Home Owner Glossary
Acoustical Tile
Special tile for walls and ceilings made of mineral, wood, vegetable fibers, cork, or metal. Its purpose is to control sound volume, while providing cover.
Air Duct
Pipes that carry warm air and cold air to rooms and back to furnace or air conditioning system.
Apron
A paved area, such as the juncture of a driveway with the street or with a garage entrance.
Baseboard
A board along the floor against walls and partitions to hide gaps.
Batt
Insulation in the form of a blanket, rather than loose filling.
Beam
One of the principal horizontal wood or steel members of a building.
Bearing Wall
A wall that supports a floor or roof of a building.
Bib or Bibcock
A water faucet to which a hose may be attached, also called a hose bib or sill cock.
Brace
A piece of wood or other material used to form a triangle and stiffen some part of a structure.
Brick Veneer
Brick used as the outer surface of a framed wall.
Building Paper
Heavy paper used in walls or roofs to damp proof.
Butt Joint
Joining point of two pieces of wood or molding.
Carriage
The member which supports the steps or treads of a stair.
Casing
Door and window framing.
Chair Rail
Wooden molding on a wall around a room at the level of a chair back.
Circuit Breaker
A safety device which opens (breaks) an electric circuit automatically when it becomes overloaded.
Cornice
Horizontal projection at the top of a wall or under the overhanging part of the roof.
Cove Lighting
Concealed light sources behind a cornice or horizontal recess which direct the light upon a reflecting ceiling.