ABS - Type of black plastic pipe used for waste water lines.
Actual Dimension (Lumber) - Exact measurement of lumber after it has been cut, dried and milled.
Aggregate - Crushed rock used as a top layer in some flat-roof applications.
Air Chamber - A vertical, air filled pipe that prevents water hammer by absorbing pressure when water is shut off at a faucet or valve.
Air-dried lumber - Lumber that is stored in yards or sheds for any length of time.
Allowable Span - The distance between two supporting points for load bearing lumber.
Allowance - A sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified.
Amperage or AMPS - A unit of electrical current or volume.
Anchor bolts - Bolts used to secure a wooden sill plate to a concrete or masonry floor or wall.
Angle Iron - Structural steel bent at a 90 degree angle.
APA Plywood (APA) - Plywood that has been rated by the American Plywood Association.
Architect - A person who designs buildings and advises in their construction.
Asphalt - Brownish-black solid or semisolid mixture of bitumen’s used in paving, roofing & waterproofing.
Asphalt Plastic Cement - Asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials.
Attic ventilators - Screened openings used to ventilate an attic space, can also consist of power-driven fans used as an exhaust system.
Backfill - Gravel or earth put into a trench around and against a basement foundation to replace excavated earth.
Backflow - Reverse flow of water or other liquids into the water supply pipes, caused by negative pressure in the pipes.
Balusters - Small vertical supports of a balustrade rail.
Balustrade - A row of balusters topped by a rail, edging a balcony or a staircase.
Base sheet - Bottom layer of built-up roofing.
Baseboard - Board placed along the floor against the walls & partitions to hide the gap between the floor & plaster.
Batt - Insulation that comes in the form of a blanket rather than loose fill.
Batten - Narrow strips of wood used to cover joints or as decorative vertical members over plywood or wide boards.
Bay window - Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building.
Beam - Principal structural piece (made of wood or steel) used to support a house.
Bearing partition/wall - Partition/wall that supports a floor, in addition to its own weight.
Blue Print - A type of copying method to describe the drawing of a structure which is prepared by an architect for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction.
Board Foot - The volume of a piece of wood measuring 12 inches square and in inch thick.
Bolster - Short horizontal timber or steel beam used on top of a column to support and decrease the span of beams or girders.
Boston ridge - Method of applying asphalt or wood shingles at the ridge of a roof as a finish.
Box Cornice - A cornice completely closed with trim work.
Brace - Piece of wood or other material used to form a triangle and stiffen part of a structure.
Branch Circuit (Electrical) - Wiring that runs from a service panel or sub-panel to outlets.
Brick veneer - The facing of brick used as the outer surface of a framed wall.
Bridging - Small wood or metal pieces placed diagonally between floor joists.
Building paper - Heavy paper used in walls or roofs to absorb dampness.
Built-up roof - Roofing material applied in sealed, waterproof layers on flat or low-pitched roofs.
Bundle - A package of shingles.
Butt edge - The lower edge of the shingle tabs.
Butt joint - Where two pieces of wood or molding are joined at a point.
BX Cable (Electrical) - Metallic sheathed cable containing A/C electrical wiring.
Cap Sheet - A top layer in built-up roofing.
Carriage - Piece which supports the steps or treads of a stair.
Casement - Window sash that opens on hinges at the vertical edge.
Casing - Molding of various widths and thickness used to frame doors and windows.
Cast-Iron Pipe (Plumbing) - Drain and vent lines.
Catch Basin - Drain for a low or wet spot, with pipe exiting the side & a pit at the bottom to collect sediment.
Caulking - Flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces.
Cavity wall - Hollow wall formed by linking masonry walls to provide an insulating air space.
Cells (Masonry) - Hollow spaces in concrete blocks.
Chair rail - Wooden molding on a wall around a room at the level of a chair back.
Chalk Line - A line made by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk for alignment.
Change Order - Written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or price of the construction Contract.
Chase - Groove in wall or floor to accommodate pipes or ducts.
Circuit - Network of wiring that commence at a panel box, feeds electricity to outlets & returns to the panel box.
Circuit Breaker - It is designed to shut of the power to portions or the entire house and to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit.
Clapboard - Long thin board (thicker on one edge) overlapped and nailed for exterior siding.
Class "A" Fire Resistance - Highest fire-resistance rating for roofing. Indicates that roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.
Class "B" Fire Resistance - Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing material is able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.
Class "C" Fire Resistance - Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing material is able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.
Cleanout (Plumbing) - Drain fitting, with a removable plug to permit inspection and access for an auger or snake.
Cleat - A small piece of lumber attached to another piece of lumber to strengthen or support it.
Closet Bend - Curved drain pipe that is located beneath the base of the toilet & attached to a closet flange.
Closet Bolts - Bolts whose head is fitted to a closet flange that protrudes up through a toilet base.
Closet Flange - Floor flange that's held to the floor with screws or anchors where a toilet mounts directly above it.
Coal Tar - A viscous liquid mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, derived, from the destructive distillation of coal.
Coating - A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded.
Code - Rules set forth by various government and private sector bodies to determine minimum trade practices.
Collar - Preformed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roofing above the vent pipe opening.
Collar Tie - A horizontal board attached perpendicular to rafters.
Column - Perpendicular supporting member, circular or rectangular in section, usually consisting of a base, shaft, and capital.
Common Rafter - Rafter that extends from the top plate to the ridge. Generally set 12, 16, or 24 inches apart.
Compression Fitting - Used to join or connect pipes and conduit by causing a ring to compress against the connecting tube when tightening with a wrench.
Concealed Nail Method - Application of roll roofing in which all nails are driven into the underlying course of roofing and covered by a cemented, overlapping course.
Concrete - A common construction material often used for foundations, ground level floors, and sidewalks.
Concrete Block - Hollow concrete 'brick' often 8" x 8" x 16" in size.
Concrete Board - Panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.
Concrete Grout - A mixture of 3/8-inch pea gravel, sand, cement and water that you pour into the cells of concrete-block walls to reinforce them.
Condensation - The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.
Conductor (Electrical) - Anything that conducts or carries electricity.
Conduit (Electrical) - Tubing used to protect wiring.
Construction Adhesive - Thick-bodied adhesive, suited to a wide range of repair and construction tasks.
Construction Contract - Legal document which specifies the what-when-where-how-how much and by whom in a construction project.
Continuity Tester - Electrical tool used to identify and diagnose a circuit as either open or closed.
Contractor - A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities.
Convection - Air naturally circulated by differences in temperature. Colder, denser air falls and displaces the lighter, warm air.
Coping Joint - The intersection of a roof slope and an exterior vertical wall.
Copper Pipe - Used to carry water to fixtures and appliances.
Corbel - Horizontal projection from a wall to form a ledge or support structure.
Corner bead - Strip of formed sheet metal or wood placed on corners before plastering to reinforce & protect them.
Corner boards - Used as trim for the external corners of a house where the ends of the siding are finished.
Corner braces - Diagonal braces at the corners of a frame structure to stiffen and strengthen the wall.
Cornerite - Metal-mesh lath cut into strips and bent to a right angle. Used in interior corners of walls and ceilings to prevent cracks in plastering.
Cornice - The overhang of a pitched roof.
Cornice return - Part of the cornice that returns on the gable end of a house.
Course - A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.
Covenants - Restrictions on how you can use or modify your property, intended to preserve the character of the community.
Coverage - Amount of weather protection provided by the roofing material.
Crawl space - Shallow, unfinished space below the first floor of a house with no basement or a shallow space in the attic, immediately under the roof.
Cricket - Saddle-shaped, peaked construction connecting a sloping roof plane with a chimney.
Cripple Stud - Short stud used as support in wall openings.
Cripple Walls - In a wood-frame house, the section of wall under the house between the concrete foundation and the floor joists.
Crosscutting - Cutting across the wood grain; to crosscut a board is to cut across its width.
Crown molding - Molding used on cornice or wherever an interior angle is to be covered.
Curb (Roofing) - Short elevation of an exterior wall above the deck of a commercial flat roof.
Curb Roof - Roof with an upper and lower set of rafters on each side, the under set being less inclined to the horizon than the upper.
Curing (Masonry) - A chemical reaction in cement-based materials. The longer these materials stay damp, the stronger they get.
Curing (Paint) - The process of paint bonding to a surface.
Curtain Drain - Ditch sometimes filled with gravel and a drain tile which diverts storm and drain water away from a structure.
Cut-in brace - Nominal 2-inch-thick members, usually 2 by 4’s, cut in between each stud diagonally.
Dado - A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank.
Deck - The surface, installed over the supporting framing members, to which the roofing is applied.
Designer - One who designs houses, interiors, landscaping or other objects.
Diverter Valve - Device that changes the direction of water flow from one faucet to another.
Doorjamb - The surrounding case of door which consists of two upright pieces called side jambs and a horizontal head jamb.
Dormer - The projecting frame of a recess in a sloping roof.
Double Hung Window - Window with two vertically sliding sashes.
Downspout - A pipe for draining water from roof gutters.
Dressed & matched or tongued & grooved - Boards or planks machined in such a matter that there is a groove on one edge and a corresponding tongue on the other.
Drip Edge - Non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the eaves & rakes to allow water runoff to drip clear of underlying construction.
Drywall - An interior covering material, such as gypsum board or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.
Ducts - Round or rectangular metal pipes used for distributing warm or cold air from heating and/or air conditioning systems.
Easement - A formal contract which allows a party to use another party's property for a specific purpose.
Eaves - The lower part of a roof projecting beyond the house walls.
Eaves Flashing - Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water backup.
Estimate - The anticipated cost of materials, labor, and associated cost for a proposed construction, repair, or remodeling project.
Expansion Joint - A joint that allows for expansion and contraction during temperature changes.
Exposure - The portion of the roofing exposed to the weather after installation.
Facia or fascia - Flat board, band, or face located at the outer face of the cornice.
Feathering Strips - Tapered wood filler strips placed along the butt edges of old wood shingles to create a level surface when re-roofing over existing wood shingle roofs.
Felt - Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.
Fibered Aluminum Roof Coating - High-performance metallic reflective barrier for prepared roofing, metal surfaces and exterior masonry.
Fibered Roof and Foundation Coating - Combined application for this special medium-viscosity-grade fibered material.
Fibered Roof Coating - Optimal protection for low-sloped roofs. This thick, high-quality coating seals fine cracks and openings.
Fiberglass Mat - Asphalt roofing base material manufactured from glass fibers.
Fishplate - Wood or plywood piece used to fasten the ends of two members together at a butt joint with nails or bolts.
Fixed Price Contract - Contract with a set price for the work.
Flagstone - Flat stones (1 to 4 inches thick) used for rustic walks, steps, floors, and the like.
Flapper Valve (Plumbing) - Valve that replaces a tank stopper in a toilet. Creates a seal between the tank and the bowl.
Flashing - Noncorrosive metal used in roof and wall construction to prevent leaks.
Floor joists - Framing pieces which rest on outer foundation walls and interior beams.
Flue - A passageway in a chimney which allows smoke, gases or fumes to escape.
Flux - Material applied to the surface of copper pipes and fittings to assist in the cleaning and bonding process.
Fly rafters - End rafters of the gable overhang supported by roof sheathing and lookouts.
Footing - Concrete base on which a foundation sits.
Forced Air Heating - A common form of heating with natural gas, propane, oil or electricity as a fuel. Air is heated in the furnace and distributed through a set of metal plastic ducts to various areas of the house.
Foundation - The supporting portion of a house structure, which is usually below ground level.
Foundation Coating - High-quality below-grade moisture protection. Used for below-grade exterior concrete and masonry wall damp-proofing to seal out moisture and prevent corrosion.
Framing - Rough lumber of a house-joists, studs, rafters and beams.
Free-tab Shingles - Shingles that do not contain factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.
Fungal Wood Rot - A wood destroying organism which develops when wood containing material is exposed to moisture and poor air circulation for a long (6 month +) period of time.
Furring - Thin strips of wood or metal applied to a wall or other surface to level the surface for latching, boarding or plastering.
Fuse - A device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines.
Gable Roof - A type of roof with sloping planes of the same pitch on each side of the ridge. Has a gable at each end.
Gasket (Plumbing) - Device used to seal joints against leaks.
Girder - Principal beam in a framed floor supporting the joists which carry the flooring boards. It carries the weight of a floor or partition.
Girdle - Large principal beam or steel, reinforced concrete, wood, or combination of these, used to support other structural members at isolated points along its length.
Glazing - The process of fitting glass into windows or doors.
Gloss - A paint or enamel that contains a relatively low proportion of pigment and dries to a sheen or luster.
Grain - Refers to the direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood.
Granules - Crushed rock coated with ceramic material, applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products to add color and reduce ultraviolet degradation.
Grout - Mortar that is used to fill the joints of tile.
Gusset - Brace or bracket use to provide a connection between wood members.
Gutter - Shallow channel at the eaves of a house to catch and carry off rainwater from the roof.
Gypsum plaster - (Aka plasterboard or drywall) is the most widely used wall covering today because of its flexibility.
Header - A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for chimney, stairway, or other opening.
Hearth - The inner or outer floor of a fireplace usually made of brick, tile, or stone.
Heat Pump - A device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house.
Heel - The end of a rafter that rests on the wall plate.
Hip - The external angle formed by the juncture of two sloping sides of a roof.
Humidifier - A device used to increase the humidity within a room or a house by discharging water vapor.
Hurricane Ties - Metal fasteners used to secure rafters in structures subject to hurricane winds.
I-beam - A steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter I.
Insulation - Material that is placed in walls, ceilings and floors to reduce the rate of heat flow.
Interior finish - Material used to cover the interior framed areas, or materials used to cover walls and ceilings.
Interlocking Shingles - Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to provide wind resistance.
Jack Stud - A partial stud nailed next to full studs to support the header at door (and some window) openings.
Jamb - The upright surface that line an opening for a door or window.
Joint - Space between the adjacent surfaces of two components joined and held together by nails, glue, cement, mortar, or other means.
Joint cement - (Often called spackle) is powder mixture used for joint treatment in gypsum-wallboard finish.
Joist - One of a series of parallel beams, usually 2 inches in thickness, used to support floor and ceiling loads.
Kiln dried - Artificial process of drying lumber, which is considered to be a more superior process than air dried lumber.
Landing - Platform between flights of stairs or at the end of a flight of stairs.
Lap - To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.
Lap Cement - Asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing.
Lath - A building material of wood, metal, gypsum, or insulating board that is fastened to the frame of a building to act as a plaster base.
Lattice - Framework of crossed wood or metal strips.
Ledger strip - Strip of lumber nailed along the bottom of the side of a girder on which joists rest.
Level - Term use to describe any horizontal surface whereby all sides are at the same elevation.
Lintel - The top horizontal piece over a door or window which supports walls above the opening.
Load-bearing wall - A strong wall capable of supporting weight.
Louver - An opening with horizontal slats that allows for the passage of air, but not rain, light or vision.
Low-slope Application - Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 2 and 4 inches per foot.
Lumber - Timber that is sawed into boards, planks or other structural members in standard or specified lengths.
Main Vent (or Stack) - Principal vent to which branch vents may be connected.
Mansard Roof - A roof with two sloping planes of different pitch on each of its four sides.
Mantel - The shelf above a fireplace.
Manufactured Wood - A wood product which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces, glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece.
Manufacturers Specifications - The written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed by the manufacturer of a product and which may have to be followed in order to maintain the product warranty.
Masonry - Stone, brick, concrete, hollow-tile, concrete block, gypsum block, or other similar building materials bonded together with mortar to form a wall.
Masonry Primer - An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces for bonding with other asphalt products.
Mastic - Pasty material used as cement (for setting tile) or a protective coating (thermal insulation or waterproofing).
Mineral Stabilizers - Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials added to asphalt coatings for durability and increased resistance to fire and weathering.
Mineral-surfaced Roofing - Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are covered with granules.
Moisture barrier - Treated paper or metal that prevents water vapor from passing into walls or floors.
Molding - Strip of decorative material, usually wood, to hide gaps.
Mortise - Slot cut into a piece of wood, stone or other material to receive a tenon and form a joint.
Mudsill - A wood foundation member bolted to the foundation and on which other farming members can be attached.
Mullion - Slender framing which divides the lights or panes of windows and doors.
Natural finish - Transparent finish which does not seriously alter the original color or grain of the natural wood.
Nesting - A method of reroofing with new asphalt shingles over old shingles in which the top edge of the new shingles is butted against the bottom edge of the existing shingle tab.
Newel - An upright post where the end of a stair railing or balustrade is fastened.
No-cutout Shingles - Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no cutouts.
Nonbearing wall - A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.
Nonfibered Aluminum Roof Coating - Thin but efficient reflective barrier to reflect sun's harmful rays and prolong surface life.
Nonfibered Roof and Foundation Coating - Dual purposed, this thin-viscosity material doubles as a nonfibered roof or foundation coating.
Nonfibered Roof Coating - Thin coating will give low-sloped roofs, as well as metal and masonry surfaces, added protection.
Nonveneer Panel - Any wood-based panel that does not contain veneer and carries an APA span rating, such as wafer board or oriented strand board.
Normal Slope Application - Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot.
Nosing - Rounded edges of a stair tread.
O. C. (on center) - Measurement of spacing for studs, rafters, joists, and the like in a home from the center of one member to the center of the next.
Open Valley - Method of valley construction in which shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line snapped on each side of the valley.
Organic Felt - An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers.
Oriented Strand Board or Chip Board or Wafer Board - A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue.
Overhang - The portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.
Pallets - Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles.
Panel - Thin flat piece of wood, plywood, or similar material, framed by stiles and rails as in a 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, especially a flat roof, to prevent people from falling off.
Parting stop or strip - Small wooden piece used in the jambs of double-hung windows to separate upper and lower sash.
Payment Schedule - A pre agreed upon schedule of payments to a contractor usually based upon the amount of work completed.
Permit - A governmental authorization to perform a building process
Pier Block - A concrete block used to support foundation members such as posts, beams, girders and joist.
Pitch - The angle of slope of a roof.
Plaster grounds - Strips of wood used as guides around window and door openings and at the base of walls.
Plasterboard - An interior covering material, such as gypsum board or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.
Plastic Roof Cement - Used as a waterproofing medium in new construction and as a general-purpose exterior repair and maintenance material. Stops roof and other leaks fast.
Ply - The number of layers of roofing; i.e. one-ply, two-ply.
Plywood - A piece of wood made of three or more layers of veneer joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles.
Post-and-beam construction - Refers to wall construction in which beams are supported by heavy posts rather than smaller studs.
Prefabrication - The process of manufacturing (a section of a home, for example) in advance.
Pressure Relief Valve - A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release any high steam pressure in the tank and thus prevent tank explosions.
PVC (Polyvinyl Choride) or CPVC - A type of white plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.
Quarter round - Small molding that has the cross section of a quarter circle.
Quick-setting cement - Asphalt-based cement used to adhere tabs of strip shingles to the course below.
Quote or Quotation - A price provided by a contractor, sub-contractor, or vendor to furnish materials, labor and/or both.
R Value - A measure of insulation's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R Value the more effective the insulation.
Rabbet - Rectangular groove cut into a board to receive another board.
Radiant heating - A method of heating, which usually consists of a forced hot water system with pipes placed in the floor, wall, or ceiling.
Rafter - One of a series of structural roof members designed to support roof loads.
Rake Edge - The overhang of an inclined roof plane beyond the vertical wall below it.
Random-tab Shingles - Shingles on which tabs vary in size and exposure.
Rebar - Rebar is a rod of steel placed into the concrete, usually in square feet one or two.
Reinforced concrete - Concrete that is strengthened with wire or metal bars.
Relative Humidity - The amount of moisture in a volume of air as a percentage of the maximum amount of moisture which can be held in that air at a certain temperature - cold air can't hold as much moisture as warmer air.
Resilient Flooring - Durable floor cover that has the ability to resume its original shape.
Ridge - Horizontal line at the junction of the top edges of two sloping roof surfaces.
Ridge Cut - The end cut on a rafter that fits to the ridgeboard.
Ridge Shingles - Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Ridgeboards - Horizontal support at the ridge of a roof to which opposing rafters are attached.
Rise - The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.
Rolled roofing - Roofing material, composed of fiber and satin rated with asphalt.
Roof sheathing - Boards or sheet materials which are nailed to the top edges of trusses or rafters to tie the roof together and support the roofing material.
Roofing Membrane - The layer or layers of waterproofing products that cover the roof deck.
Rough Flooring - Materials used to form an unfinished floor.
Rough Opening (R.O.) - Any framed, but unfinished opening.
Sash - The moveable part of a window frame in which panes of glass are set in a window or door.
Saturant - Asphalt used to impregnate a felt-base material.
Saturated Felt - An underlayment, or water-resistant layer, put down beneath shingles and made of felt impregnated with asphalt.
Scratch coat - First coat of plaster, which is scratched to form a bond for the second coat.
Scribing - The process of fitting woodwork to an irregular surface.
Sealer - Finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is applied over uncoated wood to seal the surface.
Seepage pit - Sewage disposal system comprised of a septic tank and connected cesspool.
Self-sealing Shingles - Shingles containing factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.
Septic tank - A large sewage disposal tank where a continuous flow of waste material is decomposed by bacteria.
Setback Thermostat - Thermostat with a clock which can be programmed to various temperatures at different times of the day/week.
Shading - Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.
Shake - Hand cut wood shingles.
Sheathing - First structural covering of boards on the outside wall or roof prior to installing the finished side or roof covering,
Shed roof - A roof containing only one sloping plane. Have no hips, ridges, valleys or gables.
Shim - A tapered piece of wood used to level and secure a structure.
Shingles - Pieces of asphalt. asbestos, wood, tile, slate, or other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thickness for covering roofs and walls.
Shiplap - Boards with rabbeted edges which overlap.
Shutter - Lightweight louvered or flush wood or non-wood frames in the form of doors located at each side of a window.
Siding - Finished covering of the outside wall.
Sill - Lowest member of the house frame, which rests on the foundation and supports the floor joists or the uprights of the wall.
Single Coverage - Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck.
Skip Sheathing - The normal base for shake, shingle and some tile roofs.
Slab on Grade - A type of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directly on the soil.
Sleeper - A strip of wood laid over concrete to support and fasten sub-floor or flooring.
Slope - The incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise (in inches) to the run (in feet).
Smooth-surfaced Roofing - Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules.
Soffit - The visible underside of structures such as staircases, cornices, beams, a roof overhand or eave.
Soil stack - A vertical plumbing pipe for waste water.
Span - The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Specifications or Specs - A narrative list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details which supplement the information contained in the blue prints.
Splash Block - A pad which is placed under the lower end of a downspout and diverts the water from the downspout away from the house.
Square - Unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.
Square Foot - Coverage measured by multiplying width by length.
Square-tab Shingles - Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.
Standard Practices of the Trade(s) - One of the more common basic and minimum construction standards.
Starter Strip - Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provide protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the first course of shingles.
Steep-slope Application - Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot.
Step Flashing - Flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane.
Stile - An upright framing member in a panel door.
Storm sash or storm window - An extra window usually placed outside of an existing one for added protection against cold weather.
Stringer - A long, horizontal support which connects uprights in a frame or supports a floor. In stairs it’s the support on which the treads and risers rest.
Strip Shingles - Asphalt shingles that are approximately three times as long as they are wide.
Stucco - A wall covering composed of cement, sand and lime.
Studs - The vertical structural members to which horizontal pieces are nailed. Studs are spaced 16 or 24 inches apart.
Sub-floor - Boards or plywood sheets laid on joists over which a finish floor is to be laid.
Suspended ceiling - Ceiling system supported by hanging it from the overhead structural framing.
Tab - The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.
Threshold - A strip of wood or metal with beveled edges used over the finished floor and the sill of exterior doors.
Tongued and grooved - Are boards or planks machined in such a matter that there is a groove on one edge and a corresponding tongue on the other.
Tread - The horizontal board in a stairway on which the foot is placed.
Treated Lumber - A wood product which has been impregnated with chemicals to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.
Trim - The finished material such as molding which is applied around openings - window or door trim - or at the floor and ceiling - baseboard, cornice.
Truss - Manufactured wood member often in the form of a large triangle which is used to form the ceiling joists and rafters on the top floor of a home.
U.L. - Underwriters Laboratories, a private research firm located in the United States that attempts to classify and determine the safety of various materials and products.
Ultraviolet Degradation - A reduction in certain performance limits caused by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Undercoat - A coating applied prior to the finishing or top coats of a paint job.
Underlayment - A material placed under finished coverings, such as flooring, or shingles, to provide a smooth, even surface for applying the finish.
UV Rays - Ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Valley - The internal angle formed by the junction of two sloping sides of a roof.
Vapor barrier - Material such as paper, metal or paint used to prevent vapor from passing from rooms into the outside walls.
Veneer - Thin sheets of wood glued together to make plywood.
Venetian window - Window with one large fixed central pane and smaller panes at each side.
Vent - A pipe or duct which allows flow of air as an inlet or outlet.
Voltage - A measure of electrical potential.
Wainscoting - When you finish the lower part of an internal wall with a material different from the upper part - usually with wood paneling.
Warranty - In construction there are two general types of warranties. One is provided by the manufacturer of a product. The second is a warranty for the labor.
Watt - A measure of the electrical requirement of an appliance calculated by multiplying voltage x amperage.
Wax Ring Job - Removing a toilet from the floor so that a blockage can be manually removed or to replace a degraded wax ring.
Weather-strip - A narrow metal, wood, plastic or other material installed around door and window opening to prevent air infiltration.
Weep hole - A small hole in a wall which allows water to drain off.
Woven Valley - Method of valley construction in which shingles from both sides of the valley extend across the valley and are woven together by overlapping alternate courses as they are applied.
Z-bar flashing - A bent, galvanized metal flashing that's installed above a horizontal trim board of an exterior window, door, or brick run to prevent water from getting behind the trim or brick into the home.
Zone - The means my which heat or cold air can be controlled.