Loan
- The amount to be borrowed.
Lookout
A short wood bracket or cantilever that supports an overhang portion of a roof.
Live Load
Part of the total load on structural members that is not a permenant part of the structure. May be variable, as in the case of loads contributed by the occupancy, and wind and snow loads.
Loan to value ratio
- The ratio of the loan amount to the property valuation and expressed as a percentage. E.g. if a borrower is seeking a loan of $200,000 on a property worth $400,000 it has a 50% loan to value rate. If the loan were $300,000, the LTV would be 75%. The higher the loan to value, the greater the lender's perceived risk. Loans above normal lending LTV ratios may require additional security.
Load bearing wall
Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate.
Liquid Limit
Related to soils, the water content expressed as a percentage of dry weight at which the soil will start to flow when tested by the shaking method.
Lintel
A horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window. Horizontal member spanning an opening such as a window or door. Also referred to as a Header.
Load-Bearing
Carrying an imposed load.
Loomed Construction
Carpet formed by bonding the pile yarn to a rubber cushion.
Load
Force provided by weight, external or environmental sources such as wind, water and temperature, or other sources of energy.
Louver
A vented opening into the home that has a series of horizontal slats and arranged to permit ventilation but to exclude rain, snow, light, insects, or other living creatures. Opening with slanted fins (to keep out rain and snow) used to ventilate attics, crawl spaces and wall openings.
Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
A tax incentive intended to increase the availability of low-income housing. The program provides an income tax credit to owners of newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated low-income rental housing projects. https://healthymaterialslab.org/tool-guides/hml-resources
Loudness
Subjective response to sound pressure, but not linearly related thereto. A sound with twice the pressure is not twice as loud. See Decibel.
Lot Line
The boundary line of a lot.
Lot Area
Total horizontal area within the lot lines of a parcel of land.
Lumber Grader
A person who inspects each piece of lumber and assigns a grade to it.
Lumber
A product produced by harvesting, sawing, drying, and processing wood.
Low-Slope Roofs
Roofs that are nearly flat.
Low-Emissivity Coating
A surface coating used on glass that permits the passage of most shortwave electromagnetic radiation (light and heat) but reflects longer-wave radiation (heat).
Low-E Glass
A low-emissivity glass that has a thin metallic coating that selectively reflects ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths of the energy spectrum.