Visual Dictionary

Wythe

Air Barrier Paper A sheet material used as both a vapor retarder and an air barrier.

Attic VentilationInsulated roof assemblies can have both a higher temperature differential and is subject to moisture.

BackhoePiece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm.

Batter Boards A temporary frame built outside the corner of an excavation to carry edges of a foundation.

Brick Arches Both are roman arches, one is a Roman arch with three courses rowlock-soldier-rowlock (to the right). The

other arch is a roman arch with two alternating courses, rowlock-solider (to the left).

Brick Bonds The photo to the left is an example of a running bond-courses of alternating stretchers.

Brick BondsRowlock

Brick BondsSoldier

Brick BondsStretcher

Brick BondsHeader

Brick BondsSailor

Brick Sizes The brick on the right is a Standard brick with dimensions 3 ½ x 2 ¼ x 8. The brick on the left is a Modular

brick with dimensions at 3 ½ x 2 ¼ x 7 ½.

BulldozerA piece of excavation equipment used to push large amounts of dirt around a site.

Cladding Brick

Cladding EIFS

Cladding Stone-Coursed Asher

Cladding Wood Boards

Cladding Wood Shingles are a form of cladding where shingles, usually cedar or redwood, are overlapped to form a drip

edge.

Code Requirement Bedroom Window

• Code for Double Hung Window – Height: Min 24 in.

– Width: Min 34 ¼ in.

– Max height of sill AFF: 44 in.

• My Room Window– Height: 25 in.

– Width: 34 ¼ in.

– Height of Sill AFF: 21 ½ in.

Code Requirements Wood Frame Interior Stairs

• Code– Tread Min: 10 in.

– Riser Max: 7 ¾ in.

• My Stairs– Tread: 10 ¾ in.

– Riser: 7 ½ in.

Concrete JointsA control joint is an intentional, linear discontinuity in a structure or component, designed to form a plane of

weakness where a crack can occur.

Concrete JointsAn isolated joint completely isolates the slab from a column, wall, or pipe.

Concrete Masonry Unit A CMU is a concrete block used in residential foundations and retaining walls. They are usually covered up by

brick or other forms of exterior finish.

Decorative Concrete Masonry UnitSplit Block

Decorative Concrete BlockRibbed Block

Doors Flush Door

DoorsSix Panel Door

Panel

Stile

Top Rail

Lock Rail

Bottom Rail

DoorsThe Transom is the glazing over the top of the door and the Sidelights are the fixed glazed panels on the

outside.

Sidelight

Transom

Electrical ComponentsThe transformer box is what steps down the electricity from the power plant before it enters the building.

Electrical ComponentsThe service head is what transfers the electricity from the transformer to the house.

Electrical Components The meter keeps track of the amount of electricity entering the building.

Electrical ComponentsThe service panel is what distributes electricity over a series of circuits that power the duplex receptacles.

Framing Elements1. Anchor Bolt

2. Sill Plate

Framing Elements3. Floor Joist

Framing Elements4. Subflooring

Framing Elements

5. Sole Plate

6. Stud

7. Top Plate

Framing Elements

8. Ceiling Joist

9. Rafter

Framing Elements

10. Roof Decking 11. Roof Sheathing

Framing Elements12. Stringer

Front End Loader A piece a machinery that’s purpose is to load material (gravel, asphalt, dirt ,etc.) into another piece of

machinery. It has a bucket specifically for scooping loose material.

Gypsum Board Panels made of the mineral gypsum used in construction of interior walls and ceilings.

Heat PumpThis is a picture of the compressor which is used to evaporate and condense refrigerant to form heat and air

conditioning.

Heat PumpThis is a picture of the air handling unit used to force the cooled or heated air throughout the building.

InsulationA material added to a building to slow thermal heat transfer.

Batt / Blanket

Ridged Board

Loose Fill

Insulation Foamed

LintelA beam that carries the load of a wall across a window or door.

Mortar

This is a 3/8” tooled, concave mortar joint used on a building. This is a 3/8” tooled, raked mortar joint

used on a residential home.

Oriented Strand Board OSBA nonveneered panel composed of long shreds of wood fiber oriented in a specific direction and bonded

together under pressure.

Plumbing Lavatory (1 ½ in Drain) Water Closet (3 in Drain)

PlumingShower and Tub Insert

Plumbing Vent Through Roof

Plumbing Drop in Sink

PlywoodA wood panel composed of an odd number of layers of wood veneer bonded together under pressure.

Veneer is a thin layer, sheet or facing.

Radiant BarrierA reflective material that inhibits heat transfer by radiation.

RebarThis rebar is 1” in diameter. It would be referred to as #8 bar. The purpose of the deformations in

on the surface of the rebar are to help it bond tightly to the concrete.

Steep Roof Drainage The Gutter collects all the rainwater from the roof and directs it to the downspout. The Downspout is the

vertical pipe that carries rain water away from the gutter.

The Splashblock is the component that directs water from the downspout away from the house.

Steep Roof MaterialsClay Tile

Steep Roof MaterialsA shingle is a thin material, in this case wood, laid in overlapping rows to cover a roof of a building.

Steep Roof Materials Metal Panel roof is usually made out of tin or aluminum.

Steep Roof ShapesGable Roof Hip Roof

Steep Roof ShapesGambrel Roof Mansard Roof

Steep Roof Terms

• Ridge- The point of the roof.

• Rake- The inclined edge of a sloped roof.

• Eave- The horizontal edge of a sloped roof.

Ridge Rake

Eave

Steep Roof Terms

• Valley- The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof panels.

• Soffit- The finished underside of the eaves.

(House without fascia)

Valley

Soffit

Steep Roof Terms

• Fascia- The vertical wood surface under the eaves.

Fascia

StoneRandom Rubble

StoneCoursed Rubble

Stone Random Ashlar

Stone Coursed Ashlar

Vapor RetarderA layer of material intended t obstruct the passage of water vapor into a building.

Vapor retarder is located on the side of insulation facing the exterior walls.

Waterproofing

Weep HoleA small opening whose purpose is to permit drainage of accumulated water in a building.

Welded Wire Fabric

WindowsThis is a double hung window because it slides up and down on tracks.

Windows This is a casement window because it is hinged on the side and swings out.

WindowsThis is an awning window because it is hinged along the top of the window swings out.