Glossary of Architecture, Building and Construction Terms

Glossary of Architecture and Construction Terms

Below you will find a glossary of common and not so common terms used in architecture and construction industry. We hope you will find this glossary resource helpful when viewing our home plans and browseing through our web site.

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Cantilever - A beam or slab projecting a substantial distance beyond its supporting post or wall; a projection supported at only one end

Cape Cod House Plan - A Cape Cod house plan is a style of house originating in New England in the 17th century. It is traditionally characterized by a low, broad frame building, generally a story and a half high, with a steep, perfectly pitched roof with end gables and a large central chimney

Cased Opening - A doorway with no door, shown on the blueprint with two parallel dashed lines.

Casement - A hinged window that typically swings outward. This type of window was common before the double-hung or

Castle House Plan - Often with Medieval/middle Ages influence. Common features include: extensive use of wide, rounded arches above windows, over entryways, as porch supports and for room entrances, dormers and parapets, multiple fireplaces and chimneys,steeply pitched roofs, asymmetrical and natural stone exteriors, towers and turrets with conical roofs, larger windows to let in more light than a traditional old-world European castle (whose small windows were a necessity for defense, to keep out the cold and because of the scarcity of glass) would typically have, multi-pain windows

Cathedral Ceiling - A ceiling in a home plan that symmetrically projects upward in an inverted

Circular - Stairs built on a radius.

Classical House Plan - Classical houe plans will commonly feature many attributes shared with Greek, Hellenistic and Roman architecture. Classic house plans are characterized by accurately detailed and proportioned exteriors which may be stone, brick or wood, and comfortable, open interiors. Classic house plans usually have medium or low pitched roofs with minimal detailing & close eaves, and often include a large chimney.

Clerestory - Windows placed high in a wall typically in a two-story space. Pronounced

Coastal House Plan - Coastal home plans -- ranging from expansive beachside mansions to cozy waterfront cottages -- feature abundant windows to take in rear views and often include a raised foundation. Fortunately, regardless of which camp you're in - and especially if you're somewhere in the middle - we offer coastal house plans to satisfy your cravings for a beachside retreat

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.

Colonial House Plans - The Colonial house plan is a symmetrical, two-story home. The Colonial house plan draws much of its influence from the Italian Renaissance style, and typically has a symmetrical two-story front facade with an accented doorway, and evenly spaced windows on either side. The Colonial home plan typically employs elaborate front doors, often with decorative crown pediments and overhead fanlights and sidelights. Side porches or sunrooms are also common in a Colonial floor plan

Contemporary House Plan - Contemporary home plans embody a particular decade of popular architecture, with interesting exterior angles, skylights and creatively shaped and placed windows. Whether you're on a mountain slope or hillside, a beach lot or standard lot, contemporary house plans add unique character

Corbel - Projecting stone or brick in succession, commonly seen at the top of masonry chimneys or used as support under balconies

Cornice - The upper portion of projecting, horizontal molding along the top of a wall or at the eave of a roof

Country House Plans - A typical country house plan includes a front porch, dormers and a roof line parallel to the street. Our country home plans include these classic elements combined with modern floor plans and up-to-date amenities. Country house plans may be ranch or two-story plans, and work equally well for rural or urban settings

Courtyard House Plans - A courtyard house plan can provide privacy, a break from the frantic pace of everyday life, and a safe place for children to play. Whether it contains your garden, outdoor living areas, a summer kitchen, playground or pool, the courtyard floor plan has few limitations. A house plan with courtyard entry garage can also create the feel of a courtyard home. This popular option fits well on today's smaller lots

Craftsman House Plan - With roots in the American artistic movement known as "Arts and Crafts," the Craftsman home plan is a late 19th and early 20th century style. Because of their lasting influence and attention to detail, Craftsman home plans are still extremely popular today. Materials often include stone, rough-hewn wood, and stucco. Many Craftsman house plans have wide front porches across the front, supported by columns. Other Craftsman house features may include large gables, shed dormers, decorative brackets or timber detailing. We feature Craftsman style home plans that are a modern interpretation of the original Craftsman movement

Crawl Space - A crawl space foundation means an elevated first floor system that is usually high enough off of the ground to crawl beneath. Piers are made up of 8

Cupola - A quadrilateral or dome-shaped ornamental structure on a home