Architecture: Building Components and Terminologies

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of a fascia?

To provide a finished look to the roofline
To install a gutter system
To support the roof rafters
To protect the roof's edge from weather exposure (correct)

What is a characteristic of a circular stair?

It has steps winding in a circle or a cylinder (correct)
It has a straight flight of stairs
It has a railing on one side
It has a landing in the middle

What is the purpose of a dormer window?

To create a storage space
To provide light to an attic or upper storey space (correct)
To add ventilation to the attic
To add insulation to the roof

What is a bungalow?

A one-story detached dwelling house (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a carport?

To offer shelter for vehicles (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a balcony?

To offer recreational use (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a common rafter?

To extend at right angles from the plate or girts to the ridge (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a foundation bed?

To refer to the soil or rock directly beneath the footing (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the vertical post at the end or turn of a banister?

Newel post (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a wall footing?

To distribute the load to the soil (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the sloped surface that rises and twists simultaneously?

Ramp (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the small first floor toilet room in a house?

Powder Room (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the structural members that support the roof sheathing?

Purlins (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the underside or lining beneath a beam or lintel?

Soffit (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the raised external level or platform in a garden or park?

Terrace (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the staircase that is also known as winding or circular stair?

Windy Stair (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a binder in concrete?

To hold the aggregate particles together (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an elevator in a building?

To facilitate vertical transportation (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the part of the floor system that supports the floor boards?

Floor Joist (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a foyer in a building?

An entranceway or transitional space (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a girder in a building structure?

A horizontal structural piece (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the level at which the ground surface meets the foundation of a building?

Grade (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a lanai in a building?

A living room or lounge area open to the outdoors (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a mezzanine in a building?

An intermediate storey between two adjacent floors (B) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

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