Additional vocabulary terms and phrases used in the Construction Industry

Here are some additional vocabulary terms used in the construction industry:

Masonry:

Stone, brick, concrete, hollow-tile, concrete block, or other similar building units or materials. Normally bonded together with mortar to form a wall.

Miter joint:

The joint of two pieces at an angle that bisects the joining angle. For example,

the miter joint at the side and head casing at a door opening is made at a 45° angle

Outside corner:

The point at which two walls form an external angle, one you usually can walk around

Overhang:

Outward projecting eave-soffit area of a roof; the part of the roof that hangs out past the outside wall

Padding:

A material installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet life

Particle board:

Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. We use it for shelving.

Pitch:

The slope of a roof expressed as vertical rise to horizontal run (i.e. 4/12 means a 4” rise for every 12” of run).

Plot plan:

An overhead view plan that shows the location of the home on the lot and includes all easements, property lines, set backs, and legal descriptions of the home.

Plumbing stack:

A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Plumbing trim:

Work performed by the plumbing contractor to get the home ready for a final inspection, which includes installing all toilets, hot water heaters, sinks, disposal, dishwasher, and all other needed plumbing items.

Plywood:

A panel (normally 4' X 8') of wood made of three or more layers of veneer, com-pressed and joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength.

Portland cement:

Cement made by heating clay and crushed limestone into a brick and then grinding to a pulverized powder state.

Post:

A vertical framing member (often a 4" x 4" or a 6" x 6”) usually designed to carry a beam.

Pressure Relief Valve (PRV):

A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is de-signed to release any high steam pressure in the tank to prevent tank explosions.

Pressure-treated wood (aka green board):

A wood product that has been impregnated with chemical preservatives to prevent rot and infestation.

P trap:

Curved, "U" shaped section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixture’s water drain.

PVC or CPVC:

Poly Vinyl Chloride, a type of white or light gray plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.

Rebar (aka reinforcing bar):

Ribbed steel bars installed in foundation, concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures designed to strengthen concrete. Comes in various thicknesses and strength grades