Visual Dictionary

Air Barrier Paper Air Barrier Paper – a moisture resistant barrier that covers the sheathing and acts as a backup waterproofing to

the siding that is applied over it.

The barriers function is to control air from penetrating or escaping the building envelope.

Attic VentilationAttic ventilation is needed to allow warm air to escape the roof area and also allow fresh air to

circulate.

Soffit VentSoffit vents are used to allow air to flow into the attic or the space below the roof sheathing.

Attic VentilationRidge Vent

Ridge vents allows air to circulate in and out of the roof at the ridge.

Attic VentilationGable Vent Roof Turbine

Gable vents and Roof Turbines are use to exhaust excess heat and humidity from an attic.

BackhoeA backhoe is a piece of excavating equipment that has a bucket attached to a digging arm.

Bucket Width on this particular backhoe was 16 inches across.

This piece of equipment is used primarily for digging and excavating.

Batter BoardsBatter Board are temporary frames built just outside the corner that aid in marking the boundaries and

establish the level line of the structure.

Brick ArchesBrick Arch #1 and #2 - both of these arches are Roman Arches.

Brick ArchesRoman Brick arch with a keystone

Brick ArchesCentering

Centering is a temporary framework used for arch construction.

Brick BondsStack Bond - brick work that is laid so that all joints align vertically.

Running Bond – brickwork consisting entirely of stretchers.

Stack BondRunning Bond

Running Bond Stack Bond

Brick BondsSoldiers, Headers, and Rowlock

Soldiers

Headers

Rowlock

Soldiers

HeadersHeaders

Rowlock

Brick BondsSailors

Brick BondsStretcher Rowlock (Shiners)

Brick SizesBrick Size #1 – 3 ½ “ x 2 ¼ ” x 7 5/8 ” Modular

Brick Size #2 – 3 5/8 “ x 3 5/8 ” x 11 5/8 ” Utility

Brick Size #1

Brick Size #2Brick Size #2

Brick Size #1

BulldozerA piece of earth moving equipment that has a large plated front used to push soil.

Bulldozers are primarily used for pushing soil.

CladdingBrick and EIFS Clad Structure

EIFS

BrickBrick

EIFS

CladdingStone Clad Structure Wood Board Clad StructureRandom Rubble Pattern

CladdingWood Shingle Clad Structure

Shake – a shingle split from a block of wood.Shingle – a small unit of water resistant material installed in an overlapping fashion with many

other units to render the wall water tight.

Code RequirementsEgress window from a bedroom.

This window measured (per side) 2’6” x 5’, 12.5 Sqf total area, and is 2’6” AFF.IBC Requirements are minimum opening of 5.7 Sqft, minimum height of 24”, minimum width of

20” and less than or equal to 44 “ sill height AFF.Yes it meets IBC requirements.

Code Requirements of StairTread = 11 1/8”Riser = 7 7/16”

IBC requirements are 7 ¾” maximum riser height and 11” minimum tread depth and no more than 3/8” overall deviation in riser heights.

Yes the stair meets the IBC requirements.

Concrete JointsControl Joint is an intentional discontinuity in a structure designed to form a plane of weakness

where cracking can occur. So that cracking is minimized elsewhere.

Concrete JointsIsolation joints are used to relieve flexural stresses due to vertical movement of slab-on-grade applications that

adjoin fixed foundation elements such as columns, building or machinery foundations, etc.

In the photo the isolation joint separates the two concrete slabs isolating one slab from another.

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)1 CMU=3 brick courses

CMU or Concrete Masonry Unit is a block of hardened concrete, with or without hollow cores, designed to be laid in the same manner as a brick stone; a concrete block.

‘Typical Dimensions are 7 5/8” X 15 5/8”

Concrete Masonry Unit2 Different Size CMU

4” and 12” CMU

12” 4” 12” 4”

Decorative Concrete Masonry UnitsSplit Block

DoorsExterior Flush Door

DoorsExterior Panel Door

Top Rail

Panel

Lock rail

Bottom Rail

Top Rail

Panel

Lock rail

Bottom Rail

Stile Stile

DoorsTransom and Side Lights

Transom – a small window directly above a door.Side Light – a tall, narrow window beside a door.

Transom

Side LightSide Light

Transom

Electrical ComponentsUnderground Transformer Box

Transformer is an electrical device that changes the voltage of alternating current.

Electrical ComponentsService Head

Service Head is the assembly by which electricity is conducted from outdoor lines to the meter base.

Electrical ComponentsMeter

A meter is a device that measures the quantity of electricity consumed.

Electrical ComponentsService Panel

A service panel is the first point of entry beyond the meter where the electricity is distributed throughout to varying circuits.

Electrical ComponentsDuplex Receptacle

Framing Elements#1 Anchor Bolt

Framing Elements#2 Sill Plate

Framing Element#3 Floor Joist

Framing Element#4 Subflooring

Framing Element#5 Sole Plate

Framing Element#6 Stud, #7 Top Plate, and #8 Ceiling Joist

Ceiling Joist

Top Plate

Stud

Ceiling Joist

Top Plate

Stud

Framing Element#9 Rafters and #10 Roof Decking

Rafter

Roof Decking

Roof Decking

Rafter

Framing Element#11 Sheathing

Framing Element#12 Stringer

Front End Loader A front end loader is a piece of earth moving equipment that scoops or loads soil with it’s

bucket.

Gypsum Board Gypsum Board is an interior facing panel made of a gypsum core between two faces of paper.

Heat Pump Advantage – One advantage is they save on energy thus generating lower energy bills.

Disadvantage – In very cold climates a back up system may be needed to effectively heat the home.

Compressor and CondenserThe air conditioner compressor pumps cool refrigerant vapor from the air conditioner evaporator and compresses the vapor. The air conditioner condenser coils receive the hot vapor from the compressor and immediately the air conditioner compressor begins to condense the refrigerant into a liquid by removing heat from the hot vapor

Heat Pump Air Handling Unit

The Air Handling Unit circulates conditioned air throughout the home.

InsulationThe purpose of insulation is to limit the transfer of heat.

Blanket Insulation

InsulationLoose Fill

InsulationFoamed Insulation

InsulationRigid Board Insulation

Lintel A lintel is a beam that carries the load of a wall across an opening.

MortarMortar Joint #1 is on the exterior of a commercial office building. It is a tooled joint, measures

3/8”, and is most likely Type N Mortar.

MortarMortar Joint #2 on the exterior wall of home.

This joint is troweled, measures ½”, and is probably Type N Mortar.

Oriented Strand Board Oriented Strand Board or OSB a building panel composed of long shreds of wood fiber oriented

in specific directions and bonded together under pressure. It is a non-veneered panel.

PlumbingLavatory – 1 ½” pipe drain size

PlumbingWater Closet – drain piping size 3”

Plumbing Tub set prior to gypsum board being installed

PlumbingPlumbing Roof Vent

The plumbing roof vent allows for the plumbing fixtures to drain freely by letting air into the drain system.

PlumbingKitchen Sink

Drop in

Plywood Plywood is a wood panel composed of an odd number of layers of wood veneer bonded together

under pressure.

Veneer is a thin layer, sheet, or facing.

RebarSize #4 = ½ inch diameter

Deformations in the bars are in place to allow for the concrete to bond to the bars.

Steep Roof DrainageGutter – a channel that collects water at the eave of the roof.

Down Spout – a vertical pipe for conducting water from a roof to a lower level.Splash Block – a small block of concrete or plastic used to divert water at the bottom of a

downspout.

Gutter

Down Spout

Splash Block

Steep Roof MaterialsUnderlayment

Underlayment is a water resistant material that is placed directly beneath the exposed roofing material.

The material protects the roof sheathing and the structure beneath it from the weather until the exposed roofing material is installed.

Steep Roof MaterialsClay Tile Roof

Steep Roof MaterialsSlate Roof

Shingle is a small unit of water-resistant material nailed in overlapping fashion with many other such units to render a wall or slopping roof water tight.

Slate tile roof

Slate tile roof

Individual slate tiles left over from the roof installation.

Steep Roof MaterialsMetal Panel Roof

Metal panel roofs are typically constructed from galvanized panels.

Steep Roof ShapesGable and Gambrel

Gambrel GambrelGable Gable

Steep Roof ShapesHip Roof

Steep Roof ShapesMansard

Steep Roof TermsRidge

Ridge is the level intersection of two roof planes.

Steep Roof TermsValley

Valley is a trough formed by the intersection of two roof slopes.

Steep Roof TermsEave and Rake

Eave is the horizontal edge at the low side of a sloping roof.Rake is the sloping edge of a steep roof.

Eave

Eave

Rake

Rake

Steep Roof TermsSoffit and Fascia

Soffit is the undersurface of a horizontal element of a building such as a roof overhang.Fascia is the exposed vertical face of an eave.

Fascia

Soffit Soffit

Fascia

Steep Roof TermsBuilding without fascia

StoneRandom Rubble Pattern

StoneCoursed Rubble Pattern

StoneRandom Ashlar Pattern

StoneCoursed Ashlar Pattern

Vapor RetarderVapor retarder placed on the face of a piece bat insulation.

The vapor retarder is typically placed on the interior face of the bat insulation.

Water ProofingThe waterproofing is applied to prevent water from flowing through the CMU wall.

This is a Liquid Applied from of water proofing.

Weep HoleAllows for moisture to escape from behind the brick.

Welded Wire FabricThis is 4” x 4”

Window Type #1 – This is an Outswing Casement because it is hinged along the inside of the window. Type #2 –This is a Double Hung window because both sashes are able to moved up or down.

Type #1 – Outswing Casement

Type #2 – Double Hung

Type #1 – Outswing Casement

Type #2 – Double Hung

WindowType #3 – This is a Single Hung because only the bottom sash is capable of moving up or down.