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Construction Dictionary 

 

A
A/C closet
Closet inside a home where the A/C handler will be placed.
B
Bearing point
A specifically engineered location in a roof or floor truss system that requires a weight load to transfer to the slab anchor boltsA bolt placed in the surface of concrete for attaching wood framing members.
Brick ledge
A 5-1/2 inch ledge recessed in the edge of the concrete so the brick rests 1-1/2 inches below the finished floor.
Brick pocket
A pocket formed using a frieze board that allows the brick to tuck in behind the frieze.

 

C

Cable dead ends
The end of a cable in a post tensioned foundation that remains stationary during stressing.
Cable live ends
The end of a cable in a post tensioned foundation that is pulled during stressing.
Chair
Plastic device used to hold up the cable a certain distance over the foundation fill and poly.
Cleanout
An opening in the sewer system where a cap can be removed to allow access for unclogging.
Cold water bond.
A copper wire that is attached to a hose bib to provide grounding of the electric panel.
Cornice.
The decorative trim and siding applied to the exterior of a home.
Cricket.
Two sloping surfaces meeting in a horizontal ridge, used between the back side of a chimney or other vertical surface and a sloping roof.
Cripple.
Short stud over a window or door between the top of the header and the bottom of the top plate. Also, the short stud between the top of the bottom plate and the underside of a window frame.
D
Double top plate
Piece of lumber laid horizontally on top of the studs to tie them together and form a base for the framing above which may be a floor or a roof.
F
Fan block
A metal bracket or wood block installed to provide support for a future ceiling fan installation.
Fascia
The six inch board used to cover the end of an overhang.
Finger jointed studs
2x4 boards that are engineered for use as wall studs.
Forms
Wood boards formed and braced to shape wet concrete.
Frieze
The highest board directly above the siding and below the soffit.
G
Gable
A vertical, triangular part of a building, contained between the slopes of a double-sloped roof.
Garage door trimmer
The 2x board used to trim out the rough opening of a garage door.
GFI
A safety circuit breaker that compares the amount of current entering a receptacle on the hot wire with the amount leaving on the white wire.
Glulam
An engineered beam built by various layers of lumber being glued together to provide increased bearing capability.
H
Hardi siding
A composite cement siding product.
Header
A double wood 2x member that is sized to span the width of an opening.
Hip
Outside corner formed by intersecting roofs.
Horizontal flow unit
A traditional HVAC unit designed for attic applications.
Hose bib
An exterior valve that supplies cold water to the exterior of the home.
I
Interior beams
Canals dug into the foundation fill that allow the concrete to reinforce the foundation.
Island conduit
A plastic flexible tube set inside the slab to allow wiring to be run to an island.
LVL
Laminated veneer lumber, an engineered beam built by compressing wood fibers with an adhesive to provide increased bearing capability.
M
Main panel
An electric panel that houses the larger circuits of a homes electric system.
Moistop
A product used as a moisture barrier around framing penetrations and a bond breaker between the slab and the brick.
O
Outlet - 120V
A typical electric outlet that supplies 120 volts of current.
Outlet - 230V
An electric outlet that supplies 230 volts of current, typically at an oven, dryer, etc.
P
Plumbing rough
The sewer portion of the plumbing system that is installed during foundation stage.
Plumbing topout
The complete sewer and water supply portion of the plumbing system run throughout the home that ties into the rough plumbing.
Poly
Plastic sheeting used to provide a moisture barrier between the foundation pad and the fill.
Pony wall
A short wall built over another wall of standard height.
Primary condensate line
A PVC drain line that runs into the sewer line of a home.
R
Ramset
A fastener that attaches wall plate to concrete.
Real Trim
A pressed and primed spruce wood product that is used for exterior trim.
Rebar
Steel rods used for reinforcing concrete.
Register
The outlet box at the end of a duct.
Return air
The fresh air intake for an HVAC system.
Ridge
The horizontal line at which two roof planes slope down from that line.
Rough opening
The required framing size for any window, door, etc.
S
Secondary condensate line
A backup PVC drain line that runs to the exterior of home.
Sub panel
A smaller and separate electric panel that houses the smaller individual circuits of a home's electric system.
Switch 3-way
A circuit in a home that allows two switches to individually operate a light outlet.
T
Thermoply
A reinforced cardboard product used for structural sheathing and for flashing around windows.
Tongue and groove decking
Plywood manufactured with a tongue so that it fits into the groove of another.
Treated lumber
Lumber that is chemically treated to preserve it.
U
Up flow unit
An HVAC unit designed for A/C closet that allow the air to flow up into a duct system.
Utility lumber
A #3 grade of lumber used for top and bottom plates, deadwood, and some truss applications.
V
Vent fan
A small electronic fan used to ventilate rooms such as bathroom, utility rooms, etc.
W
Water heater closet
A closet inside a home where the water heater will be placed.
Water heater Overflow line
A PVC line attached to a pan placed under a water heater designed to allow drainage in case of a water heater leak.
Water heater Pressure release line
The copper line that runs out of the water heater and relieves the water heater of any built up pressure.
Water shutoff valve
A valve installed near the city meter box or inside the home that allows the water to be shutoff in case of a leak.
Water softener loop
A supply loop placed at the beginning of water supply section of the plumbing that allows a water softener to be added at later date.
Window flashing
Material used to protect windows from intrusion (metal, tape, moistop).
Y
Yellow pine (#2)
A grade of lumber used for structural applications such as rafters, ceiling joists, and headers.

 

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