Glossary
of Kitchen & Bath Terms
Accent lighting
Lighting that emphasizes displayed items, such as artwork or china
cupboards.
Accessibility or accessible design
Characteristics of spaces or products that meet prescribed requirements
for particular variations in ability, i.e., "wheelchair accessible."
Accessories
Additional cabinetry items such as overlays, moldings, etc to enhance
the appearance and quality of a project. Also includes towel bars,
soap dishes, hardware, etc.
Acclimation
The adjustment to changes in the climate or environment. Some materials
may need time to acclimate before they are positioned in a kitchen
or bath.
Accreditation
Certification by a recognized body of the facilities, capability,
objectivity, competence, and integrity of an operational group
to provide the specific service or operation needed. For example,
NKBA has accredited colleges teaching to NKBA standards.
AKBD®
Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer® - A certification available
from NKBA for qualified industry professionals who can adequately
substantiate a minimum of two years of industry experience and who
successfully pass the AKBD examination.
Alcove
A recessed area in a room.
Anti-microbial finish
A material that has an applied finish, or ingredient in the product
that inhibits the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria or
fungi.
Appliance
Machines such as refrigerator, dishwasher, sinks and others used
to perform household tasks.
Appliance garage
A common name for a roll-up or single door unit placed under a wall
cabinet, typically for storage of small appliances.
Apron
Trim attached below a tabletop or window sill.
Assemble-to-order
A production environment where a product can be assembled after receipt
of a customer's order. The key components used in the finishing
process are planned and usually stocked in anticipation of a customer
order. Receipt of an order initiates assembly of the customized
product. This strategy is useful where a large number of end products
can be assembled from common components.
Auxiliary sink
Second sink in the kitchen providing another work area for either
clean-up or food preparation.
Backerboard
A panel material used as a substrate for tile on floors and wall
surfaces in wet areas.
Backsplash
The portion of the exposed area between the bottom of the wall cabinets
and the top of the countertop. Also, an elevated section of counter
material approximately 4", high typically part of the countertop.
Banquette
A built-in table with chairs in an alcove. A built-in upholstered
bench along a wall, often used in breakfast areas.
Barn door
Hardware that allows the door to slide along a wall. Useful when
a pocket door is too costly or not possible.
Base cabinets
Cabinetry used on the floor to provide countertop support and typically
is 34 ½ inches tall and 24 inches deep.
Beam
A horizontal or nearly horizontal framing member that supports loads
imposed perpendicular to the long axis introduced by other framing
such as joists.
Bearing wall
A wall designed and placed in a position to hold more of a load above
it. Usually around the perimeter of a house and in strategic locations
to support floor, ceiling, and roof beams.
Beeswax
A wood preservative, considered non-toxic.
Blind base cabinet
A base cabinet usually incorporated into a design to turn a corner
with an appliance or other cabinet perpendicular to it.
Blue board
A type of gypsum wallboard (drywall) with a blue-colored paper-facing
chemically treated to provide a bonding surface for plaster or
tile adhesive.
Borax
A wood preservative, considered non-toxic.
BREEAM
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
is a comprehensive tool for analyzing and improving the environmental
performance of buildings through design and operations. This methodology
has been developed by the U. K. based Building Research Establishment.
Bulkhead
A "soffit" in Canadian usage. The under surface of a lowered
portion of the ceiling.
Burled wood
A hard wood cut from a large rounded growth on a tree characterized
by a large swirl and often used as a veneer or inlay.
CBD®
Certified Bathroom Designer® - This certification is awarded
by NKBA to those professionals that specialize in the design, planning
and execution of residential bathrooms, and prove advanced knowledge
of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed
as a design specialist. A candidate must have a minimum of seven
years experience to qualify to take the academic and design practicum
required to earn this certification.
CBE®
Certified Bathroom Educators® - College instructors who specialize
in teaching residential bathroom design. They understand the unique
qualifications required for bathroom design specialization, and they
transfer their knowledge to interior design students. A college instructor
achieves the CBE designation by proving experience as an interior
design college educator and passing the CBD exam for CBE certification.
This certification is awarded by NKBA.
Certified sustainably managed
Wood determined to have been harvested from a sustainable forest
that exhibits the same ecological characteristics as a healthy
natural forest. A number of certifying organizations have been
established to oversee the harvesting of wood for lumber and provide
guidelines for preservation of forests.
CKBI®
Certified Kitchen & Bathroom Installers® - Skilled individuals
who specialize in kitchen and bathroom installation, safety awareness,
customer relations and business management. Kitchen and bathroom
installations require more than just the ability to physically install
cabinets, fixtures, and appliances; professional installers must
also be able to competently manage a project from start to finish.
CKBIs prove advanced knowledge of technical and personal communication
skills required to succeed as an installer specialist. This certification
is awarded by NKBA.
CKD®
Certified Kitchen Designer® - This certification is awarded by
NKBA to those professionals that specialize in the design, planning
and execution of residential kitchens, and prove advanced knowledge
of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed
as a design specialist. A candidate must have a minimum of seven
years experience to qualify to take the academic and design practicum
required to earn this certification.
CKE®
Certified Kitchen Educators® - College instructors who specialize
in teaching residential kitchen design. They understand the unique
qualifications required for kitchen design specialization, and they
transfer their knowledge to interior design students. A college instructor
achieves the CKE designation by proving experience as an interior
design college educator and passing the CKD exam for CKE certification.
This certification is awarded by NKBA.
Classic crown molding
Type of crown molding which is usually used to conjunction with additional
moldings. Classic crown is larger and has more decorative profiles.
Clean technology
A technical measure taken to reduce or eliminate at the source the
production of any nuisance, pollution, or waste and to help save
raw materials, natural resources, and energy.
Clearance space
The space required for a safe and clear use of an appliance, cabinet
doors and safe passage.
CMKBD®
Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer® - This NKBA certification
is a program which recognizes extraordinary experience and achievements
in the kitchen and bath industry. The CMKBD must possess not only
both their CKD and CBD certifications, but must have an additional
10 years of experience in the industry beyond the date of their first
certification. This means that CMKBDs must have a minimum of 17 years
of industry experience!
CMKBE®
Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Educator® - This NKBA certification
is a program which recognizes extraordinary experience and achievements
in the kitchen and bath industry. The CMKBE must possess not only
both their CKE and CBE certifications, but must have an additional
10 years of experience teaching at the college level in the industry
beyond the date of their first certification. This means that CMKBEs
must have a minimum of 17 years of industry teaching experience!
Carbon monoxide (CO)
A deadly gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
Concealed hinge
A hinge that is attached to the door and the inside end panel or
stile of a cabinet, making it not visible from the exterior of
the cabinet.
Console sink
A sink basin supported by legs. The legs can be metal or wooden.
Construction plan
A drawing that shows both the existing conditions of the structure
and the changes to be made to achieve the design.
Consumables
Supplies or materials (such as paint, cleaning materials, or fuel)
that are consumed or exhausted in the production or sale of a good
or service.
Contract installer
Self employed contractor; usually a sole proprietor.
Countertop plan
A separate plan showing the countertop is helpful in illustrating
the installation or fabrication to the allied tradesperson, particularly
in complex projects, such as those that combine various counter
materials or built-up edge treatments.
Decorative overlay
An overlay is a piece of carved, scrolled wood which is usually fastened
to the face of a panel or custom hood.
Diagonal corner cabinet
A cabinet used to span across a corner; another term for this type
of cabinet is wall angle.
Domestic hardwood
Deciduous trees that grow in the United States. This is the only
type of wood in the U.S. where on a general scale the growth of
new trees easily exceeds the removal rate.
Eco-friendly
Having little or no impact on the native ecosystem.
EER
Energy Efficiency Rating, a standard for rating an appliance's energy
efficiency. The higher the EER number, the more efficient the appliance.
Elevation
Drawing prepared to scale showing the width and height of one wall
of a room. An exterior elevation shows the design, architectural
style, and height of the exterior of the proposed building as viewed
from any side of the building.
End panels
Accessory cabinet part used to finish the end of a cabinet run or
the side of an appliance or unfinished cabinet.
Energy efficiency
Ratio of energy output of a conversion process or of a system to
its energy input.
Energy smart
Meeting energy needs cost effectively and with the least impact on
the environment.
Energy Star
The Energy Star program, managed by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Department of Energy, helps consumers identify energy-efficient
products for their homes.
Engineered lumber
Structural members composed of wood fibers bonded by resins and formed
into structurally efficient post, beam, and joist shapes.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
A federal (U.S.) agency with regulatory authority over matters affecting
the environment, including waste generation and habitat destruction.
Ergonomic design
The application of human factor data to the design of products and
spaces to improve function and efficiency.
Escalation
An amount or percentage by which a contract price may be adjusted
if specified contingencies occur, such as changes in the supplier's
raw material or labor costs.
Exposed hinge
A hinge attached to the door and the front frame of the cabinet,
making it visible from the exterior of the cabinet
Extend stile
A wider than normal stile, typically 4 1/2 inches wide, used to replace
a filler. Typical of semi-custom framed cabinetry.
Exterior grade plywood
Uses phenol formaldehyde (a volatile organic compound) as an adhesive
rather than the urea formaldehyde used in interior grade plywood
and particleboard.
Fabricators
The person(s) responsible for building or creating a piece or part
of a project.
Floor plan
An overhead, cut-away view of the project and the central reference
point for all the other drawings. Generally, the floor plan shows
the entire building or project
Formaldehyde
Colorless, pungent smelling, toxic material used as an adhering component
of glues in many wood products. It can cause respiratory problems,
cancer, and chemical sensitivity. At concentrations above 0.1 ppm
in air, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes,
resulting in watery eyes. Naturally occurring but when added it
is referred to as urea formaldehyde.
Fossil fuels
Carbon-rich deposits in the Earth, such as petroleum (oil), coal,
or natural gas, derived from the remains of ancient plants and
animals and used for fuel. These are non-renewable resources with
a finite supply. They are pollutive, but are commonly used due
to their traditionally low costs.
Foundation
The below-grade portion of the structure between the footing and
main level.
Graywater
Wastewater from sources such as sinks, showers, kitchens, and washers,
which after purification, is used for non-potable uses such as
flushing and irrigation. Rainwater from gutters can be used for
this also.
Green design
A design, also referred to as a sustainable design or eco-design,
which conforms to environmentally sound principles of building,
material, and energy use. A green building, for example, might
make use of skylights, recycled building materials, and energy
efficient appliances.
Heat recovery systems
Building mechanical systems that capture waste heat from another
system and use it to replace heat that would otherwise come from
a primary energy source.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
A class of haloalkanes where not all hydrogen has been replaced by
chlorine or fluorine. They are used primarily as chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) substitutes, as the ozone depleting effects are only about
10% of that of CFCs.
Indigenous materials
Building materials that are mined, manufactured, or fabricated locally
to reduce transportation cost and increase the viability of the
local economy.
Indoor air quality
The content of interior air that could affect the health and comfort
of building occupants. Good air quality inside a building results
from streaming an appropriate amount of outside air into the building
and regulating proper filtration, air distribution, and removal
of indoor pollutants through the use of proper ventilation.
Intelligent materials
Materials able to adapt to their environment by altering their properties,
such as thermochromic glazing that changes its transparency in
response to changing temperatures.
Island
An area of cabinets and countertops which can be accessed and walked
around from all sides; considered free standing.
Kosher
In Judaism, the term kosher can be applied to foods that meet a series
of dietary laws. The ease of meeting some of these dietary laws,
such as the separation of meats and dairy products, can be enhanced
by the design of the kitchen
Laminate
Any thin material such as wood or plastic glued to the exterior of
a cabinet, countertop or other surface.
Lazy Susan
A corner cabinet on which the shelves are mounted on a vertical axle
such that items may be retrieved by pushing on the shelves to turn
them may be called a Lazy Susan. This type is usually found in
kitchens. Closed, this type of Lazy Susan appears to be two normal
cabinets at right angles to each other. When pushed on, the cabinet "doors" reveal
the shelves, which are circular except for the ninety degree cutout
where the doors are mounted.
Lead time
The time between when a product or item is purchased and the actual
delivery date.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
A voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing
high-performance, sustainable buildings. Developed by the USGBC,
LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art
strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy
efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental
quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design
and construction that provides immediate, measurable results for
building owners and occupants.
Linoleum
An all natural flooring material made of linseed oil, cork dust,
wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone, and pigments; regarded
as environmentally friendly flooring.
Linseed oil
A wood preservative, considered non-toxic.
Low-E (Low Emissive)
Glass that reflects heat, not light, and therefore keeps spaces warmer
in winter and cooler in summer.
Molding
An embellishment in strip form, made of wood or other structural
material, that is used to decorate or finish a surface, such as
the wall of a room or around a door or window.
Mudsetting
A method of installing ceramic stone tiles by setting them into a
mortar bed.
Multiple molding application
The use of more than one molding stacked or overlaid onto each other
to achieve a grander and more elaborate effect.
National Electric Code (NEC)
A code for electrical safety adopted by states and local jurisdictions
in the United States.
NCCA
National Commission of Certifying Agencies (accreditation arm of
NOCA).
NCIDQ
National Council for Interior Design Qualifications. An exam recommended
by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for certifying
interior designers.
NKBA™
National Kitchen & Bath Association
Non-renewable energy resources
Energy resources that cannot be restored or replenished by natural
processes and therefore are depleted through use. Commonly used
non-renewable energy resources include coal, oil, natural gas,
and uranium.
Outpost kitchen
Small kitchen located away from the primary food preparation area,
such as in the bedroom/bathroom area (morning kitchen) or a living
or recreation area.
Overhead lines
A series of long dashes indicating any object's edges which are above
the tall cabinets such as skylights, soffits, extensive molding,
etc.
Ozone
A form of oxygen found naturally that provides a protective layer
shielding the Earth from ultraviolet radiation's harmful effects
on humans and the environment. Ground level ozone is the primary
component of smog, produced near the Earth's surface through complex
chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds,
and sunlight.
Particle board
A panel product made from sawdust or wood particles, bonded with
a resin under high heat and pressure.
Pedestal lavatory
A free-standing fixture with a wide top and narrow base that conceals
the plumbing.
Peninsula
An area of cabinets or counter fastened on one side which can be
accessed on three sides.
Pentachlorophenol
A chemical wood preservative, considered toxic.
pH
A scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of water and other
liquids, with values from 1 to 14; neutral is 7; decreasing numbers
below 7 mean greater acidity and increasing numbers above 7 mean
greater alkalinity
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association - "Dedicated
to the promotion, advancement, education and training of the industry,
for the protection of our environment and the health, safety, and
comfort of society." Visit www.phccweb.org.
Plywood
A panel product made by cross-laminating alternate thin layers of
wood.
Polyethylene (PE) piping
A black-colored plastic pipe used for cold-water supply and underground
water supply lines. A flexible gray or black piping used for domestic
hot and cold water supply.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
A white semi-rigid plastic material whose many uses in the house
include cold water piping and DWV pipes.
Potash
A wood preservative, considered non-toxic.
Powder room
A small bathroom for guests near the public areas of the home. Consists
of a sink and toilet.
Prefabricated
Standardized building sections that are created in a factory to be
shipped and assembled in another location.
Preparation center
Long, uninterrupted counter for preparing food. Typically placed
between the sink and the cooking surface, or the sink and the refrigerator.
Primary center
Three main work centers, including primary sink, cooking surface,
and refrigeration storage.
Primary clean-up/prep sink
The sink used most frequently. If only one sink is planned it will
be used for both clean-up and food preparation. A kitchen with
primary and auxiliary sinks may separate these tasks.
Psi
Pounds per square inch, a unit of pressure in the English system
(1 psi = 0.1450 kPa).
Pull
Devices attached or built-in that enable a person to open a drawer.
Pulls are often referred to as stirrup grips and are in the shape
of the letter "U."
R & R
Remove and Replace - A term describing simple remodeling project
that involves removing and replacing cabinetry, fixtures and appliances
without structural or mechanical changes.
Racking
A condition causing a cabinet or other unit to become out of square.
This may be an uneven floor or a corner that is not square. Installers
use wooden shims to realign the box to prevent racking. This will
allow the box to be level or plum.
Reach range
The measured distance off the floor within which a person can reach
and grasp an item. The universal reach range refers to the distance
where most people can reach an item, which is 15" to 48" off
the floor.
Reclaim
To use a product again after its initial use. This commonly refers
to materials such as tile, brick, and stone.
Recycling
The reprocessing of materials into new products, which generally
prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the
consumption of raw materials, lowers energy usage, and decreases
greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin production.
Rendering
A representation of a building, interior, etc. executed in perspective.
A 3-D representation of a kitchen or bath design. In CAD software,
the process of generating an image from three-dimensional objects
using viewpoint, texture, and lighting information.
Renewable energy
Energy resources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal,
ocean thermal, and wave power, that replenish themselves within
a short period. Although non-pollutive, some displace habitats
and require large tracts of land.
(Rapidly) Renewable resource
Organic materials, like bamboo or corn, that have a short regeneration
period to full maturation, usually in stark contrast to the material
they are replacing.
Replacement factor
The percentage of time on average that an item will require replacement.
Replacement kitchen
A kitchen remodel where the new cabinets and appliances are installed
in the same locations as the old cabinets and appliances were installed.
Retrofit
An item that replaces components originally installed on equipment;
a modification to in-service equipment.
Reuse
To use products, such as glass bottles or shipping crates, repeatedly
in the same form.
Secondary center
A work area established for a specific task, such as baking or salad
preparation. It may include an appliance or fixture, storage, and
counter space, but is not calculated as part of the work triangle.
SEER
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating - A standard for rating the annual
energy efficiency of appliances which considers the effects of
climate. The higher the EER, the more efficient the appliance.
Sheen
The surface glossiness, or luster, of paints, ranging from "flat," the
dullest, to "gloss," the shiniest.
Sheetrock™
A brand of drywall that is itself often used as a term for drywall.
Shelf/drawer frontage
Calculation of cabinet size x number of shelves or drawers x cabinet
depth in feet. Used to determine adequate storage in a kitchen.
Sight lines
The range or visual field in direct line with a person's eyes, impacted
by the position a person will be in when the space or product is
being used. This is useful in planning heights of fixtures, fittings,
lighting, windows, and more.
Soda
A wood preservative, considered non-toxic.
Soffit
A lowered portion of a ceiling. The horizontal surface below the
eave. A porch roof. The under surface of a lowered portion of the
ceiling. A "bulkhead" in Canada. An enclosed area used
to fill a space between the tops of the wall cabinets and the ceiling.
Soffit board
A board cut to fit the space between the top of a wall cabinet and
the ceiling. Usually used in conjunction with other molding.
Soffit trim board
Applied to the top of the wall cabinets and designed to help support
the soffit board.
Solid surfacing
A class of rigid surfacing materials made of acrylic and/or polyester
resins mixed with alumina trihydrate.
Specifications
Descriptions, in words, of the materials to be used and the quality
expected; can be either on the plans or as a separate document
if they will complicate the drawing.
Studs
Framing members of the wall, usually 2x4s or 2x6s which the cabinets
are fastened to.
Subcontractors
Contractors who will work specifically for another contractor or
design firm.
Sub-flooring
The flooring applied directly to the floor joist on top of which
the finished floor rests.
Sustainability
The practice of meeting the needs of the present without depleting
resources or harming natural cycles for future generations.
Thinset, Thinsetting
A method for installing cement, ceramic, and stone tiles on a substrate,
by setting the tiles into a special thinset mortar compound troweled
onto the substrate.
Toe kick
An indented space in cabinetry near the floor to accommodate the
feet while standing next to a cabinet.
Traffic patterns
The normal walkway or passage a person would go from one place to
another.
Trans-generational design
Another term for universal design, referring to design that acknowledges
and supports the multiple generations more commonly living in a
home.
Tributyl tin oxide (TBTO)
A chemical wood preservative, considered toxic.
Trihalomethanes (THM)
A group of chemicals, toxic in excessive concentration and known
to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards
(UFAS)
The technical standard referenced by two federal mandates for accessibility
for federal buildings, the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).
Unit pricing
A pricing method where each operation performed, piece of material,
and product is broken down and given a value.
Universal design
The design of products and environments to be useable by all people
to the greatest extent possible.
USGBC (United States Green Building Council)
A non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building
practices. The USGBC is composed of more than 12,000 organizations
from across the building industry that are working to advance structures
that are environmentally sustainable, profitable, and healthy places
to live and work. Members include building owners, real estate
developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers,
general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system
manufacturers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Vanity
Bathroom cabinet with the sink on the top.
Veneer
A thin sheet of material bonded to one or more other materials. Plywood
is one example of a veneer material.
Vessel lavatory
A lavatory bowl or basin that sits on top of the counter or ledge.
Visible object lines
Solid lines used to show wall cabinets, tall cabinets, countertop
surfaces, flooring, furniture, some appliances and any other item
not covered or hidden in any way.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Any organic compound that evaporates at room temperature and is hazardous
to human health, causing poor indoor air quality. Many VOCs found
in homes, such as paint strippers and wood preservatives, contribute
to sick building syndrome because of their high vapor pressure.
VOCs are often used in paint, carpet backing, plastics, and cosmetics.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found
concentrations of VOCs in indoor air to be, on average, two to
five times greater than in outdoor air. During certain activities,
indoor levels of VOCs may reach 1,000 times that of the outside
air.
Work aisle
Space needed to work at the kitchen work centers.
Work center
Comprised of an appliance or sink, surrounding landing/work area,
and storage.
Work triangle
The distance between the three primary work centers (cooking surface,
clean-up/prep primary sink, and refrigeration). Ideally between
12 and 26 feet in total length.
Workplane
Actual or implied height at which an activity takes place; at this
height an imaginary plane which cuts through the entire room is
assumed. It is on this workplane that the foot candle measurement
is taken. For a kitchen, the countertop is the workplane at 3 feet
above the floor, the bath can be anywhere from 2-1/2 to 3 feet,
a dining room or desk is 2-1/2 feet. |
