A-frame: A roof shape with a very steep pitch forming a gable or “A” shape.
Arch: A curved structure used as a support over an open space, as in a doorway.
Architrave: the lowest division of an entablature resting in classical architecture immediately on the capital of the column.
Asphalt Shingle: A roofing material made of a tar like substance mixed with sand or gravel.
Awning window: A window hinged along the top edge.
Balcony: A platform projecting from the outside wall of a building (above ground) and enclosed by a railing.
Baluster: A small post that makes up a railing as in a staircase.
Balustrade: A row of balusters topped by a rail.
Baseboard: Molding covering the joint of a wall and floor.
Bay window: A window projecting outward from the wall of a house.
Bell-cast eaves: A roof which curves, sloping more gently toward the bottom.
Beveled: Cut at an angle.
Board and batten: Vertical siding; wood strips hide the seams where other boards are joined.
Box-beam ceiling: A ceiling divided by beams
Capital: The decorative piece at the top of a column or pillar.
Casement window: A window that opens like a door.
Casing: The trim around a window or door.
Cedar shingle: A roofing material made of durable pinewood.
Chair rail: A decorative molding that runs along the wall about the height of the back of a chair, originally used to protect the wall from damage from chairs.
Cladding: The siding or materials covering the exterior of a building.
Clapboard: Tapered horizontal boards used as siding, thickest on their bottom edge; each overlaps the one below.
Column: A slender, upright structure, often support for a building.
Conical: A furnace cap shaped like a cone.
Corbel: An architectural member that projects from within a wall and supports a weight.
Corinthian: The type of Greek column characterized by simulated acanthus leaves.
Cornice: The molded and projecting portion of a molding atop a wall.
Crown molding (var: crown moulding): A molding where the wall and ceiling meet; top molding on furniture or cabinetry.
Cupola: A small, dome-like structure, on top of a roof.
Dado: The lower part of an interior wall when decorated or faced.
Dentil: A tooth-like molding.
Doric: The simplest of the three classical orders of Greek architecture. (See also Ionic and Corinthian.)
Dormer: A window set vertically in a structure and projecting from a sloping roof.
Double-hung window: A window that operates by two sashes that slide vertically past each other.
Downspout: Metal or plastic tubing connected to the gutter.
Dutch door: A door divided horizontally in half; the halves may be opened together or individually.
Eave: The projecting lower edge of a roof.
Egg and dart: A molding consisting of egg-shaped figures alternating with arrow heads.
Entablature: A horizontal part in classical architecture that rests on the columns and consists of architrave, frieze and cornice.
Eyebrow window: A small, horizontal curved window, often located on the top story and often aligned with windows below.
Facade: The exterior of a building.
Fan light: A semi-circular or semi-elliptical window with a horizontal sill.
Fascia: A horizontal piece covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves, often used to conceal the ends of rafters.
Fieldstone: A stone used in its natural shape.
Finial: A crowning ornament or detail, often knob-like.
Fish scale shingles: A shingle having straight sides and rounded bottoms.
Flying buttress: A masonry structure that consists of a straight inclined bar carried on an arch and a solid pier or buttress against which it abuts and that receives the weight of a roof or wall.
Footing: Bottom edging on a masonry wall or column; often helps distribute the load.
Foundation: The base of a house providing stability.
Frame: Of wood construction.
Frieze: A sculptured or richly ornamented band along a wall or above a doorway or windows.Gable: That part of the wall immediately under the end of a pitched roof, cut into a triangular shape by the sloping sides of the roof
Gambrel: A barn-type roof characterized by a lower steeper slope and an upper less steep one on each of its two sides
Gazebo: A small summerhouse, or a free-standing roofed structure, usually open on the sides.
Half-timber: A framed construction method where spaces between members are filled with masonry.
Hipped roof: A roof that slopes to the eaves on all sides, a roof without gables.
Ionic: A type of Greek column characterized by scroll-like decorations.
Jamb: An upright piece or surface forming the side of an opening (as for a door or window)
Jenkins-head roof: A gabled roof with its apex truncated by a small hipped roof.
Joist: A beam supporting a floor or ceiling.
Keystone: The central, topmost stone of an arch.
Lattice: A pattern created by criss-crossing or decoratively interlacing strips of material.
Leaded window: A window decorated by artistic inserts of lead.
Lintel: A horizontal crosspiece over an opening.
Mansard: A roof type with two slopes on each of the four sides, the lower slope being steeper than the upper one
Millwork: Finished woodwork, cabinetry, carving, etc.
Molding: Shaped decorative outlines on projecting cornices and members in wood and stone.
Newel: The end post of a stair railing.
Niche: A recess in a wall to place various decorations.
Obelisk: An Egyptian monument with a tall, tapering shaft of stone with a pyramidal top.
Oriel: A box-like window projecting from the wall of a house.
Palladian: A motif having three openings, the center one being arched and larger than the other two.
Paneling: The lining of a wall with a wainscot.
Pavilion-hipped roof: A tent-like roof often seen in Cape Cod, Colonial and ranch-style homes
Parquet floor: Wood flooring laid to form geometric patterns.
Pediment: A triangular gable across a portico, door or window; any similar triangular decorative piece over a doorway, fireplace, etc.
Pent roof: A small roof protruding from a facade, separating stories.
Picture rail: Molding near the top of a wall from which pictures may be suspended.
Picture window: One single, large window pane that does not open from either side.
Pilaster: A rectangular vertical member projecting only slightly from a wall, with a base and capital.
Pier: A vertical, non-circular masonry support, more massive than a column.
Pillar: Similar to but more slender than a pier, also non-circular.
Pitch: The angle at which a roof or other surface slopes.
Plaster: A surface covering for walls and ceilings applied wet, dries to smooth, hard protective surface.
Ply cap: A plain shaped molding, 1/4 rounded to provide a smooth edge along the baseboard.
Pocket door: A door which slides open into cavities within walls, seeming to disappear when open.
Porch: An open or enclosed gallery or room on the outside of a building.
Portico: A roof, generally gabled, supported on columns, usually more elaborate than a porch.Quoin: A stone or block reinforcing or accenting the corners of a building.
Rafter: A sloping beam that supports a roof.
Raking cornice: The sloping moldings of a pediment.
Ridgepole: The horizontal beam at the ridge of a roof, to which rafters are attached.
Riser: The vertical portion of a step.
Rubble: Masonry construction using stones of irregular shape and size.
Rusticated stone: Stonework, sometimes roughly finished, distinguished by having the joints deeply sunk.
Sash: An individual frame around a window.
Shaft: The, slender part of a pillar that adds support to an overhanging structure.
Sheathing: A covering over the structural frame of a building, onto which the cladding is attached.
Shed: A roof type with one high pitched plane covering the entire structure.
Sidelights: Narrow windows on either side of a door.
Sill: A horizontal piece forming the bottom frame of a window or door opening.
Slate: A roof material made from a hard, fine-grained rock that cleaves into thin, smooth layers.
Soffit: The underside of a member such as a beam or arch, or of an eave, overhang, dropped ceiling, etc.
Spanish clay: Tile A roofing material made from clay soil into red brick; common to Mediterranean Revival houses.
Story: A horizontal division of a building, from the floor to the ceiling above it.
Stucco: A mixture of cement, sand, and water spread over metal screening or chicken wire on wooden walls covered with tar paper.
Stud: A vertical wood support in a frame wall.
Tongue and groove: A type of wooden siding or flooring with the edge of one board fitting into the groove of the next.
Transom: A small window just above a door.
Tread: The horizontal portion of a step, usually with a rounded edge , or 'nosing' which overhangs the riser.
Trellis: A system of horizontal joists supported on posts, designed to support growing plants.
Truss: A framework for supporting a roof.
Wainscot: A paneling applied to the lower portion of a wall.
Yvonne Buchanan,
Your Eastside Neighborhood Realtor
John L. Scott Real Estate/Lake Oswego
5800 SW Meadows Road, Suite 100
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035cell: (503) 349-5565
branch: (503) 624-2900, ext. 663
email: yvonneb@johnlscott.com
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