Construction Terminology Quiz

Study Notes

Structural Elements of a Building

Girder: Principal beam spanning from wall to wall, providing main support for the structure.
Floor Joist: Horizontal supports placed on girders that anchor the floorboards.
Sill: A beam that lies horizontally on the foundation, providing a base for walls.
Header: A short transverse joist that supports the ends of cut-off joists at stairwell openings.
Trimmer: A supporting joist that carries the end portion of a header, enhancing structural stability.
Flooring: Common wood flooring material consists of tongue and groove boards, which interlock for strength and smoothness.

Roof Systems

Shed or Lean-to Roof: The most straightforward roof design featuring a single slope.
Gable or Pitch Roof: Represents the most frequently used and cost-effective roof type.
Hip Roof: A popular roof style for modern homes, featuring slopes on all sides.
Hip and Valley Roof: A combination of hip and intersecting gable roofs, creating T or L-shaped structures.
Pyramid Roof: A modified version of the hip roof, forming a square base with four triangular sides.
Gambrel Roof: A variant of the gable roof characterized by two slopes on each side, typically used in barns.
Dome: A hemispherical roof structure that provides unique aesthetics and efficient load distribution.

Types of Roof Framing

Common Rafter: Extended at a right angle from the plate or girt to the ridge, forming the basic framework of a sloped roof.
Hip Rafter: Laid diagonally from the corner of the plate or girt to the ridge, providing support for hip roofs.
Valley Rafter: A rafter that does not extend from the plate or girt to the ridge, typically found at roof intersections.
Jack Rafter: Frames positioned between main rafters; hip jacks connect to hip rafters, valley jacks connect to valley rafters, and cripple jacks connect between hip and valley rafters.
Octagonal Rafter: Specifically designed for octagonal-shaped plates, positioned at the central apex or ridge pole.

Additional Structural Components

Truss: A framework of triangles designed to distribute loads and bring stiffness to the structure.
Girts: Structural members that provide support to rafters or trusses, crucial in maintaining the roof's integrity.
Collar Beam: Beams used to tie rafters on opposite sides of the roof, enhancing stability.
Purlins: Structural members located atop rafters or truss top chords, providing support for roofing materials.

Description

Test your knowledge of key construction terminology with this quiz. From girders to flooring, understand the structural components essential to building design. Perfect for students and professionals in the field of architecture and construction.