Architectural and Engineering Glossary
B
See chamfer.
Same as cylinder glass.
A knife with a squareedged,wedge shaped blade for removing paint or wallpaper;similar to a putty knife but with a wider blade.
Same as ashlar.
A wide steel chisel used to finish dress stone.
See batted work.
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An ax having a large,broad blade;used for the roughdressing of timber.
A wedge-shaped spike used to secure the end of a timber which butts against the side of another.
A prehistoric circular stone tower found along the western coastline of Scotland.
A form of segmental arch in which the center of the arch is omitted and is replaced by a decorative feature;usually applied to a wall above the entablature over a door or window.
Same as antiquing.
An edge of a metal sheet containing cracks,splits,or tears.
Same as dogleg stair.
A curved roof tile which overlaps only the tile in the course immediately below.
Vertical masonry joints which are staggered to provide better bond and added structural strength,no unit being directly above another.
A roof having more than one pitch on each side of a central ridge.
Stone masonry laid in horizontal courses of different heights,any one course of which may be broken (at intervals) into two or more courses.
A variation of ribbon stripe veneer in which the stripes are intermittent;produced by interwoven grain which is quartercut.
A toned-down white paint,usually cream colored.
In ancient Greek and Roman theaters,a device for producing the noise of thunder,generated by the impact of stones against the inside of a heavy vase designed for this purpose.
Glass,having the color of bronze,which reflects incident solar energy,thereby reducing the transmission of energy through it;often useful in controlling glare.
1.The surface texture obtained by stroking a broom over freshly spread concrete or plaster.2.See broom, 2.
See broom.
A thin piece of a tree branch which is bent in a U shape;used for fastening thatch on roofs;also called a buckle or spar.
Same as crossbeam.
A fungus that destroys wood cellulose,leaving a brown powdery residue behind.
A chocolate brown stain produced by fungus in the sapwood of some pine trees.
A mineral compound occurring in portland cement and high alumina cement;consists of an oxide of calcium,aluminum,and iron.
1.A dark brown or reddish brown arkosic sandstone,quarried and used extensively for building in the eastern US during the middle and late nineteenth cent.2.A dwelling faced with brownstone,often a row house.
A beam over a door;a breastsummer.
A section of a library reserved for users to examine and casually read a collection of books,magazines,or documents.
On drawings,abbr. for brass.
A type of bituminous paint.
See Prussian blue.
A light green powder;a pigment consisting of lead chromate and iron blue pigments.
1.An implement made of natural or artificial bristles which are attached to a handle or back;used for cleaning or painting a surface.2. An electric conductor (such as a strip of copper or a carbon rod) which provides electrical contact between a rotating and stationary element in a current motor or generator.
A finish produced by a rotating wire brush.
An imitation effect of wood grain;produced by drawing a clean dry brush through a dark liquid stain,applied over a dry,light base coat.
A small ridge or valley produced in a paint film by the combing action of the bristles of a brush.
An attachment with heavy duty tines,which is fixed to the front of a tractor or other prime mover;used in land clearing to gather and pile debris.
The property of a paint or varnish which enables it to be applied smoothly by brushing.
A surface finish on stonework,produced by treating the surface with a rotating wire brush.
Said of a concrete surface that has been stroked with a stiff brush when the concrete is freshly placed or slightly hardened.
The application of paint on a small surface for testing.
1.A carpet made of several colors of worsted yarn,fixed in backing of strong linen thread;the pile forms a pattern of uncut loops.2.An inexpensive,single-colored substitute for the above.
A style of modern architecture,primarily in the 1960s,emphasizing heavy,monumental,stark concrete forms and raw surfaces;may show patterns of the rough wood formwork used in casting the concrete(béton brut).Buildings in this style are often suggestive of massive sculptures.
On drawings,abbr.for bronze.
On drawings,abbr.for “brazing.”
1.Abbr.for “ British Standard” published by the British Standards Institution;each standard is designated by the letters BS followed by a number.2.On drawings,abbr.for “both sides.”3.Abbr.for “beam spacer.”
Abbr.for “British Standard Code of Practice.”
