Back
Charge |
Billings for work performed or costs
incurred by one party that, in accordance with the agreement,
should have been performed or incurred by the party to whom
billed. Owners bill back charges to general contractors, and
general contractors bill back charges to subcontractors. Examples
of back charges include charges for cleanup work or to repair
something damaged by another subcontractor, such as a tub chip
or broken window. |
Backfill |
The replacement of excavated earth
into a trench around or against a basement /crawl space foundationwall. |
Backing |
Frame lumber installed between the
wall studs to give additional support for drywall or an interior
trim related item, such as handrail brackets, cabinets, and
towel bars. In this way, items are screwed and mounted into
solid wood rather than weak drywall that may allow the item
to break loose from the wall. Carpet backing holds the pile
fabric in place. |
Backout |
Work the framing contractor does
after the mechanical subcontractors (Heating-Plumbing-Electrical)
finish their phase of work at the Rough (before insulation)
stage to get the home ready for a municipal frame inspection.
Generally, the framing contractor repairs anything disturbed
by others and completes all framing necessary to pass a Rough
Frame Inspection. |
Ballast |
A transformer that steps up the
voltage in a florescent lamp. |
Balloon |
A loan that has a series of monthly
payments with the remaining balance due in a large lump sum
payment at the end. |
Balloon
framed wall |
Framed walls (generally over 10'
tall) that run the entire vertical length from the floor sill
plate to the roof. This is done to eliminate the need for a
gable end truss. |
Balusters |
Vertical members in a railing used
between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair treads. Sometimes
referred to as 'pickets' or 'spindles'. |
Balustrade |
The rail, posts and vertical balusters
along the edge of a stairway or elevated walkway. |
Barge |
Horizontal beam rafter that supports
shorter rafters. |
Barge
board |
A decorative board covering the projecting
rafter (fly rafter) of the gable end. At the cornice, this member
is a fascia board. |
Base
or baseboard |
A trim board placed against the wall
around the room next to the floor. |
Basement
window inserts |
The window frame and glass unit that
is installed in the window buck. |
Base
shoe |
Molding used next to the floor on
interior base board. Sometimes called a carpet strip. |
Bat |
A half-brick. |
Batt |
A section of fiber-glass or rock-wool
insulation measuring 15 or 23 inches wide by four to eight feet
long and various thickness'. Sometimes "faced" (meaning
to have a paper covering on one side) or "unfaced"
(without paper). |
Batten |
Narrow strips of wood used to cover
joints or as decorative vertical members over plywood or wide
boards. |
Bay
window |
Any window space projecting outward
from the walls of a building, either square or polygonal in
plan. |
Beam |
A structural member transversely supporting a
load. A structural member carrying building loads (weight) from
one support to another. Sometimes called a "girder". |
Bearing
partition |
A partition that supports any vertical load in
addition to its own weight. |
Bearing
point |
A point where a bearing or structural weight
is concentrated and transferred to the foundation |
Bearing
wall |
A wall that supports any vertical load in addition
to its own weight. |
Bearing
header |
(a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and
to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway,
or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural
member over an opening (for example over a door or window). |
Bedrock |
A subsurface layer of earth that is suitable
to support a structure. |
Bid |
A formal offer by a contractor, in accordance
with specifications for a project, to do all or a phase of the
work at a certain price in accordance with the terms and conditions
stated in the offer. |
Bid
bond |
A bond issued by a surety on behalf of a contractor
that provides assurance to the recipient of the contractor's
bid that, if the bid is accepted, the contractor will execute
a contract and provide a performance bond. Under the bond, the
surety is obligated to pay the recipient of the bid the difference
between the contractor's bid and the bid of the next lowest
responsible bidder if the bid is accepted and the contractor
fails to execute a contract or to provide a performance bond.
Bid security Funds or a bid bond submitted with a bid as a guarantee
to the recipient of the bid that the contractor, if awarded
the contract, will execute the contract in accordance with the
bidding requirements of the contract documents. |
Bid
shopping |
A practice by which contractors, both before
and after their bids are submitted, attempt to obtain prices
from potential subcontractors and material suppliers that are
lower than the contractors' original estimates on which their
bids are based, or after a contract is awarded, seek to induce
subcontractors to reduce the subcontract price included in the
bid. |
Bidding
requirements |
The procedures and conditions for the submission
of bids. The requirements are included ion documents, such as
the notice to bidders, advertisements for bids, instructions
to bidders, invitations to bid, and sample bid forms. |
Bifold
door |
Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening
in a smaller area than standard swing doors. Often used for
closet doors. |
Binder |
A receipt for a deposit to secure the right to
purchase a home at an agreed terms by a buyer and seller. |
Bipass
doors |
Doors that slide by each other and commonly used
as closet doors. |
Blankets |
Fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation that comes
in long rolls 15 or 23 inches wide. |
Blocked
(door blocking) |
Wood shims used between the door frame and the
vertical structural wall framing members. |
Blocked
(rafters) |
Short "2 by 4's" used to keep rafters
from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span. |
Blocking |
Small wood pieces to brace framing members or
to provide a nailing base for gypsum board or paneling. |
Block
out |
To install a box or barrier within a foundation
wall to prevent the concrete from entering an area. For example,
foundation walls are sometimes "blocked" in order
for mechanical pipes to pass through the wall, to install a
crawl space door, and to depress the concrete at a garage door
location. |
Blow
insulation |
Fiber insulation in loose form and used to insulate
attics and existing walls where framing members are not exposed. |
Blue print(s) |
A type of copying method often used for architectural
drawings. Usually used to describe the drawing of a structure
which is prepared by an architect or designer for the purpose
of design and planning, estimating, securing permits and actual
construction. |
Blue stake |
Another phrase for Utility Notification. This
is when a utility company (telephone, gas, electric, cable TV,
sewer and water, etc) comes to the job site and locates and
spray paints the ground and/or installs little flags to show
where their service is located underground. |
Blow insulation |
Fiber insulation in loose form and used to insulate
attics and existing walls where framing members are not exposed.
Board foot- A unit of measure for lumber equal to 1 inch thick
by 12 inches wide by 12 inches long. Examples: 1" x 12"
x 16' = 16 board feet, 2" x 12" x 16' = 32 board feet |
Bond or
bonding |
An amount of money (usually $5,000-$10,000)
which must be on deposit with a governmental agency in order
to secure a contractor's license. The bond may be used to
pay for the unpaid bills or disputed work of the contractor.
Not to be confused with a 'performance bond'. Such bonds are
rarely used in residential construction, they are an insurance
policy which guarantees proper completion of a project. |
Boom |
A truck used to hoist heavy material up and into
place. To put trusses on a home or to set a heavy beam into
place. |
Bottom chord |
The lower or bottom horizontal member of a truss. |
Bottom plate |
The "2 by 4's or 6's" that lay on the
subfloor upon which the vertical studs are installed. Also called
the 'sole plate'. |
Brace |
An inclined piece of framing lumber applied to
wall or floor to strengthen the structure. Often used on walls
as temporary bracing until framing has been completed. |
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. |
Brick ledge |
Part of the foundation wall where brick (veneer)
will rest. |
Brick lintel |
The metal angle iron that brick rests on, especially
above a window, door, or other opening. |
Brick mold |
Trim used around an exterior door jamb that siding
butts to. |
Brick tie |
A small, corrugated metal strip @ 1" X 6"-
8" long nailed to wall sheeting or studs. They are inserted
into the grout mortar joint of the veneer brick, and holds the
veneer wall to the sheeted wall behind it. |
Brick veneer |
A vertical facing of brick laid against and fastened
to sheathing of a framed wall or tile wall construction. |
Bridging |
Small wood or metal members that are inserted
in a diagonal position between the floor joists or rafters at
mid-span for the purpose of bracing the joists/rafters &
spreading the load. |
Buck |
Often used in reference to rough frame opening
members. Door bucks used in reference to metal door frame. See
Window Bucks |
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 |
Community ordinances governing the manner in
which a home may be constructed or modified. |
Building
insurance |
Insurance covering the structure of the building. |
Building
paper |
A general term for papers, felts, and similar
sheet materials used in buildings without reference to their
properties or uses. Generally comes in long rolls. |
Built-up
roof |
A roofing composed of three to five layers of
asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. The
top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generally used
on flat or low-pitched roofs. |
Bull nose
(drywall) |
Rounded drywall corners. |
Bundle |
A package of shingles. Normally, there are 3
bundles per square and 27 shingles per bundle. |
Butt edge |
The lower edge of the shingle tabs. |
Butt hinge |
The most common type. One leaf attaches to the
door's edge, the other to its jamb. |
Butt joint |
The junction where the ends of two timbers meet,
and also where sheets of drywall meet on the 4 foot edge. To
place materials end-to-end or end-to-edge without overlapping. |
Buy down |
A subsidy (usually paid by a builder or developer)
to reduce monthly payments on a mortgage. |
By fold
door |
Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening
in a smaller area than standard swing doors. Often used for
closet doors.
By pass doors- Doors that slide by each other and commonly used
as closet doors. |
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