ACTUAL AGE:
As opposed to effective age. The actual age of a building is the objective age in years measured simply by the passage of time since it was constructed. Effective age is a subjective measurement of the condition of a building, influenced mostly by the maintenance and upkeep carried out on the building over the years.

AESTHETIC VALUE:
A subjective element in the overall market value of a property created by the physical presentation of the land or buildings.

AGGREGATE:
Sand and stone that is mixed into concrete to create a concrete aggregate mixture.

AIR-DRIED LUMBER (vs. kiln-dried lumber):
Lumber that has been allowed to dry over time by leaving it out in the open. Often has a higher moisture content than other types of lumber. As opposed to kiln-dried lumber, which has a lower moisture content and thus tends not to warp as much after installation. See KILN-DRIED LUMBER.

AIRWAY:
The space between a ceiling's insulation and the roof boards that allows air movement through the roofing system vents, allowing moisture and summer heat buildup to escape.

ATTACHED HOUSING:
Duplex, triplex, row housing, or townhouses. Two or more dwellings that are attached physically but are owned and/or occupied by different people.

ATTIC ACCESS:
Also known as a scuttle. An opening in the ceiling giving access to an unfinished attic area.

AWNING WINDOW:
A window with a single section hinged at the top that opens outward.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

BACK-SPLIT HOME:
A description of a house that has been split from side to side across its width partway towards the back of the structure and the back half (often containing the bedrooms and lower family room) has been raised upward and additional steps have been added. There are different styles of Back-split homes, which are defined by the number of levels the home contains. E.g. 3 level, 4 level and 5 level Back-split. See "SIDE-SPLIT HOME."

BALLOON FRAMING: As opposed to platform framing.
A method of framing a building in which all vertical structural elements of the load bearing walls and partitions consist of single pieces of wood or other material extending from the top of the foundation to the roof line and to which all floor joists are attached. See "PLATFORM FRAMING."

BEVEL:
A finished edge with an angle serving as a transition piece from one surface to another surface.

BI-LEVEL HOUSE:
A description of a house with two levels, where the main entrance to the house is between the two levels.

BLIND NAILING:
A method of nailing that ensures that the nail heads are not visible on the surface of the finished material.

BLUEPRINT:
Construction plans, containing great detail about the particular building.

BONDED:
To be attached to a surface with cement or mortar.

BOWED BOARD: As opposed to a cupped board.
A board that is warped or curved along its length. As opposed to a cupped board that is warped or curved across its width. See "CUPPED BOARD."

BRACE:
A piece of lumber attached to a wall or floor on an angle to help stiffen the structure. Often attached to walls as a temporary support until the framing is complete.

BRICK LEDGE:
The jutting lip or portion of foundation that the exterior brick courses are to be placed on.

BRICK TIE:
A thin corrugated, galvanized or rippled strip of metal used to tie masonry walls together or to tie a brick veneer wall to the wood frame walls.

BRICK VENEER WALL: As opposed to a double brick wall.
A facing of brick commonly used in modern construction that covers an exterior load bearing wall. As opposed to double brick load bearing walls. See "DOUBLE BRICK WALL."

BRIDGING:
Small wood or metal pieces that are placed diagonally between floor joists or wall studs at midspan points to act as floor or wall stiffeners.

BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (B.T.U.):
A unit of thermal energy used in reference to heating or cooling. The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

BROWNSTONE, BRICK ROW HOUSE, OR EASTERN TOWNHOUSE:
A nineteenth-century-style row house, with up to five stories and a front stoop, verandah or porch leading up to the front door.

BUILD TO SUIT:
An offer by a landowner to develop the land in a manner dictated by a potential tenant, in return for a long-term lease from the tenant for the developed land.

BUILDER WARRANTY:
An enforceable guarantee of the quality of construction given by a builder or developer.

BUILDING CODE:
Set of regulations established by a municipality to govern the standards of construction in that municipality.

BUILDING PERMIT:
A document obtained from the local government, allowing for the construction of a structure in accordance with the terms of the permit.

BUILDING RESTRICTIONS:
Limiting rules which may appear in building codes or in title documents which control the size, placement, materials, design or location of new construction.

BUILT-INS:
Items which could be chattels but which are installed so as to form part of a building.

BUNGALOW:
A small, one-story home built in a turn of the century style, often with a prominent front verandah.

BUTT JOINT:
The connection of two pieces of wood or other types of materials that meet in a square-cut joint.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

CABINETS SOFFITS:
A boxed-in framework found above the upper cabinets found in kitchens.

CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW:
Compact, early twentieth-century single-story house.

CALIFORNIA RANCH:
One-story house, in a post-Second-World-War style, known for its ground hugging design and low, pitched roof.

CANTILEVER:
A structural system that overhangs the load bearing support it is built on. This allows a load to be placed in a location that does not have some form of support directly beneath it, such as an overhanging deck in the rear yard of a home.

CAP BLOCK (cored):
A hollow concrete block, usually 8"x8"x16" with a solid top surface but hollow dome-shaped cavities that reduce the weight of the block.

CAP BLOCK (solid):
A solid concrete block, usually 4"x8"x16" used for capping walls. Also employed to stop termite penetration below grade level.

CAPE COD COLONIAL:
A one-story house, compact in design and in an early-American-style. Symmetrical layout with a central entrance. Steep, gable-type roof, usually shingled, with a low central chimney.

CARRIAGE HOME:
Houses, freeholds or condominiums that are joined by garages or carports. Builders may also/instead join basement foundation walls below ground so that link homes appear to be detached. Link homes are built to avoid larger lot requirements for fully detached homes. Also referred to as a "link home."

CASEMENT FRAMES & SASH (window):
A Wooden or metal frame enclosing a sash (window) which is hinged on the vertical edge to allow it to be opened.

CASEMENT WINDOW:
A window that is hinged on its side.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT:
Value enhancing work carried out on a capital property.

CASING:
Molding of different widths and thickness used as trim around window and door openings at the jambs.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY:
Document issued by the local municipality indicating that a new dwelling is suitable for occupation. Generally confirms that the dwelling complies with local building, safety and health by-laws.

CHALK LINE:
A string that has been covered with chalk dust (commonly blue) that is stretched taut over an object or surface and snapped with the fingers so that it leaves a straight line on the object.

CHECKING:
Small fissures or cracks that appear over time in many exterior paint surfaces. These fissures may eventually penetrate right through to the actual material causing damage to the underlying material.

CLEAR SPAN:
The actual unsupported span between two support points.

CLUSTER HOUSING:
Development design which places attached dwelling in close proximity to each other, with nearby open spaces set out for common use of the dwelling owners.

COLLAR BEAM:
A horizontal beam that connects two opposite roof rafters in the upper third of the rafter triangle.

COLUMN:
A load bearing support post made of wood, steel or masonry.

CONDENSATION:
Condensation in a building refers to the beads or drops of water (or frost in colder climates) that forms on the inside of the exterior covering of a building. This occurs when warm moist air from the interior of the building touches a surface that is cooler and the moisture then condenses on the cooler surface.

CONSTRUCTION LOAN:
A structured, short-term loan to a builder or developer to allow for the development of land. Funds are advanced at certain stages of the development project to pay for specific expenses, fees or costs.

CONVENTIONAL ROOF FRAMING:
The building of a roof frame one piece at a time, as opposed to using pre-fabricated roof members that are assembled on-site.

COPED JOINT:
A cut on the end of a piece of molding which joins it to the face contour of a another piece of molding it butts perpendicularly to at an internal corner.

CORBEL OUT:
A way of building out one or more courses of brick or stone masonry from the vertical face of a wall. Often used to support timbers. Chimneys are often corbelled in order to angle the firebox to the smaller chimney sized opening or to give the top of the chimney an interesting shape.

CORNER BEAD:
A long strip of formed sheet metal that is attached to outside corners of drywall or plaster walls and later feathered over with plaster in order to reinforce the corner.

CORNER BRACES:
Long diagonal braces placed at the corner of frame walls in order to stiffen and strengthen the wall.

CORNICE:
Any decorative molding or overhang located at the junction of a wall and a ceiling or roof.

CORRIDOR KITCHEN:
A kitchen style where the cabinets are located on opposite walls and traffic patterns run between them. Also referred to as a galley kitchen.

COST ESTIMATING:
Predicting the total cost of a construction project by estimating, in advance, the actual costs of all elements in the project, including legal fees, labor, permits, materials etc.

COST PLUS CONTRACT:
An agreement with a contractor or builder which sets the contractor's compensation for the project as a percentage of the total cost of all labor and materials

COUNTER FLASHING:
Sheet metal or other material used around chimneys above the roofline to prevent moisture entry into the structure.

COURSE:
A single layer or row of any material such as bricks, blocks and shingles.

COVE MOLDING:
A wood strip having a curved concave face used as a trim to finish interior corners.

CRAWL SPACE:
A shallow space located below the floor a building, usually enclosed by foundation walls. Sometimes referring to a low space between floors.

CRIPPLE STUD:
Any stud that is less than full length. Often refers to the studs found below a window opening.

CROOKED BOARD:
Any board curved lengthwise along its edge.

CROSS BRIDGING:
Diagonal bracing between adjacent floor joists, usually placed near the center of the joist span to stiffen the floor and prevent the joists from twisting.

CROWN:
Any board or plank that has been placed with the convex edge or side up.

CROWN MOLDING:
A convex strip of wood or other material (molding) used on an inside corner (cornice) to cover the corner joint formed where a wall meets a ceiling or roof.

CRUSHED STONE:
Stone or gravel that has been crushed and sorted into uniform sizes.

CUBIC YARD:
A standard measurement used to measure volumes of materials such as concrete or gravel. One cubic foot consists of a volume of material that occupies a cube that measures 3x3x3 feet (27 cubic feet).

CUPOLA:
A hip or gable roofed ventilator with four sides that sits on the ridge of a roof.

CUPPED BOARD: As opposed to a bowed board.
In reference to a board that is warped or curved across its width. As opposed to a bowed board where the curve runs lengthwise along the flat side of the board. See a "BOWED BOARD."

CURTAIN WALL:
A non-load bearing wall that separates interior spaces from the outside.

CUSTOM BUILDER:
A builder or developer who specializes in creating homes to the specifications and requirements of individual land owners.

CUT-IN-BRACE:
A diagonal brace that helps stiffen a wall, but has been recessed into the studs so that it is flush with the finished surface.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

DADO:
Any rectangular grove that has been cut across the width of a board or plank.

DEAD-END STREET:
Also known as cul de sac. A street which is closed at one end so that traffic cannot flow through it.

DEAD LOAD:
The static nonmovable weight of materials on some object or support after construction is complete.

DECK SHEATHING:
Any covering that goes over floors, roofs, rafters, joists or studs. Usually wood boards, waferboard or plywood. See "ROOF SHEATHING."

DIMENSION LUMBER:
Wood lumber that ranges from 2 inches thick up to, but not including, 5 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide. Includes joists, rafters, studs, and planks.

DISTRIBUTION PANEL:
A separate or auxiliary breaker or fuse box separate from the main electrical service entrance. Its purpose is to tie all the electrical circuits of building into the main power line and allow each individual circuit to be protected by fuses or breakers to avoid overloading. Often referred to as the fuse box or service panel.

DOOR HEADER:
A lintel (beam) located over a door to carry/redirect any load from above the door to the side door studs.

DORMER:
Any structure whose framing projects out of a sloping roof to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings.

DOUBLE BRICK WALL: As opposed to brick veneer walls.
A type of brick wall where the exterior walls consist of two separate courses of brick that have been tied together by turning a course of bricks 90 degrees to the wall every so often. This type of wall often is load bearing, as opposed to Brick Veneer construction where the exterior brick is decorative and non-load bearing. See "BRICK VENEER WALL."

DOUBLE SWING DOOR:
Any door that swings two ways into both adjoining rooms.

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS:
A window where both the top and bottom section of the window moves up and down.

DOUBLE PLATE:
Two pieces of lumber located on the upper horizontal section of a framed wall to tie partitions and walls together.

DOWNSPOUT:
Any pipe used for carrying rainwater from roof gutters to the ground or drain.

DRAIN:
A means, whether natural or otherwise, by which water is allowed to flow off a property.

DRAIN TILE:
Underground clay or synthetic pipes or tiles used to carry water from areas that need to remain dry, such as foundation walls.

DRESSED AND MATCHED:
Often referred to as "TONGUE AND GROOVE." Boards or planks that have been finished so that there is a groove on one side of the board and a corresponding tongue on the other edge. When tow pieces are placed together the tongue of one fits into the groove of the other forming a natural joint between the two boards. Often used in hardwood flooring.

DRESSED LUMBER:
Lumber that has been finished or planed so it has a smooth finish.

DRESSED SIZED LUMBER:
The actual dimension of lumber after shrinking from its green higher moisture content dimensions and after being machined /planed smooth. As an example, after shrinkage and dressing a standard 2"x4" stud is actually 1 5/8" x 3 1/2."

DRIP CAP:
A thin strip of material placed above a door or window frame to direct water so it drips beyond the frame itself, thus avoiding having water run down the door or window surface.

DRIP EDGE:
A narrow preformed piece of sheet metal placed along the edge of a roof line so it overhangs the edge of the roof and allows water to be carried beyond the roof edge and drip directly to the ground.

DRY ROT:
A wood fungus that thrives in damp conditions and turns wood fibers into powder.

DRYWALL:
A paper coated board made primarily of gypsum that is commonly used as a finish on interior walls of buildings. It is usually manufactured in 4x8 foot pieces.

DUCTS:
The round or rectangular pipes found in most homes connected to the heating/cooling system for distributing warm or cool air throughout the home.

DUPLEX:
A building which houses two separate dwelling units.

DUTCH DOOR:
Any door with separately hinged upper and lower halves that can be opened independently.

DWELLING:
A house, home, living unit. Generally refers to a building designed for use as a living space.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

EASTLAKE HOUSE:
A house which is remarkable for its three-dimensional ornamentation following a nineteenth-century style.

EAVES:
The lower part of a roof that projects beyond the wall that supports it.

EFFICIENCY UNIT OR APARTMENT:
A term for a small dwelling unit in which kitchen and sometimes bath areas are combined with the living area. Also known as "bachelor apartment" or "studio apartment."

ELIZABETHAN OR HALF TIMBER STYLE:
A two-story or two-and-a-half story, English-style house which has the upper story overhanging the first, often with stone and stucco walls and half-timber beams.

ENERGY EFFICIENT:
A description of a property which has special features aimed at reducing use of electrical or heating power (i.e. insulation, double-insulated windows, high-efficiency furnace, etc.).

EXPANSION JOINT:
A bituminous fiber strip that is inserted between concrete blocks, bricks or concrete paving to prevent cracking due the expansion caused by temperature changes.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

FACADE:
An exterior wall of a building or house.

FACE LIFT:
Slang term for cosmetic changes to the appearance of a property which may improve the selling price

FACIA OR FASCIA:
Usually a flat board or face used in combination with other moldings on the face of an overhang between any horizontal and vertical surface. Often refers to the finished face of a roof eave.

FALL:
The amount of slope or slant per horizontal foot of a drain pipe or surface.

FIRE STOP:
Any object or surface placed in an enclosed space to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through the space itself. Often placed inside frame walls or floor joists.

FLAT:
British term for apartment. A portion of a building designed to serve as a home for a single family group.

FLASHING:
Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect a building from water infiltration.

FLOOR AREA:
The total space covered by all floors in a building.

FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR):
A comparison of the total area of the floor of a building with the total area of the land upon which it stands. Maximum or minimum FARs may be established by local zoning rules.

FLOOR PLAN:
A sketch of an existing or proposed building showing the design and layout of the building and the specifications of each room. May also show doors, windows, stairways and other features.

FLUE:
One or more flues are found inside a chimney. They are the spaces through which smoke, gas or fumes rise.

FLUE LINER:
The material used to line a chimney with brick or masonry work around the outside. Usually made of fireclay or terra-cotta pipe, and may be round or square.

FOOTING:
The rectangular concrete forms found under foundation walls or piers. Footings support the weight of the object above it. They are usually wider than the structure they support in order to spread the load out over a larger surface area.

FORM:
A temporary box or structure to hold concrete until it hardens.

FOUNDATION:
The supporting portion of a structure that includes everything below the first floor or below grade.

FRAME CONSTRUCTION:
A style of construction where the load bearing structural supports of the building are make of wood framing.

FRAME WALL:
Any structural wall made of studs with a bottom and top plate and some wall covering such as drywall, paneling or plaster.

FROST LINE:
The typical depth of frost penetration below the surface of the ground in any particular geographical location.

FURRING:
Small strips of wood or metal that are applied to a wall or other surface to act as a fastening piece for the finishing material.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

GABLE:
The vertical portion of a roof (usually covered with siding) found at the end of a double sided triangular roof.

GABLE END:
An end wall having a gable.

GABLE ROOF:
An angled roof, triangular in shape.

GABLE VENT:
A triangular or rectangular ventilation opening found in the upper portion of a gable wall.

GAMBREL ROOF:
A roof that has two, differently angled slopes on each side of the peak, the upper slope being flatter while the lower slope is steeper.

GARDEN APARTMENTS:
A description of a kind of apartment unit which enjoys direct access to a lawn or other garden-like area.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
The central figure in most construction pyramids, the person hired by the owner to plan and oversee the entire job. Often hires subcontractors who specialize in the various trades required for the job (i.e. plumbers, electricians, framers, carpenters, etc.).

GEORGIAN:
A classic looking, English-style house, rectangular in shape, large, with two or three stories complemented by classic lines.

GIRDER:
A large or main load bearing beam (wood or steel) used to support large loads.

GRADE:
The contour of the land, usually around a building, which affects drainage patterns on the property.

GRADE LEVEL:
The surface contour of the land around a foundation.

GRADIENT:
Expressed as a percentage, the rate of increase or decrease in the legal of land, the slope.

GRAIN OF A WOOD:
The direction, arrangement, size, appearance and quality of the fibers found in a piece of wood.

GRAIN, EDGE (or VERTICAL EDGE or QUARTERSAWN EDGE):
Edge grain lumber refers to lumber that has been sawed parallel to the length of the log and at approximately 90 degrees to the growth rings.

GRAIN, FLAT:
Flat grain lumber refers to lumber that has been sawed parallel to the length of the log but at an angle less than 45 degrees to the growth rings.

GROSS AREA:
The total floor space of a building, including unusable space, measured from the outside walls.

GROUP HOME:
A dwelling which has been adapted to house a number of un-related persons who share a common characteristic.

GROUT:
A type of mortar that is used to fill the joints and cavities found between pieces of masonry or ceramics. Often used to fill the joints between ceramic floor tiles and bathroom tiles.

GUTTER OR EAVE TROUGH:
A length of metal or plastic material formed into a shallow channel or trough that is attached to the outside edge of a roof edge to catch and redirect rainwater from the roof.

GYPSUM BOARD (or drywall):
A paper covered sheet of compressed gypsum or plaster used on interior walls as a final finish. Usually manufactured in 4x8 foot sections.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

HANDYMAN'S SPECIAL:
A descriptive term for a property which requires significant work to bring it up to normal standards of condition and repair. Often marketed at a lesser price.

HEADER:
A beam of wood placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in order to accommodate an opening such as a staircase through a floor or a window opening in a wall.

HEADER BAND:
A board nailed perpendicularly across the ends of floor joists.

HEADER TRIMMER:
A wood stud that supports the ends of a header, thus transferring any load on the header along its length to the ground.

HEADROOM:
Also referred to as clearance. Refers to the total distance from a floor to the nearest obstruction above.

HEARTH:
The inner floor of a fireplace, usually made of firebrick, stone or tiles.

HIGH RISE:
A descriptive term for any building that has enough floors to make an elevator a necessity.

HIP ROOF:
A pyramid shaped roof with four equally slopping sides from each edge of the roof that meet in the middle.

HOLLOW CORE DOOR:
A door whose faces are composed of sheets of thin material with a hollow core that has been filled with a stiffening material. As opposed to a solid core door which is made of a solid material throughout.

HOPPER WINDOW:
Any single pieced window that is hinged at the bottom edge and swings down when opened.

HOSE BIB:
A water tap or facet with a treaded end that enables a hose to be attached.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

I-BEAM:
A type of load bearing beam made of metal or composite wood whose cross section is shaped like the letter I.

INDIRECT COSTS:
Also known as "soft costs," those costs which are not automatically considered in a construction project.

INSIDE LOT:
Term for a property that is not on a corner at the intersection of two roads.

INSULATION, THERMAL:
Any material that offers resistance to heat transmission. When insulation is placed in walls, ceilings or floors it reduces the loss or gain of heat from outside sources.

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE:
Simple style of house, with little or no ornamentation.

ITALIAN VILLA:
A large, two- or three-story house in the Latin style, with overhanging eaves and masonry construction.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

JACK RAFTER:
A rafter is one of the parallel structural members of a roof that form the sloped part of the roof itself. A jack rafter is a rafter that spans the distance from the outside wall to the central peak of the roof.

JAMB:
The material that makes up the side and top lining of either a door frame or window frame.

JOINT:
A connection of two pieces of material by some specific method.

JOINTER:
A wood planing machine that planes one edge or surface of a board at a time to a predetermined thickness.

JOIST:
One of a series of parallel boards or planks used to form a floor or ceiling onto which the floor or ceiling surface is attached.

JOIST HANGERS:
The metal brackets used to connect joists to the adjoining headers or support beams. As opposed to using ledger boards on a ledger beam. See "LEDGER BEAM."

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

KEY LOT:
A piece of property which is pivotal to the success of a proposed development.

KILN-DRIED LUMBER: As opposed to air-dried lumber.
Any wood that has been dried in a heated kiln to lower the materials moisture content to between the 6 and 12% range. As opposed to air-dried lumber which has a higher moisture content and is thus subject to more warping as it dries out after installation. See "AIR-DRIED LUMBER."

KIOSK:
Any small structure that stands alone, usually for the purpose of supplying a product or service (such as a sales booth on a new home construction site).

KNOT:
In lumber a knot refers to the part of a branch or limb that appears on the surface of a board.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

LAMINATED SOLID HEADER:
Stacked and glued pieces of lumber that has been pre-arched for stress loads for use as a load bearing beam over large spans. Used as an alternative to a steel I-beam or girder.

LANDING:
The platform found between flights of stairs or at the end of a flight of stairs.

LATENT DEFECTS:
Problems with a property or building which are not visible to the casual observer but which may surface later. A vendor must disclose to a purchaser any serious latent defects of which he has knowledge.

LAP JOINT:
Two boards that overlap one another but are nailed together where they overlap.

LAP JOIST:
Two joists that meet and overlap one another over a support beam or girder and are nailed together at this point.

LATERAL MOVEMENT:
Any horizontal shifting of material.

LEDGER BEAM:
A load bearing beam or girder that has had a board (ledger board) attached to its bottom surface so that floor or ceiling joists can rest on it. As opposed to using joist hangers. See "JOIST HANGERS."

LEVEL CUT:
Any cut on a wood board or rafter that is horizontal after it is installed.

LIGHT:
The space in a window or door where a single pane of glass is inserted. A window with 4 panes of glass would be called a 4 light window.

LINK HOME:
Houses, freeholds or condominiums that are joined by garages or carports. Builders may also/instead join basement foundation walls below ground so that link homes appear to be detached. Link homes are built to avoid larger lot requirements for fully detached homes. Also referred to as a "carriage home."

LINTEL:
The horizontal structural member over an opening such as a door or window that supports any load from above.

LIVE LOAD:
Any load that occurs occasionally or moves from location to location.

LOG CABIN:
A dwelling made of unfinished logs, rough in texture, old-fashioned, rustic.

LOUVER:
An opening with a series of static or movable horizontal slats that permit ventilation but stop rain or sunlight or vision. See "ROOF VENT."

LUMBER:
Any wood product that has been processed by a sawmill and planing mill. Lumber is defined as wood that has not been processed further than what is done by a standard saw and planing mill.

LUMBER, DIMENSION:
Wood lumber that ranges from 2 inches thick up to, but not including, 5 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide. Includes joists, rafters, studs, and planks.

LUMBER, DRESSED:
Lumber that has been finished or planed so it has a smooth finish.

LUMBER, DRESSED SIZE:
The actual dimension of lumber after shrinking from its green higher moisture content dimensions and after being machined /planed smooth. As an example, after shrinkage and dressing a standard 2"x4" stud is actually 1 5/8" x 3 1/2."

LUMBER, MATCHED:
Lumber that has been dressed and cut on one edge with a grove running along its length and a tongue running along the opposite edge.

LUMBER, SHIPLAP:
Lumber with a rectangular longitudinal ell cutout of the edge to make a rabbeted, lapped joint.

LUMBER, TIMBERS:
Any lumber that is 5 inches or more in dimension. This includes beams, posts and girders.

LUMBER, TREATED:
Any wood that has been treated under pressure with some chemical preservative that protects the lumber from moisture and insects. Also known as pressure treated lumber.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

MANUFACTURED HOUSING:
Known as "pre-fab" housing, any dwelling that is assembled out of components (i.e. walls, floors, roof) that are constructed off-site and then brought to the building lot. Also known as modular housing.

MARINA:
A facility located on a body of water that provides docking, storage, maintenance and other facilities for boats.

MASONRY:
Any form of stone, brick, concrete block, concrete, or other similar building materials that have been bonded together with mortar to form a structure.

MASTIC:
An adhesive putty material used as a sealant for plumbing or as a seal when waterproofing a foundation wall.

MATCHED LUMBER:
Lumber that has been dressed and cut on one edge with a grove running along its length and a tongue running along the opposite edge.

MILLWORK:
All building materials made of finished wood that has been manufactured in millwork and planing plants. As opposed to unfinished lumber. See "LUMBER."

MINIMUM FOOTING FORMULA:
The minimum foundation footing allowed is the depth of the footing must be at least the same as the width of the wall it supports. The width of the footing must be at least twice the walls thickness. The footing overhang must be at least half of the width of the wall.

MITER JOINT:
A miter joint of two pieces of wood consists of each piece being cut at exactly half the angle of the corner formed by the joint.

MOBILE HOME:
A factory built single family dwelling that is transported to your chosen location and placed on a foundation.

MODEL HOME:
A dwelling built first by a developer to allow potential purchasers to see what the finished product will look like once the other homes in the development are completed.

MODULAR DESIGN:
The use of standard sized building materials that allow fast assembly without custom fitting or excessive waste material.

MODULAR HOUSING:
Known as "pre-fab" housing, any dwelling that is assembled out of components (i.e. walls, floors, roof) that constructed off-site and then brought to the building lot. Also known as manufactured housing.

MODULAR TUB OR SHOWER:
Any synthetic one-piece shower or tub or shower and tub combination. Usually constructed of either fiberglass or acrylic.

MOISTURE CONTENT OF WOOD:
A measurement of the weight of water contained in a piece of wood expressed as a percentage of what the wood would weigh if all moisture had been completely removed.

MOLDING:
Any thin wood strip used or decorative purposes. Usually has a curved or decoratively machined surface.

MULTI-DWELLING UNITS:
A property which may have one owner but offers a number of homes for separate people or families.

MORTICE:
A rectangular slot that has been cut into a piece of wood that another piece of wood is to be inserted into to form a locking joint.

MULLIAN AND MUNTIN:
Mullians are the vertical dividers and muntins are the horizontal dividers found in the frames of widows, doors or other openings.

MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING:
Similar to multi-dwelling units, a building which features two or more family dwellings within the same structure. May require special zoning.

MULTIPLE DWELLING:
Also known as multi-dwelling unit.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

NAIL PATTERN:
Any designated or specific pattern used to put nails in a board.

NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL:
A two and a half story, early-American house which is generally symmetrical in shape with a shingle-covered gable roof, often made of clapboard siding.

NEW ENGLAND FARMHOUSE:
Another simple, symmetrical, early-American house, often with a steeply inclined roof and white siding.

NEWEL:
The post at the end of a staircase that the stair railing is attached to .

NOMINAL:
Often defined as the actual size of lumber before dressing or finishing.

NOMINAL SPAN:
The full width of a building measuring across the joists from side to side. Also refers to the measurement of columns center to center.

NONBEARING WALL OR PARTITION:
Any wall that supports no load other than its own weight.

NONSTRUCTURAL:
Any materials or point in a structure that does not support any loads other than its own weight.

NOSING:
The projecting edge of a stair tread or any other projecting edge of building materials.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

OFF-SITE COSTS:
Expenditures for facilities required by a particular development but located elsewhere (such as streets, schools, sewers and waste disposal facilities).

OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS:
Facilities which are required for the use and development of a particular property but which are located elsewhere.

ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS:
Work completed on a property which add to its value or utility. An advertised period of time in which a property which is for sale is available for inspection by prospective purchasers.

OUTBUILDING:
A structure that is not a part of the main building but is necessary to the full enjoyment of the property (i.e. a shed, garage, etc.).

OUTRIGGER:
The extension of a rafter beyond the supporting wall line. Usually refers to the nailing of a shorter piece of wood being nailed to the existing rafter so that it creates a roof overhang.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

PAPER, BUILDING:
Building paper is a general term referring to sheets of materials used in construction that are made out of either paper, felt or similar material. Often used as a moisture or air barrier. Sometimes called sheathing paper.

PARGE:
Parging is the application of thin layers of Portland waterproof cement on a block foundation wall for moisture proofing purposes.

PARTITION:
Any wall that subdivides spaces within any portion of a building.

PARTY WALL:
A shared wall between two pieces of property, most often in row-houses, semi-detached houses, or townhouses. The shared wall generally stands on the property line.

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING:
The maximization of the sun's heating abilities through careful design of a building.

PENNY (NAILS):
As applied to nails, it denotes a measure of nail length is abbreviated by the letter d. It originally indicated the price of nails per hundred.

PENTHOUSE:
The dwelling(s) located at the top of a tall building, often luxurious.

PERC TEST (PERCOLATION):
A method of determining the ability of the soil of a property to absorb liquids, used in construction projects and for septic systems.

PERIMETER DRAIN:
The drainage system installed below ground around the exterior base of a foundation footing.

PERIMETER FOOTING:
The concrete footing that supports foundation walls.

PERLITE:
A type of insulation made from obsidian or other vitreous rock that looks like glass pellets. It is poured into the cavities that need to be insulated.

PIER:
Any column of masonry that is used to support other structural members such as beams or girders.

PILASTER:
A supporting masonry column that supports the end of a beam or girder. It is usually bonded to an end wall.

PIPESTEM LOT:
A piece of land connected to a street by a long, narrow strip of land.

PITCH:
The slope or incline of a roof that is usually expressed in inches of rise per foot of run.

PLATFORM FRAMING: As opposed to balloon framing.
A method of framing a building in which the floor joists of each level rest on the top plate of the frame walls located below. Each level is frames separately and built on the level below it. See "BALLOON FRAMING."

PLENUM:
The main heat distribution box attached to a forced air furnace duct system.

PLINTH:
Any concrete or other material that separates a wood column from the floor or ground to keep moisture from penetrating the wood.

PLOUGH:
To cut a lengthwise groove in a board or plank.

PLUMB:
Refers to the exact vertical position of some object.

PLUMB CUT:
The cutting of a board or rafter so that the cut is vertical to the ground.

PLUMBING ACCESS:
Any opening in a wall or surface to allow access to plumbing pipes for repairs or inspection.

PLYWOOD:
Any sheet of wood made of 3 or more thin layers of wood that has been bonded together with glue. Most plywood comes in 4 foot by 8 foot sizes and has an odd number of layers to ensure stiffness and retard splitting.

POURED CONCRETE:
Any concrete structure or slab that was poured and formed in a liquid state.

PRAIRIE HOUSE:
A long low house of the early twentieth century style, with a row of windows across the front and a plain exterior.

PREFABRICATED:
Descriptive term for a building that is put together on site from components (walls, floors, roof, etc.) that have built off-site (in a factory, for example).

PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER:
Any wood that has been treated under pressure with some chemical preservative that protects the lumber from moisture and insects. Also known as treated lumber.

PRIMER:
The first coat of paint or other liquid that is used to seal the surface before the final finishing coat is applied.

PSI:
Pounds per square inch. A unit of measurement referring to the pressure exerted on one square inch of an objects surface.

P-TRAP:
A piece of pipe shaped like the letter P, used in drains. Its shape prevents fumes or sewage gases from going against the flow of draining water and entering the interior of a home.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

QUADRAPLEX:
A building containing four dwelling units.

QUARTER ROUND:
A small piece of molding used to cover joints between two right-angle surfaces. Its cross section looks like a quarter of a circle, thus the name quarter round.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

RABBET:
Any rectangular piece of lumber with a rectangular longitudinal ell cutout at one of its edges to make a rabbeted, lapped joint. Also referred to as shiplap lumber.

RADIAL SAW:
A circular power saw that is suspended on a movable track over a cutting. It can cut both perpendicular cross cuts and longitudinal rip cuts. There are also two axis adjustments that allow the cutting of both simple and complex miters on any angle. Between 0 and 90 degrees.

RAFTER:
One of the sloped parallel boards that make up a roof structure.

RAFTER, HIP:
A rafter that forms the intersection of an external roof angle on a pyramid shaped roof with four equally slopping sides from each edge of the roof that meet in the middle (called a hip roof).

RAFTER, VALLEY:
Any rafter that forms the intersection of an internal roof angle, forming the valley between two angled roof surfaces that water runs off during rain.

RANCH HOUSE:
A description of a one-story house, developed from the old, western-style homes.

REBAR:
The common term used to denote the steel reinforcement bar used to reinforce formed concrete slabs, beams or columns.

RECESSED FLOOR:
Any floor constructed at a lower level than other floors on that level. Often found in sunken family or living rooms.

REFLECTIVE INSULATION:
Sheet material that has had one or both sides covered with a material of high heat reflection, such as aluminum foil.

REGENCY HOUSE:
A two-story or three-story house in a traditional English style of the Regency Period, symmetrical in construction with a hip roof. May have a small, eight-sided window above the front door.

REHABILITATE:
To restore, refurbish, bring back to original condition.

REINFORCED CONCRETE:
Poured concrete that has had a steel reinforcing grid of mesh or rebar inserted.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY:
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of water that could be suspended in the air at that given temperature.

REMODEL:
To refurbish, redesign, redecorate.

RENOVATE:
Similar to remodel, with an emphasis on upgrading the structural aspects of the existing property.

RESTORE:
To refurbish a building or other asset to its original condition.

RIDGE:
The horizontal edge found at the meeting of two sloping roof surfaces.

RIDGE BOARD:
The wood board placed at the point where the roof rafters from two sloping roof surfaces meet. These rafters are usually cut so that they are plumb (vertical) to the ground and are nailed to the ridge board.

RIDGE CAP:
The top course of roof shingles that overlap one another across a roof ridge. The shingles are installed so that the overlap joint faces away from the direction of the prevailing winds.

RIDGE CUT:
A plumb (vertical) cut at the upper end of a roof rafter that attaches and transfers load to the ridge board.

RIDGE VENT:
A single or continuous roof vent located at the peak of a gable roof.

RISE:
Refers to either the vertical height of a single stair step or the vertical height of an entire flight of stairs.

RISER:
The vertical board placed between the treads of a staircase.

ROLL ROOFING:
Any roofing material usually composed of fiber and saturated asphalt. Usually supplied in 36 inch wide by 36 feet long rolls covering 108 square feet. Each roll generally weighs 45 to 90 pounds.

ROOF CAPPING:
The shingles or application of shingles or other capping material on a roof ridge.

ROOF PITCH:
The angle or slant of a roof surface.

ROOF SHEATHING:
Any boards or sheet-like material that is fastened to roof rafters on which shingles or other roofing materials are to be laid.

ROOF TRUSS:
Any frame or structure with diagonal members that can withstand compression forces. Examples include any girder, roof or floor truss system.

ROOF VENT:
An attic ventilator usually located on the exterior of a roof to allow air to circulate within the attic area. Allows buildup of excessive heat and moisture in the attic cavity to escape.

ROUGH FRAMING:
The construction of the wooden structural framework of a building. This includes the framing of the floors, wall, ceiling and roof joists.

ROUGH OPENING:
Any opening in a buildings framework for the insertion of windows, doors, stairways etc.

ROW HOUSE:
A dwelling that is attached to its neighbors by way of common walls.

RUN:
Refers to either the depth of a single stair step or to the horizontal distance covered by the entire flight of stairs.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

SASH:
The part of a casement window that opens, or a single window light frame containing one or more pieces of glass.

SCAFFOLD:
A temporary structure or platform made of metal framing from which workers can access difficult to reach areas.

SCRATCH COAT:
An initial coat of plaster that is literally scratched while still wet so that the finish coat will bond properly.

SCREED:
A straight edge used for leveling concrete over forms. Also used to assist in level the application of plaster.

SEALER:
A clear or pigmented liquid that is applied directly over an uncoated material such as wood or concrete for the purpose of sealing the material against water penetration.

SECTION VIEW:
A cutaway view of something that gives a cross section view of the object and its assembly.

SEMI-DETACHED HOUSING:
A dwelling that shares one side wall with another dwelling.

SEPTIC SYSTEM:
A system designed to deal with sewage from a dwelling. The raw sewage flows through pipes (called runs) into the ground or into a septic holding tank, or a combination of the two.

SERVICE PANEL:
A separate or auxiliary breaker or fuse box separate from the main electrical service entrance. Its purpose is to tie all the electrical circuits of building into the main power line and allow each individual circuit to be protected by fuses or breakers to avoid overloading. Often referred to as the fuse box or distribution panel.

SHINGLES:
Any roof covering made of asphalt, wood, tile, slate, or other material that has been cut to various stock lengths, widths and thickness.

SHEER STRESS:
Any compression stress with support on one side.

SHIPLAP LUMBER:
Lumber with a rectangular longitudinal ell cutout at one of its edges to make a rabbeted, lapped joint.

SHUTTER:
Window coverings usually made of louvered wood in the form of two hinged panels located on each side of the window frame that can be closed in order to protect the window. Often used for decorative purposes in modern construction.

SIDE-SPLIT HOME:
A description of a house that has been split from front to back through the center of the building and one half (often containing the bedrooms and lower family room) has been raised upward and additional steps have been added. There are different styles of Side-split homes, which are defined by the number of levels the home contains. E.g. 3 level, 4 level and 5 level Side-split. See "BACK-SPLIT HOME."

SIDING:
Any finishing material that covers the outside walls of a frame building. Can be made of wood boards, aluminum, steel, vinyl or any other length of material that can be attached in a repetitive manner on outside walls.

SILL or SILL PLATE:
The lowest member of a wood frame structure that rests on the foundation. It supports the floor joists or uprights of the wall. It can also refer to any member forming the lower portion of an opening, such as a doorsill or window sill.

SLAB:
Any flat piece of concrete such as a floor, driveway or walkway.

SLUMP TEST:
A test used to determine the fluidity of concrete before as it comes from the concrete mixer.

SOFFIT:
Most commonly refers to the underside of any overhanging cornice.

SOFFIT VENT:
The vent opening located under the eaves that allows fresh air to enter the attic area and flow upward to the roof vents, where it is exhausted. Helps set up air circulation in the attic space by heat convection (hot air rises).

SOIL COVER:
Any material such as plastic film or roll roofing used to cover the soil found in crawl spaces beneath additions to help reduce moisture penetration from the ground.

SOIL STACK:
A common term used to denote the main plumbing vent that rises vertically through the roof in order to vent sewage gases form the plumbing system and sewers. Also referred to as a stack.

SPAN:
The nominal distance measured across structural supports such as posts, columns, walls or openings.

SPECS:
The shortened form of the word "specifications."

SPEC HOUSE:
A new dwelling which is being build or has been completed by a builder before a purchaser has been found to buy it.

SPECULATIVE BUILDER:
A developer who constructs housing without pre-selling.

SQUARE:
A unit of measure usually associated with measuring the amount of roofing material. One square consists of a 10ftx10ft area, or 100 square feet.

STACK:
A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof line and vents sewage gases to the outside. Also referred to as a soil stack.

STAGGERED NAILS:
The placing of nails so that they do not form a straight line pattern on a board or in the grain of a board.

STANDPIPE:
A vertical piece of drain pipe that automatic washing machine drainage hoses are inserted into.

SQUARE FOOTAGE:
The estimated total area of a home calculated by measuring the outside dimensions of the actual building and multiplying by the number of stories above ground. Finished basements and attached garages are not included in this estimate.

SQUARE-FOOT METHOD:
Method of estimating cost of construction on the basis of the area of the building to be built.

STARTER HOME:
A small home, inexpensive, suitable to first-time homebuyers.

STILE:
A vertical framing member found in a door panel.

STOOL:
A piece of flat molding placed on the interior side of a window on top of the sloping surface of the windowsill jamb. It forms a weather seal for the sash.

STORM DRAIN:
A drain that carries away unwanted rain, drainage or surface water.

STORM WINDOW or STORM SASH:
An additional window usually found on the outside of an existing window to provide extra protection against the elements.

STORY:
The habitable space between each floor level of a building.

STRETCHER BLOCK:
The most common type of concrete block. Both ends of the block have cupped ends.

STRINGER:
The two parallel supports to which stair steps (treads) are attached.

STUD:
One of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in wall or partitions.

SUBFLOOR:
The boards or plywood that is laid over floor joists onto which the final floor is to be laid.

SUMP:
A small cistern used to collect excess water from around a footing or structure.

SUMP PUMP:
The pump placed inside a sump to remove the excess water that has collected there.

SUSPENDED CEILING:
A ceiling that is suspended in the air by hanging it from the overhead structural members or surface.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

TERMITES:
Termites are insects that resemble ants in size and shape, who live in large colonies. They tend to enter a building from the ground where wood meets earth. Once inside a wooden structure they tend to eat their way through wood materials from the inside out and if left untreated for long periods of time can cause substantial structural damage.

TERMITE SHIELD:
Any shield, usually made of metal, that has been placed around any point of entrance to a building in order to stop the entry of termites or other pests.

THREE-WAY SWITCH:
One of a pair of specialized electrical switches that allows an electrical fixture to be turned on and off from two locations. As opposed to the usual single pole electrical switches that are normally used that only allow a single switch in the circuit.

THRESHOLD:
Any strip of wood or other material with a beveled edge applied to the transition area between a floor and the sill plate of a door.

TIMBER LUMBER:
Any lumber that is 5 inches or more in dimension. This includes beams, posts and girders.

TOENAILING:
The nailing of boards by driving the nail in at an angle or slant to the finished surface in order to attach it to the adjacent board at right angles.

TONGUE AND GROOVE:
Often referred to as "dressed and matched." Boards or planks that have been finished so that there is a groove on one side of the board and a corresponding tongue on the other edge. When tow pieces are placed together the tongue of one fits into the groove of the other forming a natural joint between the two boards. Often used in hardwood flooring.

TOTAL RISE: (of a staircase)
The total vertical distance covered by a staircase, measured from the starting floor to the destination floor.

TOTAL RUN: (of a staircase)
The total horizontal distance covered by a staircase, measured from the edge of the first step to edge of the last step.

TOWN HOUSE:
A type of dwelling which shares at least one common wall with neighboring dwellings.

TRACK HOUSING:
A descriptive term referring to one of a large group of similar homes built in the same area, usually by the same builder.

TREAD:
The horizontal step surface of a staircase. See "RISER."

TRENCH FOOTING:
A footing formed without actual forms by pouring the concrete directly into the trench that has been dug in the ground.

TRENCH FOUNDATION:
A foundation wall that has been formed without actual forms by pouring the concrete directly into the trench that has been dug in the ground.

TRIM:
Finishing materials applied over a surface, such as widow, door, or baseboard trim.

TRIMMER:
The short stud located at the ends of a door or window support header.

TRUSS:
Any frame or structure with diagonal members that can withstand compression forces. Examples include any girder, roof or floor truss system.

TUDOR:
A heavy looking, fortress like style of home in the English style. Stone and brick construction, may also feature stucco and exposed timbers. Windows feature stone trim.

TWIST:
In reference to a wood board that has a propeller shaped warp.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

U KITCHEN:
A kitchen design where the countertops and appliances are arranged in the shape of a rectangular U, affording no through traffic.

UNDERCOAT:
Any coating that has been applied prior to the finishing coat of a paint job. Often referred to as the primer coat.

UNDERLAY: (or underlayment)
Any material placed under flooring, carpets or shingles to provide a smooth even surface for the finish materials.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

VALLEY:
The inside angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.

VAPOR BARRIER:
Moisture resistant materials used to stop or slow the movement of moisture through a surface. Often applied on the inside face of exterior walls to prevent condensation forming in interior living areas.

VENEER:
Any kind of thin wood or brick finish which is attached to the exterior of an item, be it a wall or a piece of furniture.

VENT STACK:
A metal or plastic plumbing stack that projects through a roof to vent gasses or air outside.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

WALKUP:
A small apartment building with rental units on upper floors and no elevator. The tenant literally has to walk up to her apartment unit.

WALL BACKERS:
Wood boards that have been placed within walls where extra strength will be required to attach objects such as hand rails or towel racks.

WAREHOUSE:
A large building used to receiving and storing goods, materials or merchandise.

WATER TABLE:
The natural accumulation level of water either above or below ground, often used for well purposes. May also refer to the distance from the surface of the land to the location of the water.

WARPED:
In reference to a wood board that is bend out of shape.

WEATHER STRIPPING:
Any material used to prevent air and moisture infiltration around doors or windows.

WIND: (or wynd)
In reference to a wood board that has twisted.

WINDOW HEADER:
A lintel (beam) located over a window to carry/redirect any load from above the window to the side studs.

WINDOW WELL:
A small metal or masonry retaining wall placed around windows that are below or partially below grade level. Allows light and access to the window while keeping earth away from the opening.

WOOD FILLER:
A colored paste used to fill and level off any imperfections found in finished wood surfaces.

WORK TRIANGLE: (found in a kitchen)
The traffic pattern between the stove, sink and refrigerator. Important to consider when designing an efficient kitchen layout.

Return to beginning of Construction Glossary

Vince Brennan

REALTOR®

www.vincebrennan.com

Office 248.426.0920 / Mobile 248.219.1927

vince@vincebrennan.com