Glossary of Construction Terms

This page contains definitions of some of the terms used in our New Home Construction Schedule and Status page. The definitions are derived from the Home Building Manual.com Glossary page.

Backfill: The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement/crawl space foundation wall.
Composite board: A manufactured wood panel made of 1" - 2" wood chips and glue often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing.
Drain tile: A perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall and used to drain excess water away from the foundation. It prevents ground water from seeping through the foundation wall. Sometimes called perimeter drain.
Drywall (or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB), Sheet Rock or Plasterboard): Wall board or Gypsum is 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 and is used in bathrooms and other "wet areas".
Fire stop: A solid, tight closure of a concealed space, placed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through such a space. In a frame wall, this will usually consist of 2 by 4 cross blocking between studs. Work performed to slow the spread of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling (behind the drywall). This includes stuffing wire holes in the top and bottom plates with insulation, and installing blocks of wood between the wall studs at the drop soffit line. This is integral to passing a Rough Frame inspection.
Footer, footing: Continuous 8" or 10" thick concrete pad installed before the supports and foundation walls are poured and the monopost installed.
Foundation ties: Metal wires that hold the foundation wall panels and rebar in place during the concrete pour.
Foundation waterproofing: High quality below-grade moisture protection, used for below-grade exterior concrete and masonry wall damp-proofing to seal out moisture and prevent corrosion. Normally looks like black tar.
Frame - rough inspection of: The act of inspecting the home's structural integrity and it's compliance to local municipal codes.
Framer: The carpenter contractor who installs the lumber and erects the frame, flooring system, interior walls, backing, trusses, rafters, decking, and installs all beams, stairs, soffits, and all work related to the wood structure of the home. The framer builds the home according to the blueprints and must comply with local building codes and regulations.
Framing: Lumber used for the structural members of a building, such as studs, joists and rafters.
I-beam: A steel beam with a cross section resembling the letter I. It is used for long spans as basement beams or over wide wall openings, such as a double garage door where wall and roof loads bear down on the opening.
I-joist: Manufactured structural building component resembling the letter I, used as floor joists and rafters. I-joists include two key parts, flanges and webs. The flange or front of the I-joist may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 1/2" width. The web or center of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented stand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut into the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists are available in lengths of up to 60' long.
Pier Pad: A column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross section, used to support other structural member. Also called a caisson.
Sill Plate: The 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" wood plate framing member that lays flat against and is bolted to the top of the foundation wall with anchor bolts and upon which the floor joists are installed. Normally the sill plate is treated lumber. The member forming the lower side of an opening, as a door sill or window sill.
Sole plate: Sole plate, the bottom member of an interior wall frame.
Sill seal: Fiberglass or foam insulation installed between the foundation wall and the sill plate, designed to seal any cracks or gaps.
Slab, concrete: Concrete pavement, i.e. driveways, garage floors, basement floors, sidewalks.
Pea grave - a.k.a. squeegie: Fine pea gravel used to grade a floor, normally before the concrete is poured in place.
Sump: Pit or large plastic bucket/barrel inside the home designed to collect ground water from a perimeter drain system.
Sump pump: A submersible pump in a sump pit that pumps any excess ground water to the outside of the home.
Treated lumber: A wood product, which has been impregnated with chemical pesticides such as CCA (Chromate Copper Arsenate) to reduce damage from wood rot or insects. Often used for the portions of a structure that is likely to be in contact with soil and water. Wood may also be treated with a fire retardant.
Trim (plumbing, heating, electrical): The work that the "mechanical" contractors perform to finish their respective aspects of work, and when the home is nearing completion and occupancy.
Trim-Interior: The finish materials in a building, such as moldings applied around openings (window trim, door trim) or at the floor and ceiling of rooms (baseboard, cornice and other moldings). Also, the physical work of installing interior doors and interior woodwork, to include all handrails, guardrails, stairway balustrades, mantles, light boxes, base, door casings, cabinets, countertops, shelves, window sills and aprons, etc.
Trim-Exterior: The finish materials on the exterior of a building, such as moldings applied around openings (window trim, door trim), siding, windows, exterior doors, attic vents, crawl space vents, shutters, etc. Also, the physical work of installing these materials.
Trimmer: The vertical stud that supports a header at a door, window or other opening.
Truss: An engineered and manufactured roof support member with 'zig-zag' framing members. It has the same function as a rafter, but it is designed to have a longer span than a rafter.