A

ABS: A type of black plastic pipe commonly used for waste water lines.

Aggregate: Crushed rock used as a top layer in some flat-roof applications.

Algae: Micro organisms that may grow to colonies in damp environments, including certain rooftops. Often described as fungus, algae can discolor shingles. 

Allowances: A sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. Best kept to a minimum number and used for items who's choice will not impact earlier stages of the construction. For example, selection of tile as flooring may require an alternative framing or underlayment material.

Amperage or AMPS: A unit of electrical current or volume- see voltage. Most homes have an electrical service 'entrance' package of 125 or 200 amps. Some older homes have 60 or 100 amp 'entrances'.

Anchor Bolts: 'L' shaped bolts which are set in the concrete foundation and used to attach the framing of the house to the foundation.

APA Plywood: APA=American Plywood Association, number one rated exterior plywood, contains no voids between laminate layers.

Asbestos: (1) A common form of magnesium silicate which was used in various construction products due to it's stability and resistance to fire. Asbestos exposure by inhaling loose asbestos fibers is associated with various forms of lung disease. (2) The name given to certain inorganic minerals when they occur in fibrous form. Though fire-resistant, its extremely fine fibers are easily inhaled, and exposure to them over a period of years has been linked to cancers of the lung or lung-cavity lining and to asbestosis, a severe lung impairment.

Asphalt: A bituminous material employed in roofing materials because of its waterproofing ability.

Asphalt plastic cement: An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials. Also known as flashing cement or mastic.

B

Ball cock: The mechanism that controls the flow of water into a gravity-operated toilet tank. The ball cock is controlled by the float mechanism floating in the water in the tank. When the toilet is flushed, the float drops and opens the ball cock, allowing water to enter the tank and/or bowl. The float rises as the water level in the tank is restored, and shuts off the ball cock when the tank is completely filled. Also referred to as a float valve.

Base sheet: Bottom layer of built-up roofing.

Beam: A horizontal framing member designed to carry a load from a set of joists or a roof and spanning an open space. Usually 6" x 6" or 4" x 10" or larger.

Bidet: A personal hygiene fixture with hot and cold water supply for genital and perineum cleanliness.

Bisque: Unglazed areas of vitreous china fixtures, such as inside the tank or on the bottom of the bowl foot, have a bisque finish.

Bitumen: Term commonly applied to various mixtures of naturally occurring solid or liquid hydrocarbons, excluding coal. These substances are described as bituminous. Asphalt is a bitumen. Term commonly applied to various mixtures of naturally occurring solid or liquid hydrocarbons, excluding coal. These substances are described as bituminous. Asphalt is a bitumen.

Blind Nailing: A method of nailing that ensures that the nail heads are not visible on the surface of the finished material.

Blue Prints: 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. Also called Blue Lines.

Bowl: Water-containing receptor that receives liquid and solid body waste; two general bowl classifications are round front and elongated.

Brick Ledge: The jutting lip or portion of foundation that the exterior brick courses are to be placed on. Brick Veneer Wall: A facing of brick commonly used in modern construction that covers an exterior load bearing wall. Bridging: Small wood or metal pieces that are placed diagonally between floor joists or wall studs to act as floor or wall stiffeners.  Often used for wide spans.

Built-ins: Custom cabinets or bookcases built on site.

Built-up roof: A type of commercial, or "flat" roof finish, produced by applying alternate layers of roofing felt and hot asphalt or pitch. The top layer is given a hot flood coat of the bitumen; granules of rock, gravel, slag, or ceramic particles may be embedded while the flood coat is still hot. The roofing system may incorporate rigid insulation.

Bundle: A package of shingles. There are 3, 4 or 5 bundles per square.

Butt edge: The lower edge of the shingle tabs.

Butt joint: The connection of two pieces of wood or other types of materials that meet in a square-cut joint.

C

Cabinet soffit: A boxed framework found above the upper cabinets in kitchens.

Cap flashing: The portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing.

Cap sheet: A top layer in built-up roofing.

Casement Window: A window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door.

Casement Window: A window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door.

Casing: Molding of different widths, thickness and designs used as trim around window and door openings at the jambs.

Caulking: 1. A flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls. 2. To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt plastic cement to prevent leaks.

Chalk line: A line made on the roof by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Used for alignment purposes.

Change Order: A written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction Contract.

Circuit Breaker: A device which looks like a switch and is usually located inside the electrical panel or circuit breaker box. It is designed to (1) shut of the power to portions or all of the house and (2) to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes).

• '110' volt household circuits require a fuse or circuit breaker with a rating of 15 or a maximum of 20 amps. '220' volt circuits may be designed for higher amperage loads e.g. a hot water heater may be designed for a 30 amp load and would therefore need a 30 amp fuse or breaker. Also see GFI

Class "A" fire resistance: The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing per ASTM E-108. 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.

Clear span: The actual unsupported span between two support points.

Closed cut valley: A method of valley treatment in which shingles from one side of the valley extend across the valley, while shingles from the other side are trimmed 2 inches from the valley centerline. The valley flashing is not exposed.

Coal tar: A viscous liquid mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, derived, along with coke, 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.

Cold Process Adhesive: Mastic prepared with SBS modifiers to adhere laps, flashings and joints of built-up or low-slope roofing without hot-mopping or torching equipment.

Cold-Method and Lap Cement: Special multipurpose adhesive for low-sloped, cold-applied roof construction. Bonds 19" selvedge, mineral surface and cap sheets to the underlayment. Doubles as an adhesive on 2" selvedge lap of mineral-, granule- or smooth-surfaced roofing. Available in both summer and winter grades.

Collar: Preformed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roofing above the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.

Column: A load bearing support post made of wood, steel or masonry.

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. Nails are not exposed to the weather.

Condensation: The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.

Condensation: The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.

Coping joint: A cut on the end of a piece of molding which joins it to the face contour of a another piece of molding it butts perpendicularly to at an internal corner. The intersection of a roof slope and an exterior vertical wall.

Corner bead: A long strip of formed sheet metal or plastic that is attached to outside corners of drywall or plaster walls in order to reinforce the corner.

Cornice: Any decorative molding or overhang located at the junction of a wall and roof.

Course: A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.

Coverage: Amount of weather protection provided by the roofing material. Depends on number of layers of material between the exposed surface of the roofing and the deck; i.e. single coverage, double coverage, etc.

Cricket: A saddle-shaped, peaked construction connecting a sloping roof plane with a chimney. Designed to encourage water drainage away from the chimney joint.

Concrete: A common construction material often used for foundations, ground level floors, and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of (1) Portland cement, (2) sand, and (3) gravel or aggregate. 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. Often used in low rise commercial and some residential construction. The original design and use is attributed to the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Concrete Board or Wonder 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.

Construction Contract: A legal document which specifies the what-when-where-how-how much and by whom in a construction project. A good construction contract will include:

• The contractors registration number.
• A statement of work quality such as 'Standard Practices of the Trades' or 'according to Manufacturers Specifications'.
• A set of Blue Prints or Plans
• A set of Specifications
• Any Allowances.
• A construction timetable including starting and completion dates.
• A Fixed Price for the work, or a Time and Materials formula.
• A Payment Schedule.
• A written Warranty.
• A clause which outlines how any disputes will be resolved.

Cost Plus Contract: An agreement with a contractor or builder which sets the contractor's compensation for the project as a percentage of the total cost of all labor and materials.

Counter flashing: Sheet metal or other material used around chimneys above the roofline to prevent moisture entry into the structure.

Cove molding: A wood strip having a curved concave face used as a trim to finish interior corners.

Curtain Drain: A ditch sometimes filled with gravel and a drain tile which diverts storm and drain water away from a structure.

Curb: The short elevation of an exterior wall above the deck of a commercial flat roof.

Curb roof: A roof with an upper and lower set of rafters on each side, the under set being less inclined to the horizon than the upper; a mansard roof.

Cutout: The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.

Cycle time: The time beginning at the instant a toilet flush lever is actuated, until the instant the water supply shuts off, completing the flush cycle.

Compiled from multiple sources by: DLM Builders

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