|
A/C: An abbreviation for air conditioner or air
conditioning.
A/C Condenser: The condenser is 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
and pumps the liquid back to the coil in the furnace.
A/C Disconnect: The main electrical ON-OFF switch
near the A/C Condenser.
Acrylic Knockdown (AKD): Finish applied to a
concrete floor surface. Typically applied on porch floors and
decking surrounding swimming pools. The concrete deck receives a
textured finish. It then receives an acrylic elastic type paint
or coating applied over the textured finish. It can be easily
recoated or painted later which makes it appear new again. Any
exterior floor area in Florida should be hosed down weekly to
keep mildew at bay.
Aerator: The round screened screw-on tip of a sink
spout. It mixes water and air for a smooth flow.
Air Conditioned Living Area: The square footage of
the area that is air conditioned in a home. Areas such as
garage, porches, non air conditioned attic storage areas, etc.
are not included in this measurement. When cost per square foot
is considered the cost of the home is typically divided by the
square footage of Air Conditioned Living Area. Large amounts of
non air conditioned area canhave a huge impact on the cost per
square foot of a home.
Allowances: In the specifications for the
construction of a home typically numerous items are called
allowances. They are typically decorator items such as cabinets,
tile, wallpaper, carpet, landscaping, etc. The Builder will base
the price of the home including allowances for the items agreed
to as allowance items. Depending upon the choices the Buyer
makes they will receive a credit if their choice is less than
the allowance, none if the same as the allowance, or they will
be charged the additional amount if their choice cost more than
the allowance for that particular item. This is an area that
allows many unscrupulous Builders to offer a below market price
for a home by reducing the allowances. The Buyers receive many
unpleasant surprises when Builders do this throughout the
process. It is not at all unusual to find out that the Builder
with the higher bid has in fact the lowest cost in the end due
to this practice. Protect yourself by doing some research on
what you desire for the allowance items vs. the allowance
offered.
Amortization: A payment plan by which a loan is
reduced through monthly payments of principal and interest.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): Annual cost of
credit over the life of a loan, including interest, service
charges, points, loan fees, mortgage insurance, and other items.
Architectural Ceilings: Known as tray ceilings or other
specially designed ceilings. They are typically designed by the
Interior Architectural Designer and not the Architect or
Designer of the home.
Astragal: A molding, attached to one of a pair of
swinging double doors, against which the other door strikes.
Attic access: An opening that is placed in the
drywalled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic
Automated lighting control system: A
professionally installed system that controls lights in multiple
rooms without use of manual switches.
Backsplashes: Wall area between the cabinet
countertop and the upper cabinets. This area can have tile,
granite, wallpaper, or painted an accent color.
Balusters: Vertical members in a railing used
between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair treads.
Balusters are sometimes referred to as 'pickets' or 'spindles'.
Balustrade: The rail, posts and vertical balusters
along the edge of a stairway or elevated walkway are known as
the Balustrade.
Banding: Typically refers to exterior veneer of
the home. Banding is the trim installed around windows, doors,
and other exterior architectural features of the home. It can be
made out of stucco, wood, or stone.
Bath Accessories: Includes the toilet tissue
holder and towel bars. They can be metal or ceramic.
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.
Bi-pass doors: Doors that slide by each other and
commonly used as closet doors.
Bottom chord: The lower or bottom horizontal
member of a truss.
Breaker panel: The electrical box that distributes
electric power entering the home to each branch circuit (each
plug and switch) and composed of circuit breakers.
Builder's Risk Insurance: Insurance coverage on a
construction project during construction, including extended
coverage that may be added for the contract for the customer's
protections.
Building codes: Local and state ordinances
governing the manner in which a home may be constructed or
modified.
Built INS: Can be anywhere in the home. The Built Ins are
typically designed by the Interior Architectural Designer. They
are normally built into some type of niche specially prepared
for the Built in. They are highly personalized and not
inexpensive. Normally, the built-ins are finished wood and
include TV entertainment centers, Bookcases, Desk, Storage
Chest, and much more.
Bull nose (drywall): Rounded drywall corners.
Café Grille Hood: Installed on the rear porch over the
outdoor grille. They should include a venting system to remove
all smoke and odor to the outside through the roof or side wall
of the home.
Cantilever: An overhang where one floor extends
beyond and over a foundation wall. For example at a fireplace
location or bay window cantilever.
Casement: A window that one side of the window
sash cranks out.
Casing: The casing is the wood trim molding
installed around a door or window opening.
Cast Stone: Man made material to resemble coral
stone or some other type of natural stone. Cast Stone is very
expensive. Many times the same look can be accomplished through
our stucco artists at a fraction of the cost.
Cement: The gray powder that is the
"glue" in concrete. Portland cement. Also, any
adhesive.
Ceramic tile: A 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.
Certificate of Occupancy: Issued by the County Building
Department once the home has passed all of the required
inspections by the County building department. This certificate
is issued by the local municipality and is required before
anyone can occupy and live within the home. It is issued only
after the local municipality has made all inspections and all
monies and fees have been paid.
CFM (cubic feet per minute): A rating that
expresses the amount of air a blower or fan can move. The volume
of air (measured in cubic feet) that can pass through an opening
in one minute.
Chair rail: Interior trim material installed about
3-4 feet up the wall, horizontally.
Circuit Breaker: A device which looks like a
switch and is usually located inside the electrical breaker
panel or circuit breaker box. It is designed to (1) shut of the
power to portions or all of the house and (2) to limit the
amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes).
110 volt household circuits require a fuse or circuit breaker
with a rating of 15 or a maximum of 20 amps. 220 volt circuits
may be designed for higher amperage loads e.g. a hot water
heater may be designed for a 30 amp load and would therefore
need a 30 amp fuse or breaker.
Circuit: The path of electrical flow from a power
source through an outlet and back to ground.
CO: An abbreviation for "Certificate of
Occupancy".
Cold air return: The ductwork (and related grills)
that carries room air back to the furnace for re-heating.
Combustion air: The duct work installed to bring
fresh, outside air to the furnace and/or hot water heater.
Normally 2 separate supplies of air are brought in: One high and
One low.
Compressor: 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. In an air
conditioning system, the compressor normally sits outside and
has a large fan (to remove heat).
Concrete block: A hollow concrete 'brick' often
8" x 8" x 16" in size.
Concrete: The mixture of Portland cement, sand,
gravel, and water. Used to make garage and basement floors,
sidewalks, patios, foundation walls, etc. It is commonly
reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh).
Condensate line: The copper pipe that runs from
the outside air conditioning condenser to the inside furnace
(where the a/c coil is located).
Condensation: Beads or drops of water (and
frequently frost in extremely cold weather) that accumulate on
the inside of the exterior covering of a building. Use of
louvers or attic ventilators will reduce moisture condensation
in attics. A vapor barrier under the gypsum lath or dry wall on
exposed walls will reduce condensation.
Condensing unit: The outdoor component of a
cooling system. It includes a compressor and condensing coil
designed to give off heat.
Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC and R's):
The standards that define how a property may be used and the
protections the developer makes for the benefit of all owners in
a subdivision.
Construction Agreement: The contractual agreement
between the Buyers and the Builder. This agreement spells out
the rights, obligations, and duties between both parties.
Construction Specifications: Attached to the
Construction Agreement. The specifications cannot be too long.
Ours are typically 100 pages or more detailing everything we can
think of that has been included with the home as well as
anything that is not. This is a very important document. If it
is not a substantial size document be very careful.
Control joint: Tooled, straight grooves made on
concrete floors to "control" where the concrete should
crack
Convection: Currents created by heating air, which
then rises and pulls cooler air behind it. Also see radiation.
Cooling load: The amount of cooling required
keeping a building at a specified temperature during the summer,
usually 78° F, regardless of outside temperature.
Corbel: The triangular, decorative and supporting
member that holds a mantel or horizontal shelf.
Corner bead: A strip of formed sheet metal placed
on outside corners of drywall before applying drywall 'mud'.
Cornice: Overhang of a pitched roof, usually
consisting of a fascia board, a soffit and appropriate trim
moldings.
Course: A row of shingles or roll roofing running
the length of the roof. Parallel layers of building materials
such as bricks, or siding laid up horizontally.
Deco Drain: Normally found at the intersection of
the concrete rear porch and the concrete pool deck. The drain
has a perforated top where the water drains into a PVC trough
and is then directed to the yard of the home. We use a larger
than standard Deco Drain to be sure that no future problems will
occur.
Dedicated circuit: An electrical circuit that
serves only one appliance (ie, dishwasher) or a series of
electric heaters or smoke detectors.
Disconnect: A large (generally 20 Amp) electrical
ON-OFF switch.
Distributed audio system: A professionally installed
system that allows occupants to play and control audio from a
central source in at least three rooms in the home The system
should include at a minimum a distribution amplifier, room
controls and in-wall, on-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
Doorjamb, interior: The surrounding case into
which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of
two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head
jamb. These 3 jambs have the "door stop" installed on
them.
Dormer: An opening in a sloping roof, the framing
of which projects out to form a vertical wall suitable for
windows or other openings.
Double Cylinder Deadbolt: This is a deadbolt lock on a
door. Double cylinder means that a key must be used on both
sides of the lock. A single cylinder means that a key must be
used on one side of the door while a lever of some other type is
used to unlock the door on the opposite side.
Double glass: Window or door in which two panes of
glass are used with a sealed air space between. Also known as
Insulating Glass.
Double hung: A window that both the upper and
lower window sashes move up and down.
Draw: The amount of progress billings on a
contract that is currently available to a contractor under a
contract with a fixed payment schedule.
Driveway approach: Driveway area between the
street and the sidewalk at the front of the property. This area
must be concrete as opposed to brick pavers since it must
connect with the street.
Drop in Sink: Sink that is surface mounted on a
counter top. The rim of the sink is visible. A sink that the rim
is not visible is called an under mount sink.
Dry in: To install the black roofing felt (tar
paper) on the roof.
Ducts: The heating system. Usually round or
rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or
cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home. Also a tunnel
made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which carries air
from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a
building.
Dura Rock: Reinforced concrete sheets installed on
the wall or a wood floor prior to the installation of tile. The
Dura Rock will not rot or absorb water while green board or
water resistant drywall will. This is a must for all wall tile
and tile installed on wood floors.
Easement: A formal contract which allows a party
to use another party's property for a specific purpose. e.g. a
sewer easement might allow one party to run a sewer line through
a neighbor’s property.
Eaves: The horizontal exterior roof overhang.
Egress: A means of exiting the home. An egress
window is required in every bedroom and basement. Normally a 4'
X 4' window is the minimum size required
Electrical Rough: Work performed by the Electrical
Contractor after the plumber and heating contractor are complete
with their phase of work. Normally all electrical wires and
outlet, switch, and fixture boxes are installed (before
insulation).
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 "pig tails", and bath ventilation fans,
wires the furnace, and "makes up" the electric house
panel. The electrician does all work necessary to get the home
ready for and to pass the municipal electrical final inspection
Elevation: Drawing depicting the final look of an
element such as each side of the home.
Evaporator coil: The part of a cooling system that
absorbs heat from air in your home. Also see condensing unit.
Expansion joint: Fibrous material (@1/2"
thick) installed in and around a concrete slab to permit it to
move up and down (seasonally) along the non-moving foundation
wall.
Exterior Rock Salt Accent Painting: This treatment
can be applied to stucco banding, columns, window sills, etc.
that has been pitted with rock salt to resemble cast stone. It
is a 2-3 stage treatment. First, the material is painted with
the color desired for the pitted area of the surface. It is then
repainted with the color desired for the main area of the
surface. This treatment makes the pitted areas stand out and
really finishes the cast stone look for a fraction of the cost
of cast stone. Sometimes, our clients have the banding and other
faux stone trim faux painted for an even nicer, more authentic
look.
Fascia: The flat, vertical surface immediately
below the edge of a roof. It is the surface a gutter would be
attached to. The term fascia can also be used to describe other
flat vertical surfaces in a home.
Faux Painting: Paint applied by an artist to a
surface in a manner to match a certain pattern and color
desired. Normally requires a base coat of paint with numerous
other coats of other color paint to achieve the desired look.
Faux painting is used on walls and many other surfaces. Almost
any faux look can be accomplished.
Felt- Tar paper: Installed under the roof
shingles. Normally 15 lb. or 30 lb.
Flashing: Sheet metal or other material used in
roof and wall construction to protect a building from water
seepage.
Flatwork: Common word for concrete floors,
driveways, basements, and sidewalks.
Flue: Large pipe through which fumes escape from a
gas water heater, furnace, or fireplace. Normally these flue
pipes are double walled, galvanized sheet metal pipe and
sometimes referred to as a "B Vent". Fireplace flue
pipes are normally triple walled. In addition, nothing
combustible shall be within one inch from the flue pipe.
Foam Insulation: Foam insulation is injected into
the exterior concrete block wall cavities not filled with
concrete. Foam insulation not only offers a great insulation
value, but also provides excellent sound insulation. More
importantly though, it fills every cavity and void in the
exterior walls eliminating places where bugs and other pest can
reside and enter the home.
Footer: The concrete reinforced supporting base or
groundwork of the home.
Foundation Wall: The concrete block walls built on
top of the footer to the height of the slab. The area inside the
foundation walls is filled with compacted fill.
Framer: The carpenter contractor that installs the
lumber and erects the frame, flooring system, interior walls,
backing, trusses, rafters, decking, installs all beams, stairs,
soffits and all work related to the wood structure of the home.
The framer builds the home according to the blueprints and must
comply with local building codes and regulations.
Framing: Lumber used for the structural members of
a building, such as studs, joists, and rafters.
French Drains: Installed below the surface of the
ground to aid movement of ground water outside the home. A
trench is dug in which a perforated PVC pipe is installed. The
pipe is embedded in gravel and the pipe is then directed to a
positive drain source. The pipe, if properly sloped, will do an
excellent job draining wet areas. French drains are also known
as under drains.
Frieze Bands: A plain or decorated vertical band
installed below the exterior soffit and the exterior vertical
veneer of the home for decorative purposes. The band is
typically thicker than the adjacent wall surface and of another
texture so that the band will be prominent in appearance. This
term could also describe a band treatment inside the home just
below the ceiling.
Glazing: The process of installing glass, which
commonly is secured with glazier's points and glazing compound.
GPM: This is a measurement that describes the number of
gallons that can flow through a particular pipe or other item
per minute.
Grade: Ground level or the elevation at any given
point. Also the work of leveling dirt. Also the designated
quality of a manufactured piece of wood.
Ground fault: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI,
GFI) - 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.
Ground iron: The plumbing drain and waste lines
that are installed beneath the basement floor. Cast iron was
once used, but black plastic pipe (ABS) is now widely used.
Ground: Refers to electricity's habit of seeking
the shortest route to earth. Neutral wires carry it there in all
circuits. An additional grounding wire or the sheathing of the
metal-clad cable or conduit—protects against shock if the
neutral leg is interrupted.
Groundwater: Water from an aquifer or subsurface
water source.
Grout: A 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.
Gypsum Board: Gypsum is used to create drywall. Drywall
is the interior wall and ceiling surface of your home. It comes
in 4’x12’ sheets that are taped and finished.
Hardware: All of the "metal" fittings
that go into the home when it is near completion. For example,
door knobs, towel bars, handrail brackets, closet rods, house
numbers, door closers, etc. The Interior Trim Carpenter installs
the "hardware".
Heat Recovery Units: Use waste heat from your air
conditioning system to heat domestic hot water.
Heat Rough: Work performed by the Heating
Contractor after the stairs and interior walls are built. This
includes installing all duct work and flue pipes. Sometimes, the
furnace and fireplaces are 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.
Hip: A roof with four sloping sides. The external
angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.
Hip roof: A roof that rises by inclined planes
from all four sides of a building.
Home automation system: A professionally installed system
that integrates the control of security, HVAC or lighting
systems to enhance safety, comfort and convenience.
Home run (electrical): The electrical cable that
carries power from the main circuit breaker panel to the first
electrical box, plugs, or switch in the circuit.
Home theater system: A professionally installed
audio/video system designed to re-create cinema-like experiences
in the home, including at least a five-speaker surround-sound
system (at least installed or mounted on the wall or ceiling)
and a video display measuring 40 inches or more.
Hose Bib: Exterior garden hose outlet.
HVAC: The heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system for your home.
Interior Architectural Detailing: As important or
possibly more so that the architectural plans for your home.
They include the plans for all of the special ceilings, niches,
special trim, built ins, decorative tile details, and more for
your home. They are typically prepared by the Interior Designer
and Architect.
Irrigation: Exterior sprinkler system for the
yard.
Jamb: The side and head lining of a doorway,
window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame
and trim.
Joist hanger: A metal "U" shaped item
used to support the end of a floor joist and attached with
Joist: Wooden 2 X 8's, 10's, or 12's that run
parallel to one another and support a floor or ceiling, and
supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.
Keyless: A plastic or porcelain light fixture that
operates by a pull string. Generally found in the basement,
crawl space, and attic areas.
Knockdown: Splatter texture applied to a surface
that is then troweled to achieve a particular finish. Normally
used to describe finish on drywall interior walls and ceilings,
porch and pool deck floor finishes, as well as a particular type
of exterior wall stucco finish.
Laminate: Formica or other brands surface glued to
a wood substrate typically for countertops.
Light Lift: Typically found where chandeliers are
installed in high ceiling areas. The light lift is electrically
operated and raises or lowers the light fixture for cleaning and
maintenance.
Male: Any part, such as a bolt, designed to fit
into another (female) part. External threads are male.
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: A pasty material used as a cement (as for
setting tile) or a protective coating (as for
Medallions: Normally adhered to a wall or ceiling. They
can be plaster, stone, precast stone, etc. They are typically
decorative in nature.
Millwork: Generally all building materials made of
finished wood and manufactured in millwork plants. Includes all
doors, window and door frames, blinds, mantels, panel work,
stairway components (balusters, rail, etc.), moldings, and
interior trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling, or siding.
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.
Molding: A wood strip having an engraved,
decorative surface.
Monitored security system: A professionally
installed system designed to detect intrusion or other hazard,
including sensors, an alarm-sounding device and communication
device that reports conditions to an alarm monitoring service.
Mortar: A mixture of cement (or lime) with sand
and water used in masonry work.
Mortgagee: The lender who makes the mortgage loan.
Motor Court: Driveway area in front of garage.
Mullion: A vertical divider in the frame between
windows, doors, or other openings.
Muntins: Are typically decorative in nature.
Muntins can be a strip of wood or metal separating and holding
panes of glass in a window. Today, they are typically installed
for decorative purposes only since normally one pane of glass is
used for the entire window opening. Today, they are veneered on
both sides of a piece of window glass to duplicate the type of
window look shown on the plans of the home.
Newel post: the large starting post to which the
ends of a stair guard railing or balustrade is fastened.
Nonbearing wall: A wall supporting no load other
than its own weight.
Nosing: The projecting edge of a molding or drip
or the front edge of a stair tread.
Pitch: The incline slope of a roof or the ratio of
the total rise to the total width of a house, i.e., a 6-foot
rise and 24-foot width is a one-fourth pitch roof. Roof slope is
expressed in the inches of rise, per foot of horizontal run.
Plot plan: An overhead view plan that shows the
location of the home on the lot. Includes all easements,
property lines, set backs, and legal descriptions of the home.
Provided by the surveyor.
Programmable Thermostats: Allow the homeowner to
program times and temperature for automatic operation, saving
30% during a typical setback period.
Radiant Barrier: Aluminum foil installed over the
air conditioned living area of the home between the interior
ceiling and the roof of the home. It is typically stapled to the
undersides of the sloped roof trusses. Each piece is taped and
sealed. Our trade’s people advise us that this lowers the
temperature in the middle of the summer in attics 30 to 40
degrees. This should have a large impact on utility cost.
Rebar: Steel reinforcing rods installed in
concrete. Objective is to hold the concrete together.
Receptacle: An electrical outlet. A typical
household will have many 120 volt receptacles for plugging in
lams and appliances and 240 volt receptacles for the range,
clothes dryer, air conditioners, etc.
Recessed Box Washer Connection: Installed inside
the wall in the laundry where the clothes washer will be
located. Inside this box are the hot and cold water supplies as
well as the drain for the washer.
Recessed lights: Ceiling lights installed in the
ceiling of the home by the electrician.
Redline red lined prints: Blueprints that reflect
changes and that are marked with red pencil.
Retaining wall: A structure that holds back a
slope and prevents erosion.
Retaining Walls: When a yard slopes more than
normal a retaining wall may be required. The retaining wall is
built from concrete, block, etc. Sometimes they are required
around swimming pools.
Returns: The conditioned air is distributed
throughout the home using a system of rigid and flexible duct,
collectively referred to as ductwork. Ductwork is a circulatory
system that uses supplies to feed air into a room and returns to
complete the circuit back to the air handler. Adequate and
properly placed returns will keep closed rooms from becoming
pressurized which limit the entrance of supply air into the
room.
Rough opening: The horizontal and vertical
measurement of a window or door opening before drywall or siding
is installed.
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.
SEER: Universal energy rating for heat pumps. The
higher the number the better.
Sentricon: Termite treatment developed by DuPont.
It is a termite baiting system with baiting stations placed
every so many feet around the perimeter of the home. The baiting
systems are continuously monitored for any sign of termite
activity. Should activity occur at any baiting station then that
area is heavily treated for termites. The objective is to stop
termites before they reach the home.
Service entrance panel: Main power cabinet where
electricity enters a home wiring system.
Service equipment: Main control gear at the
service entrance, such as circuit breakers, switches, and fuses.
Service lateral: Underground power supply line.
Sheathing: A layer of plywood or similar type
material applied to the studs and joists of a building to
strengthen it and serve as a foundation for a weatherproof
exterior finish.
Single Cylinder Deadbolt: This is a deadbolt lock
on a door. Double cylinder means that a key must be used on both
sides of the lock. A single cylinder means that a key must be
used on one side of the door while a lever of some other type is
used to unlock the door on the opposite side.
Single Hung: Refers to a type of window where the
bottom window sash goes up and down. The upper sash remains
fixed.
Skimmer: Typically refers to the pool. It is an
inlet where the pool water is sucked from the pool water surface
by the pool pump through the filtration equipment and returned
to the pool as fresh filtered water.
Slide Bolt: Normally found where double doors are
used. A slide bolt is installed at the top and bottom of one of
the doors to allow the doors to lock. The door with the slide
bolt remains fixed unless the slide bolts are opened. It can
then be opened or closed.
Soffit: The underside of a structural component,
such as a beam, arch, staircase, or cornice. The term is
typically used to refer to the flat horizontal area between the
edge of the roof and the exterior veneer of the home.
Soil Report: The Soil Engineer takes core samples
at various locations on the home site 7-10 feet deep. He then
analyzes the samples for structural capacity of the soil. His
report details those findings and offers his suggestions on how
to deal with any problem soils.
Solarium: A solarium is a room enclosed largely
with glass and affording exposure to the sun. The term solarium
as used by a Builder typically refers to the wall built
surrounding this room. The wall allows the room to remain open
to the sun, but affords privacy at the same time.
Span: The clear distance that a framing member
carries a load without support between structural supports. The
horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Street Tree: Most communities today require the
Builder to install an oak tree of a certain size or other
similar agreed tree species every 50 feet or other length of
street frontage.
Structured Wiring System: The future of all homes!
A central box is installed inside the home in an easily
accessible location. All TV and telephone outlets are then wired
directly to each outlet from this box. The telephone, cable
television, satellite, fiber optic, and other lines coming into
the home from the outside are wired directly to this box. The
computers can be networked through this box, distributed audio
and video systems can be installed, as well as home automation
and lighting controls can be installed in this system. Dave
Brewer was ranked #3 in the country last year among Custom Home
Builders in the use of technology in our homes.
Supplies: The conditioned air is distributed
throughout the home using a system of rigid and flexible duct,
collectively referred to as ductwork. Ductwork is a circulatory
system that uses supplies to feed air into a room and returns to
complete the circuit back to the air handler. Adequate and
properly placed returns will keep closed rooms from becoming
pressurized which limit the entrance of supply air into the
room.
Surface-mount: Mounted on the surface of something
as opposed to under mount which would be a recessed mounting.
Threshold: A piece of aluminum or wood placed
beneath a door; a doorsill. It typically has vinyl or rubber
weather stripping installed to not only save energy cost, but
also to prevent pests from entering the home.
Tile Decos: Describes the decorative treatments
installed in tile surfaces. Decos may be the same tile turned or
sized differently. It may also be another tile material
installed for decorative purposes.
Top chord: The upper or top member of a truss.
Transom: A window or opening installed above a door or
window.
Trap: A plumbing fitting that holds water to
prevent air, gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture.
Trusses: Engineered wood roof system.
Tyvek or similar material: Applied to the exterior
wood plywood sheathing on all frame wall areas of the home. It
is a plastic type material that does an excellent job of
preventing moisture entering the home through the exterior
walls.
Under drains: Installed below the surface of the
ground to aid movement of ground water outside the home. A
trench is dug in which a perforated PVC pipe is installed. The
pipe is embedded in gravel and the pipe is then directed to a
positive drain source. The pipe if properly sloped will do an
excellent job draining wet areas. Under drains are also known as
French drains.
Under-layment: Material installed between two
surfaces. An example is a pad under-layment is installed between
the concrete slab and the carpet. Dave Brewer is the only
Builder we know that installs a second layer of plywood type
wood under-layment over the top of all plywood floors on two
story homes. The second layer reduces noise transmission and
creates a stiffer floor that all Custom home Buyers deserve in
their home.
Under-mount: Refers to a sink installed below a counter
top making the sink and the top appear to be one piece.
Valley: The "V" shaped area of a
roof where two sloping roofs meet. Water drains off the roof at
the valleys.
Vapor Barrier: Visquene installed to prevent
moisture from passing between two locations. A vapor barrier is
installed on top of the foundation fill prior to pouring the
slab. This prevents condensation entering the floor of the home
from the ground below.
Water Closet: Toilet or commode.
Wood Inserts: Wood Inserts in the specifications
refers to a decorative design created out of wood installed
inside some type of niche in the home.
Zoning: Zoning the Air Conditioning System allows
a home to be separated into multiple zones. Each zone has
individualized control with its own thermostat. Also: A
governmental process and specification which limits the use of a
property e.g. single family use, high rise residential use,
industrial use, etc. Zoning laws may limit where you can locate
a structure. Also see building codes.
|
