Vernacular Terms in Construction for Interior Design

Abutment

a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span

Anchor

is used to attach objects or structures to concrete

Architect

is someone who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings

Astragal

a convex molding or wooden strip across a surface or separating panels, typically semicircular in cross-section.

Awning

secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building

Balusters

is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, a form cut from a rectangular or square plank, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase

Barrel Bolt

is a type of fastener (nut) which has a barrel-shaped flange and protruding boss that is internally threaded

Baseboard

a narrow wooden board running along the base of an interior wall

Bath Tub

a tub, usually installed in a bathroom, in which to bathe

Bathroom

a room containing a toilet and sink and typically also a bathtub or shower

Beam

a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal spanning an opening or part of a building, usually to support the roof or floor above.

Bolt

a metal pin or bar, in particular

Bottom Chord

The lowest longitudinal member of a truss

Brace

a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, in particular

Brick

a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building

Brown Coat

the first rough coat of plaster applied as a base coat over lath or masonry

Butted (Butt Joint)

(of wood, metal, etc.) a joint formed by two surfaces abutting at right angles

Cabinet Hinge

mechanical bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them

Canopy

an ornamental cloth covering hung or held up over something, especially a throne or bed

Carpenter

a person who makes and repairs wooden objects and structures

Cast Iron

a hard, relatively brittle alloy of iron and carbon that can be readily cast in a mold and contains a higher proportion of carbon than steel

Ceiling

the upper interior surface of a room or other similar compartment

Ceiling Joist

one of the horizontal supporting members that run between foundations, walls, or beams to support a ceiling

Cement

a powdery substance made with calcined lime and clay. It is mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.

Chain Bolt

a bolt with a chain attached for drawing it out

Clinch

To secure a nail in place by bending the protruding point at a right angle.

Collar

A horizontal tie connecting pairs of opposite rafters near the ridge of the roof.

Collar Beam

horizontal member between two rafters and is very common in domestic roof construction

Column

an upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument.

Concrete Slab

Horizontal slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 4 and 20 inches (100 and 500 millimeters) thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner slabs are also used for exterior paving.

Conductor

a shallow trough fixed beneath the edge of a roof for carrying off rainwater

Conduit

a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring.

Contractor

a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.

Corner

a place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet.

Corrugated G.I. Sheet

building material composed of sheets of hot-dip galvanised mild steel, cold-rolled to produce a linear corrugated pattern in them.

Cross Bracing

system utilized to reinforce building structures in which diagonal supports intersect.

Crushed Stone

angular rock is a form of construction aggregate, typically produced by mining a suitable rock deposit and breaking the removed rock down to the desired size using crushers.

Dado Joint

is a slot or trench cut into the surface of a piece of machinable material, usually wood.

Design

a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made.

Dish Rack

rack for holding dishes as dishwater drains off of them.

Door

a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle, or in the framework of a cupboard.

Door Case

the frame in a doorway into which a door is fitted.

Door fillet

A strip nailed to a wall or partition to support a shelf, or a strip for a door to close against. A strip set into an angle between two boards.

Door Frame

the frame in a doorway into which a door is fitted.

Door Head

The horizontal upper member of a door frame.

Door Jamb

each of the two upright parts of a doorframe, on one of which the door is hung.

Door Panelled

is a woodworking technique often used in the making of doors, wainscoting, and other decorative features for cabinets, furniture, and homes.

Door Sill

the sill or threshold of a doorway.

Dowel

a peg of wood, metal, or plastic without a distinct head, used for holding together components of a structure.

Downspout

a pipe to carry rainwater from a roof to a drain or to ground level.

Drip Mould

projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater.

Earth Fill

An embankment of compacted earth.

Easement

a right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose.

Eave

the part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.

Electrician

a person who installs and maintains electrical equipment.

Engineer

a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or public works.

Exterior Siding

material applied to the walls of a house or other building meant to shed water, protect the walls from the effects of weather, insulate, and is a key in the aesthetics of the structure.

Façade

the face of a building, especially the principal front that looks onto a street or open space.

Fascia

a wooden board or other flat piece of material such as that covering the ends of rafters.

Faucet

a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled; a tap.

Feet

is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement.

Fill

put someone or something into (a space or container) so that it is completely or almost completely full.

Filler

a thing put in a space or container to fill it.

Finish Coat

the final usually white coat of plastering applied to walls and ceilings.

Floor

the lower surface of a room, on which one may walk.

Floor Boards

any of the boards composing a floor.

Floor joists

one of the horizontal supporting members that run between foundations, walls, or beams to support the floor.

Floor Sill

A large timber laid flat on the ground or in a level, shallow ditch, to which are fastened the drill-platform boards or planking, or which is used as the base for a full timber set.

Flooring

the boards or other material of which a floor is made.

Flush

To align two items so that they fit evenly

Force

strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.

Foreman

a worker, especially a man, who supervises and directs other workers.

Foundation

the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

Frame

a rigid structure that surrounds or encloses something such as a door or window.

Framework

an essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object.

G.I. Strap

See Galvanized Iron

Gable Roof

a roof with two sloping sides and a gable at each end.

Girder

a large iron or steel beam or compound structure used for building bridges and the framework of large buildings.

Girt

a girt is a horizontal structural member in a framed wall.

Gravel

a loose aggregation of small water-worn or pounded stones.

Groove

a long, narrow cut or depression, especially one made to guide motion or receive a corresponding ridge.

Ground

the solid surface of the earth.

Gutter

a shallow trough fixed beneath the edge of a roof for carrying off rainwater.

Half Circle

formed by cutting a whole circle along a diameter line.

Hall

an area in a building onto which rooms open; a corridor.

Handrail

a rail fixed to posts or a wall for people to hold on to for support.

Head

The top of almost anything.

Hinge

a movable joint or mechanism on which a door, gate, or lid swings as it opens and closes, or that connects linked objects.

Inch

a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm).

Jack Rafter

one of the shorter rafters used in a hip or valley roof.

Jamb

a side post or surface of a doorway, window, or fireplace.

Kiln Dried

dry (a material such as wood or sand) in a kiln.

King Post

an upright post in the center of a roof truss, extending from the tie beam to the apex of the truss.

Laborer

a person doing unskilled manual work for wages.

Landing

an instance of coming or bringing something to land, either from the air or from water.

Lath, wood strip

a thin flat strip of wood, especially one of a series forming a foundation for the plaster of a wall or the tiles of a roof, or made into a trellis or fence.

Lathing

see lath.

Lattice

a structure consisting of strips of wood or metal crossed and fastened together with square or diamond-shaped spaces left between, used typically as a screen or fence or as a support for climbing plants.

Lavatory

a room or compartment with a toilet and washbasin; a bathroom.

Lean-to Roof

rafters lean against another building or wall.