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Home Owners Building Terms
Home Owners Building Terms
Home Owners Building Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Laminated shingles |
Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called "architectural shingles" or "three-dimensional shingles." |
| Laminating |
Bonding together two or more layers of materials. |
| Landing |
A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square. |
| Lap |
To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another. |
| Latch |
A beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue's bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any, without using a key. Contrasts with dead bolt. |
| Lateral (electric, gas, telephone, sewer |
The underground trench and related services (i.e., electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water lines) that will be buried within the trench. |
| Lath |
A building material of narrow wood, metal, gypsum, or insulating board that is fastened to the frame of a building to act as a base for plaster, shingles, or tiles. |
| Lattice |
An open framework of criss-crossed wood or metal strips that form regular, patterned spaces. |
| Ledger (for a Structural Floor) |
The wooden perimeter frame lumber member that bolts onto the face of a foundation wall and supports the wood structural floor. |
| Ledger strip |
A strip of lumber nailed along the bottom of the side of a girder on which joists rest. |
| Leech field |
A method used to treat/dispose of sewage in rural areas not accessible to a municipal sewer system. Sewage is permitted to be filtered and eventually discharged into a section of the lot called a leech field. |
| Let-in brace |
Nominal 1 inch-thick boards applied into notched studs diagonally. Also, an "L" shaped, long (@ 10') metal strap that are installed by the framer at the rough stage to give support to an exterior wall or wall corner. |
| Level |
True horizontal. Also a tool used to determine level. |
| Level Payment Mortgage |
A mortgage with identical monthly payments over the life of the loan. |
| Lien |
An encumbrance that usually makes real or personal property the security for payment of a debt or discharge of an obligation. |
| Light |
Space in a window sash for a single pane of glass. Also, a pane of glass. |
| Limit switch |
A safety control that automatically shuts off a furnace if it gets too hot. Most also control blower cycles. |
| Lineal foot |
A unit of measure for lumber equal to 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide by 12 inches long. Examples: 1" x 12" x 16' = 16 board feet, 2" x 12" x 16' = 32 board feet. |
| Lintel |
A horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window. |
| Load bearing wall |
Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate. |
| Loan |
The amount to be borrowed. |
| Loan to value ratio |
The ratio of the loan amount to the property valuation and expressed as a percentage. E.g. if a borrower is seeking a loan of $200,000 on a property worth $400,000 it has a 50% loan to value rate. If the loan were $300,000, the LTV would be 75%. The higher the loan to value, the greater the lender's perceived risk. Loans above normal lending LTV ratios may require additional security. |
| Lookout |
A short wood bracket or cantilever that supports an overhang portion of a roof. |
| Louver |
A vented opening into the home that has a series of horizontal slats and arranged to permit ventilation but to exclude rain, snow, light, insects, or other living creatures. |
| Lumens |
Unit of measure for total light output. The amount of light falling on a surface of one square foot. |
