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TERMS


AWNING: a moveable, fabric-covered, sloped surface that projects from a wall - usually over a door, window or storefront - to provide shelter from the weather.
BASE PANEL (BULKHEAD): in this document it refers to the area between storefront windows and ground level, historically clad in wood.
BRACKET: a member, often triangular in form, that projects from a wall or other vertical surface and supports another component, such as an eave.
CAPITAL: the decorative head of a column, pilaster, pier or other vertical support.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS: the materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings that contribute to the heritage value of a historic
place, and which must be retained in order to preserve its heritage value. In the Design Guidelines they are further explained in the ‘Features’ sections of the Storefront Design chapter.
CLADDING (ALSO CALLED EXTERIOR FINISHES): the external, non-structural material that protects the structural wall or frame from weather.
CORNICE: projecting horizontal element (to shed water and for decoration) at the top of a building or the top of a storefront, or a similar feature (often in plaster) at the top of a wall of a room.
COURSE: a single horizontal row of brick, stone or other wall material.
DENTIL: a small, tooth-like square block, used in a row as a decorative feature in a cornice.
DORMER: a window that projects from a sloping roof, with a small roof of its own.
EAVE: the projecting edge of a roof.
FACADE: the front face or elevation of a building; especially the principal front, having some architectural pretensions.
FASCIA: a finish element covering the face of eaves and roof projections.
FINIAL: an ornamental projection at the top of a gable, roof or other high component.
GABLE: the vertical triangular portion of the end of a building, from the level of the cornice or eaves to the ridge of the roof.
GLAZE: to fi t, furnish, or secure with glass.
HERITAGE VALUE: the aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social or spiritual importance or signifi cance for past, present or future generations. The heritage value of a historic place is embodied in its character-defining materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings.
HISTORIC PLACE: a structure, building, group of buildings, district, landscape, archaeological site or other place in Canada that has been formally recognized for its heritage value.
LAMP: often referred to as a light bulb, the choice of lamp is important for light colour, energy effi ciency, and length of light.
LINTEL: the horizontal supporting member at the top of a door or window.
LUMINAIRE: often referred to as a light fi xture, this hardware holds the lamp.
MOULDING: a shaped decorative element, usually a horizontal band, that projects slightly from the surface of a wall.
MULLION: a major structural vertical or horizontal member between window units or sliding glass doors.
MUNTIN: a secondary framing member (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to hold the window panes in the sash. This term is often confused with mullion.
PARAPET: in a building, a portion of a wall that projects above a roof.
PIER: an upright support post of square or rectangular section, usually of masonry.
PILASTER: an upright shallow rectangular upright support post set into a wall and used mainly as decoration.
PRESERVATION: according to the Standards and Guidelines, “the action or process of protecting, maintaining, and/or stabilizing the existing materials, form, and integrity of a historic place or of an individual component, while protecting its heritage value.”
REHABILITATION: according to the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, “the action or process of making possible a continuing or compatible contemporary use of a historic place or an individual component, through repair, alterations, and/or additions, while protecting its heritage value.”
RESTORATION: according to the Standards and Guidelines, “the action or process of accurately revealing, recovering or representing the state of a historic place or of an individual
component, as it appeared at a particular period in its history, while protecting its heritage value.”
SASH: in a window, the wood or metal frame that holds the glass.
SILL: a horizontal member at the bottom of a window, or of a wall (sometimes called a sill plate).
SOFFIT: the underside of an eave, beam or other component.
SPALLING: the spontaneous chipping, fragmentation, or separation of a surface or surface coating, in this document referring to the spalling of bricks.
STREETSCAPE: in this document, refers to the shared public spaces within the heritage district that lend an overall character to the district. This includes street lighting, transportation,
parking, trees, plants, and street signs in addition to the facades of buildings.
TRANSOM: a small window over a door or another window, often hinged for opening.

More Information

Clawson Awning Guidelines. National Main Street Center. National Trust for Historic Preservation. July 2008 <http://www.mainstreet.
org/>.

Damar Worldwide. Compact Fluorescent Blub. http://www.damarww.com/Common/helpdocs/compactFluorescentBulbBase.jpg (accessed June 13, 2008).

Fram, Mark. Well Preserved: The Ontario Heritage Foundation’s Manual of Principles and Practice for Architectural Conservation. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd., 1992.

Halfnight, S. and D. Luxton. Your Old House; True Colours: Authentic Heritage Colour & Placement. Vancouver Heritage Foundation, 2001

James, Brad, Andrew Shapiro, et. al. Testing the Energy Performance of Wood Windows in Cold Climates: A Report to the State of Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Agency of
Commerce and Community Development. 30 August 1996. Jandl, Ward. H . Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts. Technical Preservation Services. Apr. 2005. National Park Service U.S. Dept of the Interior. July 2008 <http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/
briefs/brief11.htm>.

Leeke, John. Save Your Wood Windows. Portland, Maine: HistoricHomeWorksTM. 2004.

Meany, Terence. Working Windows: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows. New York, NY: Lyons Press, 1998.

Parks Canada. Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2003.

Randl, Chad. The Use of Awnings on Historical Buildings. Technical Preservation Services. Apr. 2005. National Park Service U.S. Dept of the Interior. July 2008 <http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/
briefs/brief44.htm>.

Shelmerdine Garden Centre Ltd. Plant Finder. http://www.shelmerdine.com/index.cfm. (accessed July 14, 2008).

Parks Canada. “Applying the Standards.” Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2003. 1-4.