This quick glossary for home improvement enthusiasts covers familiar and obscure aspects of home remodeling from decor to insulation.

Home Decor and Design

• Dais: A low platform raised above the level of the floor, situated at one end or corner of a room.
• Diorite: A grey to black colored stone used in Ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sculpture. One striking example is the Seated statue of Gudea in collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now used mostly as composite material in kitchens, bathrooms, and floors.
• Eclectic design: The mixing and matching of different periods and schools of art and interior design to achieve a contemporary aesthetic outcome.
• Fenestration: The arrangement of windows in a building.
• Fluid plan: A floor plan common to modern architecture and interior design in which rooms open into one another with few walls. In some cases, fluid floor plans become one large room.
• Green building: This can refer to a single building or the entire school of architecture and construction that devotes itself to using environmentally sustainable materials and methods. Visit the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Home Guide to learn more about green home renovations.

Home Insulation

Home insulation gets its own sub-section in the Renovator's Place Home Improvement Dictionary, because there are so many types. Another reason to learn more about home insulation: insulation is one aspect of home infrastructure that most home owners forget about--until there is a related problem or project.

The following types of home insulation are installed in unfinished walls, foundations, floors, ceilings, and roofs.

• Blanket, which comes in batts and rolls
• Concrete block
• Foam board or rigid foam
• Insulating Concrete Forms (IGFs)
• Reflective system
• Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Blanket and reflective system insulation are relatively easy, do-it-yourself installs. Here are some other key types of insulation:

• Loose-fill Insulation: Made up of cellulose, fiberglass, mineral, or wool materials, loose-fill insulation gets blown or poured into enclosed or open spaces that are often irregular in shape, such as walls and attic floors.
• Rigid fibrous or fibrous insulation: Made to withstand high temperatures, this insulation is installed by HVAC contractors in unconditioned areas.
• Sprayed foam and foamed-in-place insulation: Works well in unfinished attic floors, enclosed existing walls, and new open wall cavities. This type of insulation fits well in odd-shaped areas or already finished spaces.

This quick list of home remodeling terms addresses only one portion of the alphabet. For more handy terms and tips, see the other installments of Renovator's Place Home Improvement Dictionary.