FINISHES GLOSSARY Flashcards
Aerator
The round screened screw-on tip of a sink spout. It mixes water and air for a
smooth flow
Aggregate
A mixture of sand and stone and a major component of concrete.
Architrave/Casing
Molding surrounding a door or window opening to cover the join between the frame and the wall finish. Also known as ‘casing’.
Asbestos
Asbestos (or magnesium silicate) is a material which was previously used in construction and insulation products. Asbestos was an attractive material due to its stability and fire-resistance. Exposure to asbestos over long periods of time has been proven to cause various types of lung cancer.
Bagging
A method of finishing brickwork involving the application of a thin mortar slurry using a hessian bag or sponge. Can be painted over or left to fade in an oxide finish. Usually completed by the bricklayer. Bagging varies in texture & color greatly and is not uniform like render.
Balustrade
A series of vertical members supporting a handrail of a stair, landing, platform or bridge.
Beam
Main horizontal structural member in the construction of a frame house. See also post, joist, stud and rafter.
Bearer
A sub-floor structural timber member which supports the floor joists.
Bearing Wall
Wall that carries some or all of the weight of the structure above. Also called
a structural wall.
Blueprints
Architectural plans of a building. The name refers to the photographic print in white on a blue ground or blue on a white ground that is made of the architect’s plans.
Brick Veneer
A method of construction in which a single leaf of non-load bearing wall of brickwork is tied to a timber or metal framed load bearing structure to form the external enclosure.
Cement
A finely ground inorganic powder that, mixed with water, binds an aggregate / sand mixture into a hard concrete or mortar within a few days.
Chair Rail/Dado
Decorative interior molding located at waist height that also protects wall surfaces.
Chase
Wall or ceiling channel through which wiring, plumbing or vents pass.
Concrete
A conglomerated artificial stone made by mixing in specified proportions cement,
water and aggregates and pouring the mixture into prepared forms to set and harden.
Crown Molding/Cornice
A molding placed at the junction between a wall and ceiling.
Damp-proof Course (DPC)
A continuous layer of an impervious material placed in a masonry wall or between a floor and wall to prevent the upward or downward migration of moisture.
Drop-in Sink
A sink which contains a rim that fits over the countertop.
Drywall
Also commonly referred to as sheetrock, wall board or gypsum board, it is lightweight and cost efficient for use on interior walls or ceiling panels in new construction, renovation and repair work.
Eaves
The lower part of a roof that overhangs the walls.
Edge Profile
Defines the shape of the front edge of your countertops.
Edge Return
A thick countertop edge that gives the appearance of a thicker slab.
Fascia
A metal profile which is fixed to the lower ends of rafters and usually supports the guttering.
Finial
A decorative fitting used at the junction of ridges and hips and at the top of conical, pyramid or domed roofs.
Footing
That part of a construction designed to transfer loads to the supporting foundation, usually constructed of reinforced concrete to support base brickwork.
Foundation
The natural or built-up formation of soil, sub-soil or rock upon which a building or structure is supported.
Gable
The vertical triangular end of a building with a pitched roof, between the rafters from eaves level to the apex (ridge). It may be formed in brickwork or timber framed and clad with weatherboards.
Gauge
An indicating device usually in brickwork setting out the number of bricks to a certain measurement, e.g. 7 brick courses per 21/2” in height. This gauge is adjusted to suit the brick and the site conditions.
Girder Truss
A truss that runs in the opposite direction to other trusses and has brackets (shoes) to carry and support the other trusses. The girder truss is often a double truss, made of hardwood in part or has bigger elements than other trusses.
Hanging Beam
A beam above the ceiling used to support ceiling joists.
Head
The upper horizontal member at the top of an opening or frame.
Header
A brick laid with its greatest dimension across a wall usually used to tie two skins together or under a door sill or window.