Construction Terms Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: Z

Z-bar flashing- Bent, galvanized metal flashing thats installed above a horizontal trim board of an exterior window, door, or brick run. It prevents water from getting behind the trim/brick and into the home. Zone- he section of a building that is served b! one heating or cooling loop because it has noticeabl! distinct heating or cooling needs. "lso, the section of propert! that will be watered from a lawn sprinkler s!stem. Zone valve- " device, usuall! placed near the heater or cooler, which controls the flow of water or steam to parts of the building# it is controlled b! a zone thermostat. Zoning- " governmental process and specification which limits the use of a propert! e.g. single famil! use, high rise residential use, industrial use, etc. $oning laws ma! limit where !ou can locate a structure. "lso see building codes. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: Y

Y- " ()* shaped plumbing fitting. Yard of concrete- +ne cubic !ard of concrete is ,- . ,- . ,- in volume, or /0 cubic feet. +ne cubic !ard of concrete will pour 1' s2uare feet of , 3* sidewalk or basement/garage floor. Yoke- he location where a homes water meter is sometimes installed between two copper pipes, and located in the water meter pit in the !ard. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: W

Wafer board - " manufactured wood panel made out of 45- /5 wood chips and glue. +ften used as a substitute for pl!wood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. Walk-Through- " final inspection of a home before (%losing* to look for and document problems that need to be corrected. Wall out- 6hen a painter pra! paints the interior of a home. Warping- "n! distortion in a material.

Warranty- In construction there are two general t!pes of warranties. +ne is provided b! the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance. he second is a warrant! for the labor. 7or example, a roofing contract ma! include a /' !ear material warrant! and a 8 !ear labor warrant!. 9an! new homebuilders provide a one !ear warrant!. "n! ma:or issue found during the first !ear should be communicated to the builder immediatel!. ;mall items can be saved up and presented to the builder for correction periodicall! through the first !ear after closing. Waste pipe and vent- <lumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage s!stem. Water board- 6ater resistant dr!wall to be used in tub and shower locations. =ormall! green or blue colored Water closet- "nother name for toilet. Water meter pit or vault!- he box /cast iron bonnet and concrete rings that contains the water meter. Water-repellent preservative- " li2uid applied to wood to give the wood water repellant properties Water table- he location of the underground water, and the vertical distance from the surface of the earth to this underground water. Water tap- he connection point where the home water line connects to the main municipal water s!stem. W C- "n abbreviation for water closet >toilet?. Weatheri"ation- 6ork on a building exterior in order to reduce energ! consumption for heating or cooling. 6ork involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping. Weatherstrip- =arrow sections of thin metal or other material installed to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors. Weep holes- ;mall holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape. Whole house fan- " fan designed to move air through and out of a home and normall! installed in the ceiling. Wind bracing- 9etal straps or wood blocks installed diagonall! on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over (domino* fashion.

Windo# buck- ;2uare or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall. " window will eventuall! be installed in this (buck* during the siding stage of construction Windo# frame- he stationar! part of a window unit# window sash fits into the window frame. Windo# sash- he operating or movable part of a window# the sash is made of window panes and their border. Wire nut- " plastic device used to connect bare wires together. Wonderboard $- " panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usuall! used as a ceramic tile backing material. %ommonl! used on bathtub decks. Wrapped dry#all- "reas that get complete dr!wall covering, as in the doorwa! openings of bifold and bipass closet doors. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: %

%alley- he (%* shaped area of a roof where two sloping roofs meet. 6ater drains off the roof at the valle!s. %alley flashing- ;heet metal that la!s in the (@* area of a roof valle!. %aluation- "n inspection carried out for the benefit of the mortgage lender to ascertain if a propert! is a good securit! for a loan. %aluation fee- h fee paid b! the prospective borrower for the lenders inspection of the propert!. =ormall! paid upon loan application. %apor barrier- " building product installed on exterior walls and ceilings under the dr!wall and on the warm side of the insulation. It is used to retard the movement of water vapor into walls and prevent condensation within them. =ormall!, pol!eth!lene plastic sheeting is used. %ariable rate- "n interest rate that will var! over the term of the loan. %eneer- Axtremel! thin sheets of wood. "lso a thin slice of wood or brick or stone covering a framed wall. %ent- " pipe or duct which allows the flow of air and gasses to the outside. "lso, another word for the moving glass part of a window sash, i.e. window vent. %ermiculite- " mineral used as bulk insulation and also as aggregate in insulating and acoustical plaster and in insulating concrete floors.

%eterans &dministration %&!- " federal agenc! that insures mortgage loans with ver! liberal down pa!ment re2uirements for honorabl! discharged veterans and their surviving spouses. %is'ueen- " B mil or C mil plastic sheeting. %oid- %ardboard rectangular boxes that are installed between the earth >between caissons? and the concrete foundation wall. Dsed when expansive soils are present. %oltage- " measure of electrical potential. 9ost homes are wired with 44' and //' volt lines. he 44' volt power is used for lighting and most of the other circuits. he //' volt power is usuall! used for the kitchen range, hot water heater and dr!er. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: (

(L (nder#riters) Laboratories!- "n independent testing agenc! that checks electrical devices and other components for possible safet! hazards. (ndercoat- " coating applied prior to the finishing or top coats of a paint :ob. It ma! be the first of two or the second of three coats. ;ometimes called the <rime coat. (nderground plumbing- he plumbing drain and waste lines that are installed beneath a basement floor. (nderlayment- " E* material placed over the subfloor pl!wood sheeting and under finish coverings, such as vin!l flooring, to provide a smooth, even surface. "lso a secondar! roofing la!er that is waterproof or water-resistant, installed on the roof deck and beneath shingles or other roof-finishing la!er. (nion- " plumbing fitting that :oins pipes end-to-end so the! can be dismantled. (tility easement- he area of the earth that has electric, gas, or telephone lines. hese areas ma! be owned b! the homeowner, but the utilit! compan! has the legal right to enter the area as necessar! to repair or service the lines

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: T

T * +, tongue and groove- " :oint made b! a tongue >a rib on one edge of a board? that fits into a corresponding groove in the edge of another board to make a tight flush :oint. !picall!, the subfloor pl!wood is F G.

Tab - he exposed portion of strip shingles defined b! cutouts. Tail beam- " relativel! short beam or :oist supported in a wall on one end and b! a header at the other. Take off- he material necessar! to complete a :ob. Taping- he process of covering dr!wall :oints with paper tape and :oint compound. T bar- Hibbed, (T* shaped bars with a flat metal plate at the bottom that are driven into the earth. =ormall! used chain link fence poles, and to mark locations of a water meter pit. Teco- 9etal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. ;ometimes called a hurricane clip. Tee- " ( * shaped plumbing fitting. Tempered- ;trengthened. empered glass will not shatter nor create shards, but will (pelletize* like an automobile window. He2uired in tub and shower enclosures and locations, entr! door glass and sidelight glass, and in a windows when the window sill is less than 4C5 to the floor. Termites- 6ood eating insects that superficiall! resemble ants in size and general appearance, and live in colonies. Termite shield- " shield, usuall! of galvanized metal, placed in or on a foundation wall or around pipes to prevent the passage of termites. Terra cotta- " ceramic material molded into masonr! units. Thermoply $- Axterior laminated sheathing nailed to the exterior side of the exterior walls. =ormall! E * thick, B . 1 or B x 4' sheets with an aluminumized surface. Thermostat- " device which relegates the temperature of a room or building b! switching heating or cooling e2uipment on or off. Three-dimensional shingles- Iaminated shingles. ;hingles that have added dimensionalit! because of extra la!ers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. 9a! also be called (architectural shingles*. Threshold- he bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior door frame. Generall! the! are ad:ustable to keep a tight fit with the door slab. Time and materials contract- " construction contract which specifies a price for different elements of the work such as cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit, etc. " contract which ma! not have a maximum price, or ma! state a Jprice not to exceed.

Tinner- "nother name for the heating contractor. Tip up- he downspout extension that directs water >from the homes gutter s!stem? awa! from the home. he! t!picall! swing up when mowing the lawn, etc. Title- Avidence >usuall! in the form of a certificate or deed? of a persons legal right to ownership of a propert!. T-. or T-- 9anufactured structural building component resembling the letter (.(. Dsed as floor :oists and rafters. I-:oists include two ke! partsK flanges and #ebs. he flange or from of the I :oist ma! be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usuall! formed into a 4 3* width. he #eb or center of the I-:oist is commonl! made of pl!wood or oriented strand board >+;B?. Iarge holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-:oists are available in lengths up to C'* long. Toenailing- o drive a nail in at a slant. 9ethod used to secure floor :oists to the plate. Top chord- he upper or top member of a truss. Top plate- op horizontal member of a frame wall supporting ceiling :oists, rafters, or other members. Transmitter garage door!- he small, push button device that causes the garage door to open or close. Trap- " plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air, gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture. Tread- he walking surface board in a stairwa! on which the foot is placed. Treated lumber- " wood product which has been impregnated with chemical pesticides such as %%" >%hromated %opper "rsenate? to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. +ften used for the portions of a structure which are likel! to be in contact with soil and water. 6ood ma! also be treated with a fire retardant. Trim plumbing, heating, electrical!- he work that the (mechanical* contractors perform to finish their respective aspects of work, and when the home is nearing completion and occupanc!. Trim- .nterior- he finish materials in a building, such as moldings applied around openings >window trim, door trim? or at the floor and ceiling of rooms >baseboard, cornice, and other moldings?. "lso, the ph!sical work of installing interior doors and interior woodwork, to include all handrails, guardrails, stair wa! balustrades, mantles, light boxes, base, door casings, cabinets, countertops, shelves, window sills and aprons, etc. /0terior- he finish materials on the exterior a building, such as moldings applied around openings >window trim, door trim?, siding, windows, exterior doors, attic vents, crawl space vents, shutters, etc. "lso, the ph!sical work of installing these materials

Trimmer- he vertical stud that supports a header at a door, window, or other opening. Truss- "n engineered and manufactured roof support member with (zig-zag* framing members. Loes the same :ob as a rafter but is designed to have a longer span than a rafter. Tub trap- %urved, ((* shaped section of a bath tub drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through tubs water drain. Turnkey- " term used when the subcontractor provides all materials >and labor? for a :ob. Turpentine- " petroleum, volatile oil used as a thinner in paints and as a solvent in varnishes posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: 1

1addle- " small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimne! to divert water around the chimne!. "lso, the plate at the bottom of someMusuall! exteriorMdoor openings. ;ometimes called a threshold. 1ack mi0- he amount of <ortland cement in a cubic !ard of concrete mix. Generall!, 8 or C sack is re2uired in a foundation wall. 1ales contract - " contract between a bu!er and seller which should explainK >4? 6hat the purchase includes, >/? 6hat guarantees there are, >,? 6hen the bu!er can move in, >B? 6hat the closing costs are, and >8? 6hat recourse the parties have if the contract is not fulfilled or if the bu!er cannot get a mortgage commitment at the agreed upon time. 1and float finish- Iime that is mixed with sand, resulting in a textured finish on a wall. 1anitary se#er- " sewer s!stem designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundr! drains, and is usuall! not designed to handle storm water. 1ash- " single light frame containing one or more lights of glass. he frame that holds the glass in a window, often the movable part of the window. 1ash balance- " device, usuall! operated b! a spring and designed to hold a single hung window vent up and in place 1aturated felt- " felt which is impregnated with tar or asphalt. 1chedule #indo#, door, mirror!- " table on the blueprints that list the sizes, 2uantities and locations of the windows, doors and mirrors. 1crap out- he removal of all dr!wall material and debris after the home is (hung out* >installed? with dr!wall.

1cratch coat- he first coat of plaster, which is scratched to form a bond for a second coat. 1creed, concrete- o level off concrete to the correct elevation during a concrete pour. 1creed, plaster- " small strip of wood, usuall! the thickness of the plaster coat, used as a guide for plastering. 1cribing- %utting and fitting woodwork to an irregular surface. 1cupper- >4? "n opening for drainage in a wall, curb or parapet. >/? he drain in a downspout or flat roof, usuall! connected to the downspout. 1ealer- " finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usuall! applied directl! over raw wood for the purpose of sealing the wood surface. 1easoning- Lr!ing and removing moisture from green wood in order to improve its usabilit!. 1elf-sealing shingles- ;hingles containing factor!-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive. 1emigloss paint or enamel- " paint or enamel made so that its coating, when dr!, has some luster but is not ver! gloss!. Bathrooms and kitchens are normall! painted semi-gloss 1eptic system- "n on site waste water treatment s!stem. It usuall! has a septic tank which promotes the biological digestion of the waste, and a drain field which is designed to let the left over li2uid soak into the ground. ;eptic s!stems and permits are usuall! sized b! the number of bedrooms in a house. 1ervice entrance panel- 9ain power cabinet where electricit! enters a home wiring s!stem. 1ervice e'uipment- 9ain control gear at the service entrance, such as circuit breakers, switches, and fuses. 1ervice lateral- Dnderground power suppl! line. 1etback Thermostat- " thermostat with a clock which can be programmed to come on or go off at various temperatures and at different times of the da!/week. Dsuall! used as the heating or cooling s!stem thermostat. 1ettlement- ;hifts in a structure, usuall! caused b! freeze-thaw c!cles underground. 1e#age e2ector- " pump used to Jlift waste water to a gravit! sanitar! sewer line. Dsuall! used in basements and other locations which are situated bellow the level of the side sewer. 1e#er lateral- he portion of the sanitar! sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines. he side sewer is usuall! buried in several feet of soil and runs from the

house to the sewer line. It is usuall! Jowned b! the sewer utilit!, must be maintained b! the owner and ma! onl! be serviced b! utilit! approved contractors. ;ometimes called side sewer. 1e#er stub- he :unction at the municipal sewer s!stem where the homes sewer line is connected. 1e#er tap- he ph!sical connection point where the homes sewer line connects to the main municipal sewer line. 1hake- " wood roofing material, normall! cedar or redwood. <roduced b! splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. 9odern shakes are sometimes machine sawn on one side. ;ee shingle. 1hear block- <l!wood that is face nailed to short >/ . Bs or / . Cs? wall studs >above a door or window, for example?. his is done to prevent the wall from sliding and collapsing. 1heathing, sheeting- he structural wood panel covering, usuall! +;B or pl!wood, used over studs, floor :oists or rafters/trusses of a structure. 1hed roof- " roof containing onl! one sloping plane. 1heet metal #ork- "ll components of a house emplo!ing sheet metal, such as flashing, gutters, and downspouts. 1heet metal duct #ork- he heating s!stem. Dsuall! round or rectangular metal pipes and sheet metal >for Heturn "ir? and installed for distributing warm >or cold? air from the furnace to rooms in the home. 1heet rock- 3ry#all-Wall board or gypsum- " manufactured panel made out of g!psum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Dsuall! 4//5 thick and B- x 1- or B- x 4/- in size. he J:oint compound. JGreen board t!pe dr!wall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular >white? plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other (wet areas*. 1him- " small piece of scrap lumber or shingle, usuall! wedge shaped, which when forced behind a furring strip or framing member forces it into position. "lso used when installing doors and placed between the door :amb legs and / . B door trimmers. 9etal shims are wafer 4 4//5 . /5 sheet metal of various thickness used to fill gaps in wood framing members, especiall! at bearing point locations. 1hingles- Hoof covering of asphalt. asbestos, wood, tile, slate, or other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thickness. 1hingles, siding- @arious kinds of shingles, used over sheathing for exterior wall covering of a structure.

1hort circuit- " situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires come in contact with each other. 7uses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from a short. 1hutter- Dsuall! lightweight louvered decorative frames in the form of doors located on the sides of a window. ;ome shutters are made to close over the window for protection. 1ide se#er- he portion of the sanitar! sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines. he side sewer is usuall! buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line. It is usuall! Jowned b! the sewer utilit!, must be maintained b! the owner and ma! onl! be serviced b! utilit! approved contractors. ;ometimes called sewer lateral. 1iding- he finished exterior covering of the outside walls of a frame building. 1iding, lap siding!- ;lightl! wedge-shaped boards used as horizontal siding in a lapped pattern over the exterior sheathing. @aries in butt thickness from 3 to N inch and in widths up to 4/5. 1ill- >4? he / . B or / . C wood plate framing member that la!s flat against and bolted to the foundation wall >with anchor bolts? and upon which the floor :oists are installed. =ormall! the sill plate is treated lumber. >/? he member forming the lower side of an opening, as a door sill or window sill. 1ill cock- "n exterior water faucet >hose bib?. 1ill plate mudsill!- Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill. "lso sole plate, bottom member of an interior wall frame. 1ill seal- 7iberglass or foam insulation installed between the foundation wall and sill >wood? plate. Lesigned to seal an! cracks or gaps. 1ingle hung #indo#- " window with one verticall! sliding sash or window vent. 1kylight- " more or less horizontal window located on the roof of a building. 1lab, concrete- %oncrete pavement, i.e. drivewa!s, garages, and basement floors. 1lab, door- " rectangular door without hinges or frame. 1lab on grade- " t!pe of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directl! on the soil. he edge of the slab is usuall! thicker and acts as the footing for the walls. 1lag- %oncrete cement that sometimes covers the vertical face of the foundation void material. 1leeper- Dsuall!, a wood member embedded in concrete, as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten the subfloor or flooring.

1leeve s!- <ipe installed under the concrete drivewa! or sidewalk, and that will be used later to run sprinkler pipe or low voltage wire. 1lope- he incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise >in inches? to the run >in feet?. ;ee also pitch. 1lump- he (wetness* of concrete. " , inch slump is dr!er and stiffer than a 8 inch slump. 1offit- he area below the eaves and overhangs. he underside where the roof overhangs the walls. Dsuall! the underside of an overhanging cornice. 1oil pipe- " large pipe that carries li2uid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank. 1oil stack- " plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof. 1ole plate- he bottom, horizontal framing member of a wall thats attached to the floor sheeting and vertical wall studs. 1olid bridging- " solid member placed between ad:acent floor :oists near the center of the span to prevent :oists or rafters from twisting. 1onotube- Hound, large cardboard tubes designed to hold wet concrete in place until it hardens. 1ound attenuation- ;ound proofing a wall or subfloor, generall! with fiberglass insulation. 1pace heat- Oeat supplied to the living space, for example, to a room or the living area of a building. 1pacing- he distance between individual members or shingles in building construction. 1pan- he clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports. he horizontal distance from eaves to eaves. 1pec home- " house built before it is sold. he builder speculates that he can sell it at a profit. 1pecifications or 1pecs- " narrative list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details which supplement the information contained in the blue prints. 6ritten elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods. 6ritten to supplement working drawings. 1plash block- <ortable concrete >or vin!l? channel generall! placed beneath an exterior sill cock >water faucet? or downspout in order to receive roof drainage from downspouts and to divert it awa! from the building.

1'uare- " unit of measure-4'' s2uare feet-usuall! applied to roofing and siding material. "lso, a situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other. "lso a tool for checking this. 1'uare-tab shingles- ;hingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure. 1'ueegie- 7ine pea gravel used to grade a floor >normall! before concrete is placed?. 1tack trusses!- o position trusses on the walls in their correct location. 1tandard practices of the trade s!- +ne of the more common basic and minimum construction standards. his is another wa! of sa!ing that the work should be done in the wa! it is normall! done b! the average professional in the field. 1tarter strip- "sphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection b! filling in the spaces under the cutouts and :oints of the first course of shingles. 1tair carriage or stringer- ;upporting member for stair treads. Dsuall! a / . 4/ inch plank notched to receive the treads# sometimes called a (rough horse.* 1tair landing- " platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. +ften used when stairs change direction. =ormall! no less than , ft. . , ft. s2uare. 1tair rise- he vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread >and not to exceed 0 3*?. 1tatic vent- " vent that does not include a fan. 1TC 1ound Transmission Class!- he measure of sound stopping of ordinar! noise. 1teel inspection- " municipal and/or engineers inspection of the concrete foundation wall, conducted before concrete is poured into the foundation panels. Lone to insure that the rebar >reinforcing bar?, rebar nets, void material, beam pocket plates, and basement window bucks are installed and wrapped with rebar and complies with the foundation plan. 1tep flashing- 7lashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. C5 . C5 galvanized metal bent at a P' degree angle, and installed beneath siding and over the top of shingles. Aach piece overlaps the one beneath it the entire length of the sloping roof >step b! step?. 1tick built- " house built without prefabricated parts. "lso called conventional building. 1tile- "n upright framing member in a panel door. 1tool- he flat molding fitted over the window sill between :ambs and contacting the bottom rail of the lower sash. "lso another name for toilet.

1top bo0- =ormall! a cast iron pipe with a lid >Q 85 in diameter? that is placed verticall! into the ground, situated near the water tap in the !ard, and where a water cut-off valve to the home is located >underground?. " long pole with a special end is inserted into the curb stop to turn off/on the water. 1top 4rder- " formal, written notification to a contractor to discontinue some or all work on a pro:ect for reasons such as safet! violations, defective materials or workmanship, or cancellation of the contract. 1tops- 9oldings along the inner edges of a door or window frame. "lso valves used to shut off water to a fixture. 1top valve- " device installed in a water suppl! line, usuall! near a fixture, that permits an individual to shut off the water suppl! to one fixture without interrupting service to the rest of the s!stem. 1torm sash or storm #indo#-. "n extra window usuall! placed outside of an existing one, as additional protection against cold weather. 1torm se#er- " sewer s!stem designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water s!stem. 1tory- hat part of a building between an! floor or between the floor and roof. 1trike- he plate on a door frame that engages a latch or dead bolt. 1tring, stringer- " timber or other support for cross members in floors or ceilings. In stairs, the supporting member for stair treads. Dsuall! a / . 4/ inch plank notched to receive the treads 1trip flooring- 6ood flooring consisting of narrow, matched strips. 1tructural floor- " framed lumber floor that is installed as a basement floor instead of concrete. his is done on ver! expansive soils. 1tub, stubbed- o push through. 1tucco- Hefers to an outside plaster finish made with <ortland cement as its base. 1tud- " vertical wood framing member, also referred to as a wall stud, attached to the horizontal sole plate below and the top plate above. =ormall! / . Bs or / . Cs, 1- long >sometimes P/ 8/15?. +ne of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in walls and partitions. 1tud framing- " building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of relativel! lightweight studs. %ontrasts with post-and-beam.

1tud shoe- " metal, structural bracket that reinforces a vertical stud. Dsed on an outside bearing wall where holes are drilled to accommodate a plumbing waste line. 1ubfloor- he framing components of a floor to include the sill plate, floor :oists, and deck sheeting over which a finish floor is to be laid. 1ump- <it or large plastic bucket/barrel inside the home designed to collect ground water from a perimeter drain s!stem. 1ump pump- " submersible pump in a sump pit that pumps an! excess ground water to the outside of the home. 1uspended ceiling- " ceiling s!stem supported b! hanging it from the overhead structural framing. 1#ay brace- 9etal straps or wood blocks installed diagonall! on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over (domino* fashion. 1#itch- " device that completes or disconnects an electrical circuit. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: 5

5abbet- " rectangular longitudinal groove cut in the corner edge of a board or plank. 5adiant heating- " method of heating, usuall! consisting of a forced hot water s!stem with pipes placed in the floor, wall, or ceiling. "lso electricall! heated panels. 5adiation- Anerg! transmitted from a heat source to the air around it. Hadiators actuall! depend more on convection than radiation. 5adon- " naturall!-occurring, heavier than air, radioactive gas common in man! parts of the countr!. Hadon gas exposure is associated with lung cancer. 9itigation measures ma! involve crawl space and basement venting and various forms of vapor barriers. 5adon system- " ventilation s!stem beneath the floor of a basement and/or structural wood floor and designed to fan exhaust radon gas to the outside of the home 5after- Iumber used to support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generall!, / . 4's and / . 4/s are used. he rafters of a flat roof are sometimes called roof :oists. 5after, hip- " rafter that forms the intersection of an external roof angle. 5after, valley- " rafter that forms the intersection of an internal roof angle. he valle! rafter is normall! made of double /-inch-thick members.

5ail- %ross members of panel doors or of a sash. "lso, a wall or open balustrade placed at the edge of a staircase, walkwa! bridge, or elevated surface to prevent people from falling off. "n! relativel! lightweight horizontal element, especiall! those found in fences >split rail?. 5ailroad tie- Black, tar and preservative impregnated, C5 . 15 and C--1- long wooden timber that was used to hold railroad track in place. =ormall! used as a member of a retaining wall. 5ake- ;lope or slanted. 5ake fascia- he vertical face of the sloping end of a roof eave. 5ake siding- he practice of installing lap siding diagonall! 5anch- " single stor!, one level home. 5eady mi0ed concrete- %oncrete mixed at a plant or in trucks en route to a :ob and delivered read! for placement. 5ebar, reinforcing bar-Hibbed steel bars installed in foundation concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures designed to strengthen concrete. %omes in various thickness and strength grade. 5eceptacle- "n electrical outlet. " t!pical household will have man! 4/' volt receptacles for plugging in lams and appliances and /B' volt receptacles for the range, clothes dr!er, air conditioners, etc. 5ecording fee - " charge for recording the transfer of a propert!, paid to a cit!, count!, or other appropriate branch of government. 5edline, red lined prints- Blueprints that reflect changes and that are marked with red pencil. 5educer- " fitting with different size openings at either end and used to go from a larger to a smaller pipe. 5eflective insulation- ;heet material with one or both faces covered with aluminum foil. 5efrigerant- " substance that remains a gas at low temperatures and pressure and can be used to transfer heat. 7reon is an example and is used in air conditioning s!stems. 5egister- " grill placed over a heating duct or cold air return. 5egla"e- o replace a broken window. 5elief valve- " device designed to open if it detects excess temperature or pressure.

5emote- Hemote electrical, gas, or water meter digital readouts that are installed near the front of the home in order for utilit! companies to easil! read the home owners usage of the service. 5etaining #all- " structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion. 5etentions- "mounts withheld from progress billings until final and satisfactor! pro:ect completion. 5 factor or value- " measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat. =ew homewalls are usuall! insulated with B5 of batt insulation with an H value of H-4,, and a ceiling insulation of H-,'. 5ibbon girt!- =ormall! a 4 . B board let into the studs horizontall! to support the ceiling or second-floor :oists. 5idge- he horizontal line at the :unction of the top edges of two sloping roof surfaces. 5idge board- he board placed on the ridge of the roof onto which the upper ends of other rafters are fastened. 5idge shingles- ;hingles used to cover the ridge board. 5im 2oist- " :oist that runs around the perimeter of the floor :oists and home. 5ise- he vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge. "lso the vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread >and not to exceed 0 3*?. 5iser- Aach of the vertical boards closing the spaces between the treads of stairwa!s. 5iser and panel- he exterior vertical pipe >riser? and metal electric box >panel? the electrician provides and installs at the (Hough Alectric* stage. 5oad base- " aggregate mixture of sand and stone. 5ock 6, 7, 8- 6hen referring to dr!wall, this means to install dr!wall to the walls and ceilings >with nails and screws?, and before taping is performed. 5oll, rolling- o install the floor :oists or trusses in their correct place. > o (roll the floor* means to install the floor :oists?. 5ome0- " name brand of nonmetallic sheathed electrical cable that is used for indoor wiring. 5oll roofing- "sphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form. ,C-inch wide rolls with and 4'1 s2uare feet of material. 6eights are generall! B8 to P' pounds per roll. 5ome0- " name brand of nonmetallic sheathed electrical cable that is used for indoor wiring.

5oof 2ack- ;leeves that fit around the black plumbing waste vent pipes at, and are nailed to, the roof sheeting. 5oof 2oist- he rafters of a flat roof. Iumber used to support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generall!, / . 4's and / . 4/s are used. 5oof sheathing or sheeting- he wood panels or sheet material fastened to the roof rafters or trusses on which the shingle or other roof covering is laid. 5oof valley- he (%* created where two sloping roofs meet. 5ough opening- he horizontal and vertical measurement of a window or door opening before dr!wall or siding is installed. 5ough sill- he framing member at the bottom of a rough opening for a window. It is attached to the cripple studs below the rough opening. 5oughing-in- he initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, heating, carpentr!, and/or other pro:ect, when all components that wont be seen after the second finishing phase are assembled. ;ee also Oeat Hough, <lumbing Hough, and Alectrical Hough. 5un, roof - he horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directl! under the ridge. +ne half the span. 5un, stair- the horizontal distance of a stair tread from the nose to the riser. 5 %alue- " measure of insulation. " measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat. he higher the H value, the more insulating (power* it has. 7or example, t!pical new homes walls are usuall! insulated with B5 of batt insulation with an H value of H-4,, and a ceiling insulation of H-,'. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: 9

9uarry tile- " man-made or machine-made cla! tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generall! C5 . C5 . 4/B5 thick . 9uarter round- " small trim molding that has the cross section of a 2uarter circle. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: :

:adding- " material installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet life. :ad out, pack out- o shim out or add strips of wood to a wall or ceiling in order that the finished ceiling/wall will appear correct. :aint- " combination of pigments with suitable thinners or oils to provide decorative and protective coatings. %an be oil based or latex water based. :allets- 6ooden platforms used for storing and shipping material. 7orklifts and hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around. :anel- " thin flat piece of wood, pl!wood, or similar material, framed b! stiles and rails as in a door >or cabinet door?, or fitted into grooves of thicker material with molded edges for decorative wall treatment. :aper, building- " general term for papers, felts, and similar sheet materials used in buildings without reference to their properties or uses. Generall! comes in long rolls. :arapet- " wall placed at the edge of a roof to prevent people from falling off. :arting stop or strip- " small wood piece used in the side and head :ambs of double hung windows to separate the upper sash from the lower sash. :article board- <l!wood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. Dsed for closet shelving, floor underla!ment, stair treads, etc. :artition- " wall that subdivides spaces within an! stor! of a building or room. :aver, paving- 9aterialsMcommonl! masonr!Mlaid down to make a firm, even surface. :ayment schedule- " pre-agreed upon schedule of pa!ments to a contractor usuall! based upon the amount of work completed. ;uch a schedule ma! include a deposit prior to the start of work. here ma! also be a temporar! Jretainer >8-4'R of the total cost of the :ob? at the end of the contract for correcting an! small items which have not been completed or repaired. :edestal- " metal box installed at various locations along utilit! easements that contain electrical, telephone, or cable television switches and connections. :enalty clause - " provision in a contract that provides for a reduction in the amount otherwise pa!able under a contract to a contractor as a penalt! for failure to meet deadlines or for failure of the pro:ect to meet contract specifications. :enny- "s applied to nails, it originall! indicated the price per hundred. he term now series as a measure of nail length and is abbreviated b! the letter (d(. =ormall!, 4Cd >4C (penn!*? nails are used for framing

:ercolation test or perc; test- ests that a soil engineer performs on earth to determine the feasibilit! of installing a leech field t!pe sewer s!stem on a lot. " test to determine if the soil on a proposed building lot is capable of absorbing the li2uid affluent from a septic s!stem. :erformance bond- "n amount of mone! >usuall! 4'R of the total price of a :ob? that a contractor must put on deposit with a governmental agenc! as an insurance polic! that guarantees the contractors proper and timel! completion of a pro:ect or :ob. :erimeter drain- ,5 or B5 perforated plastic pipe that goes around the perimeter >either inside or outside? of a foundation wall >before backfill? and collects and diverts ground water awa! from the foundation. Generall!, it is (da!lighted* into a sump pit inside the home, and a sump pump is sometimes inserted into the pit to discharge an! accumulation of water. :ermeability- " measure of the ease with which water penetrates a material. :ermit - " governmental municipal authorization to perform a building process as inK S $oningTDse permit - "uthorization to use a propert! for a specific use e.g. a garage, a single famil! residence etc. S Lemolition permit - "uthorization to tear down and remove an existing structure. S Grading permit - "uthorization to change the contour of the land. S ;eptic permit - " health department authorization to build or modif! a septic s!stem. S Building permit - "uthorization to build or modif! a structure. S Alectrical permit - " separate permit re2uired for most electrical work. S <lumbing permit - " separate permit re2uired for new plumbing and larger modifications of existing plumbing s!stems. :igtails, electrical- he electric cord that the electrician provides and installs on an appliance such as a garbage disposal, dishwasher, or range hood. :ier- " column of masonr!, usuall! rectangular in horizontal cross section, used to support other structural members. "lso see %aisson. :igment- " powdered solid used in paint or enamel to give it a color. :ilot hole- " small-diameter, pre-drilled hole that guides a nail or screw. :ilot light- " small, continuous flame >in a hot water heater, boiler, or furnace? that ignites gas or oil burners when needed.

:itch- he incline slope of a roof or the ratio of the total rise to the total width of a house, i.e., a C-foot rise and /B-foot width is a one-fourth pitch roof. Hoof slope is expressed in the inches of rise, per foot of horizontal run. :.T. - <rincipal, interest, taxes and insurance >the four ma:or components of monthl! housing pa!ments?. :lan vie#- Lrawing of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down. :late- =ormall! a / . B or / . C that la!s horizontall! within a framed structure, such asK

;ill plate- " horizontal member anchored to a concrete or masonr! wall. ;ole plate- Bottom horizontal member of a frame wall. op plate- op horizontal member of a frame wall supporting ceiling :oists, rafters, or other members.

:lenum- he main hot-air suppl! duct leading from a furnace. :lot plan- "n overhead view plan that shows the location of the home on the lot. Includes all easements, propert! lines, set backs, and legal descriptions of the home. <rovided b! the surve!or. :lough, plo#- o cut a lengthwise groove in a board or plank. "n exterior handrail normall! has a ploughed groove for hand gripping purposes :lumb- Axactl! vertical and perpendicular. :lumb bob- " lead weight attached to a string. It is the tool used in determining plumb. :lumbing boots- 9etal saddles used to strengthen a bearing wall/vertical stud>s? where a plumbing drain line has been cut through and installed. :lumbing ground- he plumbing drain and waste lines that are installed beneath a basement floor. :lumbing 2acks- ;leeves that fit around drain and waste vent pipes at, and are nailed to, the roof sheeting. :lumbing rough- 6ork performed b! the plumbing contractor after the Hough Oeat is installed. his work includes installing all plastic "B; drain and waste lines, copper water lines, bath tubs, shower pans, and gas piping to furnaces and fireplaces. Iead solder should not be used on copper piping. :lumbing stack- " plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

:lumbing trim- 6ork performed b! the plumbing contractor to get the home read! for a final plumbing inspection. Includes installing all toilets >water closets?, hot water heaters, sinks, connecting all gas pipe to appliances, disposal, dishwasher, and all plumbing items. :lumbing #aste line- <lastic pipe used to collect and drain sewage waste. :ly- " term to denote the number of la!ers of roofing felt, veneer in pl!wood, or la!ers in builtup materials, in an! finished piece of such material. :ly#ood- " panel >normall! B- . 1-? of wood made of three or more la!ers of veneer, compressed and :oined with glue, and usuall! laid with the grain of ad:oining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength. :oint load- " point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation. :ortland cement- %ement made b! heating cla! and crushed limestone into a brick and then grinding to a pulverized powder state. :ost- " vertical framing member usuall! designed to carr! a beam. +ften a B5 x B5, a C5 x C5, or a metal pipe with a flat plate on top and bottom. :ost-and-beam- " basic building method that uses :ust a few heft! posts and beams to support an entire structure. %ontrasts with stud framing. :o#er vent- " vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow. +ften installed on roofs. :remium- "mount pa!able on a loan. :reservative-. "n! pesticide substance that, for a reasonable length of time, will prevent the action of wood-destro!ing fungi, insect borers, and similar destructive agents when the wood has been properl! coated or impregnated with it. =ormall! an arsenic derivative. %hromated %opper "rsenate >%%"? is an example. :ressure 5elief %alve :5%!- " device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release an! high steam pressure in the tank to prevent tank explosions. :ressure-treated #ood- Iumber that has been saturated with a preservative. :rimer- he first, base coat of paint when a paint :ob consists of two or more coats. " first coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and holding succeeding finish coats. :rincipal- he original amount of the loan, the capital. :roperty survey- " surve! to determine the boundaries of !our propert!. he cost depends on the complexit! of the surve!.

: trap- %urved, ((* section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixtures water drain. :ump mi0- ;pecial concrete that will be used in a concrete pump. Generall!, the mix has smaller rock aggregate than regular mix. :unch list- " list of discrepancies that need to be corrected b! the contractor. :unch out- o inspect and make a discrepanc! list. :utty- " t!pe of dough used in sealing glass in the sash, filling small holes and crevices in wood, and for similar purposes. :%C or C:%C - <ol! @in!l %hloride-" t!pe of white or light gra! plastic pipe sometimes used for water suppl! lines and waste pipe.

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: 4

4 C- 4n Center- he measurement of spacing for studs, rafters, and :oists in a building from the center of one member to the center of the next. 4akum- Ioose hemp or :ute fiber thats impregnated with tar or pitch and used to caulk large seams or for packing plumbing pipe :oints 4pen hole inspection- 6hen an engineer >or municipal inspector? inspects the open excavation and examines the earth to determine the t!pe of foundation >caisson, footer, wall on ground, etc.? that should be installed in the hole. 4riented 1trand Board or 41B- " manufactured B- . 1- wood panel made out of 45- /5 wood chips and glue. +ften used as a substitute for pl!wood. 4utrigger- "n extension of a rafter be!ond the wall line. Dsuall! a smaller member nailed to a larger rafter to form a cornice or roof overhang. 4utside corner- he point at which two walls form an external angle, one !ou usuall! can walk around. 4verhang- +utward pro:ecting eave-soffit area of a roof# the part of the roof that hangs out or over the outside wall. ;ee also %ornice. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: <

<ail inspection- "n inspection made b! a municipal building inspector after the dr!wall material is hung with nails and screws >and before taping?. <atural finish- " transparent finish which does not seriousl! alter the original color or grain of the natural wood. =atural finishes are usuall! provided b! sealers, oils, varnishes, water repellent preservatives, and other similar materials. </C <ational /lectrical Code!- " set of rules governing safe wiring methods. Iocal codesM which are backed b! lawMma! differ from the =A% in some wa!s. <eutral #ire- Dsuall! color-coded white, this carries electricit! from an outlet back to the service panel. "lso see hot wire and ground. <e#el post- he large starting post to which the end of a stair guard railing or balustrade is fastened. <onbearing #all- " wall supporting no load other than its own weight. <osing- he pro:ecting edge of a molding or drip or the front edge of a stair tread. <otch- " crosswise groove at the end of a board. <ote- " formal document showing the existence of a debt and stating the terms of repa!ment. <o""le- he part of a heating s!stem that spra!s the fuel of fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: =

=ale- "n! part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another >female? part. Axternal threads are male. =antel- he shelf above a fireplace opening. "lso used in referring to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening. =anufactured #ood- " wood product such as a truss, beam, gluelam, microlam or :oist which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces and glued or mechanicall! fastened to form a larger piece. +ften used to create a stronger member which ma! use less wood. ;ee also +riented ;trand Board.

=anufacturer)s specifications- he written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed b! the manufacturer of a product and which ma! have to be followed in order to maintain the product warrantee. =asonry- ;tone, brick, concrete, hollow-tile, concrete block, or other similar building units or materials. =ormall! bonded together with mortar to form a wall. =astic- " past! material used as a cement >as for setting tile? or a protective coating >as for thermal insulation or waterproofing? =echanics lien- " lien on real propert!, created b! statue in man! !ears, in favor of persons suppl!ing labor or materials for a building or structure, for the value of labor or materials supplied b! them. In some :urisdictions, a mechanics lien also exists for the value of professional services. %lear title to the propert! cannot be obtained until the claim for the labor, materials, or professional services is settled. imel! filing is essential to support the encumbrance, and prescribed filing dates var! b! :urisdiction. =etal lath- ;heets of metal that are slit to form openings within the lath. Dsed as a plaster base for walls and ceilings and as reinforcing over other forms of plaster base. =icrolam- " manufactured structural wood beam. It is constructed of pressure and adhesive bonded wood strands of wood. he! have a higher strength rating than solid sawn lumber. =ormall! comes in l 3* thickness and P 3*, 44 3* and 4B5 widths =ilar mylar!- <lastic, transparent copies of a blueprint. =ill#ork- Generall! all building materials made of finished wood and manufactured in millwork plants. Includes all doors, window and door frames, blinds, mantels, panelwork, stairwa! components >ballusters, rail, etc.?, moldings, and interior trim. Loes not include flooring, ceiling, or siding. =iter 2oint- he :oint of two pieces at an angle that bisects the :oining angle. 7or example, the miter :oint at the side and head casing at a door opening is made at a B8U angle. =olding- " wood strip having an engraved, decorative surface. =onopost- "d:ustable metal column used to support a beam or bearing point. =ormall! 44 gauge or ;chedule B' metal, and determined b! the structural engineer =ortar- " mixture of cement >or lime? with sand and water used in masonr! work. =ortgage- Ioan secured b! land. =ortgage broker - " broker who represents numerous lenders and helps consumers find affordable mortgages# the broker charges a fee onl! if the consumer finds a loan.

=ortgage company - " compan! that borrows mone! from a bank, lends it to consumers to bu! homes, then sells the loans to investors. =ortgage deed- Iegal document establishing a loan on propert!. =ortgagee- he lender who makes the mortgage loan. =ortgage loan- " contract in which the borrowers propert! is pledged as collateral. It is repaid in installments. he mortgagor >bu!er? promises to repa! principal and interest, keep the home insured, pa! all taxes and keep the propert! in good condition. =ortgage 4rigination >ee- " charge for work involved in preparing and servicing a mortgage application >usuall! one percent of the loan amount?. =ortise- " slot cut into a board, plank, or timber, usuall! edgewise, to receive the tenon >or tongue? of another board, plank, or timber to form a :oint. =udsill- Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called sill plate. "lso sole plate, bottom member of interior wall frame. =ullion- " vertical divider in the frame between windows, doors, or other openings. =untin- " small member which divides the glass or openings of sash or doors. =uriatic acid- %ommonl! used as a brick cleaner after masonr! work is completed. =ushroom- he unacceptable occurrence when the top of a caisson concrete pier spreads out and hardens to become wider than the foundation wall thickness. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: L

Laminated shingles - ;hingles that have added dimensionalit! because of extra la!ers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. 9a! also be called (architectural shingles* or (threedimensional shingles.* Laminating- Bonding together two or more la!ers of materials. Landing- " platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. +ften used when stairs change direction. =ormall! no less than , ft. . , ft. s2uare. Lap- o cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.

Latch- " beveled metal tongue operated b! a spring-loaded knob or lever. he tongues bevel lets !ou close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if an!, without using a ke!. %ontrasts with dead bolt. Lateral electric, gas, telephone, se#er and #ater!- he underground trench and related services >i.e., electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water lines? that will be buried within the trench. Lath- " building material of narrow wood, metal, g!psum, or insulating board that is fastened to the frame of a building to act as a base for plaster, shingles, or tiles. Lattice- "n open framework of criss-crossed wood or metal strips that form regular, patterned spaces. Ledger for a 1tructural >loor!- he wooden perimeter frame lumber member that bolts onto the face of a foundation wall and supports the wood structural floor. Ledger strip- " strip of lumber nailed along the bottom of the side of a girder on which :oists rest. Leech field- " method used to treat/dispose of sewage in rural areas not accessible to a municipal sewer s!stem. ;ewage is permitted to be filtered and eventuall! discharged into a section of the lot called a leech field. Let-in brace- =ominal 4 inch-thick boards applied into notched studs diagonall!. "lso, an (I* shaped, long >Q 4'-? metal strap that are installed b! the framer at the rough stage to give support to an exterior wall or wall corner. Level- rue horizontal. "lso a tool used to determine level. Level :ayment =ortgage- " mortgage with identical monthl! pa!ments over the life of the loan. Lien- "n encumbrance that usuall! makes real or personal propert! the securit! for pa!ment of a debt or discharge of an obligation. Light- ;pace in a window sash for a single pane of glass. "lso, a pane of glass. Limit s#itch- " safet! control that automaticall! shuts off a furnace if it gets too hot. 9ost also control blower c!cles. Lineal foot- " unit of measure for lumber e2ual to 4 inch thick b! 4/ inches wide b! 4/ inches long. AxamplesK 45 x 4/5 x 4C- V 4C board feet, /5 x 4/5 x 4C- V ,/ board feet. Lintel- " horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window.

Load bearing #all- Includes all exterior walls and an! interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. =ormall!, an! wall that has a double horizontal top plate. Loan- he amount to be borrowed. Loan to value ratio- he ratio of the loan amount to the propert! valuation and expressed as a percentage. A.g. if a borrower is seeking a loan of W/'',''' on a propert! worth WB'',''' it has a 8'R loan to value rate. If the loan were W,'',''', the I @ would be 08R. he higher the loan to value, the greater the lenders perceived risk. Ioans above normal lending I @ ratios ma! re2uire additional securit!. Lookout- " short wood bracket or cantilever that supports an overhang portion of a roof. Louver- " vented opening into the home that has a series of horizontal slats and arranged to permit ventilation but to exclude rain, snow, light, insects, or other living creatures. Lumens- Dnit of measure for total light output. he amount of light falling on a surface of one s2uare foot. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: ?

?eeper- he metal latch plate in a door frame into which a doorknob plunger latches. ?eyless- " plastic or porcelain light fixture that operates b! a pull string. Generall! found in the basement, crawl space , and attic areas. ?ey#ay- " slot formed and poured on a footer or in a foundation wall when another wall will be installed at the slot location. his gives additional strength to the :oint/meeting point. ?ilo#att k#!- +ne thousand watts. " kilowatt hour is the base unit used in measuring electrical consumption. "lso see watt. ?ing stud- he vertical (/ .s* frame lumber >left and right? of a window or door opening, and runs continuousl! from the bottom sole plate to the top plate. ?not- In lumber, the portion of a branch or limb of a tree that appears on the edge or face of the piece.

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: -

- Channel- 9etal edging used on dr!wall to give the edge a better finished appearance when a wall is not (wrapped* Generall!, basement stairwa! walls have dr!wall onl! on the stair side. X %hannel is used on the vertical edge of the last dr!wall sheet -ack post- " t!pe of structural support made of metal, which can be raised or lowered through a series of pins and a screw to meet the height re2uired. Basicall! used as a replacement for an old supporting member in a building. ;ee 9onopost. -ack rafter- " rafter that spans the distance from the wall plate to a hip, or from a valle! to a ridge. -amb- he side and head lining of a doorwa!, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame and trim. -oint- he location between the touching surfaces of two members or components :oined and held together b! nails, glue, cement, mortar, or other means. -oint cement or -oint compound- " powder that is usuall! mixed with water and used for :oint treatment in g!psum-wallboard finish. +ften called (spackle* or dr!wall mud. -oint tenancy- " form of ownership in which the tenants own a propert! e2uall!. If one dies, the other automaticall! inherits the entire propert!. -oint trench- 6hen the electric compan! and telephone compan! dig one trench and (drop* both of their service lines in. -oist- 6ooden / . 1s, 4's, or 4/s that run parallel to one another and support a floor or ceiling, and supported in turn b! larger beams, girders, or bearing walls. -oist hanger- " metal (D* shaped item used to support the end of a floor :oist and attached with hardened nails to another bearing :oist or beam. -umpers- 6ater pipe installed in a water meter pit >before the water meter is installed?, or electric wire that is installed in the electric house panel meter socket before the meter is installed. his is sometimes illegal. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: .

.-beam- " steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter .. It is used for long spans as basement beams or over wide wall openings, such as a double garage door, when wall and roof loads bear down on the opening. .-2oist- 9anufactured structural building component resembling the letter (I*. Dsed as floor :oists and rafters. I-:oists include two ke! partsK flanges and #ebs. he flange of the I :oist ma!

be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usuall! formed into a 4 3* width. he #eb or center of the I-:oist is commonl! made of pl!wood or oriented strand board >+;B?. Iarge holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-:oists are available in lengths up to C' feet long .ncandescent lamp- " lamp emplo!ing an electricall! charged metal filament that glows at white heat. " t!pical light bulb. .nde0- he interest rate or ad:ustment standard that determines the changes in monthl! pa!ments for an ad:ustable rate loan. .nfiltration- he passage of air from indoors to outdoors and vice versa# term is usuall! associated with drafts from cracks, seams or holes in buildings. .nside corner- he point at which two walls form an internal angle, as in the corner of a room. .nsulating glass- 6indow or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between. "lso known as 3ouble glass. .nsulation board, rigid- " structural building board made of coarse wood or cane fiber in 3and /8/,/-inch thickness. It can be obtained in various size sheets and densities. .nsulation- "n! material high in resistance to heat transmission that, when placed in the walls, ceiling, or floors of a structure, and will reduce the rate of heat flow. .nterest - he cost paid to a lender for borrowed mone!. .nterior finish- 9aterial used to cover the interior framed areas of walls and ceilings .rrigation- Iawn sprinkler s!stem posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: @

@ Clip- ;mall metal clips formed like an (O* that fits at the :oints of two pl!wood >or wafer board? sheets to stiffen the :oint. =ormall! used on the roof sheeting. @ard#are- "ll of the (metal* fittings that go into the home when it is near completion. 7or example, door knobs, towel bars, handrail brackets, closet rods, house numbers, door closers, etc. he Interior rim %arpenter installs the (hardware*. @aunch- "n extension, knee like protrusion of the foundation wall that a concrete porch or patio will rest upon for support.

@a"ard insurance - <rotection against damage caused b! fire, windstorms, or other common hazards. 9an! lenders re2uire borrowers to carr! it in an amount at least e2ual to the mortgage. @eader- >a? " beam placed perpendicular to :oists and to which :oists are nailed inframing for a chimne!, stairwa!, or other opening. >b? " wood lintel. >c? he horizontal structural member over an opening >for example over a door or window?. @earth- he fireproof area directl! in front of a fireplace. he inner or outer floor of a fireplace, usuall! made of brick, tile, or stone. @eating load- he amount of heating re2uired to keep a building at a specified temperature during the winter, usuall! C8U 7, regardless of outside temperature. @eat meter- "n electrical municipal inspection of the electric meter breaker panel box. @eat pump- " mechanical device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house. @eat 5ough- 6ork performed b! the Oeating %ontractor after the stairs and interior walls are built. his includes installing all duct work and flue pipes. ;ometimes, the furnace and fireplaces are installed at this stage of construction. @eat Trim- 6ork done b! the Oeating %ontractor to get the home read! for the municipal 7inal Oeat Inspection. his includes venting the hot water heater, installing all vent grills, registers, air conditioning services, turning on the furnace, installing thermostats, venting ranges and hoods, and all other heat related work. @eel cut- " notch cut in the end of a rafter to permit it to fit flat on a wall and on the top, doubled, exterior wall plate. @ighlights- " light spot, area, or streak on a painted surface. @ip- " roof with four sloping sides. he external angle formed b! the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof. @ip roof- " roof that rises b! inclined planes from all four sides of a building. @ome run electrical!- he electrical cable that carries power from the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical box, plug, or switch in the circuit. @oney combs- he appearance concrete makes when rocks in the concrete are visible and where there are void areas in the foundation wall, especiall! around concrete foundation windows. @ose bib- "n exterior water faucet >sill cock?.

@ot #ire- he wire that carries electrical energ! to a receptacle or other deviceMin contrast to a neutral, which carries electricit! awa! again. =ormall! the black wire. "lso see ground. @umidifier- "n appliance normall! attached to the furnace, or portable unit device designed to increase the humidit! within a room or a house b! means of the discharge of water vapor. @urricane clip- 9etal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. ;ometimes called a eco clip. @ % & C- "n abbreviation for @eat, %entilation, and &ir Conditioning posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: +

+> C ., or + > .- Ground 7ault %ircuit Interrupter- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Dsed in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and (wet areas*. Oas a small reset button on the plug. +able- he end, upper, triangular area of a home, beneath the roof. +ang nail plate- " steel plate attached to both sides at each :oint of a truss. ;ometimes called a fishplate or gussett. +ate valve- " valve that lets !ou completel! stopMbut not modulateMthe flow within a pipe. +eneral Contractor " contractor who enters into a contract with the owner of a pro:ect for the construction of the pro:ect and who takes full responsibilit! for its completion, although the contractor ma! enter into subcontracts with others for the performance of specific parts or phases of the pro:ect. +as lateral- he trench or area in the !ard where the gas line service is located, or the work of installing the gas service to a home. +irder- " large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length. +la"ing- he process of installing glass, which commonl! is secured with glaziers points and glazing compound. +lobe valve- " valve that lets !ou ad:ust the flow of water to an! rate between full! on and full! off. "lso see gate valve. +loss enamel- " finishing paint material. 7orms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and dries to a sheen or luster >gloss?

+lued Laminated Beam +lulam!- " structural beam composed of wood laminations or lams. he lams are pressure bonded with adhesives to attain a t!pical thickness of 4 3* . >It looks like 8 or more / . Bs are glued together?. +rade- Ground level, or the elevation at an! given point. "lso the work of leveling dirt. "lso the designated 2ualit! of a manufactured piece of wood. +rade beam- " foundation wall that is poured Q level with or :ust below the grade of theearth. "n example is the area where the 1- or 4C- overhead garage door (block out* is located, or a lower >walk out basement? foundation wall is poured +raduated :ayment =ortgage +:=! - " fixed-rate, fixed-schedule loan. It starts with lower pa!ments than a level pa!ment loan# pa!ments rise annuall!, with the entire increase being used to reduce the outstanding balance. he increase in pa!ments ma! enable the borrower to pa! off a ,'-!ear loan in 48 to /' !ears, or less. +rain- he direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or 2ualit! of the fibers in wood. +rid- he completed assembl! of main and cross tees in a suspended ceiling s!stem before the ceiling panels are installed. "lso the decorative slats >munton? installed between glass panels. +round- Hefers to electricit!s habit of seeking the shortest route to earth. =eutral wires carr! it there in all circuits. "n additional grounding wire or the sheathing of the metal-clad cable or conduitMprotects against shock if the neutral leg is interrupted. +round fault- Ground 7ault %ircuit Interrupter >G7%I, G7I?- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Dsed in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and (wet areas*. Oas a small reset button on the plug. +round iron- he plumbing drain and waste lines that are installed beneath the basement floor. %ast iron was once used, but black plastic pipe >"B;? is now widel! used. +round#ater- 6ater from an a2uifer or subsurface water source. +rout- " wet mixture of cement, sand and water that flows into masonr! or ceramic crevices to seal the cracks between the different pieces. 9ortar made of such consistenc! >b! adding water? that it will flow into the :oints and cavities of the masonr! work and fill them solid. +usset- " flat wood, pl!wood, or similar t!pe member used to provide a connection at the intersection of wood members. 9ost commonl! used at :oints of wood trusses. he! are fastened b! nails, screws, bolts, or adhesives. +utter- " shallow channel or conduit of metal or wood set below and along the >fascia? eaves of a house to catch and carr! off rainwater from the roof.

+yp board- Lr!wall. 6all board or g!psum- " panel >normall! B- . 1-, 4'-, 4/-, or 4C-?made with a core of G!psum >chalk-like? rock, which covers interior walls and ceilings. +ypsum plaster- G!psum formulated to be used with the addition of sand and water for basecoat plaster. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: >

>@& strap- 9etal straps that are used to repair a bearing wall (cut-out*, and to (tie together* wall corners, splices, and bearing headers. "lso, the! are used to hang stairs and landings to bearing headers. >ace nail- o install nails into the vertical face of a bearing header or beam. >aced concrete- o finish the front and all vertical sides of a concrete porch, step>s?, or patio. =ormall! the (face* is broom finished. >acing brick- he brick used and exposed on the outside of a wall. Dsuall! these have a finished texture. >ascia- Oorizontal boards attached to rafter/truss ends at the eaves and along gables. Hoof drain gutters are attached to the fascia. >elt- ar paper. Installed under the roof shingles. =ormall! 48 lb. or ,' lb. >emale- "n! part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another >male? part can be inserted. Internal threads are female. >errule- 9etal tubes used to keep roof gutters (open*. Iong nails >ferrule spikes? are driven through these tubes and hold the gutters in place along the fascia of the home. >ield measure- o take measurements >cabinets, countertops, stairs, shower doors, etc.? in the home itself instead of using the blueprints. >inger 2oint- " manufacturing process of interlocking two shorter pieces of wood end to end to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber or molding. +ften used in :ambs and casings and are normall! painted >instead of stained?. >ire block- ;hort horizontal members sometimes nailed between studs, usuall! about halfwa! up a wall. ;ee also J7ire stop. >ire brick- Brick made of refractor! ceramic material which will resist high temperatures. Dsed in a fireplace and boiler.

>ireplace chase flashing pan- " large sheet of metal that is installed around and perpendicular to the fireplace flue pipe. Its purpose is to confine and limit the spread of fire and smoke to a small area. >ire-resistive or >ire rated- "pplies to materials that are not combustible in the temperatures of ordinar! fires and will withstand such fires for at least 4 hour. Lr!wall used in the garage and part! walls are to be fire rated, 8/15, !pe .. >ire retardant chemical- " chemical or preparation of chemicals used to reduce the flammabilit! of a material or to retard the spread of flame. >ire stop- " solid, tight closure of a concealed space, placed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through such a space. In a frame wall, this will usuall! consist of / b! B cross blocking between studs. 6ork performed to slow the spread of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling >behind the dr!wall?. Includes stuffing wire holes in the top and bottom plates with insulation, and installing blocks of wood between the wall studs at the drop soffit line. his is integral to passing a Hough 7rame inspection. ;ee also J7ire block. >ishplate gusset!- " wood or pl!wood piece used to fasten the ends of two members together at a butt :oint with nails or bolts. ;ometimes used at the :unction of opposite rafters near the ridge line. ;ometimes called a gang nail plate. >ish tape- " long strip of spring steel used for fishing cables and for pulling wires through conduit. >i0ed price contract- " contract with a set price for the work. ;ee ime and 9aterials %ontract. >i0ed rate- " loan where the initial pa!ments are based on a certain interest rate for a stated period . he rate pa!able will not change during this period regardless of changes in the lenders standard variable rate. >i0ed 5ate =ortgage- " mortgage with an interest rate that remains the same over the !ears. >lagstone flagging or flags!- 7lat stones >4 to B inches thick? used for walks, steps, floors, and vertical veneer >in lieu of brick?. >lakeboard- " manufactured wood panel made out of 45- /5 wood chips and glue. +ften used as a substitute for pl!wood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. "lso called +;B or wafer board. >lame retention burner- "n oil burner, designed to hold the flame near the nozzle surface. Generall! the most efficient t!pe for residential use. >lashing- ;heet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect a building from water seepage.

>lat mold- hin wood strips installed over the butt seam of cabinet skins. >lat paint- "n interior paint that contains a high proportion of pigment and dries to a flat or lusterless finish. >lat#ork- %ommon word for concrete floors, drivewa!s, basements, and sidewalks. >loating- he next-to-last stage in concrete work, when !ou smooth off the :ob and bring water to the surface b! using a hand float or bull float. >loating #all- " non-bearing wall built on a concrete floor. It is constructed so that the bottom two horizontal plates can compress or pull apart if the concrete floor moves up or down. =ormall! built on basements and garage slabs. >luorescent lighting- " fluorescent lamp is a gas-filled glass tube with a phosphur coating on the inside. Gas inside the tube is ionized b! electricit! which causes the phosphur coating to glow. =ormall! with two pins that extend from each end. >lue- Iarge pipe through which fumes escape from a gas water heater, furnace, or fireplace. =ormall! these flue pipes are double walled, galvanized sheet metal pipe and sometimes referred to as a (B @ent*. 7ireplace flue pipes are normall! triple walled. In addition, nothing combustible shall be within one inch from the flue pipe. >lue collar- Hound metal ring which fits around the heat flue pipe after the pipe passes out of the roof. >lue damper- "n automatic door located in the flue that closes it off when the burner turns off# purpose is to reduce heat loss up the flue from the still-warm furnace or boiler. >lue lining- /-foot lengths, fire cla! or terra-cotta pipe >round or s2uare? and usuall! madein all ordinar! flue sizes. Dsed for the inner lining of chimne!s with the brick or masonr! work done around the outside. 7lue linings in chimne!s runs from one foot below the flue connection to the top of the chimne!. >ly rafters- And rafters of the gable overhang supported b! roof sheathing and lookouts. >ooter, footing- %ontinuous 15 or 4'5 thick concrete pad installed before and supports the foundation wall or monopost. >orced air heating - " common form of heating with natural gas, propane, oil or electricit! as a fuel. "ir is heated in the furnace and distributed through a set of metal ducts to various areas of the house. >orm- emporar! structure erected to contain concrete during placing and initial hardening.

>oundation- he supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction, or below grade, including the footings. >oundation ties- 9etal wires that hold the foundation wall panels and rebar in place during the concrete pour. >oundation #aterproofing- Oigh-2ualit! below-grade moisture protection. Dsed for belowgrade exterior concrete and masonr! wall damp-proofing to seal out moisture and prevent corrosion. =ormall! looks like black tar. >rame .nspection- he act of inspecting the homes structural integrit! and its complianceto local municipal codes. >ramer- he carpenter contractor that installs the lumber and erects the frame, flooring s!stem, interior walls, backing, trusses, rafters, decking, installs all beams, stairs, soffits and all work related to the wood structure of the home. he framer builds the home according to the blueprints and must compl! with local building codes and regulations. >raming- Iumber used for the structural members of a building, such as studs, :oists, and rafters. >rie"e- In house construction a horizontal member connecting the top of the siding with the soffit of the cornice. >rost lid- Hound metal lid that is installed on a water meter pit. >rost line- he depth of frost penetration in soil and/or the depth at which the earth will freeze and swell. his depth varies in different parts of the countr!. >urring strips- ;trips of wood, often 4 . / and used to shim out and provide a level fastening surface for a wall or ceiling. >use- " device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines. his protects against fire. ;ee also circuit breakers.

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: /

/arnest =oney- " sum paid to the seller to show that a potential purchaser is serious about bu!ing. /arth'uake 1trap- " metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. Intended to reduce the chances of having the water heater fall over in an earth2uake and causing a gas leak.

/asement- " formal contract which allows a part! to use another part!s propert! for a specific purpose. e.g. " sewer easement might allow one part! to run a sewer line through a neighbors propert!. /aves- he horizontal exterior roof overhang. /gress- " means of exiting the home. "n egress window is re2uired in ever! bedroom and basement. =ormall! a B- . B- window is the minimum size re2uired /lbo# ell!- " plumbing or electrical fitting that lets !ou change directions in runs of pipe or conduit. /lectric lateral- he trench or area in the !ard where the electric service line >from a transformer or pedestal? is located, or the work of installing the electric service to a home. /lectric resistance coils- 9etal wires that heat up when electric current passes through them and are used in baseboard heaters and electric water heaters. /lectrical entrance package- he entr! point of the electrical power includingK >4? the strike or location where the overhead or underground electrical lines connect to the house, >/? he meter which measures how much power is used and >,? he Jpanel or Jcircuit breaker box J >or Jfuse box? where the power can be shut off and where overload devices such a fuses or circuit breakers and located. /lectrical 5ough- 6ork performed b! the Alectrical %ontractor after the plumber and heating contractor are complete with their phase of work. =ormall! all electrical wires, and outlet, switch, and fixture boxes are installed >before insulation?. /lectrical Trim- 6ork performed b! the electrical contractor when the house is nearing completion. he electrician installs all plugs, switches, light fixtures, smoke detectors, appliance (pig tails*, bath ventilation fans, wires the furnace, and (makes up* the electric house panel. he electrician does all work necessar! to get the home read! for and to pass the municipal electrical final inspection /levation sheet- he page on the blue prints that depicts the house or room as if a vertical plane were passed through the structure. /'uity- he (valuation* that !ou own in !our home, i.e. the propert! value less the mortgage loan outstanding. /scro# - he handling of funds or documents b! a third part! on behalf of the bu!er and/or seller. /stimate- he amount of labor, materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for a pro:ect as summarized in the contractors bid proposal for the pro:ect.

/scutcheon- "n ornamental plate that fits around a pipe extending through a wall or floor to hide the cut out hole /stimating- he process of calculating the cost of a pro:ect. his can be a formal and exact process or a 2uick and imprecise process. /vaporator coil- he part of a cooling s!stem that absorbs heat from air in !our home. "lso see condensing unit. /0pansion 2oint- 7ibrous material >Q4//5 thick? installed in and around a concrete slab to permit it to move up and down >seasonall!? along the non-moving foundation wall. /0pansive soils- Aarth that swells and contracts depending on the amount of water that is present. >*Betonite* is an expansive soil?. /0posed aggregate finish- " method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture off the top la!er of the aggregate - usuall! gravel. +ften used in drivewa!s, patios and other exterior surfaces. /0tras- "dditional work re2uested of a contractor, not included in the original plan, which will be billed separatel! and will not alter the original contract amount, but increase the cost of building the home. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: 3

3ado- " groove cut into a board or panel intended to receive the edge of a connecting board or panel. 3amper- " metal (door* placed within the fireplace chimne!. =ormall! closed when the fireplace is not in use. 3ampproofing- he black, tar like waterproofing material applied to the exterior of a foundation wall. 3aylight- he end of a pipe >the terminal end? that is not attached to an!thing. 3ead bolt- "n exterior securit! lock installed on exterior entr! doors that can be activated onl! with a ke! or thumb-turn. Dnlike a latch, which has a beveled tongue, dead bolts have s2uare ends. 3ead light- he fixed, non-operable window section of a window unit. 3eck, decked- o install the pl!wood or wafer board sheeting on the floor :oists, rafters, or trusses.

3edicated circuit- "n electrical circuit that serves onl! one appliance >ie, dishwasher? or a series of electric heaters or smoke detectors. 3efault- Breach of a mortgage contract >not making the re2uired pa!ments?. 3e-humidistat- " control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation s!stem based upon the relative humidit! in the home. 3elamination- ;eparation of the plies in a panel due to failure of the adhesive. Dsuall! caused b! excessive moisture. 3isconnect- " large >generall! /' "mp? electrical +=-+77 switch. 3iscount rate- " mortgage interest rate that is lower than the current rate for a certain period of time, e.g. /.''R below variable rate for / !ears. 3oor2amb, interior- he surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright pieces, called side :ambs, and a horizontal head :amb. hese , :ambs have the (door stop* installed on them. 3oor operator- "n automatic garage door opener. 3oor stop- he wooden st!le that the door slab will rest upon when its in a closed position. 3ormer- "n opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which pro:ects out to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings. 3ouble glass- 6indow or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between. "lso known as Insulating Glass. 3ouble hung #indo#- " window with two verticall! sliding sashes, both of which can move up and down. 3o#n payment- he difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount. " downpa!ment is usuall! paid at closing. 3o#nspout- " pipe, usuall! of metal, for carr!ing rainwater down from the roofs horizontal gutters. 3rain tile- " perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall and used to drain excess water awa! from the foundation. It prevents ground water from seeping through the foundation wall. ;ometimes called perimeter drain. 3ra#- he amount of progress billings on a contract that is currentl! available to a contractor under a contract with a fixed pa!ment schedule.

3rip- >a? " member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior finish course that has a pro:ection be!ond the other parts for throwing off water.>b? " groove in the underside of a sill or drip cap to cause water to drop off on the outer edge instead of drawing back and running down the face of the building. 3rip cap- " molding or metal flashing placed on the exterior topside of a door or window frame to cause water to drip be!ond the outside of the frame. 3ry in- o install the black roofing felt >tar paper? on the roof. 3ry#all or +ypsum Wallboard +WB!, 1heet rock or :lasterboard!- 6all board or g!psum- " manufactured panel made out of g!psum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Dsuall! 4//5 thick and B- x 1- or B- x 4/- in size. he panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the :oints are taped and covered with a J:oint compound. JGreen board t!pe dr!wall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular >white? plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other (wet areas*. 3ucts- he heating s!stem. Dsuall! round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm >or cold? air from the furnace to rooms in the home. "lso a tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building. 3ue-on-sale- " clause in a mortgage contract re2uiring the borrower to pa! the entire outstanding balance upon sale or transfer of the propert!. 3ura board, dura rock- " panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usuall! used as a ceramic tile backing material. %ommonl! used on bathtub decks. ;ometimes called 6onder board 3W% drain-#aste-vent!- he section of a plumbing s!stem that carries water and sewer gases out of a home. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: C

C4- "n abbreviation for (Certificate of 4ccupancy(. his certificate is issued b! the local municipalit! and is re2uired before an!one can occup! and live within the home. It is issued onl! after the local municipalit! has made all inspections and all monies and fees have been paid. Caisson- " 4'5 or 4/5 diameter hole drilled into the earth and embedded into bedrock , - B feet. he structural support for a t!pe of foundation wall, porch, patio, monopost, or other structure. wo or more (sticks* of reinforcing bars >rebar? are inserted into and run the full length of the hole and concrete is poured into the caisson hole Cantilever- "n overhang. 6here one floor extends be!ond and over a foundation wall. 7or example at a fireplace location or ba! window cantilever. =ormall!, not extending over / feet.

Cantilevered void- 7oundation void material used in unusuall! expansive soils conditions. his void is (trapezoid* shaped and has vertical sides of C5 and B5 respectivel!. Cap- he upper member of a column, pilaster, door cornice, molding, or fireplace. Cap flashing- he portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing. Capital- he principal part of a loan, i.e. the original amount borrowed. Capital and interest- " repa!ment loan and the most conventional form of home loan. he borrower pa!s an amount each month to cover the amount borrowed >or capital or principal? plus the interest charged on capital. Capped rate- he mortgage interest rate will not exceed a specified value during a certain period of time, but it will fluctuate up and down below that level. Casement- 7rames of wood or metal enclosing part >or all? of a window sash. 9a! be opened b! means of hinges affixed to the vertical edges. Casement Windo#- " window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door Casing- 6ood trim molding installed around a door or window opening. Caulking- >4? " flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls. >/? o fill a :oint with mastic or asphalt plastic cement to prevent leaks. CC& Chromated Copper &rsenate!- " pesticide that is forced into wood under high pressure to protect it from termites, other wood boring insects, and deca! caused b! fungus Celote0 $- Black fibrous board that is used as exterior sheething. Ceiling 2oist- +ne of a series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads and supported in turn b! larger beams, girders or bearing walls. "lso called roof :oists. Cement- he gra! powder that is the (glue* in concrete. <ortland cement. "lso, an! adhesive. Ceramic tile- " man-made or machine-made cla! tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generall! used in bathtub and shower enclosures and on counter tops. C>= cubic feet per minute!- " rating that expresses the amount of air a blower or fan can move. he volume of air >measured in cubic feet? that can pass through an opening in one minute.

Chair rail- Interior trim material installed about ,-B feet up the wall, horizontall!. Chalk line- " line made b! snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Dsed for alignment purposes. Change order- " written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction %ontract. Chase- " framed enclosed space around a flue pipe or a channel in a wall, or through a ceiling for something to lie in or pass through. Chink- o install fiberglass insulation around all exterior door and window frames, wall corners, and small gaps in the exterior wall. Chip Board- " manufactured wood panel made out of 45- /5 wood chips and glue. +ften used as a substitute for pl!wood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. "lso called +;B >+riented ;trand Board? or wafer board. Circuit- he path of electrical flow from a power source through an outlet and back to ground. Circuit Breaker- " device which looks like a switch and is usuall! located inside the electrical breaker panel or circuit breaker box. It is designed to >4? shut of the power to portions or all of the house and >/? to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit >measured in amperes?. 44' volt household circuits re2uire a fuse or circuit breaker with a rating of 48 or a maximum of /' amps. //' volt circuits ma! be designed for higher amperage loads e.g. a hot water heater ma! be designed for a ,' amp load and would therefore need a ,' amp fuse or breaker. Class A&B- +ptimum fire rating issued b! Dnderwriters Iaboratories on roofing. he building codes in some areas re2uire this t!pe of roofing for fire safet!. Class ACB- 9inimum fire rating issued b! the Dnderwriters Iaboratories for roofing materials. Clean out- "n opening providing access to a drain line. %losed with a threaded plug. Clip ties- ;harp, cut metal wires that protrude out of a concrete foundation wall >that at one time held the foundation form panels in place?. Cold air return- he ductwork >and related grills? that carries room air back to the furnace for re-heating. Collar- <reformed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roofing above the vent pipe opening. "lso called a vent sleeve. Collar beam- =ominal 4- or /-inch-thick members connecting opposite roof rafters. he! serve to stiffen the roof structure.

Column- " vertical structural compression member which supports loads. Combustion air- he duct work installed to bring fresh, outside air to the furnace and/or hot water heater. =ormall! / separate supplies of air are brought inK +ne high and +ne low. Combustion chamber- he part of a boiler, furnace or woodstove where the burn occurs# normall! lined with firebrick or molded or spra!ed insulation. Compression #eb- " member of a truss s!stem which connects the bottom and top chords and which provides downward support. Compressor- " mechanical device that pressurizes a gas in order to turn it into a li2uid, thereb! allowing heat to be removed or added. " compressor is the main component of conventional heat pumps and air conditioners. In an air conditioning s!stem, the compressor normall! sits outside and has a large fan >to remove heat?. Concrete- he mixture of <ortland cement, sand, gravel, and water. Dsed to make garage and basement floors, sidewalks, patios, foundation walls, etc. It is commonl! reinforced with steel rods >rebar? or wire screening >mesh?. Concrete block - " hollow concrete Jbrick often 15 x 15 x 4C5 in size. Concrete board - " panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usuall! used as a tile backing material. Condensation- Beads or drops of water >and fre2uentl! frost in extremel! cold weather? that accumulate on the inside of the exterior covering of a building. Dse of louvers or attic ventilators will reduce moisture condensation in attics. " vapor barrier under the g!psum lath or dr! wall on exposed walls will reduce condensation. Condensing unit - he outdoor component of a cooling s!stem. It includes a compressor and condensing coil designed to give off heat. Conditions, Convenants, and 5estrictions CC and 5s! - he standards that define how a propert! ma! be used and the protections the developer makes for the benefit of all owners in a subdivision. Conduction- he direct transfer of heat energ! through a material. Conductivity- he rate at which heat is transmitted through a material. Conduit, electrical- " pipe, usuall! metal, in which wire is installed. Construction Contract - " legal document which specifies the what-when-where-how-how much and b! whom in a construction pro:ect. " good construction contract will includeK

4. /. ,. B. 8. C. 0. 1. P. 4'.

he contractors registration number. " statement of work 2ualit! such as J;tandard <ractices of the rades or Jaccording to 9anufacturers ;pecifications. " set of Blue <rints or <lans " construction timetable including starting and completion dates. " set of ;pecifications " 7ixed <rice for the work, or a ime and 9aterials formula. " <a!ment ;chedule. "n! "llowances. " clause which outlines how an! disputes will be resolved. " written 6arrantee.

Construction dry#all- " t!pe of construction in which the interior wall finish is applied in a dr! condition, generall! in the form of sheet materials or wood paneling as contrasted to plaster. Construction, frame- " t!pe of construction in which the structural components are wood or depend upon a wood frame for support. Continuity tester- " device that tells whether a circuit is capable of carr!ing electricit!. Contractor- " compan! licensed to perform certain t!pes of construction activities. In most states, the generals contractors license and some specialt! contractors licenses dont re2uire of compliance with bonding, workmens compensation and similar regulations. ;ome of the specialt! contractor licenses involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance re2uirements. here are various t!pes of contractorsK S General contractor - responsible for the execution, supervision and overall coordination of a pro:ect and ma! also perform some of the individual construction tasks. 9ost general contractors are not licensed to perform all specialt! trades and must hire specialt! contractors for such tasks, e.g. electrical, plumbing. S Hemodeling contractor - a general contractor who specializes in remodeling work. S ;pecialt! contractor - licensed to perform a specialt! task e.g. electrical, side sewer, asbestos abatement. S ;ub contractor - a general or specialt! contractor who works for another general contractor. Control 2oint- ooled, straight grooves made on concrete floors to (control* where the concrete should crack Convection- %urrents created b! heating air, which then rises and pulls cooler air behind it. "lso see radiation. Conventional loan " mortgage loan not insured b! a government agenc! >such as 7O" or @"?

Convertibility he abilit! to change a loan from an ad:ustable rate schedule to a fixed rate schedule. Cooling load- he amount of cooling re2uired to keep a building at a specified temperature during the summer, usuall! 01U 7, regardless of outside temperature. Coped- Hemoving the top and bottom flange of the end>s? of a metal I-beam. his is done to permit it to fit within, and bolted to, the web of another I-beam in a ( * arrangement Coped 2oint- %utting and fitting woodwork to an irregular surface. Corbel- he triangular, decorative and supporting member that holds a mantel or horizontal shelf. Corner bead- " strip of formed sheet metal placed on outside corners of dr!wall before appl!ing dr!wall Jmud. Corner boards- Dsed as trim for the external corners of a house or other frame structure against which the ends of the siding are finished. Corner braces- Liagonal braces at the corners of the framed structure designed to stiffen and strengthen the wall. Cornice- +verhang of a pitched roof , usuall! consisting of a fascia board, a soffit and appropriate trim moldings. Counter flashing- " metal flashing usuall! used on chimne!s at the roofline to cover shingle flashing and used to prevent moisture entr!. Counterfort- " foundation wall section that strengthens >and generall! perpendicular to? a long section of foundation wall Course- " row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof. <arallel la!ers of building materials such as bricks, or siding laid up horizontall!. Cove molding- " molding with a concave face used as trim or to finish interior corners. Cra#l space- " shallow space below the living 2uarters of a house, normall! enclosed b! the foundation wall and having a dirt floor. Credit rating- " report ordered b! a lender from a credit agenc! to determine a borrowers credit habits. Cricket- " second roof built on top of the primar! roof to increase the slope of the roof or valle!. " saddle-shaped, peaked construction connecting a sloping roof with a chimne!. Lesigned to encourage water drainage awa! from the chimne! :oint.

Cripple- ;hort vertical (/ b! Bs or Cs* frame lumber installed above a window or door. Cross bridging- Liagonal bracing between ad:acent floor :oists, placed near the center of the :oist span to prevent :oists from twisting. Cross Tee- ;hort metal (T* beam used in suspended ceiling s!stems to bridge the spaces between the main beams. Cro#n molding- " molding used on cornice or wherever an interior angle is to be covered, especiall! at the roof and wall corner. Culvert- Hound, corrugated drain pipe >normall! 485 or 415 in diameter? that is installed beneath a drivewa! and parallel to and near the street. Cupping- " t!pe of warping that causes boards to curl up at their edges. Curb- he short elevation of an exterior wall above the deck of a roof. =ormall! a / b! C box >on the roof? on which a sk!light is attached. Curb stop- =ormall! a cast iron pipe with a lid >Q 85 in diameter? that is placed verticall! into the ground, situated near the water tap in the !ard, and where a water cut-off valve to the home is located >underground?. " long pole with a special end is inserted into the curb stop to turn off/on the water. Cut-in brace- =ominal /-inch-thick members, usuall! / b! Bs, cut in between each stud diagonall!. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: B

Back Charge- Billings for work performed or costs incurred b! one part! that, in accordance with the agreement, should have been performed or incurred b! the part! to whom billed. +wners bill back charges to general contractors, and general contractors bill back charges to subcontractors. Axamples of back charges include charges for cleanup work or to repair something damaged b! another subcontractor, such as a tub chip or broken window. Backfill- he replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement /crawl space foundationwall. Backing- 7rame lumber installed between the wall studs to give additional support for dr!wall or an interior trim related item, such as handrail brackets, cabinets, and towel bars. In this wa!, items are screwed and mounted into solid wood rather than weak dr!wall that ma! allow the item to break loose from the wall. Carpet backing holds the pile fabric in place.

Backout- 6ork the framing contractor does after the mechanical subcontractors >Oeating<lumbing-Alectrical? finish their phase of work at the Hough >before insulation? stage to get the home read! for a municipal frame inspection. Generall!, the framing contractor repairs an!thing disturbed b! others and completes all framing necessar! to pass a Hough 7rame Inspection. Ballast- " transformer that steps up the voltage in a florescent lamp. Balloon - " loan that has a series of monthl! pa!ments with the remaining balance due in a large lump sum pa!ment at the end. Balloon framed #all- 7ramed walls >generall! over 4'- tall? that run the entire vertical length from the floor sill plate to the roof. his is done to eliminate the need for a gable end truss. Balusters- @ertical members in a railing used between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair treads. ;ometimes referred to as Jpickets or spindles. Balustrade- he rail, posts and vertical balusters along the edge of a stairwa! or elevated walkwa!. Barge- Oorizontal beam rafter that supports shorter rafters. Barge board- " decorative board covering the pro:ecting rafter >fl! rafter? of the gable end. "t the cornice, this member is a fascia board. Base or baseboard- " trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor. Basement #indo# inserts- he window frame and glass unit that is installed in the window buck. Base shoe- 9olding used next to the floor on interior base board. ;ometimes called a carpet strip. Bat - " half-brick. Batt - " section of fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation measuring 48 or /, inches wide b! four to eight feet long and various thickness. ;ometimes (faced* >meaning to have a paper covering on one side? or (unfaced* >without paper?. Batten- =arrow strips of wood used to cover :oints or as decorative vertical members over pl!wood or wide boards. Bay #indo#- "n! window space pro:ecting outward from the walls of a building, either s2uare or pol!gonal in plan. Beam- " structural member transversel! supporting a load. " structural member carr!ing building loads >weight? from one support to another. ;ometimes called a (girder*.

Bearing partition- " partition that supports an! vertical load in addition to its own weight. Bearing point- " point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation Bearing #all- " wall that supports an! vertical load in addition to its own weight. Bearing header- >a? " beam placed perpendicular to :oists and to which :oists are nailed in framing for a chimne!, stairwa!, or other opening. >b? " wood lintel. >c? he horizontal structural member over an opening >for example over a door or window?. Bedrock- " subsurface la!er of earth that is suitable to support a structure. Bid- " formal offer b! a contractor, in accordance with specifications for a pro:ect, to do all or a phase of the work at a certain price in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the offer. Bid bond- " bond issued b! a suret! on behalf of a contractor that provides assurance to the recipient of the contractors bid that, if the bid is accepted, the contractor will execute a contract and provide a performance bond. Dnder the bond, the suret! is obligated to pa! the recipient of the bid the difference between the contractors bid and the bid of the next lowest responsible bidder if the bid is accepted and the contractor fails to execute a contract or to provide a performance bond. Bid security 7unds or a bid bond submitted with a bid as a guarantee to the recipient of the bid that the contractor, if awarded the contract, will execute the contract in accordance with the bidding re2uirements of the contract documents. Bid shopping- " practice b! which contractors, both before and after their bids are submitted, attempt to obtain prices from potential subcontractors and material suppliers that are lower than the contractors original estimates on which their bids are based, or after a contract is awarded, seek to induce subcontractors to reduce the subcontract price included in the bid. Bidding re'uirements- he procedures and conditions for the submission of bids. he re2uirements are included ion documents, such as the notice to bidders, advertisements for bids, instructions to bidders, invitations to bid, and sample bid forms. Bifold door- Loors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than standard swing doors. +ften used for closet doors. Binder- " receipt for a deposit to secure the right to purchase a home at an agreed terms b! a bu!er and seller. Bipass doors- Loors that slide b! each other and commonl! used as closet doors. Blankets- 7iber-glass or rock-wool insulation that comes in long rolls 48 or /, inches wide.

Blocked door blocking!- 6ood shims used between the door frame and the vertical structural wall framing members. Blocked rafters!- ;hort (/ b! Bs* used to keep rafters from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span. Blocking- ;mall wood pieces to brace framing members or to provide a nailing base for g!psum board or paneling. Block out- o install a box or barrier within a foundation wall to prevent the concrete from entering an area. 7or example, foundation walls are sometimes (blocked* in order for mechanical pipes to pass through the wall, to install a crawl space door, and to depress the concrete at a garage door location. Blo# insulation- 7iber insulation in loose form and used to insulate attics and existing walls where framing members are not exposed. Blue print s! - " t!pe of cop!ing method often used for architectural drawings. Dsuall! used to describe the drawing of a structure which is prepared b! an architect or designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction. Blue stake- "nother phrase for Dtilit! =otification. his is when a utilit! compan! >telephone, gas, electric, cable @, sewer and water, etc? comes to the :ob site and locates and spra! paints the ground and/or installs little flags to show where their service is located underground. Board foot- " unit of measure for lumber e2ual to 4 inch thick b! 4/ inches wide b! 4/ inches long. AxamplesK 45 x 4/5 x 4C- V 4C board feet, /5 x 4/5 x 4C- V ,/ board feet Bond or bonding - "n amount of mone! >usuall! W8,'''-W4','''? which must be on deposit with a governmental agenc! in order to secure a contractors license. he bond ma! be used to pa! for the unpaid bills or disputed work of the contractor. =ot to be confused with a Jperformance bondJ. ;uch bonds are rarel! used in residential construction, the! are an insurance polic! which guarantees proper completion of a pro:ect. Boom- " truck used to hoist heav! material up and into place. o put trusses on a home or to set a heav! beam into place. Bottom chord - he lower or bottom horizontal member of a truss. Bottom plate- he (/ b! Bs or Cs* that la! on the subfloor upon which the vertical studs are installed. "lso called the sole plate. Brace- "n inclined piece of framing lumber applied to wall or floor to strengthen the structure. +ften used on walls as temporar! bracing until framing has been completed.

Breaker panel- he electrical box that distributes electric power entering the home to each branch circuit >each plug and switch? and composed of circuit breakers. Brick ledge- <art of the foundation wall where brick >veneer? will rest. Brick lintel- he metal angle iron that brick rests on, especiall! above a window, door, or other opening. Brick mold- rim used around an exterior door :amb that siding butts to. Brick tie- " small, corrugated metal strip Q 45 . C5- 15 long nailed to wall sheeting or studs. he! are inserted into the grout mortar :oint of the veneer brick, and holds the veneer wall to the sheeted wall behind it. Brick veneer- " vertical facing of brick laid against and fastened to sheathing of a framed wall or tile wall construction. Bridging- ;mall wood or metal members that are inserted in a diagonal position between the floor :oists or rafters at mid-span for the purpose of bracing the :oists/rafters F spreading the load. Buck- +ften used in reference to rough frame opening members. Loor bucks used in reference to metal door frame. ;ee 6indow Bucks Builder)s 5isk .nsurance- Insurance coverage on a construction pro:ect during construction, including extended coverage that ma! be added for the contract for the customers protections. Building codes- %ommunit! ordinances governing the manner in which a home ma! be constructed or modified. Building insurance- Insurance covering the structure of the building. Building paper- " general term for papers, felts, and similar sheet materials used in buildings without reference to their properties or uses. Generall! comes in long rolls. Built-up roof- " roofing composed of three to five la!ers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. he top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generall! used on flat or lowpitched roofs. Bull nose dry#all!- Hounded dr!wall corners. Bundle - " package of shingles. =ormall!, there are , bundles per s2uare and /0 shingles per bundle. Butt edge- he lower edge of the shingle tabs.

Butt hinge- he most common t!pe. +ne leaf attaches to the doors edge, the other to its :amb. Butt 2oint- he :unction where the ends of two timbers meet, and also where sheets of dr!wall meet on the B foot edge. o place materials end-to-end or end-to-edge without overlapping. Buy do#n- " subsid! >usuall! paid b! a builder or developer? to reduce monthl! pa!ments on a mortgage. By fold door- Loors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than standard swing doors. +ften used for closet doors. By pass doors- Loors that slide b! each other and commonl! used as closet doors. posted in %onstruction erms & ' %omments

Construction Terms Beginning With Letter: &

&CC- "n abbreviation for air conditioner or air conditioning. &CC Condenser- he outside fan unit of the "ir %onditioning s!stem. It removes the heat from the freon gas and (turns* the gas back into a li2uid and pumps the li2uid back to the coil in the furnace. &CC 3isconnect- he main electrical +=-+77 switch near the "/% %ondenser. &erator- he round screened screw-on tip of a sink spout. It mixes water and air for a smooth flow. &ggregate- " mixture of sand and stone and a ma:or component of concrete. &ir space - he area between insulation facing and interior of exterior wall coverings. =ormall! a 45 air gap. &llo#ance s! - " sum of mone! set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. 7or example, selection of tile as a flooring ma! re2uire an allowance for an underla!ment material, or an electrical allowance which sets aside an amount of mone! to be spent on electrical fixtures. &morti"ation - " pa!ment plan b! which a loan is reduced through monthl! pa!ments of principal and interest. &nchor bolts- Bolts to secure a wooden sill plate to concrete , or masonr! floor or wall. &nnual :ercentage 5ate &:5!- "nnual cost of credit over the life of a loan, including interest, service charges, points, loan fees, mortgage insurance, and other items.

&ppraisal "n expert valuation of propert!. &pron- " trim board that is installed beneath a window sill &rchitect - +ne who has completed a course of stud! in building and design, and is licensed b! the state as an architect. +ne who draws up plans. &rea #ells- %orrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold back the earth &ssessment - " tax levied on a propert!, or a value placed on the worth of a propert!. &ssumption - "llows a bu!er to assume responsibilit! for an existing loan instead of getting a new loan. &stragal- " molding, attached to one of a pair of swinging double doors, against which the other door strikes. &ttic access- "n opening that is placed in the dr!walled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic. &ttic %entilators- In houses, screened openings provided to ventilate an attic space.