Common Construction Terms

As the first "official" blog I thought it would be beneficial to define some industry specific terms that will help you be on the same wavelenth when you talk with your home remodeling professional:

1. General Contractor - this is generally the person or company in charge of the whole project. Responsible for plans, budgets, materials, subcontractors, etc. Typically a general contractor, or simply contractor, will perform most of the work themselves (or with their crew) with the exception of skill-specific trades such as plumbing, electrical, etc. Some contractors choose to do more work themselves if they have the relevant experience, proven finished product, insurance and licensing (where necessary). Sometimes referred to as a "GC".

2. Subcontractor - an individual, trade specific, worker or company such as a plumber, electrician, roofer, mason, etc. Sometimes referred to as a "sub".

3. Demo - this is short for demolition, meaning the complete removal of a certain aspect of the house (a kitchen demo, etc.)

4. Level - a perfectly straight, parallel surface on a horizontal plane. Such as leveling a floor or setting kitchen cabinets to be level.

5. Plumb - a perfectly straight, parallel surface on a vertical plane. Such as making a fence post plumb or making a deck railing plumb. Oftentimes, level is used interchangeably with this term.

6. Square - a perfect 90 degree angle, a true perpendicular intersection. Windows, doors and foundations all need to be square so not only do they operate properly but look astethically pleasing.

7. Rough-in - this is generally the work that goes on behind the walls. Rough carpentry is framing the walls, window and door openings, etc. Rough plumbing and electrical is routing all the necessary water and drain lines, as well as power lines, that will be enclosed by drywall, flooring, etc.

8. Finish or Trim-Out - this is when drywall is installed, windows and doors are installed and trimmed out. Plumbing fixtures and electrical fixtures are hooked up and ready to use. Final flooring goes in, cabinets and counters are installed, and wallcoverings are applied.

9. R-Value - a measure of thermal resistance associated with insulation. The higher the R-Value, the more effective the insulation.

10. HVAC - stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The tradesmen that services your heating and cooling system is often referred to as an HVAC contractor.

11. Framing - the structural wood (or sometimes metal) elements of the home that make up the walls, floors, ceilings, roof, etc.

12. Stud - a framing member specifically used for wall support. Often a 2x4 or 2x6.

13. Joists - a framing member specifically used for floor or ceiling support, which supports the subfloor and flooring, and possibly drywall (in the case of a ceiling).

14. Rafter - a framing member directly supporting the roof, roof sheathing and shingles. It usually follows the angle (or pitch) of the roof.

15. Sheathing - plywood, OSB or other sheet goods used on exterior walls and roofs. In older construction these may have been single boards.

16. Truss - a manufactured wood framing member, often in the form of a large triangle, used to form the ceiling and roof of a home.

17. Pressure Treated - this is a type of lumber chemically treated to be water resistant. Often used on exterior decks, or in areas with high moisture/humidity.

18. Load Bearing Wall - a wall that is supporting weight of the structure above such as floor joists or roof rafters.

19. Beam - a horizontal framing member, often supporting a roof or floor span.

20. Post - a vertical framing member, often installed to carry a beam.

These 20 terms were just a preview into the various aspects of the construction glossary. There is simply not enough time in the day to define terms home improvement professionals use on a daily basis. From time to time, we will write about common construction terms as it relates to more specific products and projects (such as windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.)

If there is a term that you would like to know the meaning of, or see explained on our blog, please feel free to email or post a comment.