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Construction Glossary

Don�t know a fenestration from a dormer? Here's a guide to the common (and not so common construction terms). Scroll through the glossary belowto find the term you are searching for.

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ABS - A type of black plastic pipe commonly used for waste water lines.

Allowance(s) - A sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. Best kept to a minimum number and used for items whose choice will not impact earlier stages of the construction. For example, selection of tile as flooring may require an alternative framing or underlayment material.

Amperage or AMPS - A unit of electrical current or volume - see voltage. Most homes have an electrical service 'entrance' package of 125 or 200 amps. Some older homes have 60 or 100 amp entrances.

Anchor Bolts - 'J' shaped bolts set in the concrete foundation and used to attach the framing of the house to the foundation.

Architect � A person who has completed a course of study in building and design, served an internship, passed a test and is licensed by a state as an architect.

Asbestos - A common form of magnesium silicate used in various construction products due to its stability and resistance to fire. Asbestos exposure, by inhaling loose asbestos fibers, is associated with various forms of lung disease.

Beam - A horizontal framing member designed to carry a load from a set of joists or a roof and spanning an open space. Beams are typically 6 inches by 6 inches or 4 inches by 10 inches or larger.

Blue Print(s) - A type of copying method often used for architectural drawings. Usually used to describe the drawing of a structure that is prepared by an architect or designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction.

Bond or Bonding - An amount of money (usually $2,000-$6,000) that must be on deposit with a governmental agency in order to secure a contractor's license. If, at the conclusion of a project, there is dispute about the work of the contractor or unpaid bills, the bond may be used for payment. Such bonds are rarely used in residential construction. This type of bond should not be confused with a performance bond, which is an insurance policy guaranteeing proper completion of a project..

Calcium Carbonate or Efflorescence - A white chalky material, which is very often found on concrete basement walls and other concrete surfaces where water has leached some of the chemicals out of the concrete. The appearance of the material is typically a sign of past or present moisture penetrations.

Carbond Monoxide (CO) - A toxic colorless and odorless gas that is the by-product of combustion from fireplaces, furnaces, grills, generators, and hot water heaters. These require proper installation and service in order to prevent CO exposure. CO testing must be a regular part of the annual gas furnace service. In addition, a CO alarm should be placed in every home.

Casement Window � A window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door.

Caulking - A flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls.

Change Order - A written construction document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction contract.

Chip board � See Oriented Strand Board.

Circuit Breaker - A device that looks like a switch and is located inside the electrical panel or circuit breaker box in a home or building. A regular circuit breaker switch is designed to shut off the power to the portion of the home it controls and also limits the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes). A main circuit breaker switch is designed to shot off the power to the entire home.

Concrete - A construction material used for foundations, ground level floors and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of Portland cement, sand, and gravel or aggregate. Concrete is commonly reinforced with steel rods, known as rebar or wire screening, called mesh.

Concrete Block � Often used in low rise commercial and some residential construction, a hollow concrete 'brick' most commonly 8 inches x 8 inches x 16 inches in size. The original design and use is attributed to the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Concrete Board or Durock - A panel composed of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.

Contractor - A company licensed to perform construction activities. In most states, a general contractor's license and some specialty contractor's licenses don't require compliance with bonding, workmen's compensation and similar regulations. Some of the specialty contractor licenses involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance requirements. There are various types of contractors:

General contractor - Responsible for the execution, supervision and overall coordination of a project and may also perform some of the individual construction tasks. Most general contractors are not licensed to perform all specialty trades and must hire specialty contractors for such tasks, e.g. electrical, plumbing.
Remodeling contractor - A general contractor who specializes in remodeling work.
Specialty contractor - Licensed to perform a specialty task e.g. electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling and asbestos abatement.
Subcontractor - A general or specialty contractor who works for another general contractor.

Construction Contract - A legal document that includes the specifics of what-when-where-how-how much and by whom of a construction project. It usually includes the contractors registration number, a statement of work quality such as 'Standard Practices of the Trades' or 'according to Manufacturers Specifications', a set of Blue Prints or Plans, a set of specifications, any allowances, a construction timetable including starting and completion dates, a set price for the work, or a time and materials formula, a payment schedule, a written warrantee, a clause which outlines how any disputes will be resolved. Like all contracts, an attorney should review a construction contract.

Cost Plus Contract - Same as a time and materials contract.

Curtain Drain - A ditch sometimes filled with gravel and a drain tile that diverts storm and drain water away from a structure.

Deeds - A deed is a document used to transfer title to real estate.

De-humidistat - A control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation system based upon the relative humidity in the home.

Designer - One who designs houses, interiors, landscaping or other objects. When utilized in the context of residential construction, it usually suggests that a designer is not a licensed architect. Most jurisdictions don't require an architectural license for most single-family dwelling construction.

Dormer - A roof gable that is usually located at right angles to the main roof structure. It is used to increase headroom. It can also be used as an architectural detail.

Double Hung Window - A window with two vertically sliding sashes. This common older window design was usually made out of wood and tends to require frequent repairs.

Dry Rot - See fungal wood rot.

Drywall or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB) or Sheet rock or Plasterboard - A wall finish consisting of a manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. It is usually � inch thick and 4 feet by 8 feet or 4 feet by 12 feet in size. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. 'Green board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard.

Earnest Money Agreement - An earnest money agreement is a contract between a buyer and a seller of real estate. It is also called a real estate purchase and sale agreement.

Earthquake Strap - A metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. It is intended to reduce the chances of having the water heater fall over in an earthquake, causing a gas leak.

Easement - A formal contract that allows a party to use another party's property for a specific purpose. For instance, a sewer easement might allow one party to run a sewer line through a neighbor�s property.

Efflorescence � See calcium carbonate.

Electrical entrance package - The entry point of electrical power into a structure. It includes the 'strike' or location where the overhead electrical lines connect to the house, the meter which measures how much power is used and the panel, circuit breaker box or fuse box where the power can be shut off. Also included are the overload devices such as fuses or circuit breakers.

Energy Dissipation Basin - A pit or ditch sometimes filled with gravel that is used to collect storm water. Water in the ditch soaks into the ground slowly which prevents soil erosion and flooding.

Estimating - The process of calculating the cost of a project. This can be either a formal or a quick and imprecise process.

Exposed Aggregate - A method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture of the top layer of the aggregate - usually gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces.

The Exterior Envelope � The part of the building that consists of all of the elements protecting it from the elements including roofing, siding, windows, exterior doors, porches, flashing trim, caulking, waterproof decking, venting systems, chimneys and other elements which relate to the exterior surfaces of the structure.

Fascia - A vertical wood member, such as a cedar, 1 inch by 6 inches, nailed to the ends of the rafters. It is often the backing of the gutter.

Fenestration � Any opening in a building or home including doors or windows.

Fixed Price Contract - A contract with a set price for the work.

Flashing - The building component used to connect portions of a roof, deck, or siding material to another surface such as a chimney, wall, or vent pipe. It is often composed of various metals, rubber or tar and is mostly intended to prevent water entry

Forced air heating - A form of heating with natural gas, propane, oil or electricity as a fuel. Air is heated in the furnace and distributed through a set of metal or plastic ducts to different areas of the house or building.

Framing - The structural wood and/or metal elements of most homes. The floor and ceiling framing is called the joist work. Wall framing is usually made out of 2 inches by 4 inches or 2 inches by 6 inch studs.

Fungal Wood Rot - A common wood-destroying organism that develops when wood-containing material is exposed to moisture and poor air circulation for at least 6 months. Often and incorrectly referred to as dry rot.

Fuse - A device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines.

GFI or GFCI or Ground Fault Current Interrupter - An electrical device used to prevent injury from contact with electrical appliances. Required in new homes in bathrooms, kitchen, garage, out of doors and in other locations where one might be in contact with a grounded surface and an electrical appliance. Most GFI's are located in the receptacle itself and can be identified by the presence of a test and a reset button.

Heat pump - A device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house.

Hot Water Heating � See hydronic heating.

Hydronic Heating - A heating system that uses various types of fuel to heat water which is then distributed through pipes to radiators located in various portions of the house.

Ice Dams - A condition which can occur during winter with snow and freezing conditions. When snow or ice melts on a roof over a heated or partially heated attic space, the melting water may refreeze over an unheated area such as a roof overhang. This re-frozen water may create a blockage or dam, forcing additional melt water to back up under shingles, causing leaks. Solutions include: proper roof venting and insulation.

Joists - A framing member, often a 2 inches by 10 inches piece of lumber, which is usually spaced every 16 inches to 24 inches and supports the sub-floor and flooring. The joist typically is placed on a load bearing wall or beam.

Lath and Plaster - The most common wall finish prior to the introduction of drywall. Thin wood strips, known as lath, were nailed onto the framing as a base for the sand/lime plaster.

Lien - A lien is a claim for money owed against another person's real estate. Deeds of trust and mortgages are examples of liens.

Load Bearing Wall - A wall that is supporting its own weight and some other structural elements of the house such as the joists.

Manufactured Wood - A wood product such as a truss, beam, Glue Lam TM or joist that is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces and glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece. It is often used to create a stronger member that may use less wood. See also Oriented Strand Board.

Manufacturers Specifications - The written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed by a product manufacturer which may have to be followed in order to maintain the product's warrantee.

Modified Bitumen Roof � See Torch Down Roof.

Oriented Strand Board or OSB or Chip Board or Wafer Board - A manufactured wood panel composed of 1 and- 2 inch wood chips and glue. It is often incorrectly used as a substitute for plywood.

PVC or CPVC - A type of white plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.

Payment Schedule - A schedule of payments to a contractor agreed upon in advance and usually based upon the amount of work completed. Such a schedule may include a deposit prior to the start of work. Payments are often scheduled for the beginning of the month to allow the contractor to distribute the money to the subcontractors and suppliers by the 10th of the month. The schedule may also include a temporary holdout at the end of the contract for any small items which have not been completed.

Percolation or Perc. Test - A test to determine if the soil on a proposed building lot is capable of absorbing the liquid affluent from a septic system.

Permit - A governmental authorization to perform a building process. These may include:

Zoning\Use permit - authorization to use a property for a specific use e.g. a factory, a single-family residence etc.
Grading permit - authorization to change the contour of the land.
Septic permit - a health dept. authorization to build or modify a septic system.
Building permit - authorization to build or modify a structure.
Electrical permit - a separate permit required for most electrical work.
Plumbing permit - a separate permit required for new plumbing and larger modifications of existing plumbing systems.

Plans � See blue prints.

Polybutylene - A type of plastic pipe, often gray in color, used in domestic water supply systems. Some polybutylene plumbing systems have been recalled due to a history of leaks and failure.

Polyisocyanurate Foam - A rigid foam board insulation often used in locations where there is not enough room for standard batt insulation. It is programmed for many temperature settings and is one of the least expensive ways to reduce energy consumption.

Post - A vertical framing member usually designed to carry a beam. Often 4 inches by 4 inches, a 6 inches by 6 inches, or a metal pipe with a flat plate on top and bottom.

Pressure Relief Valve - A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler designed to release high steam pressure in the tank and thus prevent tank explosions.

Radiant Heat - A heating system utilizing hot water, steam pipes, or electric resistance coils to heat the floors, walls or the ceiling of a room.

Radon - A naturally-occurring radio active gas common in many parts of the country often associated with lung cancer. Mitigation measures may involve crawl space and basement venting and various forms of vapor barriers.

Rafter - The framing member directly supporting the roof sheathing. A rafter usually follows the angle of the roof and may be a part of a roof truss.

Rebar � See concrete.

Relative Humidity - The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air at a specific temperature to the maximum amount that the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.

Riser - The board between one stair tread and the next that is the upright section of a stair.

R Value - A way to measure insulation that gives a numerical value to the resistance of the insulation to transferring of heat.

Roof Certification - A written opinion given by a roofing contractor or inspector, estimating the remaining useful life of a roof system (roofing, venting, flashing...). Under certain circumstances a financial institution may request a "roof cert" for a property prior to issuing a mortgage. This should not to be confused with a roofing material or workmanship guarantee, or warrantee.

Sanitary Sewer - A sewer system designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains. It is usually not designed to handle storm water.

Sash - The frame that holds the glass in a window, often the movable part of the window. See also double hung windows, and casement windows.

Scupper - The drain in a downspout or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.

Septic System - An on-site wastewater treatment system, consisting of a septic tank that promotes the biological digestion of the waste and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground. The number of bedrooms in a house determines the size of septic systems and septic permits.

Sewage Ejector - A pump used to lift wastewater to a gravity sanitary sewer line. Usually used in basements and other locations that are situated below the level of the side sewer.

Setback Thermostat - A thermostat with a clock that can be programmed to different temperatures at different times of the day and week. Usually used as the heating or cooling system thermostat.

Shake - A wood roofing product, usually composed of cedar, which is produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. Modern shakes are sometimes machine sawed on one side.

Sheathing - The plywood, board, OSB or other material used as the base for the roofing.

Shingle - A thin oblong piece of material, such as wood or slate, that is laid in overlapping rows to cover the roof or sides of a house or other building.

Single ply Roof � See torch down roof.

Skip Sheathing - The normal base for shake, shingle and some tile roofs. 1 inch by 4 inches or similar sized boards nailed at 90 degrees to the rafters leaving a space of about 4 inches between each row and allowing for better ventilation.

Slab on Grade - A type of foundation with a concrete floor placed directly on the soil. The edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls.

Soffit - A small ceiling-like space, often out of doors, such as the underside of a roof overhang.

Specifications or Specs. - A list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details which supplement blue print.

Splash Block - A pad placed under the lower end of a downspout and diverts the water from the downspout away from the house. Usually made out of concrete or fiberglass.

Stachybotrys - A toxic black colored mold sometimes found in wet or flooded homes.

Standard Practices of the Trade(s) - One of the more common, basic, and minimum construction standards. This is another way of saying that the work should be done in the way it is normally done by an average professional in the field. Other terms used in an attempt to define a quality of work, listed here in a rough order of quality, lowest first:

"to code"
"minimum standards of the trades" or "builder basic"
"standards of the trades"
"standards of the industry"
"manufacturers specifications"
"craftsman like"
"custom construction"
"custom practices"
"first class" or "top quality"

Storm Sewer - A sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system.

Time and Materials Contract - A construction contract specifying a price for different elements of the work such as, cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit, etc.

Title Insurance - Title Insurance is a title company's guarantee the title to a parcel of real estate is affected only by matters shown on a written report.

Torch Down Roof or Single Ply or Modified Bitumen - A newer roofing material mostly used on flat roofs. This material usually comes in rolls and is applied to the roof with an open flame or 'torch'.

Treated Lumber - A wood product impregnated with chemicals to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Often used for the portions of a structure likely to be in ongoing contact with soil and water such as a deck. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.

Truss - A manufactured wood member often in the form of a large triangle used to form the ceiling joists and rafters on the top floor of a home.

UURHOT - An unused underground residential heating oil tank. Usually found in homes once heated with oil.

Voltage - A measure of electrical potential. Most homes are wired with 110 and 220 volt lines. The 110 volt power is used for lighting and most of the other circuits. The 220 volt power is usually used for the kitchen stove, water heater and dryer.

Wafer Board � See oriented strand board.

Warrantee - In construction there are two general types of warrantees. The manufacturer of a product, such as roofing material or an appliance, provides one type. The second type is a warrantee for the labor. For example, a roofing contract may include a 30-year material warrantee and a 5-year labor warrantee. Many, but not all new homes come with a one year warrantee.

Watt - A measure of the electrical requirement of an appliance, calculated by multiplying voltage times amperage.

Zoning - A governmental process and specification limiting the use of a property. Types include single-family use, high-rise residential use, and commercial, among others.