned, or pierced. -
Balustrade: Combination of railings supported by balusters. -
Barge Board: Exterior board which spans the roof ridge to the cornice return. -
Baseboard: Trim where floor and walls meet. -
Base Molding: Decorative strip around top edge of baseboard. -
Base Shoe: Strip along bottom of baseboard at floor level. - Batt: Precut insulation designed to fit between studs. -
Batten Board: Small wood strip used to cover joints between vertical siding. - Batter: Inclined wall face. -
Bay window: 2 or more windows that stick out from wall. -
Bead Molding: Small, circular "beads" of molding – decorative. -
Beam: Horizontal structure that forms the principal, loading-bearing part of said structure; usually timber, steel, wood, or concrete. -
Bearing Partition: Interior wall that support an above weight. -
Bed Board/Soffit: Thin board (i.e., usually plywood) that is nailed to the underside of the return and spans the distance from the face board to the frieze. -
Beveled Wood Ridge: Wood strip that covers ridge pole. -
Black Asphaltum: Bituminous substance that is applied to the outside foundations of walls beneath the ground as a form of waterproofing walls. -
Blind Stop: Strip of material fastened to inside perimeter of a window frame to hold sash in place. -
Board and Batten: Vertical siding where wood strips hide the seams where other boards are joined together. -
Board Feet: Unit of measurement. E.g., 144 cubic inches of wood = 1 board foot. -
Bottom Rail: Lower rail of the bottom sash of a double-hung window. -
Building Code: Set of laws that controls building construction. -
Canopy: Hood over door, window, niche, etc. -
Casement window: Window that swings in or out like a door (usually vertical, but can be grouped in bands). -
Casing: Inside or outside; trim surrounding a window. -
Caulking: Seals joints against weather damage (looks like putty). -
Cedar Shingle: Roof material made of plywood. -
Cement Plaster: Mixture of sand and cement applied to outside foundation wall beneath ground level; aids waterproofing. -
Chair-rail molding: Wooden molding placed along lower wall; it's purpose is to prevent damage from chairs being pushed back against it – can be decorative. -
Chimney: What smoke escapes through. -
Cladding: Protective covering on the outside of a building. -
Clapboard: Horizontal, tapered beams used as siding (thickest on bottom edge). Each clapboard overlaps the one below it. Known as weatherboard or siding. -
Collar Beam: Horizontal beams that span roof rafters as added roof strength; they also form ceiling joist in half-story construction. -
Column: Usually a vertical supporting member of a building. Can be freestanding or self-supporting; made of stone, steel, brick, concrete, or wood. -
Concrete: Mixture of sand, cement, and aggregate -
Concrete Blocks: Used for foundation and backing walls. -
Contractor: commits to piece of work, employs a workforce, and contracts out specialist work as well as works with the architect and his design. -
Cornice: a decorative piece of framework that conceals curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing. -
Cornice Return: Short continuation of face board at the gable end of a home. -
Crown molding: Molding where wall and ceiling meet. -
Dado: panel that forms the lower part of a wall between the sill and the baseboard. -
Dental: Molding motif that sticks out from the edge of the roof line or cornice. -
Dormer: Setting for vertical window in a roof. -
Double-hung Window: A window that uses two vertical sashes that slide past each other. -
Down spout: Metal/plastic tubing connected to the gutter for runoff. -
Drain Title: Title pipe along the outside of the footings; its job is to carry off excess water. -
Drip cap: Projection found along the top edge of exterior windows/doors which helps water fall directly onto the ground. -
Duct: Sheet metal enclosure which allows warm or cool air to enter. -
Dutch Door: A door that is divided horizontally in half. -
Eave: A projecting lower edge of a roof. -
Elevation: a vertical feature of a house (front, side, rear, interior elevation). -
Entablature: Area above an entryway. -
Exterior wall: A wall on the outside. -
Façade: One of the exterior faces of a building. -
Face Board: Finished, non-defective brick. -
Fanlight: a window above a door that is hinged. -
Fascia: Horizontal board or band, which can be used to conceal rafters' ends; the front of an object (same as a face board). -
Finish Floor: Finished walking surface. -
Fish scale shingles: A shingle with straight sides and a round bottom. -
Flashing: Sheet metal around valleys, drip caps, chimneys, etc. – it seals out moisture. -
Flat roof: Favored in dry climates – pitchless roof. -
Fleche: Small wooden spire. -
Floor plan: Intended floor layout – cutting plane passes through windows and doors. -
Footer: A concrete slab that supports all foundation walls. -
Foundation: Providing stability and rigidness; it is the base of a house. -
Foundation Wall: A masonry wall that rests on the footer. -
Foyer: Area just inside the main door. -
Frame: Wood construction. -
French drain: Basement floor drain that has water seep into the ground instead of being carried off by pipes. -
Gable: Created by two sloping roofs; triangular area of an exterior wall. -
Gambrel: Roof that has two slopes on each side – a steeper lower slope and a flatter upper one ("barn roof," or "Dutch" style). -
Girder: Spans foundation walls (wooden) and supports joist ends. -
Grounds: Found behind window, door casings, and baseboards; provides nailing surface; wooden strips. -
Gutter: Metal or plastic trough along roof edge -
Hip rafter: Rafter at the corner of a hip roof. -
Hipped roof: A roof with slopes on all four sides. -
Insulation: Material inside a house that controls the temperature and the passage of sounds. -
Jamb: Vertical supporters of window/door frames. -
Keystone: Top, central part of the arch. -
Lally column: A post that supports an I-beam or girder. -
Lattice: A grille created by criss-crossing strips of material. - Leader: Sam as a down spout.