Architectural Terms and House Styles

Architectural terms and house styles flashcards.

Cape Cod Style

A small one or one-and-a-half story house with a steep roof, little overhang, shutters, and usually painted white or yellow; commonly found in snowy areas.

Eaves

The overhanging lower edge of a roof; the bottom of the roof.

Gable Roof

A roof sloping downward in two parts at an angle from a central ridge, with the gable wall in the shape of a pentagon.

Shutters

A hinged cover or screen for a window, often with louvers, used to protect the window or as decor.

Gambrel Roof

A gabled roof that peaks at the ridgeline then slopes away at a low angle, then changes angles and slopes steeply towards the eave, resembling a barn roof.

Ridge

The horizontal line which runs along the top edge of the roof.

Garrison Style

A style of early New England house in which the second floor projects beyond the first floor.

Saltbox Style

A type of house found especially in New England, generally two full stories high in front and one story high in back.

Southern Colonial Style

Features a front colonnade, giant portico, massive size, upper and lower balconies, ornate woodwork, and a roof over the driveway.

Colonnade

A series of regularly spaced columns supporting one side of a roof.

Portico

A structure consisting of a roof supported by columns or piers, usually attached to a building as a porch.

Contemporary Style

Also meaning, 'modern', it borrows features from other traditional styles of architecture and does not denote any one particular architectural style.

Post-Modern Architecture

This style combines traditional and contemporary influences into designs for truly modern structures that remind you of older styles.

FHA (Federal Housing Administration)

A governing body that regulates what is acceptable to have in a house.

Minimum bedroom size

10’ x 10’

1/2 Bath

Sink and toilet only.

3/4 Bath

Sink, toilet, and shower.

Full Bath

Sink, toilet, tub, and shower.

GFCI Outlets

Ground fault circuit interrupter, used in bathrooms.

Work Triangle

The perimeter measurement from the front center edge of the Stove to the Sink to the Refrigerator and back to the Stove.

Efficient Kitchen Work Triangle

Between 12’ and 22’.

Straight Line Kitchen

Used in small houses, all 3 appliances are located on one wall, with limited cabinet/counter space.

U Shape Kitchen

The most popular and most attractive kitchen design with a highly efficient workspace and no traffic through it. One appliance is located on each of the three walls.

Peninsula Kitchen

A popular style of kitchen because it provides plenty of workspace, typically used in “Open Designs” with the peninsula as the divider between kitchen and dining room.

Island Kitchen

Can be used with all the previous style kitchens. The island may house the sink, stove or be a food preparation area. Accessible from all sides and At least 4’ clearance should be allowed on all sides for easy access.

Clothes Care Center

A room for cleaning, pressing, folding, and mending clothes.

Garage

Primary purpose is to provide protection for vehicles, can be attached or detached from the main house, and provides more protection than a carport.

Carport

Can be the same sizes as a garage, at least one wall is open, not as secure as a garage, and less expensive than a garage to build.