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If you should want a more complete glossary of construction terms, visit www.homebuildingmanual.com.
A
Abatement
asbestos control beyond a special operations and maintenance program.
ABS
a type of black plastic pipe commonly used for waste water lines.
Air ducts
pipes that carry warm and cold air to rooms and return back to the heating and cooling system.
Air gap
1. the unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest opening of a faucet which supplies a plumbing fixture (such as tank or wash bowl) and the level at which the fixture will overflow. 2. In a drainage system, the unobstructed vertical distance between the outlet of a waste pipe and the flood-level rim of the receptacle into which it discharges.
Amperage or AMPS
a unit of electrical current or volume--see "Voltage." Most homes have an electrical service 'entrance' package of 125 or 200 amps. Some older homes have 60 or 100 amp 'entrances'.
Anchorage
a devise used to anchor a wire, bar, rod during the curing of concrete.
Arc Fault Current Interrupters
new electrical safety devices that are becoming part of the electrical codes, designed to prevent electrical fires, recommended for bedroom areas.
Asbestos
a fine, flexible, noncombustible material. It can withstand high temperatures without change. Asbestos exposure, by inhaling loose asbestos fibers, is associated with various forms of lung disease.
Atmospheric
where a heater relies on the surrounding atmosphere for air supply. Air is not forced through unit, but is naturally draft vented.
B
Baseboard
a board along floor attached to wall and partitions in a building .
Basement
any building story having a floor below grade.
Beam
principal horizontal wood, steel or concrete support members of a building.
Bearing wall
wall that supports a floor or roof of a building.
Blower
in an HVAC system, a fan used to force air under pressure.
Bonding wire
in a pool system, an approved conductor that connects all electrical equipment to the metal that constructs the pool.
Box (junction box)
a metal or plastic enclosure within which electrical connections are made; has removable cover to provide easy access.
BTU
British Thermal Unit. (A unit of heat.)
Burner tubes
in an HVAC system, tubes that have holes in them where gas comes out and is ignited.
Burner assemblies
the gas burners used in a heater.
C
Cable
two or more insulated conductors wrapped in a metal or plastic cover .
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
a toxic colorless and odorless gas and common combustion by-product. CO testing must be a regular part of the annual gas furnace service. Combustion appliances including: furnaces, fireplaces, grills, generators, gas water heaters etc. require proper installation and service in order to prevent CO exposure.
Casement Window
a window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a door. This type of window is a charming feature, commonly found in historic homes.
Casing
window and door trim
Caulking
a resilient material used to seal cracks, fill joints, prevent leakage, and/or provide water proofing.
Central heating system
a boiler or furnace flue connected and installed as an integral part of the structure and designed to supply heat adequately for the entire structure.
Chimney
a vertical, masonry shaft of reinforced concrete or other approved noncombustible heat-resisting material enclosing one or more flues. The chimney removes the products of combustion from solid, liquid or gaseous fuel.
Circuit
a path of electrical flow from a power source through a fixture and return to ground or neutral.
Circuit breaker
a device that interrupts electrical flow automatically in case of an overload in the circuit. The circuit breaker can be reset by either a switch or push-button.
Concrete
a common construction material often used for foundations, ground level floors, and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of Portland cement, sand, and gravel or aggregate. It is commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh).
Concrete Block
hollow concrete 'brick' often 8" x 8" x 16" in size, often used in low rise commercial and some residential construction.
Concrete Board or Wonderboard™
panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.
Condensate line
a drain line attached to the evaporative coil of an air conditioner to remove condensation.
Condensation
change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.
Conductor
a wire or some other material that will carry electrical charge.
Containment
a work area isolated from the rest of the building to prevent escape of asbestos fibers.
Composite shingles
a roofing material that is made in layers usually with one layer being tar and one being fiberglass for strength.
Corrosion
the gradual wearing away by rusting or by action of chemicals.
cripple walls
Less than full height walls that rest on the perimeter foundation walls and support the floor(s) above.
D
Damper
a device used to vary the volume of air passing through an air outlet, inlet, or duct; it does not significantly affect the shape of the delivery pattern.
De-humidistat
a control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation system based upon the relative humidity in the home.
Dormer
a roof gable which is usually located at right angles to the main roof structure. Used to increase head room or as an architectural detail.
Double Hung Window
a window with two vertically sliding sashes. This common older window design was usually made out of wood and is a charming architectural feature.
Double-tap
where two wires are attached to one circuit breaker that is approved for one wire only.
Downspout
a pipe that leads water down from a gutter.
Drain
in plumbing, any pipe that carries waste water or waterborne waste in a drainage system. In roofing, a device that allows for the flow of water from the roof area.
Drip pan
a pan shaped panel or trough used to collect condensate from the evaporator coil in an HVAC system.
Dry rot
dry crumbling decay in wood caused by various fungi.
Drywall or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB) or Sheet rock or Plasterboard
a wall finish consisting of 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'. 'Green board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard.
E
Eave
the lower edge of a sloping roof projecting beyond the wall.
Efflorescence
an encrustation of soluble salts, commonly white, deposited on the surface of stone, brick, plaster, or mortar; usually caused by free alkalies leached from mortar or adjacent concrete as moisture moves through it.
Electrical entrance package
the entry point of the electrical power including the location where the overhead electrical lines connect to the house, the meter which measures how much power is used and the panel, circuit breaker box or fuse box where the power can be shut off, and where overload devices such as fuses or circuit breakers are located.
Evaporator coil
a device in an HVAC system, made of a coil of tubing that functions as a refrigerant evaporator which cools air that is passed over it .
The Exterior Envelope
of a building consists of all of the elements protecting the building from the elements such as roofing, siding, windows, and exterior doors.
F
Fascia
a vertical wood member, such as a cedar 1" x 6", which is nailed to the ends of the rafters and is often the backing of the gutter.
Flashings
metal used around angles or junctions on exterior walls, chimneys or roofs to prevent water entry.
Flex line
a flexible pipe usually used for gas or water.
Flue
a pipe, tube or channel for conveying hot air, gas, steam, or smoke, as from a furnace or fireplace to a chimney.
Flush valve
device located at the bottom of the tank for flushing toilets.
Footers
wide concrete pads that spread the weight of and give a level base for the foundation walls.
Forced Air Heating
a common form of heating with natural gas, propane, oil or electricity as a fuel. Air is heated in the furnace and distributed through a set of metal plastic ducts to various areas of the house.
Foundation
the brick, stone, concrete block, or poured concrete that rests in the ground. The foundation provides structural support for the structure and also keeps water, soil, animals, and some insects from entering the basement or crawl space.
Framing
the structural wood and/or metal elements of most homes.
French drain
an underground perforated pipe that removes subsurface water.
Fungal Wood Rot
a common wood destroying organism which develops when wood containing material is exposed to moisture and poor air circulation for a longer period of time. Often and incorrectly referred to as "dry rot."
Fuse
a device often found in older homes designed to prevent overloads in electrical lines.
G
Gable
the triangular end of a building with a sloping roof.
Gas ports
openings where the gas comes out in a furnace.
Glazing
fitting glass into window frames and doors.
Ground (grounding)
electricity always seeks the shortest path to earth. Neutral wires carry electricity to the ground in all circuits. An electrical panel must have a ground connected to either the copper cold water line or a rod driven in the ground.
Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
a safety device that senses any shock hazard and interrupts the flow of electricity in the circuit. They are required in new home bathrooms, kitchen, garage, out of doors and in other locations where one might be in contact with a grounded surface and an electrical appliance. Most GFI's are located in the receptacle itself and can be identified by the presence of a 'test' and a 'reset' button.
Gutter
a trough that gathers rainwater from a roof.
H
Heat exchanger
the part inside the furnace that heats up the air.
Heat pump
a device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house.
HVAC
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
I
Insulation
a material high in resistance to heat transmission placed in walls, ceilings or floors of a structure.
J
Joists
framing members, often a 2" x 10" pieces of lumber, which are usually spaced every 16" to 24" and support the sub-floor and flooring. Joist usually 'sit' on a load bearing wall or beam. In older homes, the flooring is usually laid directly over the joists, with no subfloor.
L
Lath and Plaster
the most common wall finish prior to the introduction of drywall. Thin wood strips (lath) were nailed onto the framing as a base for the plaster producing a wall with a beautiful, old world texture.
Load Bearing Wall
a wall which supports its own weight and some other structural elements of the house such as the joists.
M
Manufacturers Specifications
the 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's warrantee.
Masonry
stone, brick, concrete, hollow tile or building units or materials, bonded together with mortar to form a wall, pier or similar mass.
Mastic
a sealant with putty like properties that is usually tar base.
Mitigate
to reduce the severity of.
Molding
a strip of decorative material with a planed or curved narrow surface prepared for ornamental applications; also used to hide wall imperfections.
O
Oriented Strand Board or OSB or Chip Board or Wafer Board
a manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing.
P
Pilings
structural members driven in the ground and used to support vertical loads.
Pitch
the slope of roof.
Polyisocyanurate Foam
a rigid foam board insulation often used in locations where there is not enough room for standard batt insulation. One of the least expensive ways to reduce energy consumption.
Polyvinyl Chloride PVC or CPVC
www.greenpeaceusa.org
a type of white plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.
Post
a vertical framing member usually designed to carry a beam. Often a 4" x 4", a 6" x 6", or a metal pipe with a flat plate on top and bottom.
Pressure release valve
in a pressure tank for water storage, a pressure-actuated safety valve that is designed to pen and relieve pressure automatically if the pressure within the tank exceeds the value for which it was designed to operate safely.
Pyrolysis
in an HVAC system, the deterioration of metal due to heating & cooling.
R
Radiant heating system
a system for heating a room or space by means of heated surfaces (such as panels heated by the flow of hot water or electric current).
Radon
a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive inert gaseous element formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms.
Rafter
series of roof framing members.
Refrigerant
a substance circulated under pressure within a cooling system that produces the refrigerating effect.
Reinforced concrete
concrete strengthened with metal bars or wire mesh.
Retrofit
the addition of new building materials, building elements, and components, not provided in the original construction.
Reverse polarity
where the hot (energized conductor) is reversed with the neutral conductor.
Ridge
the line at the junction of the upper edges of two sloping roof surfaces of a roof.
Ridgecap
any covering (such as metal, wood, shingle, etc.) used to cover the ridge of a roof.
Riser
the upright section of a stair. The board between one stair tread and the next.
Roofing
wood, asphalt, tile, slate, metal or water proof materials that forms protection against weather on the uppermost portion of a house.
Run-off
precipitation discharged into stream channels. Water that flows off the land surface with out sinking into the soil is surface run-off.
R Value
a measure of insulation. For example, typical new home's walls are usually insulated with 6" of batt insulation with an R value of R-19, and a ceiling insulation of R-28.
S
Sanitary Sewer
a sewer system designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains, and is usually not designed to handle storm water.
Sash
the frame that holds the glass in a window, often the movable part of the window. See double hung windows, and casement windows.
Scupper
the drain in a downspout on a flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.
Secondary condensate line
the emergency condensate line which operates when the primary line is clogged.
Seepage
movement of water through soil.
Septic System
an on site waste water treatment system. It usually has a septic tank which promotes the biological digestion of the waste, and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground. Septic systems and permits are usually sized by the number of bedrooms in a house.
Setback Thermostat
a thermostat with a clock which can be programmed to various temperatures at different times of the day/week. Usually used as the heating or cooling system thermostat.
Sewer, public sewer
the common sewer directly controlled by public authority.
Shake
a wood, usually cedar, roofing product which is produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. Modern shakes are sometimes machine sawn on one side.
Sheathing
plywood, board, OSB or other material used as the base for the roofing.
Shingle
a machine sawn wood, usually cedar, roofing and siding product. See also "shake."
Side Sewer
the portion of the sanitary sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines. The side sewer is usually buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line. It may be 'owned' by property owner or by the sewer utility, but it usually must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved "side sewer" contractors.
Single ply Roof
see, "Torch Down Roof."
Skip Sheathing
the normal base for shake, shingle and some tile roofs. 1" x 4" or similar sized boards are nailed at 90 degrees to the rafters leaving a space of about 4" between each row and allowing for better ventilation.
Slab on Grade
a type of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directly on the soil. The edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls.
Soffit
a small ceiling-like space, often out of doors, such as the underside of a roof overhang.
Splash Block
a pad which is placed under the lower end of a downspout and diverts the water from the downspout away from the house. Usually made out of concrete or fiberglass
Storm Sewer
a sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system.
Stud
vertical wood members of house framing.
T
Temperature pressure release valve
a valve that combines the functions of a pressure release valve and a temperature release valve.
Temperature relief valve
a temperature affected safety valve designed to open automatically when the temperature of the water being heated exceeds a preset value.
Torch Down Roof or Single Ply or Modified Bitumen
a newer roofing material mostly used on flat roofs. This material usually comes in rolls and is applied to the roof with an open flame or 'torch'.
Treated Lumber
a wood product which has been impregnated with chemicals to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Often used for the portions of a structure which is likely to be in ongoing contact with soil and water. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.
Truss
a manufactured wood member often in the form of a large triangle which is used to form the ceiling joists and rafters on the top floor of a home.
Tube and Knob Wiring
a common form of electrical wiring used before W.W.II.
V
Voltage
a measure of electrical potential. If we think of electrical measurements in terms of waterfalls then-- Multnoma Fall has high voltage and low amperage (very fast water and low volume). The Columbia River would have low voltage and very high amperage (low speed and very high volume).
Most homes are wired with '110' and '220' volt lines. The '110' volt power is used for lighting and most of the other circuits. The '220' volt power is usually used for the kitchen stove, water heater and dryer. (The terms '110' and '220' volts are a short hand, e.g. a '110' volt line is usually rated at 117 volts plus or minus 10%).
W
Watt
a measure of the electrical requirement of an appliance calculated by multiplying voltage x amperage. For example; a 1600 watt hair dryer which uses '110' volt power needs about 15 amps.
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