Glossary of Terms

A

Amilan®

The material used to make LivingSpace’s patented interlocking wall key; made from specialty glass fiber reinforced nylon for exceptional strength.

B

Blinds

A screen for a window, especially one on a roller or made of slats.

Brick Mold

The molding around the perimeter of a door or window that seals the gaps between the door frame or window frame, and the wall. The brick mold helps insulate the interior and offers a warm decorative touch to the sunroom. LivingSpace brick molds are a single, sealed piece of pultruded vinyl

Building Code

A standard set of regulations that govern the procedures and details of construction. Most state and provincial governments adopt building codes maintained by the International Code Council (ICC); For more information, click here.

C

Cantilever

A supporting member that projects into space and is itself supported off-end.

Carriage Bolt

A common fastener used in construction, typically used to fasten metal to wood.

Collar Tie

A horizontal roof framing member that secures opposing pairs of rafters.

Composite

A material made from two or more component materials with significantly different properties. In the case of LivingSpace Sunrooms components, this refers to a composite of vinyl and fiberglass reinforcement.

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

A standard size rectangular block used in building construction.

Corner Post

A structural vertical post at the corner of the sunroom; creates the frame in the corners of the sunroom and support the roof.

Cricket

Also see saddle; A ridge structure designed to divert water on a roof around the transition from one roof area to another.

D

Decking

The material of a lumber platform or terrace attached to a house or other building.

Diamond Pier

A precast concrete head with four holes in it, through which long steel pins are driven into the ground to secure a foundation for the sunroom. Far faster and easier to install than traditional concrete footings.

Diaphragm

A structural element that transmits lateral loads to the vertical resisting elements of a structure.

Door Style: Entry

The classic single swinging door. Can be configured to swing into, or out of the sunroom, and to open from the left or the right.

Door Style: French

A pair of two swinging doors that open in tandem to form a large, unobstructed entry to the sunroom.

Door Style: Sliding

A large glass door that slides along guides in the top and bottom of the frame, without swinging in or out of the structure.

Dormer

An upright projection on a roof, usually with a window.

Double Pane Glass

Also known as insulating glass or double glazing, it consists of two window panes separated by a vacuum or gas filled space to reduce heat across the window.

Drip Edge

The lower edge of a roof that extends beyond the fascia board to allow runoff to drain into the gutters.

E

Eco Green

The industry leading system for structural performance, insulating capacity, and design flexibility; Structurally, 3-Ply has an OSB exterior, a foam fill, and another layer of OSB while 4-Ply adds an extra interior vinyl skin.

Elements Collection

LivingSpace’s premier collection; Uses state-of-the-art building materials and gives complete customization control to the customer; For more information, click here.

Enclosed Raceway

Also known as an electrical raceway; Forms a concealed, insulated pathway for electrical wiring.

Engineered Lumber

Any manufactured product made of solid wood, wood veneer, wood pieces, or wood fibers in which the components have been bonded together with adhesives.

Extrusion

The process by which vinyl is forced through a die that has a specific shape, resulting in a formed product; Used to manufacture various customized pieces of vinyl.

F

Fascia Board

A board that is nailed to the ends of rafter tails.

Fiberglass

Made of sand, recycled glass, and thermoset resins. A composite material that is extremely strong, stable, and thermally non-transmitting.

Fire Rating

Based on standardized tests that determine how quickly flames will engulf the surface of a material.

Flashing

A piece of metal that protects materials against water seepage.

Floor Starter

A horizontal vinyl component that attaches to the deck or concrete foundation and secures the sunroom to the ground.

Footing

 A base that provides a surface that distributes weight over a wide area of soil.

G

Gable

The triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches.

Gimbal Light Fixture

A lighting option that can swivel up to 20 degrees and is often used on exterior angled soffits to point to below landings.

Glazing

The clear glass or plastic portions of a window.

Glue-Lam

Short for “glue laminated,” as in “glue-laminated beam.”

Grid Lines

Lines on blueprints that locate a specific area on a project.

H

Half Key

A LivingSpace creation based off the Main Key; Slides into the starter and the corner piece to help form the foundation of a sunroom; Attaches same way as the Main Key; For more information, click here.

Handrail

A rail fixed to posts or a wall for people to hold on to for support.

High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ)

Risk categories that define a building’s ability to withstand hurricane-like winds.

Hurricane Header

A high strength rectangular tube that is inserted into the header; designed to secure the structure in hurricane-force winds; For more information, click here.

I

Impact Rating

A measure of the strength of window and door products to resist projectiles that may impact them during a storm event.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

A building code created by the International Code Council in 2000 that established minimum design and construction requirements for energy efficiency.

International Residential Code (IRC)

A standardized building code designed to account for regional variations; It covers detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses that are no more than three stories high; Provides minimum standards that are widely recognized.

K

Kick/Knee Wall

The area from the bottom of the window to the floor – typically 24 inches; Knee walls can be made with glass, vinyl, or Eco Green panels with your choice of finish.

L

Lag Bolt

A common fastener used in construction that can be screwed directly into wood without needing to make a hole; Also commonly known as lag screws.

Landing

The part of the floor next to the top or bottom of a flight of stairs.

Landscaping

The final step in completing the exterior of the house.

Ledger

A length of lumber that connects a deck to the house.

Ledger Board

Connects the deck to the house.

Light-emitting Diode (LED)

A two-lead semiconductor light source that emits light when activated; typically small, integrated optical components may be used to shape the radiation pattern; For more information, click here.

LoE2 Coating

The application of two layers of silver into a window; Reflects infrared and UV radiation, improving the energy efficiency and usability of the interior.

LoE3 Coating

The application of three layers of silver into a window; Reflects infrared and UV radiation, improving the energy efficiency and usability of the interior.

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

An engineered wood product in which the basic element is wood veneer glued together.

M

Main Key

A LivingSpace creation that works similarly to fasteners when forming the foundation of a sunroom; For more information, click here.

Main Post

Vertical vinyl beam with fiberglass reinforcement that forms the wall frame and supports the roof. At the corners of the sunroom, the frame is instead constructed from Corner Posts; For more information, click here.

Mullion

Vertical pieces separating windows of various sizes and styles combined to make up a larger unit.

Muntin

A short vertical or horizontal piece used to hold a pane of window or roof glass.

N

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Rating

A window rating system that indicates the percentage of heating or cooling energy the window saves compared to an inefficient window.

O

Optimized Collection

LivingSpace’s most affordable collection; Gives a simple and standard sunroom plan; For more information, click here.

Orientated Strand Board (OSB)

A wood product made from wood strands bonded with adhesive under heat and pressure; For more information, click here.

Overhang

A protruding structure which may provide protection for lower levels.

P

Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC)

A compact heating and cooling unit; typically mounted in the knee wall.

Pier

A concrete column that supports a concentrated load, such as a post.

Pitch

The slope of the roof, measured in rise:run. For example, a roof pitch of 5:12 would be steeper than a pitch of 3:12.

Plumb Cut

An angled cut at the ends, or peak of a roof panel or rafter that allow fascia boards and gutters to be installed properly.

Polycarbonate Roof

A translucent roof system made with high strength polycarbonate with an advanced aluminum core. Diffuses light and has greater strength than tempered glass.

Pre-Cast Concrete

Any concrete object that is cast in a factory, cured under controlled conditions, and then delivered to the job site.

3-Ply

Refers to the number of layers in roofing, decking and knee-wall panels; OSB, Foam Fill, OSB.

4-Ply

Refers to the number of layers in roofing, decking and knee-wall panels; OSB, Foam Fill, OSB, Interior Vinyl Skin.

R

Raceway Cover

Conceals Electrical Raceway and protects wires and cables from heat, humidity, corrosion, and water intrusion.

Racking

When buildings tilt or twist as their structural components are forced out of “plumb.”

Ridge Beam

An engineered beam that supports roofing members; For more information, click here.

R-Value

In insulation, a measure of a material’s ability to resist heat transition; The higher the value, the greater the insulating ability of the material; For more information, click here.

S

Saddle

Also see cricket; A ridge structure designed to divert water on a roof around the transition from one roof area to another.

Safety Glasses

Glass that has been toughened or laminated so that it is less likely to splinter when broken.

Sash

The part of a window that holds the glazing.

Screen

A frame with fine wire netting used in a window or doorway to keep out mosquitoes and other flying insects.

Seismic Load

The application of an earthquake-generated agitation to a building structure or its model.

Shingles

A rectangular tile of asphalt composite, wood, metal, or slate used on walls or roofs.

Sidelite

Stationary glass units that are installed alongside a door or window unit.

Soffit

On the interior, an area around the perimeter of a room that is lower than the rest of the ceiling; On the exterior, the underside of the eaves.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

A number between 0-1 that represents a window’s ability to reflect warming solar radiation; A higher number indicates that more solar heat is allowed through the glass, leading to a warmer interior.

Stairs

A series of steps along with all the related elements, including structural elements such as stringers and finish elements such as handrails and balusters.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

A rigid panel of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation between sheets of exterior plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB); also called a foam-core panel.

T

TDI Listing

A list of products that have been evaluated and meet the requirements of the IRC and the IBC.

Tempered Glass

Glass that is chemically or thermally treated to increase its strength and resistance to scratching, cracking, and shattering; Tempered glass is usually required around doors and in glass knee walls.

Transitions Collection

A LivingSpace collection option that gives customer’s customization control while maintaining affordability; For more information, click here.

Transom

The area from the top of the window to the roof.

Trapezoid

see Wing Fill; Top of a Cathedral sunroom.

Turtle Glass

Glass that has been tinted to reduce light projection and has a visible light transmittance of 45% or less.

U

Underlayment

In roofing, a material, such as roofing felt, applied to the roof sheathing before shingles are installed; In flooring, a thin panel product whose surface is smoother than standard subflooring.

U-Value

Similar to R-Value; measures the ability of an assembled building element to resist the flow of heat across it; Materials with a lower U-Value have greater insulating ability and are therefore more energy efficient; For more information, click here.

V

Veneer

A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material; Cover something with a decorative layer of fine wood.

W

Weep Hole

 A hole that provides drainage near the bottom of a wall.

Wind Load

The load, in pounds per square foot, placed on the exterior of a structure by wind.

Window Trim

A length of material used for decorative and framing purposes with square edges that is surfaced on four sides.

Wing Fill

see trapezoid; Top of a Cathedral sunroom.

Window Flange

Also known as a nailing fin; Attaches to the house along the window frame to redirect water away from the interior of a home.