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Glossary
construction details: Enlarged detail views of
wall, foundation, or roof construction.
construction line: Very light line for the drafter’s
use in constructing a drawing.
construction technologist: A person who
specializes in areas of construction technology,
such as managing construction, purchasing,
expediting, specifi cations writing, estimating
and bidding, quality control, and site
supervision.
contour interval: The vertical distance between
two adjacent contour lines.
contour line: A line that connects points having
the same elevation on a site. Contour lines
are used to show the shape and elevation of
the land.
contraction joints: Joints formed in freshly
placed concrete with a jointing tool to prevent
cracks from expansion and contraction due to
changes in temperature and moisture content.
cooperative: A type of ownership for multifamily
housing in which each resident buys shares
in a corporation. The corporation manages
the property.
cornice: The overhang of the roof at the eave
line that forms a connection between the roof
and side walls.
corridor kitchen: A kitchen in which the work
centers are located on two walls opposite
each other.
counterfl ow furnace: A furnace in which the
plenum is on the bottom and warm air is
forced downward. This type of furnace is
designed to be located on the main fl oor of
a home with ducts beneath the fl oor.
coursed rubble: Rubble stonework in which all
of the stones are generally fl at or rectangular,
so that the result looks like courses (rows) of
stone.
courtyard: An outdoor space that is partially
or fully enclosed by walls or a roof.
Craftsman period: Social and cultural
movement that lasted from 1860 to about
1930. Inspired by the English Arts and Crafts
movement, its purpose was to renew the
human spirit by reuniting art, labor, and the
artist while promoting hand workmanship.
crawl space: An area less than full height,
located at or below the ground level of the
main fl oor. The area is typically used for
storage and maintenance.
close cornice: A cornice in which the rafter
does not project beyond the wall.
closed plan: A residential fl oor plan that has
separate rooms for living and dining. See also
open plan.
cold water branch lines: Pipes that run from
the cold water main to each of the fi xtures in
a residential water supply system.
cold water main: The pipe in a residential
water supply system that branches off the
house main and extends to various parts of
the house to provide unheated water to the
branch lines.
comfort-height toilet: A toilet that has a seat
17″ to 19″ from the fl oor. Comfort-height
toilets make access easier for elderly people,
disabled people, and other people who have
limited mobility.
command: Instructions you provide to CADD
software to produce the end result, such as
drawing a line or creating a dimension.
common brick: Brick that is less uniform in
size and color than face brick and may have
a lip on one or more edges.
compact fl uorescent lightbulb (CFL): A type
of fl uorescent lightbulb that fi ts into light
fi xtures traditionally used for incandescent
lightbulbs. The fl uorescent tube is curved to fi t
into the space occupied by an incandescent
bulb, making it a more attractive alternative
than standard fl uorescent tubes for many
applications.
concrete: A structural material made by
combining cement, sand, aggregate, and water.
condensation: The physical change of a gas
into a liquid. For example, water vapor
condenses to become liquid water.
condominium: A multifamily housing unit
available for purchase in which ownership
includes a share of common property and
facilities.
conductor: A material, such as copper, that
permits the fl ow of electricity; usually refers
to a wire.
conduit: A pipe or tube through which wires
and cables are run to protect them from the
environment and from accidental damage.
cone of vision: The angle between opposite
sides of an object shown in perspective, with
the vertex of the angle at the station point.