This document provides definitions and photos of various construction materials and components. It includes definitions and photos of air barriers, vents, backhoes, battens, arches, bricks, doors, windows, siding materials, framing components, roofing materials, plumbing fixtures, electrical components, insulation types, and more. In total, over 50 different building materials and components are defined and illustrated.

1. Air Barrier PaperAn external membrane applied to sheathing which acts as a weather barrier and helps to prevent water from entering the house

2. Soffit VentAn opening under the eave of a roof, used to allow air to flow into the attic or the space below the roof sheathing.

3. Ridge VentA long, open assembly that allows air to circulate in and out of a gable roof at the ridge.

4. Gable VentA screened, louvered opening in a gable, used for exhausting excess heat and humidity from an attic.

5. Roof TurbineExhausts moist, hot air from your attic and pulls in cooler air from the outside.

6. BackhoeAn excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn backward to move the earth. It helps you to dig holes on the jobsite. 18” bucket width

7. Batter BoardsA temporary frame built just outside the corner of an excavation to carry marks that lie on the surface planes of the basement that will be built in the excavation.

8. Brick Arch 1Segmented arch

9. Brick Arch 2Gothic arch

10. Arch With a KeystoneRoman Arch with a keystone

11. CenteringTemporary formwork for an arch, dome, or vault.

12. Brick Bond 1Flemish Bond- stretcher, header, stretcher, header

13. Brick Bond 2Running bond- continuous row of stretchers with every other row is offset ½ brick

14. Rowlocks

15. Headers

16. Soldiers

17. Stretcher Rowlocks

18. Sailor

19. Shiners

20. Brick Size 1Utility- 3 ½” W x 3 ½” H x 11 ½” L

21. Brick Size 2King – 3” x 2 5/8” x 9 5/8”

22. BulldozerA bulldozer is a crawler (caterpillar tracked tractor), equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade), used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work.

23. Brick Cladding

24. EIFS Cladding

25. Stone CladdingRandom Rubble

26. Wood Board Cladding

27. Wood Shakes CladdingWood Shake- small shingle split from a block of wood that gives it a rough texture and uneven depthsWood Shingle- sawn shingle, more smoother and uniform; also larger in size

28. Code Picture 1Code requirements- minimum opening of 5.7 square feet(5 feet if sill is less than 44” off FFE). Opening width 20” minimum , and opening height 24” minimumOur Measurements- 7.04 sq feet and 20 “ above FFE

29. Control JointAn intentional, linear discontinuity in a structure or component, designed to form a plane of weakness where cracking can occur in response to various forces so as to minimize or eliminate cracking elsewhere in the structure.

30. Code Picture 2Code requirements- Riser height 7 ¾” maximum , tread depth 10”nosing to nosing Our measurements- 7 1/2 “ riser and 1’ tread

31. Isolation JointA pavement joint that allows relative movement in three directions and avoids formation of cracks elsewhere in the concrete and through which all or part of the bonded reinforcement is interrupted.

32. CMU Pic 1A hardened block of concrete usually laid like regular masonry brick. The hollow core allows the blocks to be filled with concrete which adds to the strength. CMU is more economical than cast concrete, and when properly laid one course is equal to 3 courses of standard bricks. A typical CMU unit measures 8” x 8” x 16”

33. CMU Pic 24” CMU

34. CMU Pic 310” CMU

35. Split Face Block

36. Ribbed Block

37. Flush Door

38. Panel DoorTop RailStyleLock RailPanelBottom Rail

39. TransomA small window directly above a door.

40. SidelightA tall, narrow window along-side a door.

41. Power Pole with a TransformerSteps down electricity from a few thousand volts to 110v/220v service which is useable for the housetransformer

42. Service HeadBrings the electricity into the actual meter and isolates that particular residence through an in-line fuse which prevents the house wiring from interfering with other structures on the gridService Head

43. MeterMeasures how much electricity is being usedMeter

44. Service PanelThe point where electricity enters the home and is distributed throughout to the home through individual circuits or to other panelsService Panel

45. Duplex ReceptacleWhere power is accessed from the home

46. Anchor Bolt1.

47. Sill Plate2.

48. Floor Joist3.

49. Subflooring4.

50. Sole Plate5.

51. Stud6.

52. Top Plate7.

53. Unfinished Stringer8.

54. Ceiling Joist9.

55. Rafter10.

56. Roof Decking11.

57. Sheathing12.

58. Front End LoaderUsed for transporting piles of dirt or other materials at a jobsite. Unlike a bulldozer it can scoop dirt off the ground and move it rather than just push it around.

59. Gypsum BoardAn interior finish that consists of a gypsum core between two faces of paper

60. Compressor/EvaporatorCompresses the refrigerant gas which gives off heat, thus cooling the air as it flows across the cooler coils of the air handling unit~one advantage of the heat pump system is that it’s the most efficient way to heat and cool a home

61. Air Handling UnitForces the air through the system with the use of a blower fan. Also has a heating unit which warms air as it goes through it before distributing it throughout the house~one disadvantage of a heat pump system is that it is noisy and one must account for this in the placement of the compressor unit

62. InsulationThe purpose of insulation is to regulate the flow of heat and sound in a buildingIn the summer the insulation keeps cold air in and hot air outIn the winter it keeps hot air in and cold air out

63. Batt/Blanket InsulationStrips or rolls of fiberglass insulation used to insulate walls and cielings

64. Loose Fill InsulationLoose fiberglass or paper insulation blown into place

65. Foamed InsulationA mixture of chemicals that react and expand. It is spray applied and is the best form of insulation to completely seal off penetrations

66. Rigid InsulationRigid insulation is insulation that is in the form of sheets used for exterior sheathing of walls as well as insulation

67. LintelA beam that carries the load of a wall over an opening such as a window or door

68. Mortar Joint 1Concave Joint; tooled joint; 3/8” thick; it is used on a brick clad building; Type N mortar

69. Mortar Joint 2Extruded; neither tooled nor troweled; 3/8” thick; used on a brick clad house; Type N

70. Oriented Strand BoardA nonveneered panel made of strands of wood glued and compressed together in several layers. Each layer is oriented a different way to increase strength

71. LavatoryUses 1 ½ inch diameter piping for drainage

72. Water ClosetUses a 3 inch diameter pipe to drain

73. Tub and Studs

74. Plumbing VentAllows the air to enter the plumbing system eliminating a vacuum allowing water to drain from the pipes

75. Kitchen SinkUnder-mount sink

76. PlywoodMade by gluing thin veneers of wood together rotating each layer 90 degrees. This provides greater strength and minimizes moisture movementVeneer- a thin layer or facing

77. Radiant BarrierRadiant barriers are typically installed on top of rafters or under them to reflect radiant heat from the house

78. Rebar#4 (1/2” diameter)- the purpose of the deformations is to help it bond to the concrete better and not slip out

79. GutterA channel that collects rainwater at the eave of a roof and moves it to the downspout Gutter

80. DownspoutA vertical pipe that directs the water from the gutter to a lower level discharge pointDownspout

81. Splash BlockA precast concrete or plastic block used to dissipate the water at ground level so the ground around it doesn’t erode

82. Roof UnderlaymentUnderlayment- layer of waterproof material such as building felt between roof sheathing and roofing

83. Clay Tile Roof

84. Shingle RoofSlate Shingle RoofShingle- A small unit of water resistant material nailed in overlapping fashion with many other such units to render a wall or sloping roof water tight.

85. Metal RoofTypical Materials Used: Galvanized or Aluminzed Steel

86. Gable Roof

87. Gambrel Roof

88. Hip Roof

89. Mansard Roof

90. Ridge The level intersection of two roof planes in a gable roof

91. ValleyA trough formed by the intersection of two roof slopes

92. EaveThe horizontal edge at the low side of a sloping roof

93. RakeThe sloping edge of a steep roof

94. SoffitThe undersurface of a horizontal element of a building, especially the underside of a stair or roof overhang

95. FasciaThe exposed vertical shape of an eaveRoof With Fascia

96. Roof without FasciaHouse with exposed rafter tails

97. StoneRandom RubbleRandom AshlarCoursed AshlarCoursed Rubble

98. Vapor RetarderVapor Retarder- a layer of material intended to obstruct the passage of water vapor through a building assembly. It is placed on the warm in winter side

99. WaterproofingAn impervious membrane applied to the outside of a foundation to keep water out of the foundation. This is a photo of liquid applied

100. Weep HoleSmall opening whose purpose is to permit drainage of water that accumulates inside a building componet or assemblyWeep Hole

101. Welded Wire Fabric6” X 6” Grid

102. Window 1Single Hung Window Only the bottom sash opens

103. Window 2Casement WindowThe Window opens out from a side hinge

104. Window 3JalousieSmall panels of glass are cranked open