What is a scharnierpand (hinge building)?
A scharnierpand is a terraced house between two neighbours that are settling unevenly, causing it to tilt. Causes, warning signs and foundation repair explained.
What is a pinned support?
A pinned support resists vertical and horizontal forces but allows rotation, so it carries no bending moment. Explanation with a comparison of support types.
What is a schapenboet (Texel sheep barn)?
A schapenboet is a characteristic field barn on the Dutch island of Texel, with one steep wall and a half-hipped roof. Not a stable, but a store and shelter.
What is a shelf?
A shelf is a flat board fixed to a wall or inside a cabinet to hold items. Learn how to hang a shelf that stays straight and strong.
What is a gabion?
A gabion is a steel wire mesh cage filled with stone, used as a garden wall, boundary, retaining wall or noise barrier. Learn what to watch out for when building one.
What is a guard stone?
A guard stone (jostle stone) is an angled stone post at the corner of a building or gateway that protects the masonry from damage by passing vehicles.
What is a schampgoot (board gutter)?
A schampgoot is a Dutch type of roof gutter formed by a hardwood board set upright on the roof boarding, usually lined with copper or lead. Mainly used in restoration work.
What is a vaulting shaft?
A vaulting shaft (wall shaft) is a slender half or three-quarter column set against a pier or wall, often carrying a vault rib in Gothic churches.
What is shale?
Shale is a fine-grained, layered sedimentary rock made of compacted clay and silt. Learn how it forms and how it differs from slate.
How to build an outdoor pizza oven: complete guide with dimensions, bricks and costs
Want to build a wood-fired pizza oven yourself? Complete guide with dimensions, firebricks, insulation, foundation, drying schedule and realistic costs.