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Click
on a letter
above
to look
for a
specific
term OR
scroll
below
for a
list of
common
terms! |
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| Amperage:
The
rate of
flow of
electricity
through
wire |
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| Anti-Oxidant
Compound:
A compound
applied
to aluminum
wiring at
the connections
to promote
a firm connection |
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| Apron:
A paved
area such
as a junction
of a driveway
with the
street or
with a garage
entrance |
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| Ash
dump: A
door or
opening
in the firebox
that leads
directly
to the ash
pit, through
which the
ashes are
swept after
the fire
is burned
out. All
fireboxes
are not
equipped
with an
ash dump. |
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| Attic
Space:
The open
space within
the attic
area. |
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| Automatic
Flue Damper:
A device
in the flue
of the heating
unit which
closes the
flue when
the unit
is not in
operation
in order
to prevent
unnecessary
heat loss
up the chimney |
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Backfill:
The material
used to
re-fill
an excavation
around the
outside
of a foundation
wall or
pipe trench |
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| Ballcock
Assembly:
The
mechanism
inside the
toilet tank
which governs
the flushing
of a toilet |
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Balusters:
One of a
series of
small pillars
that is
attached
to and runs
between
the stairs
and the
handrails.
The spacing
between
the balusters
should be
less than
4 inches
to prevent
small children
from getting
stuck between
the balusters.
Balusters
are considered
a safety
item and
provide
an
additional
barrier. |
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| Baseboard:
Typically
a wood trim
board that
is placed
against
the wall
around the
perimeter
of a room
next to
the floor.
The intent
is to conceal
the joint
between
the floor
and wall
finish. |
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Basement
window:
A window
opening
installed
in the basement
wall. Basement
windows
are occasionally
below the
finish grade
level and
will be
surrounded
on the exterior
by a window
well. Learn
more about
basements. |
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| Berm:
A build-up
of asphalt
or concrete
which prevents
run-off
water from
entering
a garage
or driveway |
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| Bleedout:
A condition
which occurs
when the
effluent
from a septic
system rises
to the surface
instead
of draining
into the
soil. |
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| Blind
or Shutter:
Usually
lightweight
louvered
or flush
door-like
frames located
at each
side of
a window.
Some shutters
are made
to close
over the
window for
protection;
most are
fastened
to the wall
as a decorative
device |
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| Bridging:
Small pieces
of wood
or metal
strapping
placed in
an X-pattern
between
the floor
joists at
mid-span
to prevent
the joists
from twisting
and squeaking
and to provide
reinforcement
and distribution
of stress.
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| Building
Paper:
Building
material,
usually
a felt paper
that is
used as
a protective
barrier
against
air and
moisture
passage
from the
area beneath
the flooring
as well
as providing
a movement/noise
isolator
in hardwood
flooring. |
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| Built-up
Roof: A
type of
"flat"
roof which
is composed
of several
layers of
roof felt
and bituminous
coating,
often topped
off with
gravel. |
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| BX-Wiring:
Electrical
wire wrapped
in rubber
with a flexible
steel outer
covering |
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| Casement
Window:
A window
that opens,
usually
outward,
on hinges
at the vertical
edge |
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| Ceiling
Joist:
A horizontally
placed framing
members
at the ceiling
of the top-most
living space
of a house
that provides
a platform
to which
the finished
ceiling
material
can be attached. |
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| Chair
Rail:
Decorative
trim applied
around the
perimeter
of a room
such as
a formal
dining room
or kitchen/breakfast
nook at
the approximate
same height
as the back
of a chair.
It is sometimes
used as
a cap trim
for wainscoting.
See
Wainscoting |
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| Chimney:
A masonry
or in more
modern construction
wood framed
enclosure
that surrounds
and contains
one or more
flues and
extends
above the
roofline.
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| Chimney
Cap: Concrete
capping
around the
top of the
chimney
brick to
protect
the masonry
work from
the elements. |
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| Chimney
Flues:
The space
or channel
in a chimney
that carries
off the
smoke and
other combustion
gasses to
the outside
air. Most
homes will
have a terracotta
tile flue
or a metal
flue. |
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| Circulator
Pump: The
pump on
a hot water
boiler which
moves the
water through
the heating
pipes and
radiators. |
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| Collar
Beam: A
horizontal
beam fastened
between
rafters
which are
opposite
each other
to add rigidity
to the roof
framing |
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| Compressor:
The
main element
in a central
air conditioning
system.
It compresses
the gaseous
refrigerant. |
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| Concrete
Floor:
A hardened
mixture
of cement,
aggregate
and water.
The cement
portion
is generally
portland
cement which
is made
by heating
raw materials
containing
alumina
and calcium.
The aggregate
is generally
sand or
gravel.
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| Condensate
Line: The
line which
removes
dehumidified
water from
the air
conditioning
system's
evaporator
coil area. |
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Corner
Brace:
Diagonal
braces placed
at the corners
of framed
walls to
stiffen
them and
provide
extra strength. |
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| Cornice:
An overhang
of a pitched
roof at
the eave
line that
usually
consists
of a fascia
board, a
soffit and
any appropriate
moldings
or vents. |
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Cornice
Moulding:
A horizontal
piece, usually
molding,
that tops
a column,
wall, etc.
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| Creosote:
A black,
gummy, combustible
substance
which is
formed when
wood burns.
Since it
tends to
cling to
the inner
lining of
the chimney,
it should
be removed
periodically
as a precaution. |
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Door
Jamb:
The top
and sides
of the door
to include
the wall
framing
as well
as the
actual door
frame and
trim. |
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Door
Trim-casing:
The finish
trim details
around the
perimeter
of the door
on the interior
finished
wall. |
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| Downspout:
A pipe,
usually
of metal
or vinyl,
that is
connected
to the gutters
and is used
to carry
the roof-water
runoff down
and away
from the
house. Learn
more about
downspouts. |
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Downspout
Gooseneck:
Segmented
section
of downspout
that is
bent at
a radius
to allow
the
downspout
to be attached
to the house
and to follow
the bends
and curves
of the eaves
and ground.
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| Downspout
Shoe:
The bottom
downspout
gooseneck
that directs
the water
from the
downspout
to the extension
or splash
block at
the grade.
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Downspout
Strap:
Strap used
to secure
the downspout
to the side
of the house.
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Drain
Tile:
A tube or
cylinder
that is
normally
installed
around the
exterior
perimeter
of the foundation
footings
that collects
and directs
ground water
away from
the foundation
of the house.
The tile
can be individual
sections
of clay
or asphalt
tubing or,
in more
recent construction,
a perforated
plastic
drain-tile
that is
approximately
4 inches
in diameter.
The drain
tile leads
either towards
a sump or
to an exterior
discharge
away from
the house.
Learn more
about surface
water control. |
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| Eave:
The
extension
of a roof
beyond the
house walls |
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| Economic
Life: The
average
expected
useful life
span, based
upon company
experience. |
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| Efflorescence:
White
powder that
forms on
the surface
of masonry
when moisture
is present. |
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| Effluent:
Treated
sewage from
a septic
tank, usually
over 99%
liquid |
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| Entrance
Canopy:
A small
overhanging
roof that
shelters
the front
entrance.
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| Entrance
stoop:
An elevated
platform
constructed
of wood
framing
or masonry
at the front
entry that
allows visitors
to stand
above or
out of the
elements.
The platform
should be
wide enough
to allow
someone
to stand
on the platform
while opening
an outward
swinging
door such
as a storm
door even
if one is
not present. |
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| Exterior
siding:
The decorative
exterior
finish on
a house.
Its primary
function
is to protect
the shell
of the house
from the
elements.
The choice
of siding
materials
varies widely
to include
wood, brick,
metal, vinyl,
concrete,
stucco,
and a variety
of man-made
compositions
such as
compressed
wood, compressed
cellulose
(paper),
fiber-reinforced
cement,
and synthetic
stucco.
Learn more
about exterior
sidings |
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| Fascia:
The visible
flat front
board that
caps the
rafter tail
ends and
encloses
the overhang
under the
eave that
runs along
the roof
edge and
at the edge
of the roofing
at the gables.
The gutter
is usually
attached
to this
board at
the eaves.
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| Fiberboard:
A flexible
board-like
material
made from
pressed
fibers of
wood |
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| Finish
Floor:
The final
floor covering
inside the
living space
of a house.
The most
common types
of finishes
are carpeting,
hardwood
flooring,
ceramic
or stone
tile, parquet
panels or
vinyl sheet
flooring.
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| Finished
Grade Line:
A pre-determined
line indicating
the proposed
elevation
of the ground
surface
around a
building. |
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| Firebox:
The
cavity in
the open
face of
the fireplace
in which
the fire
is maintained.
The firebox
leads directly
to the fireplace
flue. The
firebox
is constructed
of fire
or refractory
brick set
in fireclay
or reinforced
mortar in
traditional
masonry
fireplaces.
The firebox
may also
be constructed
of metal
or ceramic-coated
metal panels
in more
modern prefabricated
fireplaces.
The walls
of the firebox
are usually
slanted
towards
the living
space both
to direct
smoke up
towards
the flue
and to reflect
heat into
the room.
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| Fireplace
Cleanout
Door:
The access
door to
the ash
pit beneath
the fireplace.
On a fireplace
that is
located
inside the
house, the
cleanout
door is
usually
located
in the lowest
accessible
level of
the house
such as
the basement
or crawl
space. On
a fireplace
that is
located
at the outside
of the house,
the cleanout
door will
be located
at the exterior
of the chimney.
Not all
fireplaces
are equipped
with a cleanout
door. |
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| Fireplace
Hearth:
The inner
or outer
floor of
a fireplace
usually
made of
brick, tile,
or stone.
Fireboxes
that have
more than
6 square
feet should
have hearth
extensions
that extend
a minimum
of 20”
in front
of the firebox
and a minimum
of 12”
beyond each
side of
the opening.
Fireboxes
that have
less than
6 square
feet have
to be a
minimum
of 16”
out and
8”
on each
side. |
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| Flashing:
Non-corrosive
metal or
material
used around
roof protrusions
or junctions
in roof
and exterior
walls to
prevent
leaks. |
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Floor
Joists:
The main
sub-floor
framing
members
that support
the floor
span. Joists
are
usually
made of
engineered
wood I-beams
or 2x8 (or
larger)
lumber.
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| Flue:
A passageway
in a chimney
for conveying
smoke, gases
or fumes
to the outside
air. |
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| Foundation
Footing:
The base
on which
the foundation
walls rests.
The foundation
is wider
than the
foundation
wall in
order to
spread out
the load
it is bearing
and to help
prevent
settling. |
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Foundation
Wall:
The supporting
portion
of a structure
at the bottom
of the structure.
The
foundation
supports
the building.
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| Framing
studs: A
2x4 or 2x6
vertical
framing
member used
to construct
walls and
partitions,
usually
spaced 12
to 16 inches
apart. |
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Furring
Strips:
Strips of
wood or
metal applied
to a wall
or other
surface
to make
the surface
even. Furring
normally
serves as
a fastening
base for
finish material.
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