Building Components

Basics in Building Construction 4(2+2)

Lesson 01: Building Components And Types

Building Components

  1. Superstructure:The part of a structure that rises above its foundations.
  2. Roof: The structure that encloses the exterior of the upper part of a building. A roof is the uppermost part of a building. It is a covering provided on the top of the building to keep out rain, snow, sun, wind and to protect the building from their adverse effects. A roof consists of two components: (i) The roof decking and (ii) the roof covering. Roof decking is a structural component which supports the roof covering. Roof decking may be either flat or sloping, and may be in the form of flat slab, dome, truss, portal or shell. The roof covering is provided on the roof deck. These may be in the form of tiles, thatch covering, slates, flagstones covering and corrugated sheets of galvanized iron or asbestos cement.
  3. Ceiling: The overhead covering or decorative finish often used to conceal ducts, the supporting structure of the roof of the floor above.
  4. Wall: A continuous vertical surface of masonry or concrete, erected to enclose or subdivide a space, and often bearing a share of the load of beams, upper floors or a roof.
  5. Window: An aperture in the wall of a building to allow light and ventilation inside, usually having a fixed frame and one or more sashes that may move in a variety of ways.
  6. Façade: Any of the outer walls of a building exposed to the weather. Also called an external wall.
  7. Nonbearing Partition: An interior wall built for the purpose of dividing the space into suitable volumes, but bearing no other load other than its own.
  8. Door: A movable barrier provided in the opening of a wall, to provide access to various spaces of a building. It is a frame work of wood, steel etc. secured in the wall opening.
  9. Finished Floor: A material, with decorative or hygienic properties, covering the walkable substrate of a given space.
  10. Floor: The underlying horizontal finished surface in a building or a room where people walk. The floor has two components: (i) The sub-floor which is a structural component to impart strength and stability to support the super imposed loads and (ii) floor covering or flooring consisting of suitable floor finish.
  11. Structure: The combination of structural members that contribute to form and support the integrity of a building. Also called the frame, framework, shell, skeleton construction.
  12. Substructure: The underlying structure, usually underground, that supports a building, connecting it to the ground and the bearing stratum.
  13. Foundation: The lowest underlying part of a building’s structure, frequently underground, that connects or anchors the building to the ground and transfers the load directly to the bearing stratum.


  14. Stoop: A raised platform, one or more steps above the surrounding ground, leading to the entrance of a house.

  15. s

  16. Porch: A semi enclosed annex structure to shelter the building’s entrance; usually roofed, sometimes of same size as verandah, the sides may be screened with glass.

  17. o
  18. Portico: A monumental porch or decorative structure dignifying the access to a building; it often consists of a colonnade supporting a roof

  19. d

  20. Verandah: A semi-enclosed, usually roofed area along the front of a house, several steps above the surrounding ground.

  21. h
  22. Parapet: A wall placed at the edge of a roof to prevent people from falling off

  23. a
  24. Terrace: A paved area immediately outside a building, often used as an outdoor sitting.
  25. m

  26. Deck: An outdoor platform, considered as an extension of the house
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Last modified: Monday, 2 July 2012, 10:36 AM