Backyard & Outdoor Structures: Learn the Lingo

Arbor

A wooden or metal arched structure.  The sides incorporate trellis-work lattice with green vines or climbing shrubs.  For durability and lower cost, vinyl may be substituted for the wood construction.

Outdoor weddings often include beautifully decorated arbors, which the bride and groom walk through or stand under.

Balcony

A decorative platform which protrudes from an upper story of a building.  Railing is often black wrought iron.  Balconies range in size – they can be very tiny or large enough for outdoor patio furniture.

Decorative styles add character to the home and reflect the culture and architectural period.  For example:  Italian, Greek, Spanish.

A Juliet balcony, named after Romeo & Juliet fame, is a balcony that does not protrude from the building.

Cabana

An outdoor room with curtains or drapes, commonly used to lounge near a swimming pool or beach.

It may have a solid wall or may be a transportable structure.  The drapes can be closed to provide shelter from the sun and wind.

A cabana may also be a tent-like structure; or in tropical climates, it may have a thatched roof.

Cabana Poolhouse

A cabana poolhouse is a freestanding enclosed room used as a bathhouse or for relaxing near the pool.  It is a permanent structure and so it provides more protection from the wind and sun than a curtain or tent cabana.

With many windows and lots of sunlight, it’s similar to an enclosed porch.

Also known as a cabana room.

Crow’s Nest

A small deck on top of a roof that perches above the house for an aerial view.  The deck is accessed via stairs from inside the house.  Crows nests are often seen in luxury homes near vantage viewpoints; for example near the ocean or a lake.

Originally a crow’s nest referred to a lookout point on the main mast of a ship.

Also known as a rooftop deck or a lookout.

Courtyard

A patio on the interior of a home, which is enclosed by building walls.  It is unroofed and open to the sky.  This indoor/outdoor living space is for warm climates and is often planted with trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Courtyards are popular in Spanish style homes, tropical areas, housing complexes, castles, and large office buildings.

Also known as a court or an interior courtyard.

Deck

A platform structure with no roof which is attached to a house or other building.  It may have a railing around it.  The deck is typically located right outside the back door or the back stairs, but may also be on a rooftop in metro areas.

Decks are typically built with solid wood which eventually decays.  Building materials include: solid wood (redwood, cedar, pine), composite decking made from recycled wood fibers, or synthetic decking made of artificial wood.  Trex is a popular type of artificial lumber that lasts much longer than solid wood.  It’s gaining in popularity because it doesn’t rot or mold, and it’s not a haven for termites.

Gazebo

A free-standing round or square wooden structure with a platform and a roof.  It may have side railings, drapes, or lattice.  The roof can be a cloth or vinyl canopy with mesh screen sides or open sides, such as a portable structure.

The platform is often slightly elevated to provide an attractive view of the beautiful surrounding gardens.  Gazebos are popular garden and back yard structures and sometimes have a hot tub inside.

AKA summerhouse, sun canopy, open or latticework pavilion, pagoda (Asian style).

Lanai

An outdoor patio room attached to the house and used as living quarters in warm, tropical climates.  The room has a roof and may be partially sided or have a railing.  It may have screens or large picture windows, or may be open.  It is furnished with rattan living and dining room furniture, since alfresco dining is the tradition in tropical areas.

Lanais are most common in topical locations such as Hawaii and Florida.

Palapa

An outdoor shade structure with a thatched roof and open sides.  Since this is a tropical design, the roof is constructed from palm tree leaves.

Palapas started as small umbrella-like structures, but in luxury homes they often encompass an open building.  For example, it may house a backyard barbeque pit and outdoor kitchen.

Also known as a tiki hut or grass hut.  Sometimes a palapa also refers to a beach umbrella with a thatched leaf top.

Patio

A platform improvement in a back yard or garden, made with concrete, brick, or stone, rock, or flagstone.  It is adjacent to the home, usually accessible from sliding glass doors inside the home.

A patio may be covered, but often is completely open.  It’s known as a place where families can gather together for outdoor living and summertime fun together.

Pavilion

A small ornamental roofed building in a yard or a garden.  The living space has no walls but is furnished for outdoor entertainment.

Large pavilions are often located in public place, but smaller pavilions are designed for back yards too.  They are popular in southern and older style properties.

Pergola

A free-standing rectangular structure with pillars or support columns and wooden slats running across the top.  Lattice often provides a partially shaded top so the pergola can be used as a walkway or sitting area.

The columns and slats are often intertwined with green vines and climbing plants, making a graceful garden feature.

Porch / Enclosed porch

An outdoor deck attached to a house that aligns with the front entry to the house, shaded by the house roof.

An enclosed porch is closed in with windows or screens, letting in breezes and sunlight.

Stoop

A small block of cement on the ground as a step-out of a building.  A stoop can be as small as 2’ x 2’.

To save money, new home developers often pour a small concrete stoop outside the back door, rather than a patio.

Sunroom

A sunny all-seasons porch on the side of a house, enclosed with large windows.  A sunroom provides some shelter from the weather while catching maximum sunlight.

Also referred to as a patio room, solarium, conservatory, Florida room, or California room (depending on the region).

Terrace

Similar to a patio but larger and more developed, a terrace is a platform that extends from a home and is used as an outdoor living area.  In luxury homes, a terrace may showcase formal gardens and upscale features such as statues.

In New York and metro areas, an apartment may have a terrace on an upper floor or even on the roof!

Veranda

A large roofed porch that wraps around the sides and front of a house.  A veranda has railing and is most common in the warm South, where families would sit outside during the summer (before air conditioning was invented).

This type of outdoor structure is often found in colonial style, plantation style, and Victorian style homes.  Sometimes larger farmhouse style homes may also boast a veranda.

A veranda may also refer to an enclosed porch or a sunroom.

AKA terms:  portico, gallery, piazza.