Construction & Home Renovation Glossary
Building Dictionary of Terms
Listed below, is a summary of some of the more commonly used terms, endearments, lingo or slang expressions, that are used within the construction industry. Each area of the country has a different glossary of terms, and as with the description of a sandwich as a sub, a hoagie or a grinder, misleading terms can lead to some interesting and confusing encounters. If you are either using a contractor from another part of the country, or are building in an area that you are not familiar with, be aware, that construction terms can be used in different manners throughout the nation. A particular term used very commonly in the northeast, may not even enter the glossary of established terms in the south. Also, the same term, in different areas of the country, can have a totally different meaning, so be very careful!
Let me caution all residential owners that are involved with the construction industry, contractors, tend to be overly dramatic and inconsistent in their communication. There are contractors that will not get excited if the house is on fire, there are others, that will cause a major confrontation, if the grass is too long in the front yard. Contractors are neither consistent nor controlled, therefore there are several phrases, slang expressions, etc that could be bantered about, dependent upon the location of the work, the temperature, the humidity, or any other excuse for presenting and basking in confusing communication.
Listed below, is my best presentation, of commonly used terms, hopefully this will clarify some of the confusion.
Frequently used terms:
- A2 Survey
- Acceleration
- Active Layer
- Active Panel
- Actuator
- ADA
- ADA Compliant
- Addendum
- Admixture ( masonry )
- AFF / Above Finish Floor
- AHU: Air Handling Unit
- Air Changes Per Hour
- Air Entrainment
- Air Gap
- Allowances
- Analog Information
- Anchor Bolts
- Angle of Repose
- Annunciator Panel
- Apprentice
- Apron
- Architect
- Area of Refuge
- Argon Gas
- As – Built
- As – Equal
- Assembly
- Astragal
- Authentic Divided Lites (ADL)
- Automatic Temperature Controls
- Awning Window
- Back of House / BOH
- Backer Rod
- Backflow
- Backflow Preventer
- Balances
- Baler
- Ballast
- Balled and Burlapped
- Banister
- Bar Chart
- Barn Door Sliding Unit Assembly
- Barrel Hinge
- Bascule Bridge
- Baseline
- Basement
- Batt Insulation
- Batter
- Batter boards
- Bay Window
- Bead Board
- Beams
- Bell Tower
- Bell Trap
- Benchmark
- Bevel
- BFE (Base Flood Elevation)
- Bi – Fold
- Birds Mouth
- Bituminous
- Bituminous curb
- Block and Plank
- Blocking
- Blower Test
- Board and Batten
- BOF
- Bollard
- Bond Breaker
- Boom Lifts
- Borings
- BOW
- Box Beam
- Breakaway Panels
- Breakaway Post
- Brick Ties
- British Thermal Unit ( BTU )
- Builders Risk
- Building Inspection
- Building Permit
- Building Wrap
- Built Up Roof
- Bullet Proof Glass
- Burden
- Butter
- Butterfly Hinge
- Butts
- By-Pass
- Cable Elevator
- Cable Stays
- Call before you dig ( CBYD )
- Cam Lock And Pivot Mechanism
- Cantilevers
- Carriage Bolt
- Case Hinge Butt
- Cased Opening
- Casement Window
- Casing
- Cat’s Paw
- Catch Basin
- Cavity Drainage Mat
- Ceiling mounted
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
- Certified Payroll
- Chair Rail
- Chamfer
- Change Order Notification (CON)
- Change Event (CE)
- Change Order ( CO )
- Chimney
- Chimney Cap
- CIP (cast iron pipe)
- Cladding
- Clapboard
- Closed cell
- CNC
- CO ( clean out )
- Colonial Molding
- Column Cap
- Columns
- Combination / Storm, Door, Window
- Common Nail
- Compression
- Concealed Head
- Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
- Concrete Pump
- Conductors
- Conduit
- Construction Joint
- Construction Claim
- Construction Management
- Construction Standard
- Consultant
- Container Grown
- Continuous Hinge (Piano Hinge)
- Control Joint
- Coolers
- Coping Cap
- Core Bore
- Cottage Window
- Counter Flashing
- Courses
- Coursing
- Creosote
- Crickets
- Critical Path Method ( CPM )
- Cross Section
- Crown
- Crushed Concrete
- Cubic Foot
- Cubic Yard
- Culvert
- Curb Cut
- Curing Compound
- Daily Report
- Damp Proofing
- Dampening
- Damper
- Day Labor
- Day Lighting
- Daylight Opening (DLO)
- Daylight Out
- De-Water
- Dead Load
- Deflection (smile)
- Defrosting and Defrost Cycle
- Demising Wall
- Dentil Work
- Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Depressed Curb
- Depressed Slab
- Depth Of Jamb / Jamb Depth
- Design Mix
- Design Team
- Details
- Detectable Warning
- Diffusion
- Dimple Pad
- DIP – Ductile Iron Pipe
- Direct Glazed Or Fixed Glass
- Dissipater
- Divided Lites
- Door Assembly
- Door Closer
- Door Strike
- DOT – Department of Transportation
- DOT – Direction of Travel
- Double Hung
- Down Lighting
- Down Payment
- Downspout
- Downspout
- Drainage Board
- Drop Curb
- Drop Down Attic Access
- Drywell
- Durawall
- Dutchman
- DYL – Double Yellow Line
- Early Start, Late Start
- Earth Saucer
- Edge of Gravel (EG)
- Edge of Pavement (EP)
- EER
- Efflorescence
- Egress Corridor
- Egress Doors
- Egress Windows
- Electric Metallic Tubing (EMT)
- Electric Operator
- Electrical Engineer
- Electro Magnetic Levitation
- Elevator Pit
- Emergency Door
- Emergency Generator
- Emergency Panel
- Encroached (ENC)
- Energy Dissipater
- Engineer
- Entry Mats
- Epoxy Resin
- Erosion and Sedimentation Compliance
- Erosion control logs
- Escutcheon
- Escutcheon Plate
- Estimator
- Expansion Bolt
- Expansion Joint
- Experience Modification Rate (EMR)
- Explosion Proof
- Exterior Insulated Finishing System (EIFS)
- Extruded
- Extrusion
- Face Brick
- False Work
- Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA)
- Fenestration
- Fiber Cement Panels
- Fiber Reinforced Concrete
- Fiber Reinforced Panels (FRP)
- Field Order
- Filter Fabric
- Finger Jointed
- Fire / Smoke Damper
- Fire Door
- Fire Pump
- Fire Stop
- Fitting Rooms
- Fixed Lite (Direct Glazing Or Fixed Glass)
- Flag Hinge
- Flashing
- Flat Casing
- Flatwork
- Flex connector
- Flitch Plate
- Float
- Float switch
- Flocculation
- Flood Doors
- Flood Logs
- Flood Mitigation
- Flood Panels
- Floor Cleanout (FCO)
- Floor Drain (FD)
- Floor Mounted
- Flue
- Fluorescent
- Flush
- Foot Bolt
- Footing Drain
- Formwork
- Frame
- Freeboard
- French Door
- French Or Open Casement
- Friable
- Friction Hinge
- Front of House / FOH
- Frosting
- Gable
- Gable End
- Galvanized
- Gantt Chart
- Gas Whips
- Gauge
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Glass Block
- Glass Size (Gs)
- Glazed Brick & Block
- Glazing
- Glazing Bead
- Glazing Compound
- Glazing Tape
- Glider
- Glulams
- Gondolas
- Grab Bar
- Grade Beams
- Granite Curb (GC)
- Grate
- Grease Trap
- Green Roof
- Grilles
- Ground Fault Interruptor (GFI)
- Grounding Pad
- Grout
- Grout Injection
- Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)
- Guard
- Guard Shack
- Gusset Plates
- Gutter
- H Hinge
- Halyard
- Hammering
- Handhold
- Handicap Ramp
- Handing
- Hardscape
- HDPE (high density polyethylene pipe)
- Head
- Head (Window And Door)
- Head-Bolt
- Header
- Heat Pump
- Hinge
- Hollow Core
- Horns and Strobes
- Hose Bib
- Hub and Pin
- Hung Ceiling (or dropped ceiling)
- Hurricane Proof Glass
- HVAC
- Hydration
- Hydraulic Elevator
- Hydraulic Excavator
- Hydraulic Splitter
- Hydro Seeder
- Hydro-Excavator
- Hydrostatic Pressure
- In-Swing
- Inactive Panel Or Sash
- Incline
- Index
- Inlet Protection
- Inspection Card
- Insta Hot
- Insulated Glass
- Insurance Certificate
- Interceptor Piping
- Interior Casing
- Intumescent Paint
- Invert
- Invitation to Bid (ITB)
- Ironworker
- Jack
- Jack Hammer
- Jack Hole
- Jamb / Jack
- Jamb Extensions
- Jamb Liner
- Jamming
- Jerry Rigged (jury rigged)
- Jointing
- Journeyman
- Keel
- Key Hole Saw
- Keyed Cylinder Lock
- Knock Out
- Knox Box
- Krypton Gas
- Lag Bolt
- Laminar
- Laminate
- Laminated Glass
- Landscape
- Landscape Architect
- Lateral
- Leader
- Leaf Guard
- Ledger
- LEED
- Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Level
- Leveling Plate
- Lien
- Lien Waiver
- Lift Slab
- Light Metal Framing (LMF)
- Line and Grade
- Line of Sight
- Line Set
- Lintel
- Lintel Schedule
- Live Load
- Load
- Load Distribution
- Loading Dock
- Lockset
- Long lead items
- Look Out Rafters
- Low E Glass
- LULA (limited use, limited application)
- Lull
- Mafia Block
- Manhole
- Manufacturer’s Startup
- Masonry Opening (Mo)
- Master Key System
- Means of Egress
- Means Of Egress
- Measure Twice / Cut Once
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechanical Means
- Mechanical Shaft
- MER
- Merit
- Merit Shop
- Meter Stick
- Mezzanine
- Miami Dade
- Millings
- Miscellaneous Metal
- Mixing valve
- Mobile Scaffold
- Modular Construction
- Modulus of Elasticity
- Moment (bending)
- Moment Arm
- Moment Connection
- Moment Diagram
- MON
- Monument
- Mortar
- Mortise And Tenon
- Mortise Hinge
- Muck and Fill
- Mud Slab
- Mulling
- Mullion
- Munter Unit
- Muntins
- Nail Set
- Native Backfill
- Negative pressure
- NIC (not in contract)
- Nomenclature
- Nominal
- Non- load bearing
- NTS (not to scale)
- Nut
- Obscure Glass
- Off-Set
- On Center (OC)
- Open Shop
- Operation
- Oscillation
- OSHA
- OSHA 10 / OSHA 30
- OSHA Posters
- Osm
- Out-Swing
- Outfall
- P Trap
- Packing factor
- Panelized
- Panic Bar
- Panic Hardware
- Panning
- Parapet
- Passage Set
- Pedestal
- Per Plans and Specs
- Perennial Plantings
- Performance and Payment Bond (P&P Bond)
- Perimeter Protection
- Permafrost
- Permit
- Permit Expeditor
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Piano Hinge (Continuous Hinge)
- Pickets
- Pickling
- Picture Window
- Piles
- Pitch
- Pitch Pocket
- Pivot Hinge
- Plan View
- Plenum
- Plumb
- Plumb Bob
- Plynth Block
- Plyscore
- Plywood
- Point Load
- Pole Crank
- Polyethylene
- Porous Asphalt
- Porta John
- POS (point of sale)
- Positive Pressure (Pressurization)
- Post Tensioned Concrete
- Powder Activated Fasteners
- Power Vent
- PPR
- Pre tensioned concrete
- Pre-judgement Remedy
- Precast
- Preconstruction
- Prefabricated
- Pressure Slab
- Prevailing Wage
- Primary Electric
- Primer
- Priority Spec
- Privacy Set
- Procurement Schedule
- Project Labor Agreement (PLA)
- Project Manager
- Proposal
- PSI (pounds per square inch)
- Punch Out
- Punch Thru
- Punchlist
- Purlin
- Putty Knife
- PVC (poly- vinyl chloride)
- Quality Control
- Quality Standards
- Quantity Takeoff
- Quarry Tile
- R Value
- Rabbet
- Racked
- Racks
- Radius
- Rails
- Rat Slab
- RCP (Reinforced Concrete Pipe)
- Re-charge
- Rebar
- Rebar Chairs
- Recessed
- Reflected Ceiling
- Reglets
- Regulator
- Reinforced Concrete
- Relief Vents / Valves
- Relieving Angle
- Remediation
- Renovation
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
- Requisition
- Resident Engineer
- Resilient Floor
- Resin
- Responsibility Matrix
- Retainage
- Retaining Wall
- Ridge Board
- Right of Way
- Rigid Insulation
- Rim
- Rip Rap
- Riser
- Rock Anchor
- Roof Curbs
- Roof Drain
- Roof Hatch
- Root Bound
- Roto-Till
- Rototiller
- Rough Opening (Ro)
- RTU
- Rumsford
- Running Bond
- Runoff
- Safety Factor
- Safety Program
- Sand Filter
- Sanitary Manhole
- Sanitary Molding
- Sash
- Sash Limiter
- Sash Lock
- Sash Opening (So)
- Savings Clause
- Saw Tooth
- SC (Stone Curb)
- Scale
- Scalping
- Schedule of Values ( SOV )
- Schedules
- Scissor Lift
- Scope of Work
- Screens
- Scuppers
- Secondary Electric Service
- Self Closing Hinge
- Senior Project Manager
- Septic Tank
- SER
- Set Backs
- Setting Bed
- SFRMs
- Shaft Wall
- Shared Savings
- Shear
- Shear Diagram
- Shear Studs
- Shear Wall
- Sheathing
- Ship Lap
- Siamese Connection
- Side Jamb
- Sidelite
- Sidewalk Bridge
- Sill
- Sill Horn
- Sill Plate
- Silt Sack
- Single Glass
- Single Hung
- Single Ply Roofing
- Site Work
- Sketch Log
- Sketches
- Slab on Grade
- Sleeve
- Smoke Damper
- Smoke Detector
- Smoke Hatch
- Smoke Stop
- Snap Tie
- Soffit
- Soft Wall
- Soil Conditioning
- Soil Modification
- Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE system)
- Soils Engineer
- Solar Energy
- Solar Gain
- Soldier Course
- Solid Core
- Sop (Standard Operating Procedure)
- Sound Transmission Rating (STR)
- Soundproofing
- Spacer
- Spackle
- Span
- Spandrel
- Sparky
- Spec Mix
- Special Inspector
- Special Low E Glass
- Specifications
- Spn (Standard Plant Names)
- Spray Foam
- Spread Footings
- Spring Hinge
- Stabilization Fabric
- Stacked bond
- Standing Seam Roof
- Stick Framing
- Stiles
- Stool
- Stop
- Storm Sash
- Storm Water Manhole
- Strap Hinge
- Streetscape
- Strike Plate
- Stringer
- Stud
- Sub Slab Drainage / Discharge System (SSDS)
- Sub-base
- Sump Pump
- Sunburst
- Surface Mounted
- Surround
- Surveyor
- Switchgear
- SWL (Single White Line)
- Tailings
- Tap
- Tempered Glass
- Template
- Temporary Certificate Occupancy
- Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
- Temporary Fence
- Temporary Heat
- Tensile Force
- The Solution to Pollution is Dilution
- Thermal Barrier
- Thermal Storage
- Thermosetting Resin
- Thin Set
- Third Party Inspection
- Thread
- Thresholds
- Through Wall Unit
- Thrust Block
- Tie Line
- Tie Wire
- Tile
- Tilt Up
- Tilt Windows
- Time and Material Contract with a Fixed Fee
- Tinted Glass
- Tinting
- Title Block
- Title Line
- Toe Nail
- TOF (Top Of Footing / Top Of Floor / Top Of Frame)
- Tongue And Groove
- Tool Box Talk
- Transfer Switch ( emergency )
- Transformer
- Transit
- Transom
- Tread
- Tree Grate
- Trench Drain
- Trenchless Excavation
- Truck Wash
- Tunnel Forms
- TYP (Typical)
- U Factor
- UL Label
- Under Cabinet Lighting
- Undercut
- Underdrain
- Underlayment
- Underpinning
- Uniform
- Union
- Union Shop
- Unistrut
- Unit Value
- Universal ( Universally )
- Unsupported
- Upright Head
- USGBC
- UTC (Uniform traffic controls)
- Utility Easement
- V-groove
- V-joint
- Validation
- Value Engineering
- Vapor Barrier
- Variable Volume Flow ( VVF )
- Veneer
- Vibration Eliminators
- Volume
- Wacker
- Waffle / waffling
- Waffle Slab
- Wainscoting
- Wall Hung
- Wall Washer
- Wash Out Pit
- Water Bags
- Water Table ( architectural )
- Water Table (site)
- Water Wall
- Wavering
- Wearing Surface
- Weather Stripping
- Weep Holes
- Welded wire fabric ( WWF )
- Well Points
- Wheelchair Lift
- Wide Flange
- Wide Plank
- Widen
- Wind Loading
- Window Assembly
- Winter Blankets
- Winter Protection
- Wire Glass
- Working Drawings or Documents
- WQU (water quality unit)
- Wrought Iron
- Wythe
- Xo / Ox
- Yard Drain
- Yield Point
- Zip Strip
- Zoning Approval