Copy of `Find a local builder - Building glossary`

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Find a local builder - Building glossary Category: Architecture and Buildings Date & country: 03/12/2007, UK Words: 34

Appraisal
A valuation of a building undertaken by an expert

Apron
A trim board, installed under a window sill

Beam
A horizontal support which carries the weight of a building load

Bearing partition
A partition in a building which supports its own weight and that of a vertical load

Bearing wall
A wall which supports its own weight and that of any vertical load

Bill of quantities
A list of the items with a cost value that will be required in the construction of a building

Blue print
Often used for architectural drawings of proposed buildings, a blue print is a copy of the planned building structure. This term usually describes the architect`s drawing and is used for a variety of necessary activities including securing permits etc.

Bonding agent
A substance which is used to bond two different parts or objects together

British Standards
Specific standards established and approved by the British Standards Institute as regards the performance of products or methods

Building Regulations
Legislation detailing the methods and requirements for the construction of buildings, taking into account health and safety issues.

Cantilever
An overhang. Where one floor juts out over a foundation wall. Normally, not projecting over 2 feet

Construction drywall
A type of construction in which the interior wall finish is applied in a dry condition, generally in the form of sheet materials or wood panelling

Damp Proof Course
Any course of impermeable material - usually made from plastic or bitumen

Dead Walling-Deadwork
Any building work carried out wholly or partly below ground level and whose only purpose is to adjust for sloping ground under the building

Dumpy Level
Used on a tripod this instrument takes comparative levels of ground or parts of buildings

Eaves
The horizontal exterior roof overhang at the lower edge of a roof

Estimate
A rough evaluation of the amount of labour, materials, and other costs that a building contractor anticipates for the building project

Flashing
This building term refers to material used in building construction to provide the building with protection from water seepage

Foundation
The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction

Handling Costs
These costs refer to the costs incurred in transporting goods or labour to the building site. Handling costs are often quoted on the invoice as a part of costs incurred.

Headlap
The distance a slate overlaps the next lower slate or tile

Joist
Any beams set parallel from wall to wall or across girders which support a floor or ceiling

Joist hanger
Used to support the end of a floor joist a joist hanger is made of metal and 'U' shaped.

Mortar
A mixture of cement with sand and water used in masonry work

Non-bearing wall
A wall which just supports its own weight

Planning Act
This form of legislation governs the types and locations of building development

Plaster
A soft mixture of lime or sand, gypsum and water which hardens to a smooth solid and is used for smoothing over ceilings and walls

Quoins
The external vertical corner of a wall at a window, doorway or corner of a building, which must be built accurately vertical

Quote
An estimate of the cost of the labour and goods involved in a building contractor carrying out building work

Ranging Rod
a 6� wooden pole which has a steel point at one end which is used as a temporary marker the agreed, or offered, cost of providing a unit of an item (i.e. an hour`s labour)

Retaining Wall
A wall designed to hold back, or ‘retain`, higher level ground behind it

Schedule of Materials
A list of all materials required for a project or job

Soffit
The area beneath the eaves. The underside of a structural component, such as a cornice

Sub-contractor
A labourer or business which is contracted out by the main building contractor. The main contractor will then pay for any work undertaken by the sub-contractor.