Laminate
A material made by bonding several layers of material.
Label Service (UL)
Program allowing a manufacturer to place Underwriters Laboratories Inc. labels on his products that have met UL requirements. A UL representative visits the manufacturing location to obtain samples of the products for testing by UL. In some cases, samples are also purchased on the open market for testing. The public is thereby assured that products bearing the UL label continually meet UL specifications.
Lacquer
A fast-drying clear or pigmented coating that dries by solvent evaporation.
Knitted Construction
Carpet formed by looping pile yarn, stitching, and backing together.
Laminate Wood
A product made by bonding layers of wood or other material to a wood substrate.
King stud
The vertical "2 X's" frame lumber (left and right) of a window or door opening, and runs continuously from the bottom sole plate to the top plate.
Kinetic Energy
The energy of a body with respect to the motion of the body.
Knot
In lumber, the portion of a branch or limb of a tree that appears on the edge or face of the piece.
Laminated Veneer Lumber
A structural lumber manufactured from wood veneers so that the grain of all veneers runs parallel to the axis of the member.
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."
Laminated Glass
Glass panels that have outer layers of glass laminated to an inner layer of transparent plastic.
Laminating
- Bonding together two or more layers of materials.
Landing Zone, Elevator
The area 18 inches (5490 mm) above or below the landing floor.
Landing
A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square.
Latent Heat
Heat involved with the action of changing the state of a substance, such as changing water to steam.
Latch
- A beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue's bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any, without using a key. Contrasts with dead bolt.
Lamp
A general term used to describe the source of artificial light. Often called a bulb or tube.
Lap
To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.
Latex
A water-based coating, such as styrene, butadiene, acrylic, and polyvinyl acetate.
Lateral Force
A force acting generally in a horizontal direction, such as wind against an exterior wall or soil pressure against a foundation wall.