Terms
General Contractor:
Contractor who constructs a building or other improvement for the Owner or Developer. The contractor may retain a construction labor force or use Subcontractors.
One who constructs a building or other Improvement for the owner or Developer. May retain a construction labor force or use Subcontractors.
A general contractor is a group or individual that contracts with another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction, renovation or demolition of a building, road or other structure. A general contractor is defined as such if it is the signatory as the builder of the prime construction contract for the project.
A general contractor is responsible for the means and methods to be used in the construction execution of the project in accordance with the contract documents. Said contract documents usually include the contract agreement including budget, the general and special conditions and the plans and specification of the project that are prepared by a design professional such as an architect.
A general contractor usually is responsible for the supplying of all material, labor, equipment, (engineering vehicles and tools) and services necessary for the construction of the project. To do this it is common for the general contractor to subcontract part of the work to other persons and companies that specialize in these types of work. These are called subcontractors.
General contractors conducting work for government agencies are typically referred to as prime contractors. The responsibilities of a prime contractors working under a contract are essentially identical to those outlined above. In many cases, prime contractors will delegate portions of the contract work to subcontractors.
Most contractors are required to be licensed in each state and may be required to take an oral and written exam.
More Terms
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Z
A/C Condenser
The outside fan unit of the Air Conditioning system. It removes the heat from the freon gas and "turns" the gas back into a liquid and pumps the liquid back to the coil in the furnace.
A/C Disconnect
The main electrical ON-OFF switch near the A/C Condenser.
Allowance(s)
A sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. For example, selection of tile as a flooring may require an allowance for an underlayment material, or an electrical allowance which sets aside an amount of money to be spent on electrical fixtures.
Apron
A trim board that is installed beneath a window sill
Attic access
An opening that is placed in the drywalled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic.
Backfill
The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement /crawl space foundationwall.
Bay window
Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building, either square or polygonal in plan.
Bearing partition
A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
Bid
A formal offer by a contractor, in accordance with specifications for a project, 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 security Funds 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 requirements of the contract documents.
Bid Shopping
Any practice involving the provision of information to a prospective contractor or subcontractor that a competitor has submitted a lower price than that of the prospective contractor or subcontractor and the offer to such contractor or subcontractor of an opportunity to underbid the competitor.
Blocking
Small wood pieces to brace framing members or to provide a nailing base for gypsum board or paneling.
Blue print(s)
A type of copying method often used for architectural drawings. Usually used to describe the drawing of a structure which is prepared by an architect or designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction.
Bond or bonding
An amount of money (usually $5,000-$10,000) which must be on deposit with a governmental agency in order to secure a contractor's license. The bond may be used to pay for the unpaid bills or disputed work of the contractor. Not to be confused with a 'performance bond'. Such bonds are rarely used in residential construction, they are an insurance policy which guarantees proper completion of a project.
Boom
A truck used to hoist heavy material up and into place. To put trusses on a home or to set a heavy beam into place.
Brace
An inclined piece of framing lumber applied to wall or floor to strengthen the structure. Often used on walls as temporary bracing until framing has been completed.
Built-up roof
A roofing composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generally used on flat or low-pitched roofs.
Bundle
A package of shingles. Normally, there are 3 bundles per square and 27 shingles per bundle.
Butt joint
The junction where the ends of two timbers meet, and also where sheets of drywall meet on the 4 foot edge. To place materials end-to-end or end-to-edge without overlapping.
Casing
Wood trim molding installed around a door or window opening.
Change order
A written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction Contract.
Concrete
The mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water. Used to make garage and basement floors, sidewalks, patios, foundation walls, etc. It is commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh).
Concrete block
A hollow concrete 'brick' often 8" x 8" x 16" in size.
Concrete board
A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.
Contractor
A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. In most states, the generals contractor's license and some specialty contractor's licenses don't require of compliance with bonding, workmen's compensation and similar regulations. Some of the specialty contractor licenses involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance requirements. There are various types of contractors:
· General contractor - responsible for the execution, supervision and overall coordination of a project and may also perform some of the individual construction tasks. Most general contractors are not licensed to perform all specialty trades and must hire specialty contractors for such tasks, e.g. electrical, plumbing.
· Remodeling contractor - a general contractor who specializes in remodeling work.
· Specialty contractor - licensed to perform a specialty task e.g. electrical, side sewer, asbestos abatement.
· Sub contractor - a general or specialty contractor who works for another general contractor.
Control joint
Tooled, straight grooves made on concrete floors to "control" where the concrete should crack
Crawl space
A shallow space below the living quarters of a house, normally enclosed by the foundation wall and having a dirt floor.
Cricket
A second roof built on top of the primary roof to increase the slope of the roof or valley. A saddle-shaped, peaked construction connecting a sloping roof with a chimney. Designed to encourage water drainage away from the chimney joint.
Damper
A metal "door" placed within the fireplace chimney. Normally closed when the fireplace is not in use.
Doorjamb, interior
The surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb. These 3 jambs have the "door stop" installed on them.
Downspout
A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater down from the roof's horizontal gutters.
Drywall
Wall board or gypsum- A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. 'Green board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other "wet areas".
Ducts
The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home. Also a tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building.
Easement
A formal contract which allows a party to use another party's property for a specific purpose. e.g. A sewer easement might allow one party to run a sewer line through a neighbors property.
Eaves
The horizontal exterior roof overhang.
Estimate
The amount of labor, materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for a project as summarized in the contractor's bid proposal for the project.
Estimating
The process of calculating the cost of a project. This can be a formal and exact process or a quick and imprecise process.
Expansion joint
Fibrous material (@1/2" thick) installed in and around a concrete slab to permit it to move up and down (seasonally) along the non-moving foundation wall.
Expansive soils
Earth that swells and contracts depending on the amount of water that is present. ("Betonite" is an expansive soil).
Exposed aggregate finish
A method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture off the top layer of the aggregate - usually gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces.
Extras
Additional work requested of a contractor, not included in the original plan, which will be billed separately and will not alter the original contract amount, but increase the cost of building the home.
Fire-resistive or Fire rated
Applies to materials that are not combustible in the temperatures of ordinary fires and will withstand such fires for at least 1 hour. Drywall used in the garage and party walls are to be fire rated, 5/8", Type X.
Fire retardant chemical
A chemical or preparation of chemicals used to reduce the flammability of a material or to retard the spread of flame.
Fire stop
A 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 usually consist of 2 by 4 cross blocking between studs. Work performed to slow the spread of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling (behind the drywall). 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. This is integral to passing a Rough Frame inspection. See also 'Fire block'.
Fixed price contract
A contract with a set price for the work. See Time and Materials Contract.
Flashing
Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect a building from water seepage.
Floating
The next-to-last stage in concrete work, when you smooth off the job and bring water to the surface by using a hand float or bull float.
Fly rafters
End rafters of the gable overhang supported by roof sheathing and lookouts.
Footer, footing
Continuous 8" or 10" thick concrete pad installed before and supports the foundation wall or monopost.
Form
Temporary structure erected to contain concrete during placing and initial hardening.
Foundation
The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction, or below grade, including the footings.
Foundation ties
Metal wires that hold the foundation wall panels and rebar in place during the concrete pour.
Foundation waterproofing
High-quality below-grade moisture protection. Used for below-grade exterior concrete and masonry wall damp-proofing to seal out moisture and prevent corrosion. Normally looks like black tar.
Framing
Lumber used for the structural members of a building, such as studs, joists, and rafters.
Frieze
In house construction a horizontal member connecting the top of the siding with the soffit of the cornice.
Furring strips
Strips of wood, often 1 X 2 and used to shim out and provide a level fastening surface for a wall or ceiling.
Fuse
A device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines. This protects against fire. See also 'circuit breakers'.
GFCI, or GFI
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Used in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and "wet areas". Has a small reset button on the plug.
Gable
The end, upper, triangular area of a home, beneath the roof.
Girder
A large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length.
Glazing
The process of installing glass, which commonly is secured with glazier's points and glazing compound.
Gloss enamel
A finishing paint material. Forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and dries to a sheen or luster (gloss)
Glued Laminated Beam (Glulam)
A structural beam composed of wood laminations or lams. The lams are pressure bonded with adhesives to attain a typical thickness of 1 ½" . (It looks like 5 or more 2 X 4's are glued together).
Grade beam
A foundation wall that is poured @ level with or just below the grade of theearth. An example is the area where the 8' or 16' overhead garage door "block out" is located, or a lower (walk out basement) foundation wall is poured
Grain
The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood.
Grid
The completed assembly of main and cross tees in a suspended ceiling system before the ceiling panels are installed. Also the decorative slats (munton) installed between glass panels.
Ground fault
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI, GFI)- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Used in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and "wet areas". Has a small reset button on the plug.
Grout
A wet mixture of cement, sand and water that flows into masonry or ceramic crevices to seal the cracks between the different pieces. Mortar made of such consistency (by adding water) that it will flow into the joints and cavities of the masonry work and fill them solid.
Gutter
A shallow channel or conduit of metal or wood set below and along the (fascia) eaves of a house to catch and carry off rainwater from the roof.
Header
(a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed inframing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural member over an opening (for example over a door or window).
Hip
A roof with four sloping sides. The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.
Hip roof
A roof that rises by inclined planes from all four sides of a building.
Home run (electrical)
The electrical cable that carries power from the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical box, plug, or switch in the circuit.
Honey combs
The appearance concrete makes when rocks in the concrete are visible and where there are void areas in the foundation wall, especially around concrete foundation windows.
Hose bib
An exterior water faucet (sill cock).
Hot wire
The wire that carries electrical energy to a receptacle or other device—in contrast to a neutral, which carries electricity away again. Normally the black wire. Also see ground.
Humidifier
An appliance normally attached to the furnace, or portable unit device designed to increase the humidity within a room or a house by means of the discharge of water vapor.
Hurricane clip
Metal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. Sometimes called a Teco clip.
I-beam
A steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter I. 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.
I-joist
Manufactured structural building component resembling the letter "I". Used as floor joists and rafters. I-joists include two key parts: flanges and webs. The flange of the I joist may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 ½" width. The web or center of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists are available in lengths up to 60 feet long
Infiltration
The passage of air from indoors to outdoors and vice versa; term is usually associated with drafts from cracks, seams or holes in buildings.
Insulating glass
Window or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between. Also known as Double glass.
Insulation
Any 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.
Irrigation
Lawn sprinkler system.
J Channel
Metal edging used on drywall to give the edge a better finished appearance when a wall is not "wrapped" Generally, basement stairway walls have drywall only on the stair side. J Channel is used on the vertical edge of the last drywall sheet
Jack post
A type of structural support made of metal, which can be raised or lowered through a series of pins and a screw to meet the height required. Basically used as a replacement for an old supporting member in a building. See Monopost.
Jack rafter
A rafter that spans the distance from the wall plate to a hip, or from a valley to a ridge.
Jamb
The side and head lining of a doorway, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame and trim.
Joint
The location between the touching surfaces of two members or components joined and held together by nails, glue, cement, mortar, or other means.
Knot
In lumber, the portion of a branch or limb of a tree that appears on the edge or face of the piece.
Laminated shingles
Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called "architectural shingles" or "three-dimensional shingles."
Laminating
Bonding together two or more layers of materials.
Landing
A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square.
Lap
To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.
Latch
A beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue's bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any, without using a key. Contrasts with dead bolt.
Lath
A building material of narrow wood, metal, gypsum, or insulating board that is fastened to the frame of a building to act as a base for plaster, shingles, or tiles.
Ledger (for a Structural Floor)
The wooden perimeter frame lumber member that bolts onto the face of a foundation wall and supports the wood structural floor.
Ledger strip
A strip of lumber nailed along the bottom of the side of a girder on which joists rest.
Lien
An encumbrance that usually makes real or personal property the security for payment of a debt or discharge of an obligation.
Lintel
A horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window.
Load bearing wall
Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate.
Lookout
A short wood bracket or cantilever that supports an overhang portion of a roof.
Louver
A 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
Unit of measure for total light output. The amount of light falling on a surface of one square foot.
Male
Any part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another (female) part. External threads are male.
Mantel
The shelf above a fireplace opening. Also used in referring to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening.
Manufactured wood
A wood product such as a truss, beam, gluelam, microlam or joist which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces and glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece. Often used to create a stronger member which may use less wood. See also Oriented Strand Board.
Masonry
Stone, brick, concrete, hollow-tile, concrete block, or other similar building units or materials. Normally bonded together with mortar to form a wall.
Mastic
A pasty material used as a cement (as for setting tile) or a protective coating (as for thermal insulation or waterproofing)
Metal lath
Sheets of metal that are slit to form openings within the lath. Used as a plaster base for walls and ceilings and as reinforcing over other forms of plaster base.
Microlam
A manufactured structural wood beam. It is constructed of pressure and adhesive bonded wood strands of wood. They have a higher strength rating than solid sawn lumber. Normally comes in 1 ½" thickness' and 9 ½", 11 ½" and 14" widths
Milar (mylar)
Plastic, transparent copies of a blueprint.
Millwork
Generally all building materials made of finished wood and manufactured in millwork plants. Includes all doors, window and door frames, blinds, mantels, panelwork, stairway components (ballusters, rail, etc.), moldings, and interior trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling, or siding.
Miter joint
The joint of two pieces at an angle that bisects the joining angle. For example, the miter joint at the side and head casing at a door opening is made at a 45° angle.
Molding
A wood strip having an engraved, decorative surface.
Monopost
Adjustable metal column used to support a beam or bearing point. Normally 11 gauge or Schedule 40 metal, and determined by the structural engineer
Mortar
A mixture of cement (or lime) with sand and water used in masonry work.
Mortise
A slot cut into a board, plank, or timber, usually edgewise, to receive the tenon (or tongue) of another board, plank, or timber to form a joint.
Mudsill
Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called sill plate. Also sole plate, bottom member of interior wall frame.
Mullion
A vertical divider in the frame between windows, doors, or other openings.
Muntin
A small member which divides the glass or openings of sash or doors.
NEC (National Electrical Code)
A set of rules governing safe wiring methods. Local codes—which are backed by law—may differ from the NEC in some ways.
Newel post
The large starting post to which the end of a stair guard railing or balustrade is fastened.
Nosing
The projecting edge of a molding or drip or the front edge of a stair tread.
Notch
A crosswise groove at the end of a board.
Nozzle
The part of a heating system that sprays the fuel of fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber.
O C - On Center
The measurement of spacing for studs, rafters, and joists in a building from the center of one member to the center of the next.
Oriented Strand Board or OSB
A manufactured 4' X 8' wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood.
Outrigger
An extension of a rafter beyond the wall line. Usually a smaller member nailed to a larger rafter to form a cornice or roof overhang.
Overhang
Outward projecting eave-soffit area of a roof; the part of the roof that hangs out or over the outside wall. See also Cornice.
Padding
A material installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet life.
Pad out, pack out
To shim out or add strips of wood to a wall or ceiling in order that the finished ceiling/wall will appear correct.
Pallets
Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping material. Forklifts and hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around.
Panel
A thin flat piece of wood, plywood, or similar material, framed by stiles and rails as in a door (or cabinet door), or fitted into grooves of thicker material with molded edges for decorative wall treatment.
Parapet
A wall placed at the edge of a roof to prevent people from falling off.
Particle board
Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. Used for closet shelving, floor underlayment, stair treads, etc.
Partition
A wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room.
Percolation test or perc. test
Tests that a soil engineer performs on earth to determine the feasibility of installing a leech field type sewer system on a lot. A test to determine if the soil on a proposed building lot is capable of absorbing the liquid affluent from a septic system.
Performance bond
An amount of money (usually 10% of the total price of a job) that a contractor must put on deposit with a governmental agency as an insurance policy that guarantees the contractors' proper and timely completion of a project or job.
Pier
A column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross section, used to support other structural members. Also see Caisson.
Pilot hole
A small-diameter, pre-drilled hole that guides a nail or screw.
Pitch
The incline slope of a roof or the ratio of the total rise to the total width of a house, i.e., a 6-foot rise and 24-foot width is a one-fourth pitch roof. Roof slope is expressed in the inches of rise, per foot of horizontal run.
Plate
Normally a 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 that lays horizontally within a framed structure, such as:
Sill plate- A horizontal member anchored to a concrete or masonry wall.
Sole plate- Bottom horizontal member of a frame wall.
Top plate- Top horizontal member of a frame wall supporting ceiling joists, rafters, or other members.
Plenum
The main hot-air supply duct leading from a furnace.
PlumbPlumb
Exactly vertical and perpendicular.
Ply
A term to denote the number of layers of roofing felt, veneer in plywood, or layers in built-up materials, in any finished piece of such material.
Plywood
A panel (normally 4' X 8') of wood made of three or more layers of veneer, compressed and joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength.
Portland cement
Cement made by heating clay and crushed limestone into a brick and then grinding to a pulverized powder state.
Post
A vertical framing member usually designed to carry a beam. Often a 4" x 4", a 6" x 6", or a metal pipe with a flat plate on top and bottom.
Power vent
A vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow. Often installed on roofs.
Preservative
Any pesticide substance that, for a reasonable length of time, will prevent the action of wood-destroying fungi, insect borers, and similar destructive agents when the wood has been properly coated or impregnated with it. Normally an arsenic derivative. Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is an example.
Pressure Relief Valve (PRV)
A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release any high steam pressure in the tank to prevent tank explosions.
Pressure-treated wood
Lumber that has been saturated with a preservative.
Primer
The first, base coat of paint when a paint job consists of two or more coats. A first coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and holding succeeding finish coats.
Property survey
A survey to determine the boundaries of your property. The cost depends on the complexity of the survey.
P trap
Curved, "U" section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixtures water drain.
Punch list
A list of discrepancies that need to be corrected by the contractor.
Putty
A type of dough used in sealing glass in the sash, filling small holes and crevices in wood, and for similar purposes.
PVC or CPVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride
A type of white or light gray plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines and waste pipe.
Quarry tile
A man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generally 6" X 6" X 1/4" thick .
Quarter round
A small trim molding that has the cross section of a quarter circle.
Rafter
Lumber used to support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generally, 2 X 10's and 2 X 12's are used. The rafters of a flat roof are sometimes called roof joists.
Rafter, hip
A rafter that forms the intersection of an external roof angle.
Rafter, valley
A rafter that forms the intersection of an internal roof angle. The valley rafter is normally made of double 2-inch-thick members.
Rail
Cross members of panel doors or of a sash. Also, a wall or open balustrade placed at the edge of a staircase, walkway bridge, or elevated surface to prevent people from falling off. Any relatively lightweight horizontal element, especially those found in fences (split rail).
Rake
Slope or slanted.
Ready mixed concrete
Concrete mixed at a plant or in trucks en route to a job and delivered ready for placement.
Rebar, reinforcing bar
Ribbed steel bars installed in foundation concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures designed to strengthen concrete. Comes in various thickness' and strength grade.
Receptacle
An electrical outlet. A typical household will have many 120 volt receptacles for plugging in lams and appliances and 240 volt receptacles for the range, clothes dryer, air conditioners, etc.
Reflective insulation
Sheet material with one or both faces covered with aluminum foil.
Refrigerant
A substance that remains a gas at low temperatures and pressure and can be used to transfer heat. Freon is an example and is used in air conditioning systems.
Register
A grill placed over a heating duct or cold air return.
Reglaze
To replace a broken window.
Relief valve
A device designed to open if it detects excess temperature or pressure.
Retaining wall
A structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion.
Retentions
Amounts withheld from progress billings until final and satisfactory project completion.
R factor or value
A measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat. New homewalls are usually insulated with 4" of batt insulation with an R value of R-13, and a ceiling insulation of R-30.
Ridge
The horizontal line at the junction of the top edges of two sloping roof surfaces.
Rise
The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge. Also the vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread (and not to exceed 7 ½").
Riser
Each of the vertical boards closing the spaces between the treads of stairways.
Romex
A name brand of nonmetallic sheathed electrical cable that is used for indoor wiring.
Roof jack
Sleeves that fit around the black plumbing waste vent pipes at, and are nailed to, the roof sheeting.
Roof joist
The rafters of a flat roof. Lumber used to support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generally, 2 X 10's and 2 X 12's are used.
Roof sheathing or sheeting
The wood panels or sheet material fastened to the roof rafters or trusses on which the shingle or other roof covering is laid.
Roof valley
The "V" created where two sloping roofs meet.
Rough opening
The horizontal and vertical measurement of a window or door opening before drywall or siding is installed.
Rough sill
The framing member at the bottom of a rough opening for a window. It is attached to the cripple studs below the rough opening.
Roughing-in
The initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, heating, carpentry, and/or other project, when all components that won't be seen after the second finishing phase are assembled. See also Heat Rough, Plumbing Rough, and Electrical Rough.
Run, stair
The horizontal distance of a stair tread from the nose to the riser.
Saddle
A small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimney to divert water around the chimney. Also, the plate at the bottom of some—usually exterior—door openings. Sometimes called a threshold.
Saturated felt
A felt which is impregnated with tar or asphalt.
Schedule (window, door, mirror)
A table on the blueprints that list the sizes, quantities and locations of the windows, doors and mirrors.
Screed, concrete
To level off concrete to the correct elevation during a concrete pour.
Screed, plaster
A small strip of wood, usually the thickness of the plaster coat, used as a guide for plastering.
Scupper
(1) An opening for drainage in a wall, curb or parapet. (2) The drain in a downspout or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.
Sealer
A finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usually applied directly over raw wood for the purpose of sealing the wood surface.
Septic system
An on site waste water treatment system. It usually has a septic tank which promotes the biological digestion of the waste, and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground. Septic systems and permits are usually sized by the number of bedrooms in a house.
Settlement
Shifts in a structure, usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles underground.
Shake
A wood roofing material, normally cedar or redwood. Produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. Modern shakes are sometimes machine sawn on one side. See shingle.
Sheathing, sheeting
The structural wood panel covering, usually OSB or plywood, used over studs, floor joists or rafters/trusses of a structure.
Shed roof
A roof containing only one sloping plane.
Sheet metal work
All components of a house employing sheet metal, such as flashing, gutters, and downspouts.
Sheet metal duct work
The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes and sheet metal (for Return Air) and installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home.
Shim
A small piece of scrap lumber or shingle, usually wedge shaped, which when forced behind a furring strip or framing member forces it into position. Also used when installing doors and placed between the door jamb legs and 2 X 4 door trimmers. Metal shims are wafer 1 1/2" X 2" sheet metal of various thickness' used to fill gaps in wood framing members, especially at bearing point locations.
Shingles
Roof covering of asphalt. asbestos, wood, tile, slate, or other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thickness'.
Shutter
Usually lightweight louvered decorative frames in the form of doors located on the sides of a window. Some shutters are made to close over the window for protection.
Siding
The finished exterior covering of the outside walls of a frame building.
Sill
(1) The 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 wood plate framing member that lays flat against and bolted to the foundation wall (with anchor bolts) and upon which the floor joists are installed. Normally the sill plate is treated lumber. (2) The member forming the lower side of an opening, as a door sill or window sill.
Sill seal
Fiberglass or foam insulation installed between the foundation wall and sill (wood) plate. Designed to seal any cracks or gaps.
Single hung window
A window with one vertically sliding sash or window vent.
Skylight
A more or less horizontal window located on the roof of a building.
Slab, concrete
Concrete pavement, i.e. driveways, garages, and basement floors.
Slab on grade
A type of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directly on the soil. The edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls.
Slag
Concrete cement that sometimes covers the vertical face of the foundation void material.
Sleeper
Usually, a wood member embedded in concrete, as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten the subfloor or flooring.
Slope
The incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise (in inches) to the run (in feet). See also pitch.
Slump
The "wetness" of concrete. A 3 inch slump is dryer and stiffer than a 5 inch slump.
Soffit
The area below the eaves and overhangs. The underside where the roof overhangs the walls. Usually the underside of an overhanging cornice.
Soil stack
A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof.
Sole plate
The bottom, horizontal framing member of a wall that's attached to the floor sheeting and vertical wall studs.
Solid bridging
A solid member placed between adjacent floor joists near the center of the span to prevent joists or rafters from twisting.
Span
The clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports. The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Square
A unit of measure-100 square feet-usually applied to roofing and siding material. Also, a situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other. Also a tool for checking this.
Square-tab shingles
Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.
Stair carriage or stringer
Supporting member for stair treads. Usually a 2 X 12 inch plank notched to receive the treads; sometimes called a "rough horse."
Static vent
A vent that does not include a fan.
STC (Sound Transmission Class)
The measure of sound stopping of ordinary noise.
Stop valve
A device installed in a water supply line, usually near a fixture, that permits an individual to shut off the water supply to one fixture without interrupting service to the rest of the system.
Stucco
Refers to an outside plaster finish made with Portland cement as its base.
Stud
A vertical wood framing member, also referred to as a wall stud, attached to the horizontal sole plate below and the top plate above. Normally 2 X 4's or 2 X 6's, 8' long (sometimes 92 5/8"). One of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
Stud framing
A building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of relatively lightweight studs. Contrasts with post-and-beam.
Stud shoe
A metal, structural bracket that reinforces a vertical stud. Used on an outside bearing wall where holes are drilled to accommodate a plumbing waste line.
Subfloor
The framing components of a floor to include the sill plate, floor joists, and deck sheeting over which a finish floor is to be laid.
Sump
Pit or large plastic bucket/barrel inside the home designed to collect ground water from a perimeter drain system.
Sump pump
A submersible pump in a sump pit that pumps any excess ground water to the outside of the home.
T & G, tongue and groove
A joint made by 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 joint. Typically, the subfloor plywood is T & G.
Take off
The material necessary to complete a job.
Taping
The process of covering drywall joints with paper tape and joint compound.
Tempered
Strengthened. Tempered glass will not shatter nor create shards, but will "pelletize" like an automobile window. Required in tub and shower enclosures and locations, entry door glass and sidelight glass, and in a windows when the window sill is less than 16" to the floor.
Terra cotta
A ceramic material molded into masonry units.
Three-dimensional shingles
Laminated shingles. Shingles that have added dimensionality because of extra layers or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance. May also be called "architectural shingles".
Threshold
The bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior door frame. Generally they are adjustable to keep a tight fit with the door slab.
Toenailing
To drive a nail in at a slant. Method used to secure floor joists to the plate.
Top chord
The upper or top member of a truss.
Trap
A plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air, gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture.
Treated lumber
A wood product which has been impregnated with chemical pesticides such as CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Often used for the portions of a structure which are likely to be in contact with soil and water. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.
Truss
An engineered and manufactured roof support member with "zig-zag" framing members. Does the same job as a rafter but is designed to have a longer span than a rafter.
Underlayment
A ¼" material placed over the subfloor plywood sheeting and under finish coverings, such as vinyl flooring, to provide a smooth, even surface. Also a secondary roofing layer that is waterproof or water-resistant, installed on the roof deck and beneath shingles or other roof-finishing layer.
Vapor barrier
A building product installed on exterior walls and ceilings under the drywall 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. Normally, polyethylene plastic sheeting is used.
Veneer
Extremely thin sheets of wood. Also a thin slice of wood or brick or stone covering a framed wall.
Vermiculite
A mineral used as bulk insulation and also as aggregate in insulating and acoustical plaster and in insulating concrete floors.
Visqueen
A 4 mil or 6 mil plastic sheeting.
Warping
Any distortion in a material.
Warranty
In construction there are two general types of warranties. One is provided by the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance. The second is a warranty for the labor. For example, a roofing contract may include a 20 year material warranty and a 5 year labor warranty. Many new homebuilders provide a one year warranty. Any major issue found during the first year should be communicated to the builder immediately. Small items can be saved up and presented to the builder for correction periodically through the first year after closing.
Water table
The location of the underground water, and the vertical distance from the surface of the earth to this underground water.
Weatherization
Work on a building exterior in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling. Work involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping.
Weatherstrip
Narrow sections of thin metal or other material installed to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors.
Weep holes
Small holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape.
Wind bracing
Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over "domino" fashion.
Window buck
Square or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall. A window will eventually be installed in this "buck" during the siding stage of construction
Yard of concrete
One cubic yard of concrete is 3' X 3' X 3' in volume, or 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard of concrete will pour 80 square feet of 3 ½" sidewalk or basement/garage floor.
Zone valve
A device, usually placed near the heater or cooler, which controls the flow of water or steam to parts of the building; it is controlled by a zone thermostat.