C and D
 

Calcium Carbonate or Efflorescence - A white chalky material which is very often found in concrete basement walls and other concrete surfaces where water has leached some of the chemicals out of the concrete. Usually a sign of past or present moisture penetrations.

Cantilever - A beam or beams projecting beyond a support member.

Casement Window - A window with hinges on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door (see diagram).

Casing - Trim work around a door, window, or other opening.

Caulking - A flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls.

Ceiling joist - One of a series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders or bearing walls.

Cement - A powder that serves as the binding element in concrete and mortar. Also, any adhesive.

Ceramic tile - A man-made or machine-made clay tile used to finish a floor or wall.

CFM (cubic feet per minute). A rating that expresses the amount of air a blower or fan can move.

Chalking - The tendency of some exterior paints to gradually erode away over a period of time.

Change order - A written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction Contract.

Chip board - see Oriented Strand Board

Circuit breaker - A protective switch that automatically shuts off current in the event of a short or overload. Also see fuse, short circuit.

Class "A" - Optimum fire rating issued by Underwriter's Laboratories on roofing. The building code in some areas requires this type of roofing for fire safety.

Class "C" - Minimum fire rating issued by the Underwriters' Laboratories for roofing materials.

Clerestory - A vertical window located on a flat or pitched roof.

Cogeneration - The simultaneous production of heat and electricity in one system.

Collector - A glazed device, wall or window that captures sunlight for the purpose of providing space heat and domestic hot water.

Combustion chamber - The part of a boiler, furnace or woodstove where the burn occurs; normally lined with firebrick or molded or sprayed insulation; heat exchanger, which transfers heat to the air, water or steam distribution system, forms part of its walls.

Combustion efficiency - A measurable number that indicates the percentage of energy content in a fuel that is converted to heat; number is measured when heater is running in a stable, steady state.

Compression web - A member of a truss which connects the bottom and top chords and provides downward support.

Compressor - A mechanical device that pressurizes a gas in order to turn it into a liquid, thereby allowing heat to be removed or added; compressor is main component of conventional heat pumps and air conditioners.

Concrete - A basic building and paving material made by mixing water with sand, gravel, and cement often used for foundations, ground level floors, and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of (1) Portland cement, (2) sand, and (3) gravel or aggregate. It is commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh).

Concrete block - A 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 - A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material.

Condensing unit - The outdoor segment of a cooling system. It includes a compressor and

condensing coil designed to give off heat. Also see evaporator coil.

Conduction - The direct transfer of heat energy through a material.

Conductivity - The rate at which heat is transmitted through a material.

Conduit - A metal tube used to run, house or contain electrical wire.

Contractor - A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. In most states, the generals contractor's license and some specialty contractor's licenses don't require of compliance with bonding, workmen's compensation and similar regulations. Some of the specialty contractor licenses involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance requirements. There are various types of contractors:

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 to keep a building at a specified temperature during the summer, usually 78·F, regardless of outside temperature.

Cooling season - That time period each year during which a building needs to be cooled.

COP (coefficient of performance) - A measure of the efficiency of any heating unit— arrived at by dividing its output in BTUs by its input in BTUs.

Coping - A cap at the top of a wall that's rounded or beveled to shed water. Also, a curved cut made so that one contoured molding can join neatly with another.

Cord - 128 cubic feet of firewood. It is usually a stack eight feet long, four feet wide and four feet high.

Corner bead - Lightweight, perforated metal angle used to reinforce outside corners in drywall construction.

Corner assembly - The framing members used to change direction in an interior-exterior wall.

Corner brace - Diagonal supports set into studs to reinforce the area where a wall changes direction in a frame structure. In many areas plywood is used.

Cornice - The projection from a building that crowns or finishes the edge. Horizontal projection at the top of exterior wall which finishes the eaves of a building.

Courses - Parallel layers of building materials such as bricks, shingles, or siding laid up horizontally.

Cove - A concave curve where vertical and horizontal surfaces join.

Crawl space - Space between floor and ground of a house or building.

Cripples - Short studs above or below a door or window opening.

Crown - Paving slightly humped so that water will run off. Also a contoured molding sometimes installed at the junctures of walls and ceilings.

Cupping - A type of warping that causes boards to curl up at their edges.

Cut-in velocity - The wind speed at which a wind machine (usually a horizontal axis machine) begins to turn and generate electricity.

Cut-out velocity - The wind speed at which a wind machine stops turning in order to protect against blade damage and generator burn-out.

Dado - A groove cut into a board or panel intended to receive the edge of a connecting board or panel.

Damper - A valve inside a duct or flue that can be used to slow or stop the flow of air or smoke.

Damp-proofing - The coating applied to the exterior of a foundation wall with a waterproofing material such as foundation coating.

Dead band control - A control subsystem on a thermostat that allows the heating or cooling system to remain on until room temperatures exceed the set temperature by several degrees.

Degree-day (DD) - A measure of climatic severity used to estimate heating or cooling energy consumption; for heating, if average outdoor temperature for a day is 10· below 65·F (or 55·F), the day has 10 heating degree-days.

De-humidistat - A control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation system based upon the relative humidity in the home.

Delta T - The difference between two temperatures.

Design-day heat load - The total heat load of a structure under the most severe conditions (temperature and wind) likely to occur; estimates of these conditions generally based on 30 years of weather records and quote a figure which will be exceeded only 1 percent of the time.

Design temperature - The most severe temperature likely in a given location.

Designer - One who designs houses, interiors, landscaping or other objects. When used it the context of residential construction it usually suggests that a designer is not a licensed architect. Most jurisdictions don't require an architectural license for most single family construction.

Direct-gain system - A passive solar heating system in which the collector is a window opening into the living space.

Distribution efficiency - The efficiency with which a heating system provides heat to a building.

District heating - Heating of buildings by hot water or steam produced at a central boiler and distributed through a network of pipes.

Double hung window - A window with two vertically sliding sashes. This is a very common older window design, was usually made out of wood and tends to require frequent repairs.

Dead bolt - A locking device that can be activated only with a key or thumb turn. Unlike a latch, which has a beveled tongue, dead bolts have square ends.

Decking - The material installed over the supporting framing members to which the roofing material is applied.

Directional Light - Light intensity at the center of the beam. Used for flood and spot light bulbs types.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) - The process of doing any project by oneself. Some may traditionally have been contracted out to a professional or in the case of a klutz done by one's spouse or father-in-law. If necessity is the mother of invention it is also the father of DIY.

Dormer - A small pitched structure projecting from a roof, usually with a vertical window.

Double cylinder - A type of lock that must be operated with a key from inside as well as outside.

Double-hung window - A window that has a top sash and bottom sash, both of which move up and down.

Double-pane window - Two panes of glass sealed at the edges to create dead air space. The sealed air acts as an insulator.

Downsizing - Measures taken to reduce a heating system's capacity to make it more compatible with a building's heating requirements; often done following major weatherization.

Drain-back - An active liquid solar system that empties the collectors and pipes, storing the liquid in a reservoir; system avoids freeze-up problems.

Drain-down - Similar to drain-back systems, except the liquid is thrown away (to the house drains) each time the collectors are emptied.

Drain tile - A perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall used to drain excess water away from the foundation. It prevents water from seeping through the foundation wall.

Drying in - The construction process generally considered to be from the foundation plate up through the application of exterior finish materials.

Dry rot - see Fungal wood rot

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 +" 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.

Dry wall - A masonry wall laid up without mortar.

Drywall - A basic interior building material consisting of big sheets of pressed gypsum faced with heavy paper on both sides. Also known as gypsum board, plasterboard, and Sheetrock (a trade name).

Duct - A tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building.

DWV (drain-waste-vent) - The section of a plumbing system that carries water and sewer gases out of a home.

E and F
Earthquake Strap - A metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. Intended to reduce the chances of having the water heater fall over in an earthquake and thus causing a gas leak.

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 neighbors property.

Eave - The projecting overhang at the lower edge of a roof.

EER (energy efficiency ratio) - A measure of cooling efficiency computer by dividing a cooling unit's output in BTUs by its input in watts.

Efflorescence - A whitish powder sometimes exuded by the mortar joints in masonry work. It's caused by salts rising to the surface.

Elbow (ell) - A plumbing or electrical fitting that lets you change directions in runs of pipe or conduit.

Electric resistance coils - Metal wires that heat up when electric current passes through them and are used in baseboard heaters and electric water heaters.

Electrical entrance package - The entry point of the electrical power including: (1) the 'strike' or location where the overhead electrical lines connect to the house, (2) The meter which measures how much power is used and (3) The 'panel', 'circuit breaker box 'or 'fuse box' where the power can be shut off and overload devices such a fuses or circuit breakers and located.

Emissivity - The efficiency with which a body or material warmer than its surroundings emits radiation.

Energy dissipation basin - A pit or ditch sometimes filled with gravel which is used to collect storm water. Water in the ditch soaks into the ground slowly thus preventing soil eroding runoff and flooding.

Estimating - The process of calculating the cost of a project. This can be a formal and exact process or a quick and imprecise process.

Exposed aggregate - A method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture of the top layer of the aggregate - usually gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces.

Eutectic salts - A phase-change material.

Evaporator coil - The part of a cooling system that absorbs heat from air in your home. Also see condensing unit.

Expansion joint - Flexible material between two surfaces that enables joints to ride out differing rates of expansion and contraction.

Facing brick - The brick used and exposed on the outside of a wall. Usually these have a finished texture.

Fascia board - Horizontal trim attached to the outside ends of rafters or to the top of an exterior wall.

Felt - Highly absorbent fiber material saturated and impregnated with asphalt and used as backing for rock surfaced roofing materials. Made from organic, asbestos or glass fibers to result in a strong, absorbent and flexible product.

Female Any part, such as a nut or fitting, into which another (male) part can be inserted. Internal threads are female.

Finger joint - A manufacturing process of interlocking two shorter pieces of wood end to end to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber or molding. Often used in jambs and casings.

Finish roof - Shingles, asphalt, etc. used to cover the exterior of a roof.

Fire brick - Brick made of refractory ceramic material which will resist high temperatures. Used in a fireplace.

Fire blocking. Short horizontal members sometimes nailed between studs, usually about halfway up a wall.

Firebrick - Highly heat-resistant brick for lining fireplaces and boilers.

Fixed price contract - A contract with a set price for the work. See Time and Materials Contract.

Flame retention burner - An oil burner, designed to hold the flame near the nozzle surface; generally the most efficient type for residential use.

Flashing - The building component used to connect portions of a roof, deck, or siding material to another surface such as a chimney, wall, or vent pipe. Often made out of various metals, rubber or tar and is mostly intended to prevent water entry.

Floating - The next-to-last stage in concrete work, when you smooth off the job and bring water to the surface.

Floor girder (girder) - A horizontal beam supporting the floor joists.

Floor joist - One of a series of parallel framing members used to support floor loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, bearing walls or foundation.

Flue - A pipe or other channel that carries off smoke and combustion gasses to the outside air.

Flue damper - An automatic door located in the flue that closes it off when the burner turns off; purpose is to reduce heat loss up the flue from the still-warm furnace or boiler.

Fluorescent lamp - A light source that instead of "burning" as incandescent bulbs do, uses an ionization process to produce ultraviolet radiation. This turns into visible light when it hits a coating on the tube's inner surface.

Footing - The base on which a masonry wall rests. It spreads out the load to prevent settling.

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.

Framing - The structural wood and/or metal elements of most homes. The floor and ceiling framing is called the joist work. Wall framing is usually made out of 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" studs. See - rafters, posts, and beams.

Framing in - The construction process generally considered to be from the foundation plate up to the application of exterior finish materials.

Frost line - The depth to which the ground freezes below the surface. This varies from region to region, and determines how deep footings must be.

Fungal wood rot - A common wood destroying organism which develops when wood containing material is exposed to moisture and poor air circulation for a long (6 month +) period of time. Often and incorrectly referred to as dry rot.

Furring - Lightweight wood or metal strips that even up a wall or ceiling for paneling or drywall. On masonry, furring provides a surface on which to nail.

Fuse - A safety device designed to burn out if a circuit shorts or overloads. This protects against fire. Also see circuit breaker, short circuit.

G and H
Gable - The triangular end of an exterior wall above the eaves of a pitched roof.

Gable roof - A roof which slopes from two sides only.

Gable stud - The stud at the gable of a roof where the exterior finish is applied.

Gang nail plate - A steel plate attached to both sides at each joint of a truss.

Gate valve - A valve that lets you completely stop—but not modulate—the flow within a pipe.

Generating capacity - The total amount of electrical power that a utility can produce at any one time.

GeoBond - Fireproof 'plaster like' material: http://www.geobond.net. Used for firewalls, concrete patching and other areas where fire retardant materials are required or desired.  

Geothermal energy - Energy from hot water or steam warmed deep inside the earth's crust.

GFI or GFCI or ground fault current interrupter - A electrical device used to prevent injury from contact with electrical appliances. Required in new homes in: 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 GFIs are located in the receptacle itself and can be identified by the presence of a 'test' and a 'reset' button.

Girder (floor girder) - A horizontal beam supporting the floor joists.

Glauber's salts - A phase-change material.

Glazing - The process of installing glass, which commonly is secured with glazier's points and glazing compound.

Globe valve - A valve that lets you adjust the flow of water to any rate between fully on and fully off. Also see gate valve.

Grade - Ground level, or the elevation at any given point.

Grain - The direction of fibers in lumber or other materials.

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 metal-clad cable or conduit—protects against shock if the neutral leg is interrupted.

Groundwater - Water from an aquifer or subsurface water source.

Grout - Thin mortar that fills the joints between tiles or other masonry.

Gypsum board - See drywall.

Hardboard - A manufactured building material made by pressing wood fibers into sheet goods.

Header - Heavier framing—usually doubled and laid on edge— at the top of a window, door, or

other opening. In masonry, a header course of bricks or stones laid on edge provides strength.

Heat capacity - The quantity of heat that a given volume of a material can hold for each unit increase in temperature, usually given in terms of Btu's per degree Fahrenheit per cubic foot.

Heat exchanger - A device, usually made of coils of pipe, that transfers heat from one medium to another; for example, from water to air or water to water.

Heat gain - Heat coming into a home from sources other than its heating/cooling system. Most gains come from the sun.

Heat loss - Heat escaping from a home usually to outside air. Heat gains and losses are expressed in Btu's per hour.

Heat of fusion - The quantity of heat released when a material freezes or absorbed when it melts (in Btu's per pound).

Heat pump - A device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house.

Heating load - The amount of heating required to keep a building at a specified temperature during the winter, usually 65·F, regardless of outside temperature.

Heating season - The time period during which a building needs to be heated.

HID (high intensity discharge) lamp - A lamp that operates in the same way as a fluorescent tube, but that has a bulb like incandescent lamps.

Hip roof - A roof with four sloping sides.

Hot wire - The wire that carries electrical energy to a receptacle or other device—in contrast to a neutral, which carries electricity away again. Also see ground.

Humidity - The quantity of water vapor contained in air (in pounds per pound of air).

Hybrid system - A solar system that combines both active and passive elements, for example, a passive system that contains fans or blowers to aid heat circulation.

Hydronic Heating - A heating system which uses various types of fuel to heat water which is then distributed through pipes to radiators located in various portions of the house.

Hydropower - Energy produced by water, for example, at a hydroelectric dam.

I and J
Incandescent lamp - A lamp employing an electrically charged metal filament that glows at white heat.

Indirect-gain system - A passive solar system in which the glazing is separated from the living space by a heat storage wall that may be masonry or containers of water.

Infiltration - The passage of air from indoors to outdoors and vice versa; term is usually associated with drafts from cracks, seams or holes in buildings.

Inside corner - The point at which two walls form an internal angle, as in the corner of a room.

Insolation - The amount of sunlight falling upon a surface, usually measured in Btu's per square foot per hour or Btu's per square foot per day.

Insulation - Material used in a building's walls, ceiling, floor or roof to hinder the flow of heat.

Interior finish - Any coverings that cover the interior walls of a house. Examples are drywall, paneling, etc.

Internal gains - Sources of heat within a building that are not part of the heating system, for example, people, animals, lights and appliances.

Inverter - A device that converts direct current to alternating current, either mechanically or with solid state circuitry.

IQ-Home - Home Design Website: http://www.iq-home.com

Isolated-gain system - A passive solar system in which the collector, storage and living space are all physically separated from one another.

Jack post - A type of structural support made of metal, which can be raised or lowered through a series of pins and a screw to meet the height required. Basically used as a replacement for an old supporting member in a building.

Jambs - The top and sides of a door, window, or other opening. Includes studs as well as the frame and trim.

Joint compound - A synthetic-based formula used in combination with paper tape to conceal joints between drywall panels. Also see taping.

Joists - Horizontal framing members that support a floor and/or ceiling.

K and L
Kilowatt (kw) - One thousand watts. A kilowatt hour is the base unit used in measuring electrical consumption. Also see watt.

Laminating - Bonding together two or more layers of materials.

Latch - A beveled metal tongue operated by a spring-loaded knob or lever. The tongue's bevel lets you close the door and engage the locking mechanism, if any, without using a key. Contrasts with dead bolt.

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 sand/lime plaster (see diagram).

Level - True horizontal. Also a tool used to determine level.

Life - The average number of hours a bulb will burn.

Life-cycle cost - The total cost of purchasing, owning and maintaining a device, including the cost of energy used to operate the device, over the lifetime of the device.

Lighting efficiency - Expressed as Lumens per Watt. A measure of efficiency similar to miles per gallon. The best choice is usually the highest light output (Lumens) for the least power consumed (Watts).

Limit switch - A safety control that automatically shuts off a furnace if it gets too hot. Most also control blower cycles.

Lineal foot - A unit of measure for lumber equal to any thickness by any width by 12 inches long. Example: 2" x 6" x 14'=14 lineal feet. 1" x 6" x 14'=14 lineal feet.

Lintel - A load-bearing beam over an opening in masonry, such as a door or fireplace.

Liquefaction - The process of converting a gas to a liquid, either by removal of heat or an increase in pressure.

Load Bearing Wall - A wall which is supporting its own weight and some other structural elements of the house such as the joists.

Load management - Control of energy consumption at any instant through the use of mechanical or electronic devices or conscious consumer limitations on the use of energy-consuming devices.

Lumens - Unit of measure for total light output.

Luminaire - A glass or metal fixture that reflects or diffuses light from a bulb.

M and N
Male - Any part, such as a bolt, designed to fit into another (female) part. External threads are male.

Manufactured wood - A wood product such as a truss, beam, Glue Lam TM or joist which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces and glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece. Often used to create a stronger member which may use less wood. See also Oriented Strand Board.

Manufacturer's 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 warrantee.

Marginal cost - The cost of one additional unit of something, for example, the cost to find, pump, ship and deliver the next new gallon of oil.

Masonry - Brick, tile, stone, concrete units, etc., or combinations thereof, bonded with mortar. Something constructed using bricks or stones.

MBh - Thousands of Btu's per hour; a measure of the heating capacity of a heating system.

Millwork - Woodwork such as doors, sashes and trim that have been shaped, usually by a milling machine.

Miter - A joint formed by beveling the edges or ends of two pieces at 45-degree angles, then fitting them together to make a 90-degree angle.

Mortar - The bonding agent between bricks, blocks, or other masonry units. Consists of water, sand, and cement—but not gravel. Also see concrete.

Mortise - A hole, slot, groove, or other recess into which another element fits. Most hinges, for example, are mortised so they lie flush.

Muriatic acid - Commonly used as a brick cleaner after masonry work is completed.

NEC (National Electrical Code) - A set of rules governing safe wiring methods. Local codes—which are backed by law—may differ from the NEC in some ways.

Neutral wire - Usually color-coded white, this carries electricity from an outlet back to ground. Also see hot wire and ground.

Newel post - A post at the bottom, landing, or top of a staircase to which the handrail is secured.

No-hub - A clamp-and-sleeve system for joining together cast-iron drainage pipes. Older hub-type pipes had to be leaded at all joints.

Nozzle - The part of a heating system that sprays the fuel of fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber.

O and P
OC (on-center) - The distance from the center of one regularly spaced framing member to the next. Studs and joists are commonly 16 or 24 inches OC.

Off-peak - Periods other than peak electrical demand periods.

On-peak - Periods when energy consumption is highest and the most expensive energy-supply systems are operated; generally peak period refers to period of greatest demand on an electric utility.

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.

Outside corner - The point at which two walls form an external angle, one you usually can walk around.

Overhang - Outward projecting eave-soffit area of a roof; the part of the roof that hangs out or over the outside wall.

Panel - Wood, glass, plastic, or other material set into a frame, such as in a door. Also, a large, flat, rectangular building material such as plywood, hardboard, or drywall.

Partition - An interior dividing wall. Partitions may or may not be bearing.

Passive solar - A system that uses natural heat transfer processes to move captured solar energy (in the collector) to the storage or living space.

Paving - Materials—commonly masonry—laid down to make a firm, even surface.

Payback - The length of time before the money you save with new equipment, insulation, etc. will equal your original investment. Commonly used in evaluating energy-related items.

Payment schedule - A pre agreed upon schedule of payments to a contractor usually based upon the amount of work completed. Such a schedule may include a deposit prior to the start of work. Payments are often scheduled for the beginning of the month and allow the contractor to subcontractors and suppliers by the 10th of the month. There may also be a temporary 'holdout' at the end of the contract for any small items which have not been completed.

Peak demand - The greatest amount of electricity or natural gas used by utility customers during the day or year.

Percolation or perc. test - A test to determine of the soil on a proposed building lot is capable of absorbing the liquid affluent from a septic system.

Permeability - A measure of the ease with which water vapor penetrates a material.

Permit - A governmental authorization to perform a building process as in:

Phase change - The change of a material from liquid to solid, or liquid to gas, or vice versa.

Phase-change material (PCM) - A material that melts at or near room temperature and that can therefore be used for heat storage purposes.

Pier - A masonry post. Piers often serve as footings for wood or steel posts.

Pilot hole - A small-diameter hole that guides a nail or screw.

Pilot light - A small, continuous flame that ignites gas or oil burners when needed.

Pitch (roof) - The slope of a roof expressed in feet rise per foot of run.

Plenum - The main hot-air supply duct leading from a furnace.

Plumb - True vertical. Also see level.

Plumb bob - A lead weight attached to a string. It is the tool used in determining plumb.

Plywood - A building panel made by gluing together thin layers of wood. Alternating grain directions from one layer to the next adds strength.

Polyisocyanurate foam - A rigid foam board insulation often used in location where there is not enough room for standard batt insulation. A nice word which can be used to impress or confuse someone. Programmed to various temperature settings One of the least expensive ways to reduce energy consumption.

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 (see diagram).

Post-and-beam - A basic building method that uses just a few hefty posts and beams to support an entire structure. Contrasts with stud framing.

Pressure Relief Valve - A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release any high steam pressure in the tank and thus prevent tank explosions.

Pressure-treated wood - Lumber that has been saturated with a preservative.

Primer - A first coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and hold succeeding finish coats.

Process heat - Heat, usually steam at high temperature and pressure, used in industrial processes.

PVC or CPVC - A type of white plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.

Q and R
Rabbet - A recess cut into the edge of a board into which another piece fits to form a rabbet joint. v. to cut a rabbet. To join by means of a rabbet joint.

Radiation - Energy transmitted from a heat source to the air around it. So-called "radiators" actually depend more on convection than radiation.

Radon - A naturally-occurring radio active gas common in many parts of the country e.g. very high levels are found in portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and very low levels are found in most portions of western Washington. Radon gas exposure is associated with lung cancer. Mitigation measures may involve: crawl space and basement venting and various forms of vapor barriers.

Rafter - The framing member which directly supports the roof sheathing. A rafter usually follows the angle of the roof, and may be a part of a roof truss.

Rated output - The maximum amount of power produced by a wind machine (or other energy system); a compromise between maximum output and safety of operation.

Rated velocity - The wind speed at which a wind machine reaches its rated output.

Relative humidity - The amount of moisture in a volume of air as a percentage of the maximum amount of moisture which can be held in that air at a certain temperature - cold air can't hold as much moisture as warmer air.

Rail - Any relatively lightweight horizontal element, especially those found in fences. Also the horizontal pieces between panels in a panel door.

Refrigerant - A substance that remains a gas at low temperatures and pressure and can be used to transfer heat.

Retaining wall - A structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion.

Ridge board - The topmost beam at the peak of a roof to which rafters tie.

Rise - The vertical distance from one point to another above it; a measurement you need in planning a stairway or ramp. Also see run.

Riser - The upright piece between two stair steps. Also see tread.

Roof decking - Subsurface material on which roof shingles or built up roofing is applied. Some roof decking is made with one side finished to serve as both roof deck and finished ceiling.

Roof ridge - The line that runs along the peak of a roof, where sloping parts of the roof meet.

Roof sheathing - The sheets or boards for sheathing over rafters. Also called roof decking, roof underlayment.

Roofing cement - A pliable asphalt- or plastic-based compound used as an adhesive and to seal flashings, minor leaks, etc.

Rough opening - The openings in walls and partitions for doors and windows as formed by the framing members.

Rough sill - The framing member at the bottom of a rough opening for a window. It is attached to the cripple studs below the rough opening.

Roughing-in - The initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, carpentry, or other project, when all

components that won't be seen after the second finishing phase are assembled.

Run - The horizontal distance a ramp or stairway traverses. Also see rise.

R-Value - a measure of insulation. For example, typical new home's walls are usually insulated with 6" of bat insulation with an R value of R-19, and a ceiling insulation of R-28.

S and T
Saddle - The plate at the bottom of some—usually exterior—door openings. Sometimes called a threshold.

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 or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.

Seasonal efficiency - The average efficiency of a heater or cooler over the heating or cooling season.

Seasonal energy efficiency ration (SEER) - The average energy efficiency ratio (EER) achieved by an air conditioner over the cooling season; this number tends to be lower than rated EER

Seasonal storage - Systems that capture and store energy when it is not required (for example, heat in the summer) for use when it is needed (for example, space heating in winter.

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.

Sewage ejector - A pump used to 'lift' waste water to a gravity sanitary sewer line. Usually used in basements and other locations which are situated bellow the level of the side sewer.

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.

Settlement - Shifts in a structure, usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles underground.

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. See shingle.

Shingle - A machine sawn wood, usually cedar, roofing and siding product. see 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 is usually 'owned' by the sewer utility, must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved contractors.

Sheathing - The first covering on a roof or exterior wall, usually fastened directly to rafters or studs.

Sheetrock - A type of wall and ceiling finish made from ground gypsum covered with a paper finish. Common sizes are 4'x8', 4'x12'. Most commonly used as a wall finish that is then painted or wallpapered. Also, drywall, gypsum wall board.

Shim - Thin material inserted to make adjustments in level or plumb. Tapered wood shingles make excellent shims in carpentry work.

Shingle - A covering used to finish the sides or the roof of a house.

Shoe molding - Strips of quarter round commonly used where a baseboard meets the floor. Also sometimes known as base shoe.

Short circuit - A situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires come in contact with each other. Fuses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from a short.

Siding - The finish material of an exterior wall. Types include wood, aluminum, vinyl and hardboard.

Sill - The lowest horizontal piece of window, door, or wall framework.

Sill plate (mudsill) - Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill; also sole plate, bottom member of interior wall frame.

Sink - The point to which a heat pump transfers heat, often a living space or thermal storage.

Skip sheathing - The normal base for shake, shingle and some tile roofs. 1" x 4" or similar sized boards are nailed at 90Ü to the rafters leaving a space of about 4" between each row and allowing for better ventilation.

Skylight - A more or less horizontal window located on the roof of a building.

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. Common in California and 1940s and 50s concrete block home (see diagram).

Sleepers - Boards laid directly over a masonry floor to serve as nailers for plywood, or strip or plank flooring.

Soffit - A small ceiling like space, often out of doors, such as the underside of a roof overhang.

Soil pipe - A large pipe that carries liquid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank.

Solar gain - The heat gained in a building due to sunlight, principally that entering through windows.

Solarium - A glazed room or structure (also called a sunspace) whose purpose is to capture solar energy to heat the building; atrium is solarium in middle of a building.

Solar photovoltaic cells - Semiconductor devices able to directly convert sunlight to direct-current electricity.

Sole plate - The bottom most horizontal part of a stud partition. When a plate rests on a foundation, it's called a sill plate.

Source - The point from which a heat pump removes low temperature heat, for example, air or groundwater.

Space heat - Heat supplied to the living space, for example, to a room or the living area of a building.

Spacing - The distance between individual members or shingles in building construction.

Span - The distance between supports, generally walls, for rafters or trusses.

Spandrel - The space between two openings which are one above the other in a wall.

Spec home - A house built before it is sold. The builder speculates that he can sell it at a profit. Sometimes he speculates that he can merely sell it.

Specific heat - The heat capacity of a unit amount of a material, usually given in units of Btu's per pound per degree Fahrenheit.

Specifications - Written elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods; this supplements working drawings.

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.

Square - A situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other. Also a tool for checking this. An area of roofing which is 10' square or comprising 100 square feet.

Standard practices of the trade (s) - One of the more common basic and minimum construction standards. This is another way of saying that the work should be done in the way it is normally done by the average professional in the field.

Standby loss - The heat lost in a boiler or furnace when it is not in operation; greatest standby loss is due to warm air flowing through combustion chamber and up flue.

Stile - The vertical upright on either side (and sometimes the center) of a panel door.

Stringer - The side or inclined member of a stair system used to support the treads and risers.

Stops - Moldings along the inner edges of a door or window frame. Also valves used to shut off water to a fixture.

Storage mass - The component in a solar system that stores heat energy for heating when the sun is not shining.

Storm sewer - A sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system.

Stick built - A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building.

Strike - The plate on a door frame that engages a latch or dead bolt

Stucco - A mixture of Portland cement, sand, lime and water used to cover cement blocks for decoration purposes.

Stud framing - A building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of relatively lightweight studs. Contrasts with post-and-beam.

Studs - Vertical 2x3, 2x4, or 2x6 framing members spaced at regular intervals within a wall.

Sub-floor - Bottom layer of plywood or boards in a two-layer floor.

Synchronous inverter - A device that converts direct current from a wind machine or solar cells into alternating current matched to the utility electricity and draws electricity from the utility grid in order to make up any household or building power deficits.

Take off - A list of materials developed from a set of blueprints.

Taping - The process of covering drywall joints with paper tape and joint compound.

Tee - A T-shaped plumbing fitting.

Terra Cotta - A ceramic material molded into masonry units.

Therm - A unit of heat equal to 100,000 Btu's; frequently used on gas bills.

Thermal lag - The delay between the absorption of heat by a storage wall in an indirect-gain system and the radiation of heat into the living space.

Thermal mass - Those portions of a building that store significant quantities of heat; these components may be wood or masonry.

Thermal storage - The place in which energy can be stored for use at a later time, for example, a tank of water.

Thermo-circulation vent - Vents in a Trombe wall that allow air to circulate by natural convection from airspace to living space and back to airspace.

Thermo-siphon - A system in which heat is captured by a collector and moved to the living space or storage by natural convection.

Thermostat - A device which relegates the temperature of a room or building by switching heating or cooling equipment on or off.

Three-four-five triangle - An easy, mathematical way to check whether a large angle is square. Measure three feet along one side, four feet along the other; if the corner is square, the diagonal distance between those two points will equal five feet.

Threshold - See saddle.

Throat - The opening at the top of a fireplace through which smoke passes enroute to the flue.

Tie (veneer) - A metal strip used to tie a brick or masonry wall to the wooden frame wall.

Time and materials contract - A construction contract which specifies a price for different elements of the work such as: cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit etc. Such a contract may not have a maximum price or may state a 'price not to exceed...'.

Toe-nail - To drive nails at an angle.

Ton - A measure of cooling power. One ton equals 12,000 BTU's.

Tongue and groove - A style of lumber in which the pieces interlock to form a strong solid formation.

Top chord - The upper or top member of a truss.

Top plate - The topmost horizontal element of a stud-frame wall.

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'.

TOURS (time-of-use rates) - Special electric rates that are high during on-peak periods and low during off-peak periods.

Trap - A plumbing fitting that holds water to prevent air, gas, and vermin from backing up into a fixture.

Treads - The level parts of a staircase. Also see risers.

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.

Trimmers - Studs at either side of a door, window, or other opening that are used to support the header.

Trombe wall - A passive indirect-gain solar system in which the space is heated by natural convection during the day and radiation from the wall at night.

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. When in good condition it may still be functional for low amperage use such as smaller light fixture.

Turbine - A machine in which the energy contained in a high-pressure gas or liquid is converted to rotational energy, often to turn an electric generator.

U, V and W
UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) - An independent testing agency that checks electrical and other components for possible safety hazards.

Underlayment - Top layer of plywood (or other material) in a two-layer floor. Provides a smooth base for carpet, tile or sheet flooring.

Union - A plumbing fitting that joins pipes end-to-end so they can be dismantled.

Utility grid - The combination of electric power plants and transmission lines belonging to an electric utility.

U-value (coefficient of heat transmission) - The rate of heat transmission through 1 square foot of building envelope for 1 degree Fahrenheit difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors.

Valley - The intersection of two roof slopes.

Vapor barrier - A waterproof membrane in a floor, wall, or ceiling that blocks the transfer of condensation.

Vaporization - The process of converting a liquid gas, either by addition of heat or reduction of pressure.

Volt (V) - A measure of electrical pressure. Volts x amps=watts.

Warranty - In construction there are two general types of warrantees. One is provided by the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance. The second is a warrantee for the labor. For example, a roofing contract may include a 30 year material warrantee a and a 5 year labor warrantee. Many (but not all ) new homes come with a one-year warranty. Any major issues found during the first year should be communicated the builder at once. Small items can be saved up and presented to the builder in a letter on the 11 month anniversary of the closing. This gives the builder one month to make the necessary corrections.

Warping - Any distortion in a material.

Watt (W) - A measure of the power an electrical device consumes. Watt hours (WH) express the quantity of energy consumed. Also see volt, amp, and kilowatt.

Weatherization - Modifying a building envelope to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling; involves adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping.

Weather-stripping - A narrow strip of material, such as plastic, felt or metal, which is installed around windows and doors to reduce the infiltration of air between them and their frames.

Weep holes - Small holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape.

Window frame - The stationary part of a window unit; window sash fits into the window frame.

Window sash - The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their rim.

Wind shear - A change in wind direction or velocity over a very small standard distance; the standard distance is usually equal to the rotor diameter of a wind machine.

Work - The transfer of energy from one system to another; for example, heat transferred by a heat pump from source to sink.

X, Y and Z
Y - A Y-shaped plumbing fitting.

Zone - The section of a building that is served by one heating or cooling loop because it has noticeably distinct heating or cooling needs.

Zone valve - A device, usually placed near the heater or cooler, which controls the flow of water or steam to parts of the building; it is controlled by a zone thermostat.

Zoning - Ordinances regulating the ways in which a property may be used in any given neighborhood. Zoning laws may limit where you can locate a structure. Also see building codes.

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