A - F

  • Allowance: A budgeted amount set aside for specific items in a construction project, such as fixtures or finishes, which can be chosen later.

    Anchor Bolts: Bolts used to attach structures to concrete foundations.

    Architect: A licensed professional who designs buildings and oversees their construction.

    As-Built Drawings: Drawings that show the final specifications of a building, including any changes made during construction.

  • Backfill: Material used to refill an excavation around a foundation or other structure.

    Baluster: A vertical post or spindle supporting a handrail or parapet.

    Balustrade: A railing supported by balusters, typically found on staircases and balconies.

    Basement: A floor of a building that is party or entirely below ground level, often used for storage, mechanical systems, or additional living spaces.

    Batt Insulation: Pre-cut sections of insulation, often made from fiberglass or mineral wool, used between framing studs and joists.

    Beam: A horizontal structural element that supports loads, typically found in floors and ceilings.

    Bearing Wall: A wall that supports a load in addition to its own weight.

    Blueprints: Detailed architectural drawings used to guide the construction of a building.

    Building Codes: Regulations that dictate the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings to ensure safety and health standards are met. here

  • Cantilever: A projecting beam or structure supported at only one end.

    Casing: Trim around windows and doors.

    Caulking: A sealing material used to fill gaps and joints to make them watertight.

    Certificate of Occupancy: An official document issued by a local government agency certifying that a building complies with applicable building codes and is safe to occupy.

    Change Order: A written order to make changes to the construction plans, specifications, or schedule.

    Cladding: Material used to cover the exterior of a building for protection and aesthetic purposes.

    Clerestory: Windows placed high on a wall to allow light into a space without compromising privacy.

    Column: A vertical structural element that supports loads, typically found in buildings and other structures.

    Concrete Mix: The combination of cement, aggregate, and water used to make concrete.

    Construction Loan: A short-term loan used to finance the building of a home or other real estate project.

    Contingency Fund: A budgeted amount set aside to cover unexpected expenses during construction.

    Contractor: A person or company responsible for overseeing the construction of a building.

    Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs): Rules and regulations governing the use of property within a community.

    Crawl Space: A shallow, unfinished space beneath the first floor of a building, used for access to plumbing and electrical systems.

  • Dampproofing: Treatment applied to building surfaces to resist the passage of water in the absence of hydrostatic pressure.

    Datum: A reference point or surface against which measurements are made.

    Decking: Material, usually wood or composite, used to create a flat surface, often used for outdoor platforms or floors.

    Demolition: The process of tearing down buildings or other structures.

    Design-Build: A project delivery method in which design and construction services are contracted by a single entity.

    Detail Drawing: An enlarged portion of a construction drawing that shows a part of the construction in greater detail.

    Dewatering: The process of removing water from a construction site, often to prepare for excavation or to manage groundwater.

    Dimensional Lumber: Standard sizes of wood used in construction, typically referring to 2x4s, 2x6s, etc.

    Door Schedule: A chart or table that lists all doors required in a project, including sizes, types, and locations.

    Dormer: A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.

    Double Glazing: Windows that have two layers of glass with a space between them to reduce heat transfer and noise.

    Dowel: A cylindrical rod, usually made of wood, plastic, or metal, used to reinforce joints.

    Drip Edge: A metal flashing installed at the edges of the roof to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutters.

    Drywall: A construction material used to create walls and ceilings, consisting of a gypsum plaster core sandwiched between two sheets of heavy paper.

    Ductwork: A system of ducts used for air distribution in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

    Duplex: A residential building divided into two separate living units.

  • Easement: A legal right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as a driveway or utility line.

    Egress: A way out or exit, especially a requirement for safe evacuation in case of an emergency.

    Elevation: A scale drawing of the exterior or interior sides of a building.

    Energy Efficiency: The use of technology and design to reduce energy consumption in a building.

    Engineer: A professional who applies scientific principles to design, construct, and maintain structures and systems.

    EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System): A type of building exterior wall cladding that provides insulation and waterproofing in an integrated system.

    Escrow: A financial arrangement where a third party holds funds or assets until specific conditions are met.

    Excavation: The process of digging out and removing earth to prepare a site for construction. here

  • Facade: The front or face of a building, often characterized by architectural details.

    Finishings: Materials and details added to the interior and exterior of a building to complete its appearance.

    Flashing: Thin material used to prevent water from penetrating a building at joints and openings.

    Floor Plan: A scale diagram of the arrangement of rooms and spaces in a building.

    Footings: The base or bottom part of a foundation that spreads the load to the ground. Must be installed below the local frost line

    Footprint: The outline of a building's ground floor plan.

    Foundation: The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

    Framing: The structural framework of a building, made up of beams, joists, studs, trusses and rafters.

    Frost Line: The depth at which the ground freezes during the coldest part of the year.