Glossary home
Abutment
A support of an arch or a bridge, which usually resists a horizontal force from an arch, as well as its weight-in modern days this would be a relatively large structure of concrete for construction of over bridges for roads or railways.
Acoustic tile
Highly porous mineral, wood fibre or fibreglass tile used as a sound absorbing and decorative ceiling finish.
Acrow prop
A proprietary adjustable telescopic prop, which supports deck formwork enabling it to be accurately levelled.
Acrylic
A type of thermosetting plastic used in sheet form for skylights, light fixtures, facings of internally lighted signs, and for similar uses requiring high light transmission, and weather and shatter resistance.
Acrylic adhesive
A fast curing adhesive - used wet and goes tacky quickly - maybe used for vinyl tiles, which prove problematic when curling at the edges.
Acrylic paints
Emulsion paints that hold their colour well are durable and resistant to oils, fats and grease - used for fast drying floor paint.
Acrylic resin
The synthetic resin in acrylic paints, sealants, adhesives and sheet,
Adhesion
The sticking together of structural parts by mechanical or chemical bonding using a cement or glue-for instance timber parts are stuck with a variety of propriety glues-bricks are bonded using a mortar and reinforcement is bonded to concrete by its adhesion with the cement.
Adit
A nearly level tunnel driven to underground workings -adits usually have a slight slope for water to drain towards the entrance.
Adobe brick
A sun-dried brick used for building.
Adobe clay
Clayey material for making adobe bricks.
Adobe house
A house built of adobe bricks.
Aggregate
The sand and stone mixed with cement and water to make concrete.
Air conditioning
A system or process for controlling the temperature and humidity and purity of the air in a building.
Air valve
A valve in a water pipe at a summit, allowing air but not water to pass out automatically.
Airtight
Not permitting the passage of air either in or out.
Alder
A hardwood - the bark is used in tanning and dyeing the wood for bridges, etc. because it resists underwater rot.
Apex
The highest point; vertex
Architect
A person qualified to design buildings.
Arsenic
A toxic metalloid element, existing in several allotropic forms, that occurs principally in realgar and orpiment and as the free element - it is used in transistors, lead-based alloys, and high temperature brasses.
Asphalt
Black or brown hard bituminous substance, occurring naturally and as a residue in petroleum distillation - found at the surface of the ground near petroleum deposits -a mixture of this with rock chips or other material, used for paving, roofing etc.
Asphalter
A person who lays asphalt
Atrium
Derived from the entrance hall or chief apartment of a Roman house. In modern architecture, the main glazed entrance to a building to give the maximum lighting effect.