Glossary

Low consumption toilet: A classification of toilet designed to flush using 1.6 or less gallons of water, as opposed to 3.5 gallon "Water-Saving" toilets, and other higher-consumption toilets. 

Laminated header:  Stacked and glued pieces of lumber for stress loads for use as a load bearing beam over large spans.

Laminated shingles: Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake like appearance. May also be called "architectural shingles" or "three-dimensional shingles."

Landing: A flat platform found between flights of stairs or at the end of a flight of stairs.

Lap: To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.

Lap joint: Two boards that overlap one another but are nailed together where they overlap

Lap cement: An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing.

Lath and Plaster: The most common wall finish prior to the introduction of drywall. Thin wood strips (lath) were nailed onto the framing as a base for the sand/lime plaster.

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

Louver: An opening with a series of fixed or movable horizontal slats that permit ventilation but stop rain, sunlight or vision.

Low-slope application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 2 and 4 inches per foot.

Load Bearing Wall: A wall which is supporting its own weight and some other structural elements of the house such as the joists.