Visual Dictionary
Specifications
Air Barrier Paper
A sheet material used to cover the exterior sheathing and seal the envelope of a building
Air Barrier paper blocks moisture and air from penetrating the exterior walls of a building.
Attic VentilationSoffit and Ridge Vent
Soffit Vent – intake to allow natural convection to cool attic space.
Ridge Vent- Exaust at the highest point to allow heat to escape and permit natural convection.
Attic Ventilation is required to allow water vapor and solar heat in attic space to escape
Attic VentilationGable Vent and Roof Turbine
Attic Ventilation is required to allow water vapor and solar heat in attic space to escape
Gable Vent- Allows cross draft through attic space when the wind blows
Roof Turbine- uses wind to pull hot and humid air out of an attic
BackhoeBackhoe- piece of excavation equipment that consists of a bucket and 2 part articulating arm attached to the back end of a front end loader, tractor, or mounted on tracks used for various earth work jobs especially trenches and footings.
Bucket Width =17”
Batter Boards
Batter Boards: pair of horizontal boards that strings are attached to that are used to lay out the exact corners of a building and the foundation lines.
Brick Arches
Roman Arch Gothic Arch
Arch with Keystone
Roman Arch with Keystone
Centering
Temporary support used to make a brick arch
Brick Bonds
Running Bond
Flemish Bond
RowlockRowlock
Headers
Headers
Soldiers and Sailors
Soldier BondSailor
Stretcher Rowlocks
Brick Size
Standard size (3 5/8”2 1/4”x8”) (WxHxL)
Modular Size (35/8”x21/4”x71/2”) (WxHxL)
BulldozerLarge, powerful piece of earth moving equipment equipped with tracks and a large blade used to push soil, rock, or any other kind of debris.
CladdingBrick Clad
Brick Clad
CladdingEIFS Clad and Stone Clad
EIFS
Random Ashlar Stone Clad
CladdingWood Board and Wood Shake
Wood Board Cladding
Wood shingles are sawn and wood shakes are split from wood blocks. This house appears to have wood shakes due to the rough texture
Wood Shake Cladding
Code Requirements Egress Window
Height: 19 ½”
Width: 34”
Height AFF: 34 ½”
IBC requirements:Width: 34 ¼”Height: 24”Height AFF: <44”Net opening area 5.7 sq. feet
Egress net opening: 4.6 square feet
This window does not meet egress requirements due to open height and net open area deficiencies.
Code RequirementsStair Tread and Riser
9 3/4”
7 5/8”
IBC stair requirementsTread >= 10” with no more that 3/8” variation
Riser <= 7 ¾” with no more than 3/8” variation
Studied StairsTread: Longest 9 ¾” Shortest 9 ½” Variation ¼”
Riser: Highest 7 5/8” Lowest 7 ½” Variation 1/8” This stair does not meet IBC Code
Concrete JointsControl Joint
An intentional break in the surface of concrete to create a point of weakness where cracking can occur in order to minimize cracking elsewhere in the concrete.
Concrete JointsIsolation Joint
A joint that extends through the slab that completely separates the slab from a wall or column and is filled with a sealant. They are used to compensate for the different rates at which differing materials expand and contract, in this case a concrete sidewalk and a brick wall.
Concrete Masonry Unit
1 CMU= 3 Brick
A CMU is a block of hardened concrete laid using mortar. They usually contain hollow cavities that can be filled with rebar and concrete grout to reinforce the wall. They provide a means for building economical retaining, basement and crawlspace walls. They can be painted on both sides and function as interior and exterior wall as seen at Wal-mart. Typical nominal dimensions are either 8”x8”x16” or 8”x12”x16” (HeightxDepthxLength)
Concrete Masonry Units6” and 12”
12” Thick6” Thick
Decorative CMUSplit block and Ribbed Block
Split Face Block
DoorsFlush and Panel
Exterior Flush Door
Exterior Panel Door
Top Rail
Stile
Panel
Lock Rail
Bottom Rail
DoorsTransom
Transom - Fixed window over a door
Sidelight- Fixed window on the side of a door
Electrical ComponentsPower Pole with Transformer and Service Head
The transformer steps down the voltage from distribution voltage down to 120 volt that is used in residences.
The service head provides a watertight means for the power lines from the transformer to enter the meter box
Electrical ComponentsMeter and Service Panel
The electric meter measure the amount of electricity that flows into a house and is the point at which the electric system is no longer the responsibility of the utility but that of the homeowner/contractor.
The service panel is the point that distributes the current to all of the branch circuits in a building including lights, appliances, and outlets.
Electrical Components Duplex Receptacle
Point at which 120v devices can be connected to a homes electrical system.
Framing
#1 Anchor Bolt
#2 Sill Plate
Framing
#3 Floor Joist
#4 Subfloor
Framing#5 Sole Plate
#6 Stud
Framing
#7 Top Plate
#8 Ceiling Joist
#9 Rafter#10 Roof Decking
Framing
#11 Sheathing#12 Stringer
Front End Loader
Front end loader- Piece of heavy equipment used to load soil, sand, rock, asphalt, debris and many other materials into dump trucks or other pieces of equipment using a large rectangular bucket.
Gypsum BoardInterior facing panel consisting of a gypsum core between 2 paper faces that is finished with joint compound and creates a seamless interior wall ready for paint.
Heat Pump
Compressor/Condenser
Transfers the heat from inside the house into the atmosphere by compressing refrigerant.
Advantage: extremely efficient Disadvantage: Does not operate well at very low temps and may require a backup system
The air handler is located inside the house and conditions the air by heating or cooling via refrigerant and the condenser/compressor unit outside
Insulation
Material of low thermal conductivity used to reduce heat flow in or out of a building
Batt/blanket insulation
Foam Insulation
Rigid Board InsulationLoose-fill Insulation
Lintel
A piece of angle iron or precast concrete that carries the load of a wall over the opening of a window or door
Mortar #1Raked
Tooled joint5/8”Used on an engineering classroom buildingType N- used as a masonry veneer
Mortar #2Concave
Tooled Joint3/8”Apartment complexType N-used as a masonry veneer
Oriented Strand Board
OSB- a nonveneered panel product made by gluing and pressing small strands of wood in alternating directions. OSB is used for roof sheathing, wall sheathing, and subfloors.
PlumbingLavatory and Water Closet
Lavatory drain piping- 1 ½”
Water closet waste piping- 3”
PlumbingManufactured Shower
PlumbingRoof Vent and Sink
Vent piping allows air to enter the drain and waste piping to break the vacuum that would be created by a sealed pipe and allow the water and waste to flow freely
Drop-in Sink
PlywoodWood panel made up of multiple veneers of wood glued together in alternating directions under high pressure.
A veneer is a very thin sheet of wood.
Plywood
Radiant Barrier
Rebar
Steep Roof DrainageGutter- Metal or plastic channel that collects rainwater or snowmelt at the eave of a roof and channels it to a downspout
Downspout- Vertical pipe that carries water from a roof gutter to a lower level, usually a lower level of the roof or the ground.
Splash block- a small block of precast concrete or plastic used to divert water at the bottom of a downspout away from the foundation of a building
Splash Block
Steep Roof Materials Underlayment and Clay Tile
A layer of waterproofing (building felt) installed between roof sheathing and the roof. It temporarily protects the OSB sheathing before the roof can be installed and provides another layer of defense against water for the finished roof
Underlayment
Clay Tile Roof
Steep Roof MaterialsShingle and Metal Panel
Metal roof typically made from aluminum or galvanized metal painted with a polymer coating
Shingle- a small, single, water resistant material nailed in overlapping pattern to make a water tight roof or wall
Wood Shingle Roof
Steep Roof Shapes
Gable Roof
Gambrel Roof
Hip Roof
Steep Roof Terms Ridge- Intersection of 2 roof planes in a gable roof, the highest point or peak of a gable roof
Valley- A trough formed by 2 roof slopes
Steep Roof Terms
Eave- horizontal edge at the low side of a roof
Rake- sloping edge of a roofSoffit- underside of a roof overhang
Fascia- exposed vertical face of an eave
Stone
Random Ashlar Stone Pattern Coursed Ashlar Stone Pattern
Random Rubble Stone Pattern
Vapor RetarderA Vapor Retarder slows the passage of moisture through a wall cavity to prevent condensation in a wall which can lead to mold. It should be placed on the side of the insulation closest to the interior since the hotter more humid air inside contains the moisture that is trying to work its way into the wall.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing- material placed to resist the penetration of water in a structure, in this case a foundation. The type pictured is liquid applied spray-on.
Weep Hole
A small opening (missing head joint or string laid in mortar) whose purpose is to permit drainage of water that accumulates behind a brick wall
Welded Wire Fabric
6”
6”
Welded Wire Fabric
Window #1Casement
This is a casement window because it is hinged on one side and swings outward, allowing the entire window area to be open. This is useful in catching breezes.
Window #2Single Hung
Single Hung- A window with 2 sashes, only one of which moves. The other is fixed.
Window #3Sliding
This is a sliding window because one sash moves along a track at the top and bottom of the frame and the other remains fixed.