Copy of `Superglossary - Construction`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Superglossary - Construction Category: Architecture and Buildings > Construction Date & country: 16/12/2013, USA Words: 722

CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute)
A rating that expresses the amount of air a blower or fan can move. The volume of air (measured in c

Chair Rail
Interior trim material installed about 3-4 feet up the wall, horizontally.

Chalk Line
A line made 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

Chase
A framed enclosed space around a flue pipe or a channel in a wall, or through a ceiling for somethin

Chink
To install fiberglass insulation around all exterior door and window frames, wall corners, and small

Chip Board
A manufactured wood panel made out of 1' - 2' wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for pl

Circuit
The path of electrical flow from a power source through an outlet and back to ground.

Circuit Breaker
A device which looks like a switch and is usually located inside the electrical breaker panel or cir

Class A
Optimum fire rating issued by Underwriter's Laboratories on roofing. The building codes in some area

Class C
Minimum fire rating issued by the Underwriters' Laboratories for roofing materials.

Clean Out
An opening providing access to a drain line. Closed with a threaded plug.

Clip Ties
Sharp, cut metal wires that protrude out of a concrete foundation wall (that at one time held the fo

CO
An abbreviation for 'Certificate of Occupancy'. This certificate is issued by the local municipality

Cold Air Return
The ductwork (and related grills) that carries room air back to the furnace for re-heating.

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

Collar Beam
Nominal 1 or 2-inch-thick members connecting opposite roof rafters. They serve to stiffen the roof s

Column
A vertical structural compression member which supports loads.

Combustion Air
The duct work installed to bring fresh, outside air to the furnace and/or hot water heater. Normally

Combustion Chamber
The part of a boiler, furnace or woodstove where the burn occurs

Compression Web
A member of a truss system which connects the bottom and top chords and which provides downward sup

Compressor
A mechanical device that pressurizes a gas in order to turn it into a liquid, thereby allowing heat

Concrete
The mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water. Used to make garage and basement floors, si

Concrete block
A hollow concrete 'brick' often 8' x 8' x 16' in size.

Concrete board
A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.

Condensation
Beads or drops of water (and frequently frost in extremely cold weather) that accumulate on the insi

Condensing unit
The outdoor component of a cooling system. It includes a compressor and condensing coil designed to

Conduction
The direct transfer of heat energy through a material.

Conductivity
The rate at which heat is transmitted through a material.

Conduit, Electrical
A pipe, usually metal, in which wire is installed.

Construction Contract
A legal document which specifies the what-when-where-how-how much and by whom in a construction proj

Construction Drywall
A type of construction in which the interior wall finish is applied in a dry condition, generally in

Construction, Frame
A type of construction in which the structural components are wood or depend upon a wood frame for s

Continuity Tester
A device that tells whether a circuit is capable of carrying electricity.

Contractor
A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. In most states, the generals

Control Joint
Tooled, straight grooves made on concrete floors to 'control' where the concrete should crack

Convection
Currents created by heating air, which then rises and pulls cooler air behind it. Also see radiation

Conventional loan
A mortgage loan not insured by a government agency (such as FHA or VA)

Convertibility
The ability to change a loan from an adjustable rate schedule to a fixed rate schedule.

Cooling Load
The amount of cooling required to keep a building at a specified temperature during the summer, usua

Coped
Removing the top and bottom flange of the end(s) of a metal I-beam. This is done to permit it to fit

Coped Joint
Cutting and fitting woodwork to an irregular surface.

Corbel
The triangular, decorative and supporting member that holds a mantel or horizontal shelf.

Corner Bead
A strip of formed sheet metal placed on outside corners of drywall before applying drywall 'mud'.

Corner Boards
Used as trim for the external corners of a house or other frame structure against which the ends of

Corner Braces
Diagonal braces at the corners of the framed structure designed to stiffen and strengthen the wall.

Cornice
Overhang of a pitched roof , usually consisting of a fascia board, a soffit and appropriate trim mol

Counter Flashing
A metal flashing usually used on chimneys at the roofline to cover shingle flashing and used to prev

Counterfort
A foundation wall section that strengthens (and generally perpendicular to) a long section of founda

Course
A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof. Parallel layers of building materi

Cove Molding
A molding with a concave face used as trim or to finish interior corners.

Crawl Space
A shallow space below the living quarters of a house, normally enclosed by the foundation wall and h

Credit Rating
A report ordered by a lender from a credit agency to determine a borrower's credit habits.

Cricket
A second roof built on top of the primary roof to increase the slope of the roof or valley. A saddle

Cripple
Short vertical '2 by 4's or 6's' frame lumber installed above a window or door.

Cross Bridging
Diagonal bracing between adjacent floor joists, placed near the center of the joist span to prevent

Cross Tee
Short metal 'T' beam used in suspended ceiling systems to bridge the spaces between the main beams.

Crown Molding
A molding used on cornice or wherever an interior angle is to be covered, especially at the roof and

Culvert
Round, corrugated drain pipe (normally 15' or 18' in diameter) that is installed beneath a driveway

Cupping
A type of warping that causes boards to curl up at their edges.

Curb
The short elevation of an exterior wall above the deck of a roof. Normally a 2 by 6 box (on the roof

Curb Stop
Normally a cast iron pipe with a lid (@ 5' in diameter) that is placed vertically into the ground, s

Cut-In Brace
Nominal 2-inch-thick members, usually 2 by 4's, cut in between each stud diagonally.

Dado
A groove cut into a board or panel intended to receive the edge of a connecting board or panel.

Damper
A metal 'door' placed within the fireplace chimney. Normally closed when the fireplace is not in use

Dampproofing
The black, tar like waterproofing material applied to the exterior of a foundation wall.

Daylight
The end of a pipe (the terminal end) that is not attached to anything.

De-Humidistat
A control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation system based upon the relative humidity

Dead Bolt
An exterior security lock installed on exterior entry doors that can be activated only with a key or

Dead Light
The fixed, non-operable window section of a window unit.

Deck, Decked
To install the plywood or wafer board sheeting on the floor joists, rafters, or trusses.

Dedicated Circuit
An electrical circuit that serves only one appliance (ie, dishwasher) or a series of electric heater

Default
Breach of a mortgage contract (not making the required payments).

Delamination
Separation of the plies in a panel due to failure of the adhesive. Usually caused by excessive mois

Disconnect
A large (generally 20 Amp) electrical ON-OFF switch.

Discount Rate
A mortgage interest rate that is lower than the current rate for a certain period of time, e.g. 2.00

Door Operator
An automatic garage door opener.

Door Stop
The wooden style that the door slab will rest upon when it's in a closed position.

Doorjamb, Interior
The surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright

Dormer
An opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which projects out to form a vertical wall suitable for

Double Glass
Window or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between. Also known as

Double Hung Window
A window with two vertically sliding sashes, both of which can move up and down.

Down Payment
The difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount. A downpayment is usually paid at clo

Downspout
A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater down from the roof's horizontal gutters.

Drain Tile
A perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall and used to drain ex

Draw
The amount of progress billings on a contract that is currently available to a contractor under a co

Drip
(a) A member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior finish course that has a projection beyond th

Drip Cap
A molding or metal flashing placed on the exterior topside of a door or window frame to cause water

Dry In
To install the black roofing felt (tar paper) on the roof.

Drywall
(or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB), Sheet rock or Plasterboard) A manufactured panel made out of gypsum pla

Ducts
The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or col

Due-On-Sale
A clause in a mortgage contract requiring the borrower to pay the entire outstanding balance upon sa

Dura Board, Dura Rock
A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a ceramic tile backing material. Commonl

DWV (Drain-Waste-Vent)
The section of a plumbing system that carries water and sewer gases out of a home.

Earnest Money
A sum paid to the seller to show that a potential purchaser is serious about buying.

Earthquake Strap
A metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. Intended

Easement
A formal contract which allows a party to use another party's property for a specific purpose. E.g.

Eaves
The horizontal exterior roof overhang.

Egress
A means of exiting the home. An egress window is required in every bedroom and basement. Normally a

Elbow (Ell)
A plumbing or electrical fitting that lets you change directions in runs of pipe or conduit.