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| L-shaped stairs |
| A stairway that makes a 90-degree turn. |
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| Lac beetle |
| An insect that secretes a fluid that is made into lac flakes, the basic ingredient in shellac. |
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| Lacquer |
| A clear or colored finish material that dries to a hard, glossy finish. Usually applied with a sprayer, lacquer dries too quickly for smooth application with a brush, unless it is specially formulated. |
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| Lacquer Thinner |
| Commonly used term used to describe a solvent blend of ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and toluene. |
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| Ladder |
| Any stairway in which the slope exceeds acceptable rise and run requirements. |
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| Lambrequin |
| Drapery that hangs from a shelf, such as a mantel, or covering the top of a window or a door. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with valance. |
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| Laminate |
| To bond one or more thin layers of durable plastic to a fabric or a material, Formica, for example. |
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| Laminated particleboard |
| Panels of particleboard that are laminated with a plastic surface material and are used in making solid-wall partitioned storage systems. |
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| Laminated system |
| A prefabricated closet organizer system made up of components that consist of plastic laminated particleboard. Installation is usually manufacturer-specific. |
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| Laminated wallpaper |
| Wallpaper that has a decorative surface bonded to a backing usually made of paper or fabric. Examples include grasscloth, cloth-backed vinyls and solid sheet vinyls. |
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| Laminated wood tiles |
| Built of layers of wood; especially appropriate for damp areas. |
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| Laminating adhesive |
| A product designed to adhere layers of drywall in double-layer applications, and to attach drywall to concrete or rigid foam insulation (polystyrene or urethane). |
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| Lamination |
| The process of adhering two thin layers together, such as a wallpaper's intermediate layer and substrate. |
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| Lampblack |
| One of the native colors, lampblack is a deep black made from nearly pure carbon (containing some oil and tar impurities). |
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| Landing |
| A horizontal platform at midflight in a staircase. Most often necessary on stairs that change directions. |
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| Lap |
| To apply or place one coat so its edge extends over and covers the edge of a previous coat, causing an increased film thickness. |
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| Latex paint |
| Paint that contains either acrylic or vinyl resins or a combination of the two. High-quality latex paints contain 100-percent acrylic resin. Latex paint is water-soluble and dries quickly. |
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| Lattice |
| Thin strips of wood that are crossed to make a pattern for a trellis or an arbor. |
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| Laying off |
| Final light strokes of the brush during painting application. |
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| Lazy Susan |
| Axis-mounted shelves that revolve. Also called carousel shelves. |
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| Level |
| A hand tool for checking that any piece is perfectly horizontal or vertical. Also a term meaning horizontal. |
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| Leveling |
| The ability of a paint to smooth out after application so that it shows no brush or roller marks when dry. |
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| Lifting |
| Softening and raising or wrinkling of a previous coat by the application of an additional coat; often caused by coatings containing strong solvents. |
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| Light box |
| A box containing the major types of lighting: incandescent (standard light bulbs) and fluorescent (cool white, warm white, and daylight). |
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| Light reflectance value (LRV) |
| The numerical value associated with the amount of light reflected off a dry film coat; the measurement is obtained by using a gloss meter. |
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| Light sources |
| Any device that creates light and any opening that admits light. Consider lighting variables before choosing colors, textures, shiny or dull finishes, etc. Variables include direct or reflected natural, incandescent or fluorescent light. |
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| Light well |
| A lighting fixture recessed below ground level that directs light upward, typically used to highlight tall plantings or other features beside the pond. |
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| Lightfastness |
| The ability to withstand color change on exposure to light. |
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| Lightness |
| (brightness, reflectance, value) position on the gray scale between pure black and pure white. |
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| Lightweight joint compound |
| A patching compound that is very light and nonshrinking and requires little effort when sanding. When the joint compound dries, it does not evaporate and, therefore, does not shrink. |
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| Lignin |
| The binding agent that holds the cells in wood together. |
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| Linear feet |
| A one-dimensional measurement of length. |
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| Liner paper |
| Blank wallpaper stock available in a variety of weights, used to smooth a rough surface or to cover the grooves in paneling or concrete block walls. It is also used under expensive hand-printed murals and foils. Liners minimize the possibility of mildew, as they absorb excess moisture between layers of nonbreathing wallpaper and nonbreathing wall surface. |
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| Lining brush |
| A thin, flexible, long-bristled brush used for fine lining and detail work. |
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| Linseed oil |
| A finishing oil made from pressed flax seeds. An ingredient used in paint (oil-based) and varnish. |
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| Lintel |
| Horizontal members that span a door opening; may be structural or solely decorative. |
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| Lipophilic |
| Oil loving. |
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| Livering |
| An increase in the consistency of a paint resulting in a rubbery or coagulated mass. |
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| Local Cell |
| A galvanic cell caused by small differences in composition in the metal or the electrolyte. |
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| Long Oil |
| Term used to describe a resin that contains more than 60% oil. |
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| Louver fence |
| A fence with boards installed either vertically or horizontally on an angle so that they serve as filters for wind and sunlight. |
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| Love seat |
| A sofa-like piece of furniture that consists of seating for two. |
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| Lumber grade |
| A label that reflects the lumber's natural growth characteristics (such as knots), defects that result from milling errors, and manufacturing techniques. |
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| Lumen |
| The amount of light cast upon 1 square foot of the inner surface of a hollow sphere of 1-foot radius with an international candle in its center. |
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| Luminaire |
| The lighting industry uses this term to encompass a "lighting fixture" or "fitting." Luminaires are grouped by mounting type and locations. |
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| Luminous paint |
| Paint which exhibits fluorescence. Includes fluorescent paint, phosphorescent paint and radioactive paint. |
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| Luster |
| The gloss of a finish. |
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| Luxury bath |
| A full bath with a bidet and/or second sink. |
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