Glossary of Terms
Our neighborhood builders are always easy to talk to, but this glossary might help you speak the same language.
A
Air Duct
The pipes that carry warm air and cold air to rooms, and then back to the furnace or air conditioning system.
B
Balusters
These are the upright supports of a balustrade rail.
Balustrade
A row of balusters that are topped by a rail, edging a balcony or a staircase.
Baseboard
The board that runs along the floor against walls and partitions to hide gaps.
Batt
Insulation that is shaped in the form of a blanket, instead of loose filling.
Brick Veneer
Brick that makes up the outer surface of a framed wall.
Building Codes
The ordinances that govern how a home may be constructed or modified.
C
Chair Rail
The wooden molding, at the level of a chair back, on a wall around a room.
Chase
The groove through a floor or in a masonry wall that accommodate pipes or ducts.
Circuit Breaker
This safety device opens (breaks) automatically when an electric circuit becomes overloaded.
Closing
The last step of a real estate purchase when the loan and sales contract documents are finalized.
Contractor
A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. The activities can be varied (such as a general contractor) or specific (a remodeling contractor).
Corner Bead
The strip of wood or metal that protects the external corners of plastered walls.
Cornice
A horizontal projection at the top of a wall or under the overhanging part of the roof.
D
Drywall
A wall surface of plasterboard or other material.
E
Easement
The right-of-way granted to a person or company authorizing access to the owner's land (for example, a utility company may be granted an easement for pipe installation).
Eaves
The part of a roof that extends beyond the house walls.
Elevation
The exterior face of a home.
F
Flashing
A non-corrosive metal that is used around angles or junctions in roofs and exterior walls to prevent leaks.
Flatwork
A term that refers to any area of concrete, including the driveway, sidewalk, porch or patio.
Floor plan
The architectural drawing or plan that depicts the layout of a home, including the size and shape of each room, as well as any optional configurations of those rooms. The term is often shortened to "plans."
Flue
A passageway in a chimney that conveys smoke, gases or fumes to the outside air.
Foundation
The lower parts of walls on which a structure is built. Foundation walls are mainly below ground level.
Framing
The construction of the framework of a home, including house-joists, studs, rafters and beams.
Fuse
In an electric panel box, a short plug that opens (breaks) an electrical circuit when it becomes overloaded.
G
H
HOA (Homeowners Association)
The association formed to enforce the rules and regulations of a community, and provide for general upkeep of common areas. Homeowners pay a monthly fee to the HOA.
I
J
Joist
Any of the small timbers or metal beams ranged parallel from wall to wall in a structure to support a floor or ceiling
K
L
Lot
A portion of a large piece of property that has been divided into individual lots or homesites.
Lot Premium
A charge the buyer pays for a specific lot (or homesite) because it is larger or in some other way more desirable than other lots.
M
Master Planned Community
This term refers to a large community that features homes constructed by several different builders in a wide variety of price ranges. Community centers, community swimming pools and other recreational facilities are generally included.
Molding
A strip of decorative material having a plane or curved narrow surface. While ornamental, molding is often used to hide gaps at wall junctures.
N
O
Option
An item in a home that is not a standard feature, but can be purchased at an additional cost to personalize a home. A large number of options are available to homebuyers.
P
Pitch
The angle of a roof's slope.
Punch List
A formal list of items needing repair or replacement prior to moving into a home.
Q
R
Reservation
A non-binding agreement, usually requiring a deposit, between a homebuyer and a homebuilder to purchase a home at a future date.
Roof Sheathing
These sheets, usually made of plywood, are nailed to the top edges of trusses or rafters to tie the roof together and support the roofing material.
S
Soffit
This is the visible underside of structural members such as staircases, cornices, beams, a roof overhang or an eave.
Standard Feature
An item that is automatically included in the purchase of a new home, such as wood flooring, a fireplace or ceiling fans.
Studs
The vertical members to which horizontal pieces are nailed in wall framings. Studs are spaced either 16 inches or 24 inches apart.
T
U
Upgrade
An upgrade refers to a standard feature that a homebuyer replaces with an item of increased quality, at additional cost. For example, a homebuyer can upgrade from Formica cabinets to granite countertops.
V
W
Walk-through
The homebuyer's final inspection of a home prior to move-in.
Warranty
A guarantee to repair any damage to specific items of your home. At the time of the walk-through, all items covered by the warranty are reviewed with the homebuyer.
Weep Hole
A small gap between bricks to allow water to drain.
X
Y
Z
Zoning
A governmental process and specification limiting how a property may be used (for example, single family use, high-rise residential use, and industrial use).
