Architecture: Building Components and Terminologies

Exterior Components

• Fascia: a vertical covering attached to the ends of the roof rafters or trusses, supporting gutters and providing a finished look to the roofline
• Balcony: an accessible outdoor or glazed platform projecting from the external face of a building, often for recreational use
• Carport: a covered space, canopy, or shelter, open on at least one side, used for parking vehicles
• Lanai: a living room or lounge area that is entirely or partly open to the outdoors

Windows and Doors

• Dormer Window: a projecting vertical window and surrounding construction located on a pitched roof, usually to afford light to an attic or upper storey space
• Threshold: a piece of wood or stone placed beneath a door; a doorsill
• Lintel: a beam or girder above a window or door opening that supports the wall

Staircases

• Circular Stair: a staircase with steps winding in a circle or a cylinder
• Windy Stair: also known as a winding or circular stair
• Balusters: vertical posts supporting the handrail or coping on the side of a landing
• Handrail: a running parallel with the inclination of the stair; it holds the baluster
• Newel post: the vertical post at the end or turn of a banister
• Half Landing: a flat area of flooring where a stairway makes a turn between main floors
• Landing: a flat area of flooring at the top and bottom of a staircase leading to rooms

Structural Components

• Beam: a horizontal structural member that transfers loading from above to its bearing points
• Cantilever Beam: supported on one end, with the other end projecting beyond the support or wall
• Column: a structural shaft of concrete, masonry, metal, or timber that transfers applied vertical loads through its length to its base
• Foundation: a subterranean structure designed to transmit the structural loading of a building to the ground
• Footing: a portion of the foundation that directly transmits the column load to the underlying soil or rock
• Girder: a horizontal structural piece that supports the end of the floor beams or joists over an opening

Roofing Components

• Hip Rafter: laid diagonally from the corner of the plate or girts to the ridge
• Jack Rafter: any rafter that does not extend from the plate or girts to the ridge
• Octagonal Rafter: placed on an octagonal-shaped plate at the central apex or ridge pole
• Purlins: structural members that support the roof sheathing, placed on top of the rafters or top chord of a truss
• Soffit: the underside or lining beneath a beam, or lintel, or of any projection from the face of a building