Bay: Repeated exterior division of windows.

Bay window: A window that is projected out from the exterior of the structure.

Bond: The arrangement of masonry units through a setting pattern by lapping units over one another.

Bungalow: (1900-1930) Building type characterized by being one and a half stories with a low pitched roof and a horizontal shape, often with a small covered porch at the entry and Craftsman detailing.


Cape Cod: (1690-1800) Style characterized by a steep roof with end gables and a small roof overhang. Always one and a half stories but not always a symmetrical façade.


Casement window: One side of the window frame is attached to the structure, the window opens outward.

Classical Revival: (1770-1830) Style characterized by a symmetrical façade, evenly spaced windows, Greek pillars and columns, elaborate friezes, and a central entryway.


Craftsman: (1905-1930) Style characterized by simple stylistic features including porches with tapered or square posts and a low pitch roof with wide eaves and brackets. Stylistic details include exposed rafter and beam ends and the use of rustic materials.


Cupola: A small dome on a base that sits centrally along the roof line.

Dentil: A small, square, tooth like block in a series beneath a cornice.

Eave: The overhanging edge of a roof.

Elevation: Detailed architectural drawing of the vertical dimensions of a structure.

English bond: Brickwork pattern or alternating courses of headers and stretchers.

Entablature: In classical architecture, a major horizontal member carried by a column(s) or pilaster(s).

Façade: The main exterior face of a building.

Fanlight: A semicircular or semi-elliptical window above a door.

Federal: (1780-1820) Style characterized by classical styling, a low pitch roof and a symmetrical façade with windows arranged around a central doorway. Other details included fanlights, sidelights, dentils, Palladian windows, swags, and garlands.


Flemish bond: Brickwork pattern in which headers and stretchers alternate within each course; each header is centered above and below each stretcher.

Foursquare: (1895-1930) Building type characterized by a simple block shape, large central dormer, full width porch with wide stairs, low hipped roof with deep overhang and a large central hipped dormer. Often two and a half stories.


Frieze: The wide central section part of an entablature.

Gable roof: Characterized by the forming of a triangular section on an end wall, where the two slopes meet.

Gambrel roof: Characterized by a double slope on the two roof sides.

Georgian: (1700-1780) Style characterized by a symmetrical façade with a central entry, paired chimneys and a side-gabled roof. Stylistic details are classical such as pediments and pilasters.


Greek Revival: (1825-1860) Style characterized usually by an asymmetrical façade and a front gabled main façade with an off center door, heavy cornice, a wide plain frieze, bold simple moldings and a large entry porch with full height columns.


Header: The short end of a brick.

Hipped roof: The roof slopes down to the eaves on all four sides.

Italianate: (1845-1880) Style characterized by a low pitched often hipped pyramidal roof, asymmetrical facade with two stories and a square centered cupola. Stylistic details include tall windows with round arches or pediments, large bracketed eaves, bay windows, and a smooth exterior finish.


Lintel: A supporting wood or stone beam across the top of an opening, such as that of a window.

Mansard roof: Roof type characterized by having a double slope on all four sides.

Palladian window: A three part window featuring a large arched center and flanking rectangular sidelights.

Pediment: The triangular space forming the gable end of a roof above the horizontal cornice.

Pile: Row of rooms, term used to describe the depth of a building. Example: double-pile means the building is two rooms deep.

Pilaster: A shallow rectangular column that projects only slightly from the wall.

Portico: A porch usually with a pediment roof supported by classical columns or pillars.

Queen Anne: (1880-1910) Style characterized by an asymmetrical façade with tall, intersecting, gabled or hipped roof forms with towers, turrets, and dormers. Characterized by slim chimneys, projecting upper floors, bay windows, and extensive porches and verandas. Stylistic details include brackets, ornamental chimneys, turned porch posts, decorative shingle patterns, and lacy details around porches, entries, and on gable ends.


Quoins: A stone or block reinforcing or accenting the corners of a building.

Ranch: (1930-1960) Style characterized by a single story and a low pitched gable roof with large picture windows, an attached garage, and a lack of decorative detailing.


Richardsonian Romanesque: (1870-1900) Style characterized by an asymmetrical façade with a hipped or gabled roof, sometimes with a round or octagonal corner tower. Also, includes a rough stone texture and wide round arches.

Sash: An individual window unit that fits inside the window frame.

Second Empire: (1855-1880) Eclectic Victorian style characterized by a double-pitched mansard roof, often with a centered pavilion or tower at the front entry.

Shed roof: A roof type with one high pitched plane covering the entire structure.

Sidelight: A vertically framed area of fixed glass flanking a door.

Sill: A horizontal piece forming the bottom frame of a window or door opening.

Stretcher: The longer face of a brick.

Stringcourse: A molding or projecting course running horizontally along the face of a building.

Transom: The window above the transom bar of a door.

Veneer wall: The covering of one wall construction by a second material. Example: brick over concrete block.

Vernacular: Style characterized by the presence of no distinctive stylistic features.


Victorian: (1830-1910) Style characterized by architectural details such as brackets, spindles, and patterned shingles.


Wainscoting: A decorative or protective facing, such as wood paneling.

Wall-of-Troy fretwork: A style of dentil course that is used for decorative purposes on cornices, chair rail and other architectural details.