| Vocabulary | Definition |
| Atrium | Open court or garden within a building |
| Attic | The space between the roof and the ceiling of a house |
| Balcony | Porch that is suspended from the upper level of a structure |
| Baseboard | The finish board covering the interior wall where the wall and the floor meet |
| Bay Window | A window projecting out from the wall to form a recess in the room |
| Beam | A horizontal structural member that carries a load |
| Bracing | Framing members attached at an angle to make walls more rigid |
| Building Envelope | The area in which a structure may be placed on a piece of property, usually determined by the setbacks |
| Change Orders | Requests for alterations or modifications in a building under construction |
| Building Codes | Laws that ensure that minimum building standards are met which provide safety for the public |
| Column | Vertical supporting member |
| Contour Lines | On maps or Site Plans showing terrain, lines connect points at the same elevation |
| Dead Load | Weight of a building materials and permanently installed components ona structure |
| Deck | Open, elevated platform attached to a house that makes outdoor living spaces more usuable |
| Dormer | Structure projecting from a sloping roof to accomodate a window, commonly used with 1-1/2 story houses |
| Double Header | Two or more timbers joined together for added strength (ex. Girder) |
| Easements | Right-of-ways across private land, such as utility lines |
| Eave | Part of a roof that projects over the outer wall |
| Elevations | Drawings that reveal the vertical dimensions, building materials, and the over all design of the structure. |
| Facade | Exterior face of a building |
| Fascia | Vertical board nailed to the ends of the rafters or roof truss at the eave line |
| Fixtures | Permanent items connected to plumbing, such as a lavatory, water closet, bathtub, or shower |
| Flashing | Covering used over a roof joint to provide complete waterproofing, most commonly a thin sheet of metal around a chimney. |
| Floor Plans | Drawing showing locations, sizes,materials, and components contained in the interior design of a house. |
| Flue | Opening ina chimney through which the smoke passes |
| Footings | Base of a foundation wall that evenly distributes the weight into the soil |
| Foundation | Lowest structural component of a building upon which all other memebrs rest |
| Sills | Wood members that are fastened to the top of foundation walls as a base for attaching the flooring system |
| Foyer | Inside entrance area at the front of the house |
| Gable | The triangular end of an exterior wall just above the eaves |
| Gable Roof | Most common roof type due to it's adaptability, slope in two directions |
| Ground Line | Reference point on an elevation drawing representing ground level |
| Gutter | A trough for carrying water off the roof |
| Half-Bath | Bathroom that contains only a lavatory and a water closet |
| Header | One or more pieces of lumber supporting ends of joists |
| Hip Roof | Roof with four sloping sides |
| Jamb | Sides of a doorway or window opening |
| Joist | Horizontal structural member that supports a floor or ceiling |
| Lanai | Covered exterior patio or walkway, Hawaiian word for "porch" |
| Landings | Points at which stairs change directions |
| Cripple | Studs that are less than full length that commonly are used above and below window openings |
| Trimmers | Vertical members added to each side of the window fram to support the header |
| Lavatory | Bathroom washbasin or sink |
| Live Load | Force on a building that includes the weight of all non-permanent movable objects, such as people, furniture, snow and wind. |
| Masonry | Stone, brick, tiles, or concrete |
| Mortar | Mixture of cement, sand, and water; used to bond bricks and stone. |
| Mortar joint | commonly 3/8", but no more than 1/2" |
| Overhang | Portion of a roof that projects beyond the outer walls |
| Partition | Non-Load bearing wall that separates a living space into rooms |
| Patio | Open area adjacent or directly accessible to the house, commonly used for entertaining |
| Pitch | Angle between a roofs surface and the horizontal plane, ratio of the rise to run |
| Plat | Map or chart of an area showing boundaries of lots and other parcels of property |
| Plot Plan | Used to show the size and shape of a piece of property, location and size of buildings, walks, drives, pools, etc. |
| Porch | Covered platform leading into the entrance of a building and which may be enclosed by glass, screens, posts, and railings |
| Rafter | A structural member used to frame a roof |
| Ridge Line | Line formed by the roof on an elevation drawing |
| Riser | Vertical part of a stair - Max. 8" |
| Schedule | Detailed lists that contain needed information, such as size and type of windows and doors |
| Setbacks | Minimum distances that structures must be located from adjacent property lines as stated in the zoning laws |
| Slab Foundation | Foundation made of reinforced concrete poured as a single slab or in several sections, usually 4"-6" thick reinforced with wire mesh |
| Soffit | Underside of an overhang, such as the edge of a roof. Generally has attic ventilation installed underneath. |
| Span | Full distance between outer walls supporting the roof |
| Slope | Ratio of the rise to the run of a roof |
| Stress | Any force acting upon a part or member of a structure |
| Stud | Upright beam in framework of a building, usually called a "2X4" and spaced at 16" from center to center |
| Survey | Drawing showing the exact size, shape, and levels of a piece of property. A legal document that establishes property rights |
| T-Foundations | Combinations of footingsand foundation walls that form an inverted-T |
| Truss | Prefabricated, triangular shaped unit used to support roof loads over a long span |
| Veranda | Large porch extending around several sides of the home |
| Water Closet | Toliet fixture |
| Work triangle | Area connecting the three main centers of a kitchen |
| 3 Main Centers of a Kitchen | Cleaning, Cooking, and Storage |
| Zoning Ordinance | Law or regulation defining the type of structure that can be built in a certain area in order to provide safety and convienence for the public |
| 3 Main Zones in most areas | Residential, Commercial, Industrial |
