| “Stick-Built” |
Constructed on the permanent site for the home rather than in a manufacturing plant or factory. Also known as “site-built.”
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| Balustrade |
Repetitious spindles or posts that support the top of a railing at stairs or balcony, often seen in various shapes and materials such as stone, wood or sometimes metal. May also be a decorative feature on the façade of a house plan.
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| Cantilever |
A projecting or overhanging portion of a building with no visible means of support.
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| Cased Opening |
A doorway with no door, shown on the blueprint with two parallel dashed lines.
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| Cathedral Ceiling |
A ceiling in a home plan that symmetrically projects upward in an inverted “V” shape, similar to that of a church.
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| Circular |
Stairs built on a radius.
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| Coffered Ceiling |
A ceiling which showcases recessed paneling typically in rectangular or square configurations. Coffered ceilings are most common in formal rooms of a floor plan.
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| Corbel |
Projecting stone or brick in succession, commonly seen at the top of masonry chimneys or used as support under balconies.
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| Cornice |
The upper portion of projecting, horizontal molding along the top of a wall or at the eave of a roof.
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| E-Space |
An abbreviated version of the home office. A small, open area with a desk, drawers and cabinets in a house plan intended to manage today’s modern home with space to charge electronic gadgets, pay bills, or supervise children using the internet. These spaces may be located in various areas of the home, but are typically in high traffic areas such as the kitchen or off the utility room.
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| Family Studio |
A designated area in the floor plan with multiple functions, ranging from ironing to gift wrapping, depending on the preferences of the homeowner. Sometimes combined with the utility room, the family studio is a place to take care of household tasks or work on hobbies. These rooms typically include cabinets, drawers, an island and ample counter space.
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| Floor Framing |
Built up on the foundation wall and piers out of 2 x 10 floor joists and beams. The direction and the length of the framing are shown on the blueprints, and they typically are placed 16 inches apart.
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| Footing |
Trenches of poured concrete around the perimeter of the house and below each pier or column that supports and distributes the weight of the house to the ground. Two steel rods, known as rebar, run through the trench of the foundation.
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| Friezeboard |
Trim work that follows the eve horizontally below the soffit on the wall.
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| Keystone |
The center, triangular—often elaborated—masonry stone in an arch or lintel over a window or door on the façade of a home plan.
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| Lintel |
A load-bearing beam which spans the opening of a door or window.
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| Load Bearing Walls |
Load bearing walls carry the load from above, down to the foundation. Load bearing walls brace from the floor to the roof. They are noted on the blueprint with hatch lines.
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| Loggia |
A covered outdoor living area supported by columns or pillars, generally open on at least one side. Loggias are integrated in a home’s mass instead of projecting like a porch. Popular in Italian and European style house plans.
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| Pilaster |
A rectangular, flat column attached to the face of a building. The pilaster projects only slightly from the wall and has a base, a shaft, and a capital. In modern house plans, it is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column, with only an ornamental function. Can also be used in the frame of a doorway.
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| Porte Cochere |
An entry structure through which it is possible for a motor vehicle to pass, typically allowing coverage to the main house. Popular in many luxury home plans.
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| Portico |
A roofed entry surrounded by columns or walls and included in many traditional house plans.
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| Quoins |
Finished stone or brick at the corners of a stone or brick home.
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| Risers |
Height of the step, which varies per house (vertical surface).
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| Scissors |
Also known as U-shaped stairs, scissors stairs reverse direction half way up to return back the way it started.
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| Straight Run |
These are just like they sound, they run straight up to the second floor.
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| Tray Ceiling |
A style of ceiling constructed with four or more sides angling upward to a higher, flat ceiling. This style resembles an upside-down tray and is commonly seen in breakfast areas, dining rooms and bedrooms.
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| Treads |
Top of the step, usually 10-½ inches to 11 inches deep (horizontal).
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| Turret |
A tower-like structure—usually circular or polygonal—projecting from the front of the home with a steep or pointed roof.
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| Vaulted Ceiling |
In modern home plans, a ceiling which springs from a lower wall up to a higher wall.
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| Winders |
Steps that wind around a corner or post, turning 90 degrees from the original direction and typically having several triangular shaped treads at the turn.
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