Building Technology [Wall]
Dolly Varden siding
Bevel siding rabbeted along the lower edge to receive the upper edge of the board below it
flush bead
a bead having its outer surface at the same level as the adjoining surfaces
cock bead
a bead that projects above or beyond the adjoining surfaces
spandrel beam
a beam spanning between columns and supporting the outer edge of a floor or roof
lintel
a beam supporting the weight above a door or window opening
corner board
a board against which siding is fitted at the corner of a frame structure
rake
a board or molding placed along the sloping side of a gable to cover the ends of the siding
engaged column
a column built so as to be truly or seemingly bonded to the wall before which it stands
splayed coping
a coping that sloped only in one direction. Also called "wedge coping"
saddle coping
a coping that slopes to either side of a center ridge. Also called "saddlebacked coping"
unit system
a curtain wall system consisting of preassembled, framed wall units that may be preglazed or glazed after installation
panel system
a curtain wall system consisting of preformed metal, cut stone, precast concrete, or panelized brick wall units, which may be preglazed or glazed after installation
unit-and-mullion system
a curtain wall system in which one- or two-story-high mullions are lowered into place behind the mullions. The framed wall units may be pre-glazed or glazed after installation
stick system
a curtain wall system in which tubular metal mullions and rails are assembled piece by piece on-site to frame vision glass and spandrel units
column-cover-and-spandrel system
a curtain wall system in which vision-glass assemblies and spandrel units are supported by spandrel beams between exterior columns clad with other sections
corner brace
a diagonal brace let into studding to reinforce the corner of a frame structure
panel
a distinct portion, section, or division of a wall, wainscot, ceiling, or door, esp. of any surface sunk below or raised above the surrounding area, or enclosed by a frame or border
pony wall
a dwarf wall for supporting floor joists
wainscot
a facing of wood paneling, esp. when covering the lower portion of an interior wall
coping
a finishing or protective cap or course to an exterior wall, usually sloped or curved to shed water
shiplap
a flush, overlapping joint, such as a rabbet, between two boards joined edge to edge. Also, the boarding joined with such overlapping joints
basement wall
a foundation wall that encloses a usable area under a building
quirk
a groove or acute angle dividing a bead or other molding from adjoining members or surfaces
wall plate
a horizontal member built into or laid along the top of a wall to support and distribute the load from joists or rafters. Also called "raising plate"
girt
a horizontal member spanning between exterior columns to support wall sheathing or cladding
template
a horizontal timber or stone set in a wall to receive and distribute the pressure of a girder or beam. Also, "templet"
frame house
a house constructed with a skeletal framework of timber, usually sheathed with siding or shingles
clapboard
a long, thin board with one edge thicker than the other, laid horizontally as bevel siding
parapet
a low, protective wall at the edge of a terrace, balcony, or roof, esp. that part of an exterior wall, fire wall, or part wall that rises above the roof
firestop
a material or member built into a building frame to block a concealed hollow space through which a fire might spread from one part of the building to another
screen
a movable or fixed device, esp. a framed construction, designed to divide, conceal or protect
backing
a narrow wood strip fixed to the corner of a framed partition to provide a nailing surface for finish materials
saffing
a noncombustible material placed in an opening to prevent the passage of fire, as between a curtain wall and a spandrel beam
blocking
a number of small wood pieces inserted to space, join, or reinforce members of a building frame, fill the spaces between them, or provide a nailing surface for finish materials
raised panel
a panel having a center portion thicker than the edges or projecting above the surrounding frame. Also called "fielded panel"
flush panel
a panel having a surface in the same plane as the surrounding frame
sunk panel
a panel having a surface recessed below the surrounding frame or surface
spandrel
a panel-like area in a multistory frame building, between the sill of a window on one level and the head of the window immediately below. Also, "spandril"
movable partition
a partition capable of being moved to different locations. Also called "demountable partition"
ledger strip
a piece attached to the face of a beam at the bottom as a support for the ends of the joists
canton
a pilaster or similar feature projecting from a corner of a building
bolection
a raised molding for framing a panel, doorway, or fireplace, esp. when the meeting surfaces are at different levels. Also, "bilection"
sill sealer
a resilient, fibrous material placed between a sill and a foundation wall to redudce air infiltration
sheathing
a rough covering of boards, plywood, or other panel materials applied to a frame structure to serve as a base for siding, flooring, or roofing
paneling
a series of panels, esp. decorative wood panels, joined in a continuous surface
pilaster
a shallow rectangular feature projecting from a wall, having a capital and a base and architecturally treated as a column
diagonal sheathing
a sheathing of boards applied diagonally for lateral strength
return wall
a short wall perpendicular to the end of a longer wall
L sill
a sill for a building frame, composed of a plate resting on a foundation wall and a joist or header at the outer edge of the plate
box sill
a sill for a building frame, composed of a plate resting on a foundation wall and a joist or header at the outer edge of the plate, as well as a sole plate for studs resting either directly on the joists or on the rough flooring
batten
a small board or strip of wood used for various building purposes, such as covering joints between boards, supporting shingles or roofing tiles, or providing a base for lathing
boarding
a structure of boards used for sheathing or subflooring
ribbon
a thin, horizontal board let into studding to carry the ends of joists. Also called "ledger, ribband, ribbon strip"
mullion
a vertical member dividing the panels in wainscoting
pier
a vertical supporting structure, such as a section of wall between two openings or one supporting the end of an arch or lintel
gable wall
a wall bearing or crowned by a gable
bearing wall
a wall capable of supporting an imposed load, as from a floor or roof of a building. Also called "load-bearing wall"
exterior wall
a wall forming part of the envelope of a building, having one face exposed to the weather or to earth. Also called "external wall"
blind wall
a wall having no windows, doorways, or other openings.
dwarf wall
a wall less than a full story in height
retaining wall
a wall of treated timber, masonry, or concrete for holding in place a mass of earth
stud wall
a wall or partition framed with studs and faced with sheathing, siding, wallboard, or plasterwork. Also called "stud partition"
nonbearing wall
a wall supporting no load other than its own weight. Also called "non-load-bearing wall"
party wall
a wall used jointly by contiguous structures, erected upon a line dividing two parcels of land, each of which is a separate real-estate entity
siding
a weatherproof material, such as shingles, boards, or units of sheet metal, used for surfacing the exterior walls of a frame building
platform frame
a wooden building frame having studs only one story high, regardless of the stories built, each story resting on the top plates of the story below or on the sill plates of the foundation wall. Also called "western frame"
balloon frame
a wooden building frame having studs that rise the full height of the frame from the sill plate to the roof plate, with joists nailed to the studs and supported by sills or by ribbons let into the studs
discharging arch
an arch built above another structural member to relieve its load. Also called "relieving arch"
backup wall
an assembly of materials used behind a curtain wall to provide the required degree of fire-resistance
corner post
an assembly of two or three studs spiked together at the intersection of two framed walls to provide a nailing surface for finish materials
surround
an encircling area or border
curtain wall
an exterior wall supported wholly by the structural frame of a building and carrying no loads other than its own weight and wind loads
bearing partition
an interior wall carrying a structural load. Also called "load-bearing partition"
partition
an interior wall dividing a room or part of a building into separate areas
nonbearing partition
an interior wall supporting no load other than its own weight. Also called "non-load-bearing partition"
spandrel glass
an opaque glass for concealing the structural elements in curtain wall construction, produced by fusing a ceramic frit to the interior surface of tempered or heat-strengthened glass
cripple
any framing member that is shorter than usual, such as a stud above a door opening or below a window sill
stud
any of a repetitive series of slender, upright members of wood or light-gauge metal forming the structural frame of a wall or partition
plate
any of various horizontal timbers laid flat across the heads of studding or upon floors to support joists, rafters, or studs at or near their ends
anchor
any of various metal devices used in curtain wall construction to secure a frame or panel to the building structure, usually allowing for adjustment in three dimensions
building paper
any of various papers, felts, or similar sheet material used in construction to prevent the passage of air or moisture
anchor bolt
any of various rods or bolts embedded in masonry or concrete to hold, secure, or support a structural member
wall
any of various upright constructions presenting a continuous surface and serving to enclose, divide, or protect an area
interior wall
any wall within a building, entirely surrounded by exterior walls
retaining wall
can fail by overturning, sliding, or settling. Also called "breast wall"
center-to-center
from the centerline of one element, member, or part to the centerline of the next. Also called "on center"
structural sheathing
sheathing capable of bracing the plane of a framed wall or roof
termite shield
sheet metal installed atop a foundation wall or around pipes to prevent the passage of termites
drop siding
siding composed of boards narrowed along the upper edges to fit into rabbets or grooves in the lower edges, laid horizontally with their backs flat against the sheathing of the wall. Also called "novelty siding, rustic siding"
colonial siding
siding composed of plain, square-edged boards laid horizontally so that the upper overlaps the one below
bevel siding
siding composed of tapered boards, such as clapboards, laid horizontally with the thicker lower edge of each board overlapping the thinner upper edge of the board below it. Also called "lap siding"
vertical siding
siding consisting of matched boards applied vertically
board and batten
siding consisting of wide boards or plywood sheets set vertically with butt joints covered by battens
soleplate
the bottom horizontal member of a framed wall upon which a row of studs is erected. Also called "shoe, sole, solepiece"
toe
the forward, lower tip of the base of a footing or retaining wall, extended to give broader bearing and greater stability
dado
the lower portion of an interior wall when faced or treated differently from the upper section, as with paneling or wallpaper
sill
the lowest horizontal member of a frame structure, resting on and anchored to a foundation wall. Also called "mudsill, sill plate"
top plate
the uppermost horizontal member of a framed wall on which joists or rafters rest
let in
to insert into the surface of a stud, wall, or the like as a permanent addition
