Vocabulary used in the Construction Industry

Here are some vocabulary words and phrases used in the Construction Industry:

Air return: 

A series of ducts in air conditioning system to return used air to air handler to be reconditioned.

Anchor Bolts: (also called J-bolts)

 Bolts embedded in concrete foundation used to hold sills in place.

Balloon Framing: 

A special situationally required type of construction with studs that are longer than the standard length..

Bay: 

The space between two parallel framing members (i.e. trusses).

Bearing wall (aka partition): 

A wall which carries a vertical structural load in addition to its own weight

Bevel: 

To cut an angle other than a right angle, such as on the edge of a board.

Caulking: 

A flexible material used to seal a gap in a joint

Ceiling joist: 

One of a series of parallel framing members (not part of a truss) used to support ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams or bearing walls.

Compressor: 

1. A piece of equipment that provides compressed air to air powered tools. 2. A mechanical device that pressurizes a gas in order to turn it into a liquid, thereby allowing heat to be removed or added. A compressor is the main component of conventional heat pumps and air conditioners.

Counter flashing (aka “Z” flashing): 

A galvanized sheet metal flashing used at the roofline to cover shingle flashing (“L” flashing) and used to prevent moisture entry.

Deadbolt: 

a tongued throw lock whose bolt must be manually pulled back before the door can open and close

Double hung window: 

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

Drywall (aka Gypsum Wallboard [GWB] & Sheet rock): 

A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. 'Non-paper board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture and mil-dew than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other "wet areas". Soffit board is even more moisture resistant for use on exterior ceilings, and type X board (5/8”) is fire rated for use in separating livable spaces from fire hazard areas (i.e. the garage).

Ducts: 

The air conditioning system. Usually round or rectangular metal or flexible pipes in-stalled for distributing warm or cold air from the air handler to rooms in the home.

Easement: 

A formal contract which allows a party to use another party's property for a specific purpose. e.g. a Public Utility Easement (PUE) allows communication cables to run across a property.

Eaves: 

The horizontal exterior roof overhang at the bearing wall.

Elbow (ell): 

A plumbing or electrical fitting (usually 45 or 90 degrees) that lets you change di-rections in runs of pipe or conduit.

Electrical Panel: 

Main power cabinet where electric enters a home’s wiring system.

Electrical Rough: 

Work performed by the electrician after the plumber and heating contractor are complete with their phase of work. All electrical wires, and outlet, switch, and fixture boxes are installed (this is part of the work is required for Pre-Drywall Inspection).

Electrical Trim: 

Work performed by the electrician when the house is nearing completion. The electrician installs all plugs, switches, plates, light fixtures, smoke detectors, wires the ventila-tion fans & the HVAC, and "makes up" the electric panel. The electrician does all electrical work necessary to get the home ready to pass the municipal final inspection

Fire-resistive or Fire rated: 

Applies to materials that are not combustible in the temperatures of ordinary fires and will withstand such fires for at least 1 hour. Drywall used in the garage and party walls are to be fire rated, 5/8", Type X.

Fish tape: 

A long strip of spring steel used for pulling wires and cables through conduit or en-closed wall, ceiling or floor cavities

Flashing: 

Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to protect a building from water seepage.

Framing: 

The act of building the house frame. Lumber used for the structural members of a building, such as studs, joists, rafters and trusses.

GF C I, or G F I: 

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter- an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electric current. Used in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and "wet areas". Has a small reset button on the master outlet.

Grain: 

The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood.

Green board (aka pressure treated lumber): 

Lumber that has been saturated with chemical preservatives to prevent rot and infestation

Ground wire: 

The green or un-insulated wire, always connected to metal, to prevent electrical shock.

Hip: 

A roof with four sloping sides. The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.

Home run (electrical): 

The electrical cable that carries power from the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical box, plug, or switch in the circuit.

Hot wire: 

The wire that carries electrical energy to a receptacle or other device (normally the black wire) —in contrast to a neutral (the white wire), which carries electricity away again.

Insulation: 

(1) Any material high in resistance to heat transmission that, when placed in the walls, ceiling, or floors of a structure will reduce the rate of heat flow. (2) the material around an electrical wire to prevent the transmission of electricity.

Joist: 

Wooden members that run parallel to one another and support a floor or ceiling, and are supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls

Kilowatt (kw): 

One thousand watts. A kilowatt hour is the base unit used in measuring electrical consumption.

Load bearing wall: 

Any wall that carries structural load. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate