This visual dictionary provides definitions and illustrations of various construction materials and components. It includes entries on air barrier paper, attic ventilation materials, back hoes, batter boards, brick arches and bonds, bulldozers, cladding, concrete joints, decorative concrete masonry units, doors, electrical components, framing elements, front end loaders, gypsum board, heat pumps, insulation, lintels, mortar, oriented strand board, plumbing, plywood, radiant barriers, rebar, roof drainage, roof materials and shapes, stone, vapor retarders, waterproofing, weep holes, weld wire fabric, and windows. Each entry concisely defines the term and sometimes provides an illustration

1. Visual Dictionary

2. Air Barrier PaperCommonly known as a “house wrap”, this white sheet material is permeable to water vapor but not liquid water.Air barrier paper serves as temporary protection from weather elements during the construction of a building.

3. Attic Ventilation MaterialsSoffit Vent- ideal for drawing cool, fresh air into the atticRidge Vent- installed at the peak of a sloped roof which allows warm, humid air to escape the attic

4. Attic Ventilation Materials (Cont’d)Gable Vent- mounted in the top of the gable to allow the passage of air through the attic.Roof Turbine- Exhaust moist, hot air from the attic

5. Back Hoea piece of excavating equipment or digger consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part armBucket width was 4 feet

6. Batter Boardsis one of a pair of horizontal boards nailed to posts set at the corners of an excavation, used to indicate the desired level, also as a fastening for stretched strings to indicate outlines of foundation walls.

7. Brick ArchesRoman Arch- a brick structure that spans a space while supporting weightSegmental Arch- an arch with inner bricks that form a semicircular patternArch with a Keystone- a keystone is the stone at the top of the arch that connects the archCentering- the structure upon which the stones of arches are laid during construction.

8. Brick BondsRunning Brick Bond- bricks are simply laid out in rows end to end, in the running bond patternFlemish Brick Bond- it is created by alternately laying headers and stretchers in a single course

9. Brick Bonds (Cont’d)RowlockStretcherSoldier

10. Brick Bonds (Cont’d)HeaderSailor

11. Brick SizesModular Brick- were introduced to make it easier to insert standard sizes of doors and windows into walls; Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.25 x 7.5 inchesStandard Brick- typical mortar brick; Dimensions: 3.625 x 2.25 x 8 inches

12. BulldozerCaterpillar tracked tractor that is equipped with a substantial metal plate, used to push large quantities of soil, sand, and rubble during construction work

13. CladdingBrick-Clad Structure

14. EIFS Clad StructureCladding (Cont’d)Stone Clad Structure with Random Rubble Course Pattern

15. Wood Shingle- wooden roof coverings

16. Wood Shakes- wooden shingles made from split logs

17. We think this picture is shinglesCode RequirementsEgress Window-Width- 31’’Height- 22’’Area- 4.74 ft^2 Still Height AFF- 29’’IBC Requirements: Width- > 34 ¼’’Height- > 24’’Area- > 5.7 ft^2Still Height AFF- < 44’’This window does not meet IBC requirementsStair-Tread Dimension- 10 ½’’Riser Dimension- 7 ½’’IBC Requirements:Tread Dimension- >10 ½’’Riser Dimension- <7 ¾’’These stairs meet IBC requirements

18. Concrete JointsControl Joint- a groove cut into the surface of the concrete that allows some cracking to occur in the joint and not be readily visibleIsolation joint- Joints that isolate the slab from a wall, column or drainpipeThis isolation joint was separating a beam

19. Concrete Masonry UnitCMU is a large rectangular brick used in constructionTypical Dimensions:8’’ x 8’’ x 16’’

20. Decorative Concrete Masonry UnitsSplit BlockRibbed Block

21. DoorsSidelightFlushTransom

22. Doors (Cont’d) 2 Panel DoorPanelTop RailLock RailStileBottom Rail

23. Electrical ComponentsPower Pole- used to support both electric power distribution lines and telecommunications cables, as well as their associated equipmentTransformer Box- a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coilsService Head- is a weatherproof entry point for above-ground electrical wiring or telephone lines into a home or businessMeter- is a device that measures the amount of electrical energy supplied to or produced by a residence, business or machine

24. Electrical Components (Cont’d)Service Panel- a component of an electricity supply system which divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuitsDuplex Receptacle- connectors used for mains electricity

25. Framing Elements1) Anchor Bolt2) Sill Plate3) Floor Joists

26. Framing Elements (Cont’d)4) Subflooring5) Sole Plate 6) Stud

27. Framing Elements (Cont’d) 7) Top Plate 8) Ceiling Joist and 9) Rafter 10) Roof Decking

28. Framing Elements (Cont’d)11) Sheathing12) Stringer

29. Front End Loaderis a heavy equipment machine (often used in construction) that is primarily used to "load" material into or onto another type of machinery

30. Gypsum BoardGypsum Board- constructing interior walls and ceilings using panels made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, then kiln dried.

31. Heat PumpAdvantage: can change conditions rapidly and also control humidityDisadvantage: they are noisy and difficult to zoneCompressor/Condenser- the exterior unit of heat pump. A fan pulls air across a line of refrigerant and changes temperature. This adds heat for the winter and is reversed in the summer to let heat outAir Handling Unit- moves and conditions air through duct work. A fan sucks in new and return air and re-circulates it

32. InsulationInsulation: A material that has a low thermal conductivity. Used to reduce heat flow in a building. Keeps building warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Batt Blanket Loose Fill

33. Insulation (Cont’d) Foamed Rigid Board

34. LintelLintel: A beam that carries the load of a wall over the opening such as a door or window

35. MortarMortar #1:Extruded Tooled Joint½ ‘’ JointApartment BuildingPossibly Type N MortarMortar #2:Concave Troweled Joint¼’’ JointRetaining Wall on CampusPossibly Type O Mortar

36. Oriented Strand BoardA non-veneered building panel composed of long shreds of wood fiber oriented in specific directions bonded together under pressure.

37. PlumbingLavatory-1 ½’’ Drainage PipeWater Closet-3’’ Drainage PipeShower and Tub Unit

38. Plumbing (Cont’d)VTR (Vent Through Roof)- Part of drainage system, the vent allows air to flow and noxious gases to escapeSink- Flush mount sink

39. PlywoodPlywood: a wood panel composed of an odd number of layers of wood veneer bound together under pressureVeneer: a thin layer, sheet, or facing. Made from slicing thin pieces from a tree

40. Radiant BarrierRadiant Barrier: a reflective foil placed adjacent to an airspace in roof or wall assemblies as a deterrent to the passage of infrared energyThis barrier reduces heating and cooling costs.

41. RebarThe rebar shown is #4 ½’’ The deformations on the bars are made so that when the bars are embedded in concrete, there is more surface area for the concrete to hold onto, increasing the strength of the bond

42. Steep Roof DrainageGutter- channel that collects rainwater runoffDownspout- metal tube that carries rainwater from gutter to groundSplashblock- a piece of plastic or other durable material that is laid under downspout. Diverts water from base of the house

43. Steep Roof MaterialsRoof Underlayment: protects the roof sheathing and structure from moisture Wood Shingle Roof:Shingle- small units of water resistant materials laid onto roof in overlapping patterns to make roof watertight

44. Steep Roof Materials (Cont’d)Clay Tile RoofPerformed Metal Roof: typically made from galvanized or aluminum steel

45. Steep Roof ShapesGable RoofHip Roof

46. Steep Roof Shapes (Cont’d)Gambrel RoofMansard Roof

47. Steep Roof TermsRake- The sloping edge of a steep roofFascia – horizontal surface which spans across the top of columnsEave- the horizontal edge of a sloping roof slope

48. Steep Roof Terms (Cont’d)Valley- a trough formed by the intersection of two roof slopesRidge- where two roof panels meetSoffit – the horizontal underside of an overhang

49. StoneRandom RubbleCoursed RubbleRandom AshlarCoursed Ashlar

50. Vapor RetarderVapor Retarder- a layer of material intended to obstruct the passage of water vapor through a building assemblyMost commonly put on the warm side of the building during the winter

51. WaterproofingWaterproofing: an impervious membrane applied to the outside of a foundation. Used to prevent water from leaking into the building.The waterproofing here is fully adhered

52. Weep HoleWeep Hole- a small opening whose purpose is to permit drainage of water that accumulates inside a building component or wall assembly