A
A protective coating that is sprayed on a smooth substrate, then sanded and buffed to create either a flat matte or high-gloss finish.
A bathtub having either a hinged door or a door that raises and lowers, allowing the bather to enter the bathtub, close the door, and then fill the bathtub with water.
A mechanical device for moving or controlling something, such as a toilet tank lever or push button.
A device attached to the end of a faucet that mixes air into flowing water.
Device mounted at the back of a kitchen sink, connecting to the drain line between a dishwasher and disposer to allow the dishwasher to discharge freely into the disposer while preventing contaminated water from siphoning back into the dishwasher.
A type of synthetic resin used in paint.
Abbreviation for American National Standards Institute, a private nonprofit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States.
Specially designed sink featuring an exposed or decorative front apron.
A grade of wood veneer. Utilizes top quality veneer and generally has special requirements for balancing , sequencing , component width , etc.
A form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person’s mood or health.
B
A vertical waterproof surface that protects the area above a cooking surface, sink or bath from splashes.
Bamboo is a renewable grass product. The product used to make floors is up to 12” in diameter and 30’ high. After harvesting, a 4’ stump remains which regenerates in 5 years. The product comes in tongue-and-groove boards that can be glued or nailed.
A narrow board, attached to the base of an interior wall, that covers the joint between the wall and the floor.
Bathtubs having either a hinged door, or a door that raises and lowers, allowing the bather to enter the bathtub, close the door behind them, and then fill the bathtub with water.
A decorating portion of a bathtub that covers the rough-in area from the floor to the top rim of the tub.
Fixtures that can be placed along a wall, at right angles with a wall, or placed in the center of a room.
A bathtub with no finished panels. Designed to drop into a platform made of another material.
A bathtub without finished ends and with one finished side, typically called the apron. Designed to slip between two end walls and against a back wall.
A set of cabinets made specifically for one client or one project.
A personal hygiene plumbing fixture similar in appearance to a toilet bowl used for washing genitals and posterior areas of the body. Mounted on the floor, it consists of a washing basin, a hot and cold faucet, and sprayer/jets.
Nonstructural panels made of recycled wheat stalks milled into fine particles, sorted and dried, and then bound together with a formaldehyde-free resin. Also referred to as wheatboard or agri board.
The term given to the small to large eye-shape markings found randomly throughout select sheets of maple.
A cabinet that has a shelf, pull-out, or swing-out apparatus to provide accessibility into the corner.
A toilet flushing action that relies entirely on the driving force of a jet action. Because of the water capacity required to accomplish this, blowout designs are used in tankless installations only, in combination with a flush valve.
A support projecting from a wall to support a shelf or some ornamental feature, such as mantel hoods, countertop overhangs, and decorative shelves.
Abbreviation for British thermal unit. A Btu is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1° F. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has as well as the amount of output of any heat-generating device.
See “Soffit.”
See “Soffit.”
A type of wood veneer. A swirling grain around clusters of dormant buds, rings, or eyes. Available in white ash, olive ash, Carpathian elm, maple, mappa, myrtle, and walnut.
A circular ring or plate on a gas or electric range that produces heat or a flame.
A type of wood glaze in which color is applied over all surfaces and wiped off, leaving residue in all crevices and shaped elements. Also called a penetrating glaze, referring to the way color penetrates into the pores of the wood, allowing it to contribute to the finished color of the wood.
The junction between two ends of timber/members that meet in a square-cut joint.
A system securing the individual pieces of component parts together without an interlocking joint.
C
A drain system in which a cable runs outside the system and connects the handle of the over flow to a plug-lift mechanism just below the outlet’s flange.
A type of ventilation in which airborne vapors rise naturally into a capture area of the canopy. The internal blower then pulls the vapors from the capture area and exhausts the air to the outside.
A manufacturing process used to produce bathtubs and kitchen sinks; molten iron is cast in a sand mold. Sand is used to shape the cavity of the mold.
Surfaces created by pouring a mixture of ground minerals and polyester resin into a treated mold, where the curing process takes place at room temperature or in a curing oven. Used for bathtub fixtures, one-piece shower enclosures, three- to four-piece shower enclosures, and vanity surfaces, often with an integrated lavatory.
An oven-cleaning system in which a catalytic material is mixed into the porcelain enamel coating on the oven liner panels. This material causes a chemical reaction at normal cooking temperatures that oxidizes food soils continuously as they occur during the cooking operation. This method does not require a separate cleaning cycle at high temperatures because the cleaning takes place simultaneously as the food is cooked. Compare to Pyrolitic (self-cleaning) system.
A natural material composed of clays, shales, porcelain, or baked earth. These raw products are pressed or extruded into shapes and then fired in a kiln, baked in an oven, or cured in the sun.
Abbreviation for cubic feet per minute. This is a measurement of air volume velocity and is often used in measuring air flow from heating or cooling diffusers. It is a rating based on fan size.
A term used to describe the iridescence of some veneer finishes. Created by the finishing process, which enhances the shimmer resulting when light reflects off of the wood fibers at different angles. Also called moire or vibrance.
Sometimes called color therapy or colorology, it is an alternative medicine method. Chromatherapy uses the visible color spectrum. These colors, with their unique wavelength and oscillations, are selectively applied to impaired organs or body systems with a light source to provide the healing energy.
Area of the kitchen primarily housing the food waste disposal and dishwasher.
A decorative paint technique that creates visual texture by layering paint colors. Sometimes referred to as a modern-day fresco technique.
A pillar, usually round, that acts as a support or decorative feature for a structure above.
Combination pressure balancing and thermostatic valve control. This system compensates for both temperature and pressure fluctuations of supply inlets.
A decorative painting technique that involves applying a base-coat paint, covering it with a glaze of a complementary or contrasting color, and then pulling the teeth of the rubber combing tool through the glaze to reveal the base coat.
A layer of decorative paper impregnated with either melamine resin or polyester resin, which is thermal-set or thermal-fused (fused with heat and pressure) to a substrate of particleboard, fiberboard, or some other material. It is sold as laminate board. Composite panels are used in vertical or light-use horizontal applications, such as shelving. They should not be used for countertops.
A range of derivative wood products manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation to form composite materials.
A type of valve often used for water faucets. It is opened or closed by raising or lowering a horizontal disk by a threaded stem.
A motor and pump sealed inside a steel case concealed within the refrigerator structure. The pump compresses refrigerant vapor that concentrates the heat and sends it to the condenser.
Concrete is a specialized countertop surfacing material. Molded into shape, it is seamless. Concrete can also be dyed just about any color. Concrete countertops can be fabricated at the manufacturing facility or poured in place. Because it begins in the form of a slurry, concrete can be transformed into virtually any shape that becomes a solid mass. It can be polished, stamped, or stained. Objects can be embedded in it.
A long folded tube that receives hot, high-pressure refrigerant vapor pumped by the refrigerator compressor. As the heat leaves, the vapor inside the tube cools and condenses back to liquid.
A process by which heat is transferred through a substance or from one substance to another that is in direct contact with it by molecular activity.
A separate or integral fixture that is installed above, below, or integrated into a countertop material that is supported by decorative legs, resembling a console piece of furniture. Plumbing lines are partially concealed by the front edge of the console furniture piece.
See Catalytic (continuous cleaning) system
A process of heat transfer involving the motion of heated matter itself from one place to another. This transference of heat appears in both liquid currents and in air currents.
An installation method where tile is installed on a bed of mortar, either while the mortar bed is still soft or after the tile is set on a cured mortar bed.
The area in the kitchen which includes all equipment used to transfer heat for the preparation of foodstuff (the oven, cooktop, range, etc.).
A self-contained surface cooking unit that drops into a cut-out in a countertop.
The primary material from which an object, such as a cabinet door, is made.
A product made from the bark of special oak trees grown primarily in Spain and Portugal. Produced by a renewable process whereby 6 to 9 inches of bark is cut from the trunk, leaving the tree alive and intact. It takes five to seven years for the bark to grow back after harvesting.
A separate fixture installed above or below the level of the countertop material. Plumbing lines are concealed in the cabinetry.
A type of finish reminiscent of common finish deterioration seen in porcelain (a very small crackle application) or weather deterioration of a furniture finish caused when the finish dries and cracks due to exposure to heat.
Tiny fractures or hairline cracks within a surfacing material (e.g., gel coat or concrete).
Veneer cut from the juncture of a tree’s main branches and trunk where the tree has forked in two directions. Crotch figures are often subcategorized as flame, plume, rooster tail, feather, or burning bush.
A shower with a raised edge or border separating the shower base from the balance of the shower floor.
A shower with no curb. The shower pan must be lower than the bathroom floor, allowing it to slope to the center or to a rear or side wall of the enclosure.
A grade of maple veneer with a distinctive wide band or curl figure throughout. Also known as flame veneer. Curly maple veneer with a tight figure is sometimes referred to as a fiddleback.
Totally custom built-to-order cabinets. Considered furniture-grade systems. Not produced until a space has been designed and all details are finalized.
A set of cabinets made specifically for one client or one project.
D
A rectangular groove along the width of a board.
Wood finishes that simulate an antique appearance in furniture, paneling, trim, and accent pieces. This rustic finish softens the look of new wood, creating a finish with a vintage appearance.
The deliberate damaging of a wood finish to create the appearance of aged furniture.
A joinery technique commonly used to join pieces where high tensile strength is called for. The joint is created by cutting a triangular-shape tenon in one piece and the corresponding mortise in the other.
A short, round wooden stick with ends cut flat. In cabinet construction, dowels are used primarily to reinforce the corners.
A technique that creates a directional pattern by dragging or coasting a dry brush through wet paint or glaze.
A cabinet featuring two, three, four, or five drawers.
An appliance installed between base cabinets and supported by the countertop deck and by adjacent cabinetry. There is a rim to provide the transition from range to countertop.
Glazing technique in which material with an almost chalk-like consistency is applied after burnishing with a glancing stroke; appears on lead raised edges. Identified as defining glazing, which means the wood grooves are highlighted by the glaze.
Also known as plasterboard, wallboard, or gypsum board, or by the brand names Sheetrock or Gyprock. A panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used to make interior walls and ceilings.
A HAPA (high-airflow particulate air) filter captures smoke, grease, and moisture while allowing air to travel through the filter without loss of efficiency. The clean air is vented through the cabinet toe-kick space back into the room. The filter has an indicator light alerting the user when it needs to be replaced.
E
Used in carpentry and furniture making to cover the exposed sides of materials such as plywood, particleboard, or MDF. Edgebanding can also be used instead of features such as face frames and molding.
With conventional coils, electrical resistance is used to create heat for cooking. Wire is encased in a metallic tube filled with an insulation material. The tube is shaped into a coil and flattened for maximum contact with cooking utensils. Heat travels from the hot coils to the cookware both by conduction (where there is contact) and radiation.
A cooktop with electric resistance coils located under a smooth glass ceramic top. The heat radiates to the glass surface, where it is transferred to the pot by conduction and some radiation.
A valve that acts as an electronic thermostatic valve, maintaining the temperature that has been programmed in by the user.
Used for bathtubs and lavatories, this material is fabricated by forming steel in a cold state, then applying coating of enamel, and finally firing the finished piece in an oven.
The exposed side of a cabinet, vanity, or furniture piece.
A colorless, flammable gas that occurs naturally in certain plants and can be obtained from petroleum and natural gas. As a plant hormone, it ripens and colors fruit, and it is manufactured for use in agriculture to speed these processes.
A long tube that receives liquid refrigerant from the refrigerator condenser. The liquid boils and vaporizes as it picks up heat from inside the cabinet.
F
1. Leaves of veneer that have been spliced together but have not yet been applied to a panel or backer sheet. 2. The better side of any plywood panel in which the outer piles are of different veneer grades.
In cabinet making, a frame fixed to the front of a cabinet carcass. The face frame obscures the edges of the carcass and provides the fixing point for doors and other external hardware. A face frame provides strength to the front of a cabinet.
A fixture for drawing or regulating the flow of liquid, especially from a pipe. See also individual faucet types.
The art of creating illusions with paint. With combinations of colors, finishes, tools, and techniques, painters—or talented homeowners—create unique effects for wall and ceiling surfaces.
A building material made of wood or other plant fibers compressed and cemented into rigid sheets.
Fixtures that are generally referred to as fiberglass refer to the backing material used to reinforce a polyester gel coat finishing surface. A mold receives a layer of gel coat, and then fiberglass strands immersed in a polyester resin is sprayed on or placed on top of the mold in mat form.
Narrow bands of figure that run uninterrupted from edge to edge across the width of the veneer leaf. When book matched, a chevron pattern is formed. Most commonly available in anigre, maple, makore, and English sycamore.
The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots, deviations from natural grain such as interlocked and wavy grain, and irregular coloration.
A decoration or embellishment at the top of something, such as the top of a hinge.
A compound ceramic material that includes prefired clay particles mixed with ball and china clays. The prefired clay particles (called grog) are ground into small grains and added to the liquid casting slip, giving it a distinct appearance.
A set of cabinets sized and scribed to the room, allowing the cabinetry to become part of the woodwork of the house.
A faucet, bathtub filler spout, showerhead, body spray, body mist or other finished piece through which water passes and then enters a fixture.
A kitchen sink, bathtub, shower, lavatory (bathroom sink), toilet (water closet), bidet, or urinal that receives water.
Flagging is a process whereby stone is split into thin slabs suitable for paving. Although generally identified as flagstone, bluestone and slate are the most common types of flagging stones used.
Figures created when the pithrays are cut across at an angle when slicing. Vary in size from dash marks to stretch marks. Very common in quartered red and white oak.
Extending rim or edge at one end of a pipe shaft that gives support or a finished appearance.
Markings across the grain of the face of the wood. In book-matched material, the markings seem to extend across the width of the face.
A type of veneer cut. A log is cut in half lengthwise, then placed on the slicer where the knife cuts individual leaves of veneer parallel to the original cut. Flat cutting produces a cathedral or loop grain effect in the center of the leaf and straighter grain along the edges.
A door style using flat shaped pieces of lumber, plywood, or engineered board substrate. Edges may be finished in PVC edge tape to blend with the doors, a finger-joined wood veneer edge tape, or a solid wood edging.
The complete bundle of thin sheets of veneer after cutting, laid together in sequence as they were sliced or sawn. A log cut lengthwise from a tree, ready for further processing.
A gas-filled glass tube with a phosphor coating on the inside. Gas inside the tube is ionized by electricity, which causes the phosphor coating to glow. Normally two pins extend from each end of the lamp.
A sink that is recessed into the countertop substrate material so it is even with the counter material.
Area of the kitchen housing the refrigerator, freezer, and other types of chilling appliances.
A device that shreds food waste products into pieces small enough to pass through plumbing. Eliminates concerns with odors and rodent/insect problems associated with garbage placed in regular trash receptacles.
A colorless, pungent-smelling, irritating gas used chiefly in aqueous solution as a disinfectant and preservative and in chemical synthesis.
A type of cabinet construction in which component parts make up the sides, back, top, and bottom of a cabinet. These parts are joined together and attached to the face frame, which is the primary support for the cabinet. Doors and drawers are fit in one of three ways: flush with the frame, partially overlaying the frame, or completely overlaying the frame.
In this type of cabinet construction, the case parts form a box that does not need a front frame for stability or squareness. Doors and drawers cover the entire face of the cabinet.
G
A cabinet with a roll-up door (called tambour) that extends to the countertop. Most commonly used to store small appliances.
A surfacing process that begins by spraying a gel coat onto a mold. Because most residential fixtures are sprayed by hand, the gel coat thickness ranges from 12 to 20 mil (1 mil = 1/1000th of an inch). Thicker gel coats that are applied unevenly lead to a common problem associated with cast polymer fixtures called crazing.
Translucent hollow blocks that transmit light yet provide privacy. When used in exterior wall installations, they deaden outside noise and offer insulating qualities similar to thermal-pane windows. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and colors.
Tiles made from glass. Available in textures from mirror-slick to rough, and in a variety of colors from deep and muted to multicolored with iridescent options. Glass tiles are available in clear glass or with a backing finish designed to camouflage the rough wall surface.
A type of tile with a coating of glass-forming minerals and ceramic stains (the glaze). The glaze is sprayed onto the body of the tile (known as the bisque) before firing. The type of glaze used often determines the recommended end use of the tile (i.e., walls, floors, and counters).
The application of a colored material after the base coat of stain or paint has been applied.
Abbreviation for gallons per flush. Refers to the amount of water a toilet uses for the flushing of waste in a single flush.
Abbreviation for gallons per minute. The rate of flow by which faucets and showerheads are measured and regulated.
The direction, size, arrangement, and appearance of the fibers in wood or veneer.
A very hard natural igneous rock. Granite begins as the liquid magma (hot molten stone) in the center of the earth. Due to extreme pressure within the earth and the absence of atmosphere, granite is formed very dense. It is really a host of ingredients, including common minerals like feldspar, quartz, and mica. Feldspar is the major mineral component of granite, comprising 60 to 80 percent of the stone.
A sink fabricated with up to 85 percent natural granite particulates. Available only in matte finishes.
A term used to describe the waste water from sinks, showers, and baths, that is used for a variety of purposes, including landscape irrigation and toilet flushing.
A generic term used to describe any product or action meant to help the environment.
A thin mortar used to fill gaps, especially between tiles. There are different types of grout for different types of tiles, with different properties and characteristics.
H
A halogen burner works like an incandescent light bulb. Electricity passes through a tungsten filament inside a quartz-glass tube. Resistance causes the filament to heat up, and in the process, tungsten particles boil off. Therefore, conventional electric energy is converted into light and heat beneath the glass ceramic surface.
A gas-filled tungsten filament incandescent lamp with a lamp envelope made of quartz to withstand the high temperature. This lamp contains some halogens (namely iodine, chlorine, bromine, and fluorine), which slow the evaporation of the tungsten. Alsocalled a quartz lamp.
Abbreviation for high-airflow particulate air filter. Not to be confused with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) filter.
Abbreviation for hazardous air pollutants.
General term used to designate lumber or veneer produced from deciduous or leaf-bearing trees, such as oak or maple.
The nonactive center of a tree generally distinguishable from the outer portion (sapwood) by its darker color.
Hot-stamped transfer foils (HSTF) are laminated by the continuous hot-roll method. HSTF is basically paint or ink reverse printed on a Mylar carrier foil, with an adhesive top coat. Heat and pressure activate the top coat and deposit the ink or paint, and the Mylar is peeled away. Most often used on the edges and profiles of cabinetry.
A system of construction allowing the manufacturer to utilize the engineering method of frameless construction for the case while creating the look of hand-crafted joinery by adding a nonfunctional face frame to the front exterior of the cabinet. In this method of construction, the width of the face frame (less the thickness of the side material) extends beyond the case side, resulting in a void space between each cabinet.
Hydrotherapy, or water therapy, is the use of water (hot, cold, steam, or ice) to relieve discomfort and promote physical well-being.
I
Units of measure based on inches. Used by U.S. manufacturing companies.
A lamp employing an electrically charged metal filament that glows when heated by the electric current.
An electronic cooktop heating system. An induction system has powerful, high-frequency electromagnetic elements under the unit’s ceramic surface. When cookware made of magnetic material—such as a cast iron skillet or stainless steel pot—is placed on the element’s magnetic field, the field transfers (induces) energy into the metal. The magnetic current causes the molecules of the metal cookware to vibrate at high frequencies, creating friction that heats the cooking vessel.
A method of manufacturing plastic fixtures. The plastic material is heated until it reaches a liquid state, at which time it is injected into the cavity of a mold. With this process, the color you see on the surface goes all the way through the material.
A type of sink in which sink and countertop are all made out of one piece of the same material.
J
Any meeting of two surfaces. In veneer, the line between the edges of two adjacent leaves of veneer.
K
Cross section of a tree branch or limb with the grain usually running at right angles to that of the piece of wood in which it occurs. Knots may be open, produced when a portion of the wood substance of a knot has dropped out, or tight, solid across their face and fixed by growth to retain their place.
L
A finish that has generally replaced varnish and shellac. Lacquer offers a hard, durable, water-resistant surface. For proper application, it is sprayed on a smooth substrate, then sanded and buffed to create either a flat matte or high-gloss finish. Lacquer is mirror smooth and transparent, enhances the colors over which it is laid, and brings out the beauty of the wood grain.
The technique of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of differing materials. A laminate is usually permanently assembled by heat, pressure, welding, or adhesives.
Laminate flooring consists of several layers of material bonded together under high pressure, similar to the laminate products used for countertops. A clear melamine top layer protects the design layer. Next is a plastic resin-impregnated paper layer with a wood grain pattern. These are bonded to a structural fiberboard core, backed by a layer of melamine. The clear topmost wear layer is smooth and can be slippery when wet, making laminate flooring a questionable option for baths.
A joint made by overlapping two ends or edges and fastening them together.
A fixed bowl or basin in the bathroom with running water and drainage for washing.
A cabinet containing a round shelf that swings out into the room and past the door opening.
Sliced sheet of a veneer flitch.
Abbreviation for liquid-crystal display. A flat-panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals.
Abbreviation for light-emitting diode. An LED produces light when electrons move from a positive force to a negative force within its semiconductor structure.
A sedimentary rock, created by millions of years of seashells and bones of sea creatures settling as the sediment on an ocean floor. The calcium in the bones and shells combines with the carbon dioxide in the water to form calcium carbonate, which is the basic mineral structure of all limestone and marble. Used for floors, backsplash areas, and bathroom surfaces.
The section of a tree that can be sawn or used for veneer.
An opening with a series of horizontal slats arranged to permit ventilation but to exclude rain, sunlight, or viewing into.
M
The volume of air required to replace air exhausted from a given space.
Metamorphosed limestone. Marble and limestone begin as the same material. Given enough heat and pressure, limestone will crystallize, resulting in marble. The crystal structure allows marble to take a polish that brings out the color of the other trace elements.
An installation method wherein tile is directly applied to the countertop, decking, or cement surface with troweled-on mastic, a pasty cement that is used as an adhesive.
An engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure.
Totally integrated drawer system featuring a stainless steel, aluminum extruded, or other metal-type three-side drawer system. The drawer bottom repeats the material selected for the case interior. These three-sided drawer component systems then connect directly to the drawer head.
Units of measure based on millimeters or centimeters. Used by international manufacturing companies.
Microwave energy is a form of nonionizing radiation. Nonionizing radiation (infrared, microwaves, broadcasting waves) in sufficient intensity will cause a rise in temperature but will not cause cell changes. Microwaves vibrate millions of times per second and are very short waves, hence the term “microwave.” Microwave-powered ovens cook food by activating the dipolar (water) molecules so they rotate in a rapidly alternating electrical field.
Wood architectural elements (such as doors, sashes, trim, or molding) manufactured at a woodworking mill.
Produced just as custom cabinets are by a millwork company. Sometimes used as an identifier for the most custom of cabinet manufacturing processes.
A four-sided miter-framed low-pressure melamine drawer system, or a boxed melamine drawer system. Miter-framed drawer systems score the core material of the drawer, then the sections of the drawer are folded together to form the box.
A type of plumbing valve that mixes hot and cold water to achieve a specified delivery temperature.
A decorative strip of wood or another material used to decorate or finish a surface of a wall or a piece of furniture. Molding may be curved, with classical shapes, such as a crown molding, or with carved details in for form of flowers, leaves, or stylized patterns. Sometimes spelled moulding.
A mixture of sand, water, and cement or lime that becomes hard like stone.
A type of joint used in woodworking; a slot (the mortise) is cut into a board, plank, or timber, usually edgewise. The mortise receives a projecting part, or tenon, of another board, plank, or timber to form a joint. Many years ago mortise-and-tenon joints were used in house building. Today they are mainly used in assembling cabinets.
Mosaic tiles are distinguished from other kinds of tile by their small size, which must not exceed 6 square inches (2.45 by 2.45 inches if square shaped). The most common types are natural clay and porcelain in which the color is throughout the tile rather than being applied on the surface like a glaze. However, glazes may be applied as well.
A term used to describe a variegated or block pattern figure. The grain lines are broken and irregular, which differentiates the figure from curly.
A vertical post or other upright that divides a window or other opening into two or more panes. Sometimes only ornamental.
N
A term used to identify an alphabetical and numerical proprietary system used to label pre-engineered cabinet sizes.
O
A type of wood finish, most satisfactory on hard or close-grained woods. When this finish is properly applied, the wood is impervious to water, heat, scratches, and most stains.
A term referring to large trees that have grown in natural forests.
A set of cabinets made specifically for one client or one project.
P
Types of wood finishes; they withstand stains, water marks, minor burns, and scratches. They are of two general types, one containing wax and the other varnish. The finish coating wax will give a soft sheen rather than a high gloss. Thin, medium, and heavy consistencies are available.
A decorative painting technique. White or off-white paint is left in cabinet joints and within distressed sections.
Provides a low-luster sheen. This is a very good choice if the wall surface is not perfectly smooth.
Provides a desirable low-glare surface for walls and ceilings that do not need frequent washing.
The most wear-resistant and moisture-resistant finish because of its relatively high proportion of resin. The more resin, the heavier and tougher the film. The high-resin film of the glossy paints makes them ideal for areas subject to heavy use and frequent washing. However, the high sheen also makes any wall surface or finish imperfections very noticeable.
Affords moderate durability with a less obtrusive shine. Popular choice for most woodwork.
Glazing applied on white wood edging after wear, before finish, with pat-pat-pat-sponge rhythm.
An engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded. Particleboard is a composite material.
Simulated 12- by 12-inch tiles or actual individual pieces of wood, it is interlocking and blind-nailed.
A one-piece unit that stands on its own. It has little or no countertop surface. The water supply lines are visible.
A wall cabinet that is accessible from two sides and is installed above a cabinet that juts out into the center of the room.
A ventilation system that pulls airborne particulates through narrow slots along the edge (the perimeter) of a center panel into an enclosed space. An internal blower then exhausts them to the outside.
A type of wood finish in which white pigment is rubbed into wood to enhance the grain. Pie-cut cabinet
A corner cabinet that features stationary shelving, as opposed to a rotating shelf.
Interlocking flooring that is blind-nailed. Generally, random lengths of 9 to 96 inches are used as well as random widths.
A bathtub with no finished panels. Designed to drop into a platform made of another material.
The lowest member of a base of an object.
A board made by gluing and compressing thin layers of wood together with the grain of each layer at right angles to the layer next to it
Polyester is sprayed on a smooth substrate, then sanded and buffed to create either a flat matte or high-gloss finish.
A polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. Polyurethane is used as a surface coating and a surface sealant as well as in high-performance adhesives. It can be applied over bare wood, sealer, or a varnish finish.
Smaller versions of typical appliances or custom-designed units for specific food/drink products. The majority of these appliances, such as a refrigerated drawer, are designed to slip underneath a normal countertop.
A dense pattern in wood consisting of small rings enveloping one another. Often described as looking like the surface of a puddle during a light rain or resembling suede or fur. Most commonly available as sapele.
A type of drain assembly for lavatory and bath. When a lavatory lift rod or bath overflow plate lever is lifted, the pop-up drain closes so the lavatory or tub retains water.
A shower mixing valve that automatically maintains balance between incoming hot and cold water supplies by immediately regulating fluctuations in pressure. As a result, temperature remains constant, though the outlet pressure may drop. Also called an anti-scald valve.
A ventilation system located near the cooking surface. It can be integral to the cooking surface or a separate appliance placed behind the cooking surface. Proximity ventilation captures the vapors in the zone around the cooking surface and vents them to the exterior of the house or through a filtered system and then back into the room.
Abbreviation for pounds per square inch. Refers to a unit of pressure from the imperial system.
An oven cleaning system. In this system, the oven is heated at temperatures ranging from 850° F (454.44° C) to 1000° F (537.78° C). (Pyrolysis is a chemical change brought about by the action of heat.) At the end of the completed cycle, after the cool-down period, all that remains of the food soil is a powdery ash that is easily removed with a damp cloth. Compare to Catalytic (continuous-cleaning) system.
Q
A type of lumber; a quartered section of log is placed on the slicer, and the knife cuts individual leaves of veneer at a 90-degree angle to the growth rings. Quarter cutting produces a striped effect, straight in some species and varied in others.
Quartz composite (also known as engineered stone) is comprised of 93 percent quartz and 7 percent polymers, pigments, and binder. Since composites are man-made, they do not have the variations in color and texture of granite or marble. Because they are nonporous, they do not have to be sealed.
Tile made from shale, clays, or earth extruded to produce an unglazed product that has color throughout the tile body. There are a variety of quality levels within the broad term “quarry tile.”
R
A recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machineable material, usually wood. When viewed in cross section, a rabbet is two-sided and open to the edge or end of the surface into which it is cut.
A bathtub without finished ends and with one finished side, typically called the apron. Designed to slip between two end walls and against a back wall.
Heat transfers by conduction and convection in cookery on top of the range. Radiation of heat takes place at the speed of light (186,300 miles per second) in electromagnetic waves. No material medium is required for its transmission.
A cross member of a panel door or a frame cabinet face.
A front-controlled cooking unit, which requires a lowered cabinet height to accommodate the front panel controls.
Real woods that have been reglued, resliced, and dyed to mimic more valuable woods. They are created by gluing together natural veneers in special presses and reslicing to get certain predetermined effects.
Manufactured from waste glass. Used as a surfacing material, this is glass manufactured with tempered glass, post-consumer waste glass, and semiprecious man-made stones.
The appliance box, made of various materials designed to create an inner and outer shell with insulation between.
Specialized cabinet designed to hold bins to facilitate the separation of refuse for recycling.
An alpha-cellulose paper impregnated with urea, acrylic, or melamine resins. Sometimes called paper or melamine paper. In Europe, it is called foil.
A method of sawing lumber. To avoid the bold flake effect of cutting oak on the true quarter, a quartered section of log is placed on a rotary slicer and veneer is cut at an angle, about 15% off the quartered position. Rift cutting produces a rift or comb grain effect. Typically, oak is rift cut.
A sink that sits slightly above the countertop with the joint between the sink and the countertop concealed by a metal rim.
Another method of sawing lumber, in a rotary cut a full log is placed in the lathe and turned against a razor-sharp blade that peels a continuous sheet of veneer along the annular growth rings. Rotary-cut veneer is exceptionally wide and produces bold, variegated grain markings.
To lay out the basic plumbing lines without making the final connections.
A pattern of laying tile. Tiles are laid end to end, with joints that land in the middle of the tiles in adjacent rows; or tiles are laid end to end, with joints that land at a one-third or two-third point in each adjacent row.
S
An invigorating bath originating in Finland in which steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones. The bather sits on wooden benches in a room typically lined with wood.
A technique for cutting and fitting woodwork/cabinetry to an irregular surface.
See Pyrolitic (self-cleaning) system.
A practice of periodically removing mature trees in order to allow young trees to grow.
Sink sits on top of the countertop. A hole is cut in the surface and the fixture is dropped in by the installers. A bead of caulking is applied between the sink and countertop, forming a seal.
Cabinetry produced on an assembly-line basis but offering more interior fittings in the form of accessories and some custom cabinet size possibilities.
A type of faucet technology that allows the faucet to be activated when the user’s hands are placed underneath the spout or as the individual approaches the fixture, delivering water at a certain temperature and volume. Also called “touchless” technology.
In a shower compartment or stall, a waterproof pan with sides above the finish floor level, in which the floor drain is located.
A preengineered, predesigned unit that includes several showerheads.
A faucet with a single-handle control requiring only one hole in the countertop for mounting. The water filler and the control mechanism are designed to function within this configuration.
A toilet flushing action where the jets deliver flow with such a volume as to begin the siphoning action instantly, without any rise in the level of water in the bowl before the contents are drawn through the outlet.
A toilet flushing action based on diagonal rim outlets that cause a swirling or whirlpool action. The resulting rapid filling of the trap triggers the siphoning of the bowl contents.
A toilet flushing action that relies entirely on the incoming rush of water from the rim. The resulting rapid filling of the trap triggers the siphoning of the bowl contents.
A metamorphic rock, with layered characteristics, formed from the low-grade metamorphism of the sedimentary rock shale. Fine-grained of mostly microscopic quartz and calcite. Can also contain some of the same minerals found in granite, which makes some slate iridescent and/or hard. Like limestone and marble, the colors come from trace metals. Slate is durable and acid and stain resistant.
Also known as steatite or soaprock, soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. Largely composed of mineral talc and rich in magnesium. It is used for both interior and exterior design elements. .
An industry word identifying a boxed-in area above the cabinets. The proper construction term would be “bulkhead,” made up of fascia (the front panel) and the soffit (the underside). However, it is typical in the industry to call the entire structure a soffit.
Wood from trees classified as gymnosperm, primarily coniferous trees, such as pine, fir, or cedar.
A material manufactured from acrylic, polyester, or a combination of acrylic and polyester base materials. These homogeneous (color all the way through) materials can be machined by a skilled fabricator and are repairable if damaged. The hard, nonporous surfaces are stain and burn resistant.
An internationally recognized unit of loudness, which simplifies reporting of sound output. The sones translate laboratory decimal readings into numbers that correspond to the way people sense loudness.
French term meaning ”under vacuum.” Sous-vide is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath for longer than normal cooking times—72 hours in some cases.
A type of decorative wood finish in which lacquer is sprayed across the finish in a random fine pattern to add depth to the finish. Spatter can be large and watery, small pinpoint black, or light/dark brown. Small wisps of accent paints may also be applied.
Specially designed sinks in a variety of shapes and sizes appropriate for second or third sink centers such as next to a stove with pot filler faucet feature.
A narrative list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details that supplements the information contained in the blueprints. Specs provide written elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods. They are written to supplement working drawings.
A multicolored/layered faux finish is created by dabbing color on with a rag, roller, or sponge.
A ventilation system in which an exhaust appliance is placed above a cooking appliance, behind it, or as an integral part of the cooking surface. The system’s internal (or externally located) fan must effectively capture a column of air containing vapors, steam, and smoke directly over or around the cooking surface and exhaust them to the outside of the home or scrub them through a filter system.
Generally formed following the same process described for enameled steel fixtures. However, no surface coating is applied to a stainless steel fixture.
An enclosure that is usually equipped with special plumbing to create steam. The enclosure itself either runs from the floor to the ceiling or has a top (transom panel) to contain the steam.
Vertical flanking members on a panel door or a frame cabinet face to which the horizontal top and bottom rails are secured.
A painting technique that transforms a flat surface into a finely grained finish, adding dimension to the wall surface.
A full range of cabinets in specified sizes, door styles, finishes, and accessories with limited modifications.
Separate storage areas in the kitchen divided by function. A kitchen may have storage zones for cooking, cleaning, food preparation, consumables, such as food, and nonconsumables, such as dishes, cutlery, glassware, and the like.
A faux finish technique. The consistency of the glazing is such that brushstrokes leave a striped pattern in both a horizontal and vertical direction.
Butt flooring that is top-nailed. All boards are the same width (2 and 2¼ inches) and random lengths.
Underlying support placed below what is normally construed as a base.
The base material on top of which other material is installed.
Materials specified for the floors, walls and wall surrounds, countertop areas, and backsplash verticals of a space.
Practices that ensure the resources removed from the forest are at a level the forest is capable of renewing without damaging its future prosperity.
T
A type of proximity ventilation system located behind the cooking surface that extends up when in use.
A valve with a high-temperature limit stop that is adjustable. The high-temperature limit stop prevents scalding by limiting the temperature of the water that can pass through the valve.
A type of safety glass. The tempering process strengthens the glass and changes the way in which it breaks. The resulting properties make the glass safer upon breaking and ideal for any glass object that needs to break in a safe manner. Glass can be tempered in different ways and to varying strengths.
A combination of marble, concrete, and cement that can be formed into a variety of configurations, such as a countertop with an integral sink. This marble aggregate concrete produces a hard and durable flooring surface. It is also used as a wall treatment.
Melamine-impregnated papers that can be fused to a substrate by heat and pressure. Also known as low-pressure laminate (LPL), low-pressure melamine, melamine component panels (MCP), or just melamine.
Pressure-balancing shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control. When temperature or pressure fluctuations occur at the water inlets, a thermal actuator adjusts the hot and cold ratio to maintain the original temperature setting.
The use of heat to alleviate pain and stiffness, especially in joints and muscles, and to increase circulation.
A tile installation method where mesh concrete backerboard may take the place of a conventional mortar board.
A faucet with hot and cold handles separate from the spout. It requires three holes for mounting. A variation is called a bridge faucet, which has a horizontal connector (bridge) joining hot and cold water sources. The bridge is a prominent design feature above the countertop or the deck.
The material placed at a doorway when the finished flooring of an adjacent room is higher. Generally made of marble or wood.
An indentation designed into the bottom of a cabinet to provide room to allow the user to stand closer to the countertop.
A touch-control faucet is activated when the human body comes in contact with any part of the spout or handle of the faucet when it is in an open position. The contact creates an electromagnetic pulse that sends a signal to the solenoid-activated valve installed underneath the sink along the faucet piping.
The channel in a toilet that connects the bowl to the waste outlet. The trapway is where siphonic action occurs, and its size is measured in terms of the largest ball that can pass through it.
A waste disposal system that compacts mixed refuse. The compactor plugs into a standard household circuit and is operated by a motor. The motor drives a single ram down that compacts the trash.
Travertine is a form of limestone formed from geothermal springs and is characterized by pitted holes and troughs. It is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture.
The material used to finish off and cover joints of a surface installation (e.g., flooring, window and door openings, countertops).
A drain with a lever that opens and closes the drain on the bathtub waste and overflow.
A French term that means “fool the eye.” Often used to describe a mural with a three-dimensional appearance on a residential flat wall surface. It typically refers to a painted scene that fools the eye into looking like something with depth and distance.
A faucet requiring two holes in the countertop for mounting; the water spout occupies one hole, the single water volume/temperature control occupies the second hole.
U
A material placed under a decorative surface (e.g., hardware flooring) to provide a suitable installation surface.
A sink installed underneath the countertop.
A set of cabinets that are not scribed to the walls, ceiling, or floor of the room. Although they are secured to the wall for stability, they appear more like furniture than casework.
A receptacle that is attached to a wall and plumbed in, used by men.
V
Bathroom storage cabinet located under the sink.
A type of wood finish. Available in all gloss finishes. Provides a finish that is resistant to water, alcohol, and other liquids. Most varnishes today are made of synthetic resins, which dry fairly rapidly to form a hard surface coating that is exceptionally resistant to rough wear.
(1) Thin layer as surface: A thin layer of a material bonded to the surface of a less attractive or inferior material; (2) layer of plywood: A thin layer of wood that is glued together with others to make plywood; (3) outer layer: An outer layer applied to a surface for decoration or protection.
A ventilator housed in a custom enclosure, which acts as a focal point in the space.
A phenomenon that occurs when a fluid that is flowing through a pipe is forced through a narrow section, resulting in a pressure decrease and a velocity increase. Named after Italian physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746–1822).
Heat-laminated adhesive backed films that simulate a variety of finishes such as wood, granite, marble, and so on. .
Flooring available as inlaid (the pattern going throughout the wear layer of vinyl) and as rotogravure (the pattern is printed on a sheet). Both are then covered with a layer of wearing surface.
Solid or pure vinyl tiles that are homogeneous vinyl andare unbacked and usually of uniform composition throughout. Can be installed on suspended wood subfloors or over on-grade and below-grade concrete.
A type of china used in the manufacture of lavatories, toilets, bidets, and urinals. It is composed of ceramic materials fired to form a nonporous body, having exposed surfaces coated with a ceramic glaze fused to the body. Vitreous china has less than ½ of 1 percent moisture absorption compared to other types of ceramics, such as wall tile, which may have as much as 10 percent moisture absorption.
Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air.
W
General term for the material applied to the lower 3 to 4 feet of an interior wall. It can be both functional and decorative.
A lavatory hung on the wall, secured to wall studs.
An assembly for a bathtub. The outlet at the top removes the overflow water during tub filling, and the drain at the bottom removes wastewater when the tub is drained.
Another name for a toilet. The term “water closet” comes from a European home design that featured the toilet and a small lavatory in one room separated from a larger room housing the bathtub.
A simple, effective way of finishing wood. Generally, the wax is applied over a dried and sanded sealer coat of shellac, varnish, or oil.
Wear that appears on the edge of doors, the raise of moldings, and other areas where a finish would naturally have been worn off through the continual opening and closing of doors over years of use. Wear also appears on door, drawer, and cabinet face frames.
See “Bio-based architectural panels.”
A type of floor stain. The white-gray stain is a pigmented stain that creates color by causing finely ground particles to adhere to the floor’s surface. Unlike a dye-based stain that penetrates the wood, a pigmented stain floats mostly on the floor’s surface like paint.
A system designed to exhaust stale air and/or supply fresh air to an entire dwelling.
Grain is the alternating regions of relatively darker and lighter wood resulting from the differing growth parameters occurring in different seasons (i.e., growth rings).
Pigment or dye used to color wood, usually suspended in liquid or gel; stains may be water- or alcohol-based, or the pigment may be contained in the actual finishing agent (varnish, polyurethane, etc.).