Here's a FREE, full color introductory guide to Custom Homes, Architectural Design, Interiors, and more.
This image-packed glossary introduces the equipment, tools, tips, techniques, structural components, and design elements involved in home construction, interiors, and landscape design.
Dream up your own ideas from this carefully curated collection of images with concise, instructional definitions.
Arm yourself with basic knowledge of home building, construction equipment, tools, terms, tips, techniques, and architecture.
Use this guide for interior decorating and landscaping ideas. Or get inspired to build custom homes of your own.
Scroll further down for related links.
Also see links to other Free Books by this author.
by Judee Shipman
SOD HOUSE: An architectural style in which the walls, floors, and/or roof of a house are made of packed earth.
Shown below, custom homes in Iceland with sod roofs.
Above image credit: thevintagenews.com
SOD DUGOUT: An architectural style in which a living space is dug into a dirt mound, then reinforced with wood framing.
Above image credit: Flickr.com
SOFFIT: The underside of the eaves of a house, where the roof extends past the exterior walls.
Above image credit: allura.com
SOFTWOOD: A category of natural woods that include cedar, cypress, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, and spruce.
Above image credit: wikipedia.org
SOIL PIPE: A large pipe that carries waste materials to a city sewer or septic tank. Also known as a soil stack.
Above image credit: mybuilder.com
SOLAR POWERED: Powered by sunlight, as opposed to gas or electricity. Shown below, solar roof panels adorn many custom homes these days.
Above image credit: inhabitat.com
SOLAR HEATING: A home heating system that makes optimal use of natural light with design elements such as south-facing windows and reflective solar panels on the roof. Shown below, a solar heated swimming pool.
Above image credit: vrbo.com
SOLDER: To join metal pieces by way of heat fusion. Many custom homes feature soldered glass windows.
Above image credit: spectrumstainedglassstudio.com
SOLDERING GUN: A pistol-shaped electric power tool used for welding metal.
Above image credit: filetest.com
SOLDERING IRON: An electric hand tool that supplies enough heat to melt metal.
Above image credit: thearchitectsguide.com
SOLE PLATE: A horizontal framing component attached to floor sheathing and wall studs.
Above image credit: sfgate.com
SOLID BRIDGING: A wood beam placed between adjacent floor joists to prevent twisting.
Above image credit: teen10x.info
SOMMER: A weight bearing beam. Other names for it include bressummer, summer, summer tree, and somer, among others.
Shown below, bressummer beam structures in Dartmouth, England.
Above image credit: alamy.com
SONOTUBE: A cardboard tube designed to hold wet concrete in place until it dries.
Above image credit: carter-waters.com
SOUND ATTENUATION: Soundproofing a wall or subfloor with insulation.
Above image credit: brooklyninsulation.com
SOUTERRAIN: An architectural style characterized by a stone-lined underground chamber.
Above image credit: vanupied.com
SOUTHERN PLANTATION: A grand, pillared architectural style that was popular on America's southern plantations during the 19th century.
These custom homes are characterized by posh, oversized rooms, grand, pillared entranceways, and obscenely opulent design elements, made possible by the enforcement free slave labor.
Shown below, the historically preserved Bellamy mansion in Wilmington, North Carolina.
above image credit: wikipedia.org
SPACE HEATER: A small electric heater designed to warm a single room.
above image credit: tinyhousegiantjourney.com
SPACING: The distance between beams or shingles in building construction.
above image credit: utilityauditco.com
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Chapter 55 (You Are Here)
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X-Y-Z
RELATED LINKS
Early American Architecture and vintage custom homes.
Shipping Container Homes (design your own tiny custom homes).
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT custom homes and architecture.
Interesting facts about the Empire State Building
Interesting facts about the Statue of Liberty
Interesting facts about Willis Tower
Crazy Horse Appearing - Introduction
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 1
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 2
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 3
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 4
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 5
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 6
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 7
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 8
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 9
Crazy Horse Appearing - Chapter 10
Crazy Horse Appearing - Appendixes
Look Here Right Now To See A Long Lost Portrait Of Emily Dickinson!