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Common Building Terms

Learn How to Speak “Builder”

Glossary of Building Terms

Sometimes talking to a builder may seem like you are speaking two different languages. It is important to feel comfortable with your builder when discussing your new home. So we’ve gathered a list of terms and definitions to help you brush up on your “Builder”.

Air Duct

Pipes that carry warm air and cold air to rooms and back to furnace or air conditioning system

Balusters

Upright supports of a balustrade rail

Balusters

Upright

Balustrade

A row of balusters topped by a rail, edging a balcony or a staircase

Baseboard

A board along the floor against walls and partitions to hide gaps

Batt

Insulation in the form of a blanket, rather than loose filling

Brick Veneer

Brick used as the outer surface of a framed wall

Building Codes

Community ordinances governing the manner in which a home may be constructed or modified

Chair Rail

Wooden molding on a wall around a room at the level of a chair back

Chase

A groove in a masonry wall or through a floor to accommodate pipes or ducts

Circuit Breaker

A safety device, which opens (breaks) an electric circuit automatically when it becomes overloaded

Closing

This is the last step of a real state purchase when the loan/sales contract documents are finalized

Contractor

A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. Some of the specialty contractor’s licenses involve extensive training, testing or insurance requirements. There are many types of contractors including general contractors, remodeling contractors and sub contractors

Corner Bead

A strip of wood or metal for protecting the external corners of plastered walls

Cornice

Horizontal projection at the top of a wall or under the overhanging part of the roof

Dry Wall

A wall surface of plasterboard or material other than plaster

Easement

Right-of-way granted to a person or company authorizing access to the owner’s land (Ex: A utility company may be granted an easement to install pipes.)

Eaves

The extension of roof beyond house walls

Elevation

The exterior face of a home

Flashing

Non-corrosive metal used around angles or junctions in roofs and exterior walls to prevent leaks

Flatwork

This refers to any area of concrete ex: driveway, porch, patio, sidewalk

Floor plan

An architectural drawing or plan that depicts the overall layout of a home. The size and shape of each room, as well as any optional configurations of those rooms, are shown on the floor plan. Floor plans are often simply referred to as “plans”

Flu

A passageway in a chimney for conveying smoke, gases or fumes to the outside air

Foundation

Lower parts of walls on which the structure is built. Foundation walls of masonry or concrete are mainly below ground level

Framing

The construction of the framework of a home. The rough lumber of a house-joists, studs, rafters, and beams

Fuse

A short plug in an electric panel box, which opens (breaks) an electrical circuit when it becomes overloaded

HOA (Homeowners Association)

An association that is formed to enforce the rules and regulations of a community, and provide for general upkeep of common areas. Home owners pay a monthly fee to the Homeowners Association

Joist

A small rectangular sectional member arranged parallel from wall to wall in a building or resting on beams or girders. They support a floor or the laths or furring strips of a ceiling

Lot

A portion of a large piece of property that is divided into individual lots or homesites

Lot Premium

A charge paid by the buyer for a specific lot because the lot (or homesite) is larger, or in some other way, more desirable than other lots

Master Planned Community

A large community that features homes constructed by several different builders in a wide variety of price ranges. Community centers, community swimming pools and many other recreational facilities are generally included in a master planned community

Molding

A strip of decorative material having a plane or curved narrow surface prepared for ornamental application. These strips are often used to hide gaps at wall junctures.

Option

An item in a home that is not a standard feature. Options can be purchased to personalize your home. A vast array of options are available to home buyers

Pitch

The angle of slope of a roof

Punch List

A formal list of items which need to be repaired or replaced prior to actually moving into a home

Reservation

A non-binding agreement between a buyer and a homebuilder to purchase a home at a future date. A reservation usually requires a deposit

Roof Sheathing

Sheets, usually of plywood, which are nailed to the top edges of trusses or rafters to tie the roof together and support the roofing material

Soffit

The visible underside of structural members such as staircases, cornices, beams, a roof overhang or eave.

Standard Feature

An item that is automatically included when you purchase a new home.

ex: Wood flooring, a fireplace, ceiling fans

Studs

In wall framings, the vertical members to which horizontal pieces are nailed. Studs are spaced either 16 inches or 24 inches apart

Upgrade

To upgrade an item is to increase its quality. For example, a homebuyer can upgrade from Formica cabinets to granite countertops. Upgrades are available at additional costs

Walk-through

A buyer’s final inspection of a home prior to move-in

Warranty

A guarantee to repair any damage to specific items of your home. All items covered by the warranty are reviewed with the homeowner at the time of the walk-through

Weep Hole

A small gap between bricks, which allows water to drain

Zoning

A governmental process and specification, which limits the use of a property

ex: single family use, high-rise residential use, and industrial use