A/C

An abbreviation for air conditioner or air conditioning.

A/C Condenser

The outside fan unit of the air conditioning system. It removes the heat from the Freon gas and "turns" the gas back into a liquid, pumping the liquid back to the coil.

Aerator

Round screened screw-on tip of a sink spout - mixes water and air for a smooth flow.

Aggregate

Sharp clean stone that is mixed with sand and cement.  A major component of concrete.

Allowance(s) also known as a PC Sum

Sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. For example, selection of tile as flooring may require an allowance for screed bed material, or an electrical allowance which sets aside an amount of money to be spent on electrical fixtures. Sometimes a PC Sum needs to be allowed when it is not possible to obtain an accurate quote due to insufficient information In this case work is costed based on an ‘educated guess’ with any shortfall or over-spending made up via a Variation or credit.

Anchor Bolts

Bolts to secure an item to concrete or masonry floor or wall.

Architect

One who has completed a course of study in building and design, and is licensed as an architect. One who draws up plans.

Astragal

Moulding, attached to one of a pair of swinging double doors, against which the other door strikes.

Back Charge

Billings for work performed or costs incurred by one party that, in accordance with the agreement, should have been performed or incurred by the party billed. Owners bill back charges to general contractors, and general contractors bill back charges to subcontractors. Examples of back charges include charges for cleanup work or to repair damage incurred by another subcontractor, eg. a basin that has been chiped or broken window.

Backfill

Replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement /crawl space foundation wall.

Ballast

Transformer that steps up the voltage in a florescent lamp.

Balusters

Vertical members in a railing used between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair treads. Sometimes referred to as 'pickets' or 'spindles'.

Balustrade

Rail, posts and vertical balusters along the edge of a stairway or elevated walkway.

Bat

A half-brick.

Batten

Narrow strips of wood used to cover joints or as decorative vertical members over plywood or wide boards.

BCA

Building Code of Australia.

Beam

Structural member transversely supporting a load. A structural member carrying building loads (weight) from one support to another. Sometimes called a "girder".

Bearing Partition

Partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Bearing Point

Point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation.

Bearing Wall

Wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Bi-fold Door

Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than standard swing doors. Often used for closet doors.

Blue Print(s)

Type of copying method often used for architectural drawings. Usually used to describe the drawing of a structure which is prepared by an architect or designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction.

Brick Lintel

Metal angle iron that brick rests on, especially above a window, door, or other opening.

Brick Tie

Small, corrugated metal nailed to wall sheeting or studs. They are inserted into the grout mortar joint of the veneer brick, holding the veneer wall to the sheeted wall behind it.

Butt Hinge

Most common type. One leaf attaches to the door's edge, the other to its jamb.

Butt Joint

Junction where the ends of two timbers meet, and also where sheets of gyprock meet on the 1200mm edge. To place materials end-to-end or end-to-edge without overlapping.

Carpet Backing

Holds the pile fabric in place.

Casement

Frames of wood or metal enclosing part (or all) of a window sash. May be opened by means of hinges affixed to the vertical edges.

Casement Window

Window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door.

Casing Bead

Aluminium or plastic trim moulding installed around a door or window opening.

Caulking

Flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces.

CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenate)

Pesticide that is forced into wood under high pressure to protect it from termites, other wood boring insects and decay caused by fungus.

Ceiling Joist

One of a series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders or bearing walls. Also called “roof joists”.

Cement

Grey powder that is the "glue" in concrete. Portland cement. Also, any adhesive.

Ceramic Tile

Man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall. Generally used in bathtub and shower enclosures and on counter tops.

Chair Rail

Interior trim material installed about 900 – 1200mm above finished floor level horizontally.

Chalk Line

Line made by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Used for alignment purposes.

Chip Board

Manufactured wood panel made out of wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing.

Circuit

Path of electrical flow from a power source through an outlet and back to ground.

Circuit Breaker

Device which looks like a switch and is usually located inside electrical breaker panel or circuit breaker box. Designed to (1) shut of the power to portions or all of the area; and (2) to limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes).

Concrete

Mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel and water. Used to make garage and basement floors, sidewalks, patios, foundation walls, etc. Commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh).

Condensing Unit

Outdoor component of a cooling system. Includes a compressor and condensing coil designed to give off heat.

Conduit [electrical]

Pipe in which wire is installed, usually PVC but sometimes metal.

Construction Plasterboard

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 as contrasted to plaster.

Control Joint

Tooled, straight grooves made on concrete floors to "control" where the concrete should crack.

Convection

Currents created by heating air, which rises and pulls cooler air behind it.

Dado

Groove cut into a board or panel intended to receive the edge of a connecting board or panel.

Dead Bolt

Exterior security lock installed on exterior entry doors that can be activated only with a key or thumb-turn. Unlike a latch, which has a bevelled tongue, dead bolts have square ends.

Dedicated Circuit

Electrical circuit that serves only one appliance (ie: hot water service).

Distribution Board or DB

Electrical box that distributes electric power entering a building to each branch circuit (each plug and switch) and composed of circuit breakers.

Doorjamb

Surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens.

Door Stop

Style that the door will rest upon when it's in a closed position, also the terminology for the stop mounted at floor level that the door opens on to.

Double Glazing

Window or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between, for acoustic and thermal insulation.

Double Hung Window

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

Ducts

Heating / cooling system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in a building.  Also a tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fibreglass, which carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building.

DWV (Drain-Waste-Vent)

Section of a plumbing system that carries water and sewer gases out.

Easement

Formal Contract allowing one party to use another party's property for a specific purpose eg: A sewer easement might allow one party to run a sewer line through a neighbouring property.

Electrical Rough-In

Work performed by the Electrical Contractor after the Plumber and Heating Contractor are complete with their phase of work.

Escutcheon

Ornamental plate that fits around a pipe extending through a wall or floor to hide cut-out hole.

Estimating

Process of calculating cost of a project. Can be a formal and exact process or a quick and imprecise process.

Female

Any part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another (male) part can be inserted. Internal threads are female.

Field Measure

Measurements taken in the office itself instead of using the blue prints eg: cabinets, countertops, stairs, shower, doors etc.

Finger Joint

Manufacturing process of interlocking two shorter pieces of wood end to end to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber or moulding. Often used in jambs and casings and are normally painted (instead of stained).

Fishplate (gusset)

Wood or plywood piece used to fasten ends of two members together at a butt joint with nails or bolts. Sometimes used at the junction of opposite rafters near the ridge line. Sometimes called a “gang nail plate”.

Flashing

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

Flat Paint

Interior paint containing a high proportion of pigment and that dries to a flat or lustreless finish.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lamp is a gas-filled glass tube with a phosphor coating on the inside.  Gas inside the tube is ionized by electricity which causes the phosphor coating to glow.  Normally with two pins that extend from each end.

Furring Channel

Steel battens, used to pack out and provide a level fastening surface for a wall or ceiling.

Fuse

Device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines. Protects against fire. See also 'circuit breakers'.

GFCI or GFI

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 plug.

Glazing

Process of installing glass, which commonly is secured with glazier's points and glazing compound.

Gloss Enamel

Finishing paint material. Forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and dries to a sheen or lustre (gloss).

Grain

Direction, size, arrangement, appearance or quality of the fibres in wood.

Grid

Completed assembly of main and cross tees in a suspended ceiling system before the ceiling panels are installed

Grout

Wet mixture of cement, sand and water that flows into masonry or ceramic crevices to seal the cracks between the different pieces. Mortar made of such consistency (by adding water) that it will flow into the joints and cavities of the masonry work and fill them solid.

Gusset

Flat wood, plywood, or similar type member used to provide a connection at the intersection of wood members. Most commonly used at joints of wood trusses. Fastened by nails, screws, bolts or adhesives.

Gyprock

Wall board or gypsum.  Panel made with a core of Gypsum (chalk-like) rock, which covers interior walls and ceilings.

HVAC

Abbreviation for eat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

I-beam

Steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter I.
Used for long spans as basement beams or over wide wall openings, such as a double garage door, when wall and roof loads bear down on the opening.  Referred to as a ‘u’ beam this is short for universal beam.

Incandescent Lamp

Lamp employing an electrically charged metal filament that glows at white heat. A typical light bulb.

Jamb

Side and head lining of a doorway, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame and trim.

Joint

Location between the touching surfaces of two members or components joined and held together by nails, glue, cement, mortar, or other means.

Joint Cement or Joint Compound

Powder usually mixed with water and used for joint treatment in gypsum-wallboard finish.

Keeper

Metal latch plate in a door frame into which a doorknob plunger latches.

Kilowatt (kW)

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

Knot

In lumber, the portion of a branch or limb of a tree that appears on the edge or face of the piece.

Laminating

Bonding together two or more layers of materials.

Landing

Platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction.

Lintel

Horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window.

Male

Any part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another (female) part. External threads are male.

Manufacturer's Specifications

Written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed by the manufacturer of a product and which may have to be followed in order to maintain the product warrantee.

Masonry

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

Mastic

Pasty material used as a cement (as for setting tile) or a protective coating (as for thermal insulation or waterproofing).

Mortar

Mixture of cement (or lime) with sand and water used in masonry work.

Mortise

Slot cut into a board, plank, or timber, usually edgewise, to receive the tenon (or tongue) of another board, plank, or timber to form a joint.

Mullion

Vertical divider in the frame between windows, doors, or other openings.

NMG

No more gaps (Selly’s Product).

Non-bearing Wall

Wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

Nosing

Projecting edge of a moulding or drip or the front edge of a stair tread.

OC

Abbreviation for Occupancy Certificate

Occupancy Certificate

This certificate is issued by the local council and is required before anyone can occupy an office. Issued only after the local council has made all inspections and all monies and fees have been paid.

Paint

Combination of pigments with suitable thinners or oils to provide decorative and protective coatings. Can be oil based or water based.

Pallets

Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping material. Forklifts and hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around.

Particle board

Plywood substitute made from course sawdust mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. Used for closet shelving, floor underlay and  stair treads, etc.

Partition

Wall that subdivides spaces within any storey of a building or room.

Payment Schedule

Pre-agreed upon schedule of payments to a contractor usually based upon the amount of work completed. May include a deposit prior to the start of work. May also be a temporary 'retainer' (5-10% of the total cost of the job) at the end of the contract for correcting any small items which have not been completed for whatever reason or repaired.

PC Sum or Provisional Cost

Sum of money set aside in the construction contract for items which have not been selected and specified in the construction contract. For example, selection of tile as flooring may require an allowance for screed bed material, or an electrical allowance which sets aside an amount of money to be spent on electrical fixtures. Sometimes a PC sum needs to be allowed when it is not possible to obtain an accurate quote due to insufficient information, in these cases works are costed based on an educated guess with any short fall or over spending to be made up for via a variation or a credit

Penalty Clause

Provision in a Contract that provides for a reduction in the amount otherwise payable under a Contract to a contractor as a penalty for failure to meet deadlines or for failure of the project to meet Contract specifications.

Pilot Hole

Small diameter, pre-drilled hole that guides a nail or screw.

Plan View

Drawing of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down.

Plaster Board (Gyprock)

Wall board or gypsum - Manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 13mm thick and. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. 'Blue board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other "wet areas".  Pink Plaster board is used for Fire Rating.

Plenum

Main air supply or return.  The ceiling void can be the space for return air in the case of Air Conditioning.

Plumb

Exactly vertical and perpendicular.

Plumb Bob

Lead weight attached to a string. Tool used in determining plumb.

Plumbing Rough In

Work performed by the plumbing contractor after the Rough Heat is installed. Work includes installing all plastic ABS drain and waste lines, copper water lines, bath tubs, shower pans, and gas piping to furnaces and fireplaces.

Plywood

Panel of wood made of three or more layers of veneer, compressed and joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength.

Point Load

Point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation.

Portland Cement

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

Primer

First, base coat of paint when a paint job consists of two or more coats. First coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and holding succeeding finish coats.

U

section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixtures water drain.

Putty

Type of dough used in sealing glass in the sash, filling small holes and crevices in wood, and for similar purposes.

PVC

Poly Vinyl Chloride - Type of white or light grey plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines and waste pipe.

Rake

Slope or slanted.

Ready Mixed Concrete

Concrete mixed at a plant or in trucks en route to a job and delivered ready for placement.

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 grade.

Roughing-in

Initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, heating, carpentry, and/or other project, when all components that won't be seen after the second finishing phase are assembled. See also Plumbing Rough, and Electrical Rough.

Semi Gloss Paint or Enamel

Paint or enamel made so that its coating, when dry, has some lustre but is not very glossy. Bathrooms and kitchens are normally painted semi-gloss.

Short Circuit

Situation that occurs when active and neutral wires come in contact with each other. Fuses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from a short.

Soffit

The area below the eaves and overhangs. The underside where the roof overhangs the walls.

Soil Pipe

Large pipe that carries liquid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank.

Soil Stack

Plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Span

Clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports.

Specifications or Specs

Narrative list of materials, methods, model numbers, colours, allowances, and other details which supplement the information contained in the blue prints. Written elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods. Written to supplement working drawings.

STC (Sound Transmission Class)

The measure of sound stopping of ordinary noise.

Suspended Ceiling

Ceiling system supported by hanging it from the overhead structural framing.

Switch

Device that completes or disconnects an electrical circuit.

T&G or Tongue & Groove

Joint made by a tongue (a rib on one edge of a board) that fits into a corresponding groove in the edge of another board to make a tight flush joint. Typically, the sub floor plywood is T & G.

T-Bar

Usually the 1200mm long ceiling grid section used in a suspended ceiling.

Turnkey

Term used when the subcontractor provides all materials (and labor) for a job.

Turpentine

Petroleum, volatile oil used as a thinner in paint and as a solvent in varnishes.

Undercoat

Coating applied prior to the finishing or top coats of a paint job. It may be the first of two or the second of three coats. Sometimes called prime coat.

Vent

Pipe or duct which allows the flow of air and gasses to the outside.

Vermiculite

Mineral used as bulk insulation and also as aggregate in insulating and acoustical plaster and in insulating concrete floors.

Waste Pipe and Vent

Plumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage system.

WC

An abbreviation for water closet (toilet).

Zoning

Governmental process and specification which limits the use of a property eg single family use, high rise residential use, industrial use, etc.  Zoning laws may limit where you can locate a structure. Also see building codes.

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