Design Glossary - T
Tandem:
A linear arrangement of seats which are supported on the same framework.
Taffeta:
(fabric) Silky papery smooth surface, usually with a fine ribbing and sheen.
Tandem:
A linear arrangement of seats which are supported on the same framework.
Tangential Shrinkage:
The shrinkage of timber parallel to the growth rings.
Tanking:
A waterproof skin to a concrete slab or basement. Often of a rubber or bituminous compound.
Tapered-Edge Plasterboard:
Gypsum plasterboards with their long edges reduced to half their normal thickness on the face side by sloping the face towards the edges at about I in 5, useful in dry lining. An invisible joint can be made with the maker’s joint cement, etc., but construction is not completely dry.
Tapestry:
(fabric) wall hanging or modern jacquard weave in imitation of handmade tapestry. Usually strongly patterned. Traditionally hand woven material with a ribbed surface created as the design is woven. They usually depicted an image or a scene. Contemporary tapestry is machine made using different colours in the warp and weft. The look is very similar to embroidery.
Tartan:
Originating as a woollen apparel textile, now used frequently for furnishing. It is a plain weave twill fabric, with the stripes of coloured yarn introduced in the warp and weft. The finished product has checks and stripes, and these variations of colour and designs differentiated between the different Scottish clans. Wool is the traditional yarn used, but they can be seen woven from cotton or silk.
Task Lighting:
This is the light source used to perform specific tasks.
Tassel hanging from a cushion
Tassel:
(drapery) this is a dangling form of ornamentation, it is a bunch of threads or cords tied at one end and often hangs loosely from a cord.
Template:
A rigid plate of wood, metal, plastic etc which acts as a pattern or guide.
Tearing:
(wallcovering) as it reads, obvious rips or tears in the finished paper. Poor handling, over soaking, blunt tools and poor cutting methods cause this.
Terra cotta:
Italian for burnt clay, a finer-grained ceramic than brick, for making cornices. Vases, statuettes or building blocks, fired in moulds. Terra cotta may be unglazed but is more usually covered with a clear glaze or an opaque colour and should then be called faience. About twenty colours; are obtainable. Most terra cotta, even unglazed is very durable.
Terrazzo:
This is a composite material made up of cement and marble aggregate, it is then mixed and poured in situ onto a concrete base. It is then ground waxed and polished. It has a mosaic look. It can also be premade and is available in slabs or tiles.
Terrazzo Tiles:
Concrete floor tiles with terrazzo facing, often 300 mm (12 in.) or more square.
Tessellated Pavement:
Roman mosaic.
Tessera:
A small cube or square of marble, glass, stone or pottery used in Roman mosaic.
Tetrad Color Scheme:
a contrast of four or more colors.
Tetrad Color Scheme
Textile:
Cloth, especially a woven or knitted cloth.
Texture:
this is the visual or tactile surface characteristic of something, be it fabric, timber carpet or glass. Tactile means that it is perceptible by the sense of touch. Every surface has a texture. There are basically two types of texture, rough and smooth.
Texture:
(timber) The distribution and relative size of the cells of wood. It may be coarse, even, uneven, or fine.
Thatch:
A roof covering of reed, straw (or heather) laced with withies.
Thermal Transmittence:
air-to-air heat-transmission coefficient. The U-value.
Thermoplastic:
Description of a synthetic resin or other material, which softens on heating and hardens again on cooling.
Thinner:
Solvents (white spirit, turpentine) added to paint, varnish or lacquer to make it flow easily. Like a solvent it should have complete compatibility with the medium but may contain non‑volatile liquid. It dries by evaporation thinning ratio 1pai.] The proportion of thinner recommended for a particular paint in a particular use.
Three Dimensionally Molded:
This describes a complex molded form. Curves occur in both lengthways and crosswise directions. (The plywood chair).
Throw Over Cover:
This is basically like a large sheet (but of a heavier weight) that is thrown over the bed and covers the entire bed, pillows and all and reaches to the ground.
Tick/Ticking:
(fabric) Originally hand-woven from linen for use as a feather mattress cover. The herringbone weave was intended to keep the feathers in and the ticks out. Strong stripes are its feature. The fabric is heavy and requires washing before use, as it is not pre shrunk
Tiebacks:
(drapery) These are a practical and decorative accessory. They are used to hold back the curtains from the window to let the light in. They help the curtain fall gracefully when drawn back, and alleviate stress that the weight of the fabric can put on the tracks. Many different types are available, cord, bows, tassels, fabric (in many shapes and forms) with hooks.
Tie Beam:
The horizontal, lowest timber of a roof truss, equal in length to the full span of the roof. It ties together the feet of the rafters.
Timber:
Wood for building, generally large in cross‑section and sawn to baulks, battens, boards. Etc. Ash, Balsa, Beech, Birch, Boxwood, Western red, Cedar, Chestnut, Elm, Douglas fir, Silver fir, Greenheart, Hickory, Larch, Mahoganies.
Timber Blocks:
(floor) These are usually made of a hardwood species laid on a screed of concrete. They are laid in a herringbone or brick bond and basket pattern. They require a dry and stable atmosphere. The blocks are jointed with tongue and grove edges and fixed with an adhesive.
Timber Floor Boards:
These make up part of the construction of some houses; timber tongue and groove floorboards are fixed with nails to the floor joists. With the increased use of concrete substrate floors, a timber floorboard finish can be achieved by fixing battens into a concrete screed.
Timber Stains:
A timber stain is a fluid, which is used to colour a surface by penetrating into the substrate without obscuring it. It is generally applied to bare timber to enhance the beauty of the grain markings and improve the appearance of inferior grade timbers to imitate higher-grade timbers. It can be used to colour match different types of timber to create a harmonious look. There are many different types of stains.
Tint :
Color with white added, describes the range from a pure hue to white.
Tinters:
The final adjustment of the colour of paint.
Titanium Dioxide:
The most widely used white pigment, outstandingly opaque and non-poisonous, it does not lose colour. Used in cosmetics.
Title:
The right of ownership to a property, shown on legal documents called title deeds.
