CONSTRUCTION DICTIONARY

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LAMINATED SOLID HEADER:
Stacked and glued pieces of lumber that have been pre-arched for stress loads for use as a load bearing beam over large spans. Used as an alternative to a steel I-beam or girder.

LANDING:
The platform found between flights of stairs or at the end of a flight of stairs.

LATENT DEFECTS:
Problems with a property or building which are not visible to the casual observer but which may surface later. A vendor must disclose to a purchaser any serious latent defects of which he has knowledge.

LAP JOINT:
Two boards that overlap one another but are nailed together where they overlap.

LAP JOIST:
Two joists that meet and overlap one another over a support beam or girder and are nailed together at this point.

LATERIAL MOVEMENT:
Any horizontal shifting of material.

LEDGER BEAM:
A load bearing beam or girder that has had a board (ledger board) attached to its bottom surface so that floor or ceiling joists can rest on it. As opposed to using joist hangers. See "JOIST HANGERS".

LEVEL CUT:
Any cut on a wood board or rafter that is horizontal after it is installed.

LIGHT:
The space in a window or door where a single pane of glass is inserted. A window with 4 panes of glass would be called a 4 light window.

LINK HOME:
Houses, freeholds or condominiums that are joined by garages or carports. Builders may also/instead join basement foundation walls below ground so that link homes appear to be detached. Link homes are built to avoid larger lot requirements for fully detached homes. Also referred to as a "carriage home".

LINTEL:
The horizontal structural member over an opening such as a door or window that supports any load from above.

LIVE LOAD:
Any load that occurs occasionally or moves from location to location.

LOG CABIN:
A dwelling made of unfinished logs, rough in texture, old-fashioned, rustic.

LOUVER:
An opening with a series of static or movable horizontal slats that permit ventilation but stop rain or sunlight or vision. See "ATTIC VENTILATORS".

LUMBER:
Any wood product that has been processed by a sawmill and planing mill. Lumber is defined as wood that has not been processed further than what is done by a standard saw and planing mill.

LUMBER, DIMENSION:
Wood lumber that ranges from 2 inches thick up to, but not including, 5 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide. Includes joists, rafters, studs, and planks.

LUMBER, DRESSED:
Lumber that has been finished or planed so it has a smooth finish.

LUMBER, DRESSED SIZE:
The actual dimension of lumber after shrinking from its green higher moisture content dimensions and after being machined /planed smooth. As an example, after shrinkage and dressing a standard 2"x4" stud is actually 1 5/8" x 3 1/2".

LUMBER, MATCHED:
Lumber that has been dressed and cut on one edge with a grove running along its length and a tongue running along the opposite edge.

LUMBER, SHIPLAP:
Lumber with a rectangular longitudinal ell cutout of the edge to make a rabbeted, lapped joint.

LUMBER, TIMBERS:
Any lumber that is 5 inches or more in dimension. This includes beams, posts and girders.

LUMBER, TREATED:
Any wood that has been treated under pressure with some chemical preservative that protects the lumber from moisture and insects. Also known as pressure treated lumber.