Glossary  

borate: A naturally occurring salt used to repel wood-destroying insects.
 
conduit: A pipe, usually metal, in which electrical wiring is installed.
 
electrical rough: Work performed by the electrical contractor after the plumbing and heating contractors have completed their phases of work. Normally all electrical wires as well as outlet, switch and fixture boxes are installed at this time (before insulation is installed).
 
electrical trim: Work performed by the electrical contractor when the house is nearing completion. The electrician installs all plugs, switches, light fixtures, smoke detectors, appliance connections, bath ventilation fans, furnace wiring, and the electric house panel. The electrician does all work necessary to get the home ready for and to pass the municipal electrical final inspection.
 
engineered floor or I-joist: A manufactured structural building component resembling the letter I and used for floor joists and rafters.
 
footer, footing: An enlargement at the base of a foundation wall, pier, or column designed to distribute the load.
 
foundation: The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor (or below grade) that transfers weight loads to the earth.
 
heat rough: Work performed by the heating contractor after the stairs and interior walls are built. This includes installing all ductwork and flue pipes. The furnace and fireplaces may be installed at this stage of construction.
 
heat trim: Work done by the heating contractor to get the home ready for the municipal final heat inspection. This includes venting the hot water heater; installing all vent grills, registers, air conditioning services; turning on the furnace; installing thermostats, venting ranges and hoods; and all other heat-related work.
 
HVAC: An abbreviation for Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
 
Low-E windows: Low-emissivity windows are made with glass coated with an ultra thin metallic layer that blocks certain amounts of UV (ultraviolet) and IR (infrared) light while allowing visible light. This traps warmth in a home during the winter and blocks heat during the summer.
 
on center: The measurement of spacing for studs, rafters, and joists in a building from the center of one member to the center of the next.
 
plumbing rough: Work performed by the plumbing contractor after the heat rough is installed. This work includes installing all plastic ABS drain and waste lines, copper water lines, bathtubs, shower pans, and gas piping to furnaces and fireplaces.
 
plumbing trim: Work performed by the plumbing contractor to get the home ready for a final plumbing inspection. Includes installing all plumbing items including toilets (water closets), hot water heaters, sinks, disposals, dishwashers and connecting all gas pipes to appliances.
 
rebar, reinforcing bar: Ribbed steel bars installed to strengthen concrete in foundation walls, footers, and poured-in-place concrete structures. Available in various thicknesses and grades of strength.
 
roughing-in: The 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 heat rough, plumbing rough and electrical rough.
 
structured wiring: A planned cabling system which systematically lays out the wiring and wire management necessary for communications, including voice, data and video.
 
stud: A vertical wood framing member, also referred to as a wall stud, attached to the horizontal sole plate below and the top plate above. Also one of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
 
trim: The work that the mechanical (plumbing, heating and electrical) contractors perform to finish their respective aspects of work when the home is nearing completion and occupancy.
 
truss: An engineered and manufactured roof support member with zigzag framing members. It has the same purpose as a rafter but is designed to have a longer span.
 
vapor barrier: A building product, usually polyethylene plastic sheeting, installed on exterior walls and ceilings under the drywall and on the warm side of the insulation. It is used to slow the movement of water vapor into walls and prevent condensation within them.
 
veneer: Extremely thin sheets of wood usually used for a finished surface. Also a thin layer of wood, brick or stone covering a framed wall.

For additional glossary terms click here.