BEAM - Structural support member (steel, concrete, lumber) that transfers weight from one location to another.

BELOW-GRADE - The portion of a building that is below ground level.

BID BOND - Security posted by a bidder to ensure performance in accordance with a bid.

BIDDING - Getting prices from various contractors and/or subcontractors.

BID DOCUMENTS - Drawings, details, and specifications for a particular project.

BLUE PRINTS - Architectural plans for a building or construction project, which are likely to include floor plans, footing and foundation plans, elevations, plot plans, and various schedules and or details.

BRACING - Ties and rods used for supporting and strengthening various partS of a building used for lateral stability for columns and beams.

BUILDING PERMIT - Written authorization from the city, county or other governing regulatory body giving permission to construct or renovate a building. A building permit is specific to the building project described in the application.

CANTILEVER - A projecting beam or other structure supported only at one end.

CAULK - (v) The application of sealant to a joint, crack or crevice. (n) A compound used for sealing that has minimum joint movement capability; sometimes called low performance sealant.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY - A document stating that a building is approved for occupancy. The building authority issues the Certificate of Occupancy.

CIRCUIT BREAKER - Simple switch-like device which automatically opens a circuit when the rated current is exceeded as in the case of a short circuit.

COATING - A layer of any liquid product spread over a surface for protection.

COMPATIBLE - Two or more substances which can be mixed or blended without separating, reacting, or affecting either material adversely.

CONDENSATION - The appearance of moisture (water vapor) on the surface of an object caused by warm moist air coming into contact with a colder object.

CONDUIT - A tube for protecting electric wires.

CONTROL JOINT - A control joint controls or accommodates movement in the surface component of a roof.

COOLING TOWER - A large device mounted on roofs, consisting of many baffles over which water is pumped in order to reduce its temperature.

COST BREAKDOWN - A breakdowns of all the anticipated costs on a construction or renovation project.

CURB - A short wall or masonry built above the level of the roof that provides a means of flashing the deck equipment.

CURING - In concrete application, the process in which mortar and concrete harden. The length of time is dependent upon the type of cement, mix proportion, required strength, size and shape of the concrete section, weather and future exposure conditions. The period may be 3 weeks or longer for lean concrete mixtures used in structures such as dams or it may be only a few days for richer mixes. Favorable curing temperatures range from 50 to 70 degrees F. Design strength is achieved in 28 days.

CURTAIN WALL - A thin wall, supported by the structural steel or concrete frame of the building independent of the wall below. Also a metal (most often aluminum) framing system on the face of a building containing vision glass panels and spandrel panels made of glass, aluminum, or other material.

DAMPER - Valve for controlling airflow. When ordering registers, make sure each supply outlet has a damper so the air flow can be adjusted and turned off. Dampers maybe either manually or automatically operated. Automatic dampers are required for exhaust air ducts.

DAMPPROOFING - A process used on concrete, masonry or stone surfaces to repel water, the main purpose of which is to prevent the coated surface from absorbing rain water while still permitting moisture vapor to escape from the structure. (Moisture vapor readily penetrates coatings of this type.) "Dampproofing" generally applies to surfaces above grade; "waterproofing" generally applies to surfaces below grade.

DECK - An elevated platform. "Deck" is also commonly used to refer to the above-ground floors in multi-level parking garage.

DOUBLE-GLAZING - In general, any use of two lites of glass, separated by an air space, within an opening, to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In insulating glass units the air between the glass sheets is thoroughly dried and the space is sealed, eliminating possible condensation and providing superior insulating properties.

DOWNSPOUT - The metal pipe used to drain water from a roof.

DRAWING DETAIL - A top view drawing of a building or roof showing the roof perimeter and indicating the projections and roof mounted equipment, drawn to scale.

DRIP EDGE - A device designed to prevent water from running back or under an overhang.

DRYWALL - Sheetrock (gypsum board) that covers the framing and taping, coating, and finishing to make the interior walls and ceilings of a building. Drywall is also used as a verb to refer to installation process.

DUCT - A cylindrical or rectangular "tube" used to move air either from exhaust or intake. The installation is referred to as "duct work".

EAVE - The part of a roof which projects out from the side wall, or the lower edge of the part of a roof that overhangs a wall.

ELEVATION - A side of a building.

EXCAVATE - Dig the basement and or all areas that will need footings/foundations below ground.

EXPANSION JOINT - A device used to permit a structure to expand or contract without breakage.

FAÇADE - The front of a building. Frequently, in architectural terms an artificial or decorative effort.

FACE BRICK - Brick made especially for exterior use with special consideration of color, texture and size, and used as a facing on a building.

FASCIA - Any cover board or framed metal assembly at the edge or eaves of a flat, sloping, or overhanging roof which is placed in a vertical position to protect the edge of the roof assembly.

FINISH - In hardware, metal fastenings on cabinets which are usually exposed such as hinges and locks.

FINISH CARPENTRY - The hanging of all interior doors, installation of door molding, base molding, chair rail, built in shelves, etc.

FINISH COAT - The last coat applied in plastering intended as a base for further decorating or as a final decorative surface. Finish coat usually consists of calcified gypsum, lime and sometimes an aggregate. Some may require the addition of lime or sand on the job. The three basic methods of applying it are (1) trowel (2) flat and (3) spray.

FINISH GRADE - Any surface which has been cut to or built to the elevation indicated for that point. Surface elevation of lawn, driveway or other improved surfaces after completion of grading operations.

FIRE-RATED - Descriptive of materials that has been tested for use in fire walls.

FIRE WALL - Any wall built for the purpose of restricting or preventing the spread of fire in a building. Such walls of solid masonry or concrete generally sub-divide a building from the foundations to two or more feet above the plane of the roof.

FLASHING - Weatherproof material installed between roof sheathing (or wall sheathing) and the finish materials to help keep moisture away from the sheathing.

FLOOR PLAN - The basic layout of building or addition, which includes placement of walls, windows and doors as well as dimensions.

FOOTINGS - Wide pours of cement reinforced with re-bar (reinforcing bar) that support foundation walls, pillars, or posts. Footings are part of the foundation and are often poured before the foundation walls.

FURNACE - A heating system that uses the principle of thermal convection. When air is heated, it rises and as the air cools it settles. Ducts are installed to carry the hot air from the top of the furnace to the rooms. Other ducts, called cold air returns, return the cooler air back to the furnace.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR - A contractor responsible for all facets of construction of a building or renovation.

GRAVEL - Loose fragments of rock used for surfacing built-up roofs, in sizes varying from 1/8" to 1 3/4".

GUTTER - Metal trough at the eaves of a roof to carry rain water from the roof to the downspout.

HARDWARE - Metal accessories such as door knobs, towel bars, toilet paper holders, etc.

HAZARD INSURANCE - Insurance for a building while it is under construction.

HVAC - Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

INSULATION - (1) Generally, any material which slows down or retards the flow or transfer of heat. Building insulation types are classified according to form as loose fill, flexible, rigid, reflective, and foamed-in-place. All types are rated according to their ability to resist heat flow (R-Value). (2) In electrical contracting, rubber, thermoplastic, or asbestos wire covering. The thickness of insulation varies with wire size and type of material, application or other code limitations.

JAMB - The frame in which a door or window sits.

JOINT - The space or opening between two or more adjoining surfaces.

JOIST - The horizontal framing members that support the floors.

LIVE LOAD - Loads produced by use and occupancy of the building or other structure and do not include construction or environmental loads such as wind load, snow load, ice load, rain load, seismic load, or dead load.

LOT - A parcel of ground with boundaries determined by the county.

MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY LOAD - The maximum number of people permitted in a room and is measured per foot for each width of exit door. The maximum is 50 per foot of exit.

MOLDING - Finish wood such as door and window trim.

OVERHANG - That part of the roof structure which extends horizontally beyond the vertical plane of the exterior walls of a building.

PARAPET WALL - A low wall around the perimeter of a roof deck.

PARKING STRIP - The area in front of a building between the sidewalk and the street usually landscaped with grass. The parking strip serves as a buffer between the road and pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.

PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BOND - Guaranty by a surety company that if a contractor fails to perform under a contract, the surety company will complete the work.

PLANS - See Blue Prints.

PLOT PLAN - A bird's eye view showing how a building sits on the building lot, typically showing setbacks (how far the building must sit from the road), easements, rights of way, and drainage.

PONDING - A condition where water stands on a roof for prolonged periods due to poor drainage and/or deflection of the deck.

POST & BEAM CONSTRUCTION - Most common type of wall framing, using posts which carry horizontal beams on which joists are supported. It allows for fewer bearing partitions, & less material.

POWER - The energy rate, usually measured in watts. Power equals voltage times amps. or W = E x 1. The heavier the flow of amps at a given supply, the higher the rate at which energy is being supplied and used.

PRECAST - Concrete building components which are formed and cured at a factory and then transported to a work site for erection.

PRIMER - A material of relatively thin consistency applied to a surface for the purpose of creating a more secure bonding surface and to form a barrier to prevent migration of components.

RE-BAR - Reinforcing bar used to increase the tensile strength of concrete.

REINFORCED CONCRETE - A combination of steel and concrete using the best properties of each. The steel consists of rebar or reinforcing bars varying from 3/8 " to 2 1/4 "in diameter and is placed before concrete is poured.

REINFORCED MASONRY - Masonry units, reinforcing steel, grout and/or mortar combined to act together to strengthen the masonry structure.

ROOF SYSTEM - General term referring to the waterproof covering, roof insulation, vapor barrier, if used and roof deck as an entity.

ROUGH PLUMBING - All plumbing that should be done before the finish trades (sheetrock, painting, etc), including all waste lines and supply water lines that are in the walls or framing of the building. See also: Plumbing, Sub Rough, and Finish Plumbing.

SCALE - The relationship between actual measurements on a page of plans or blue prints and the actual measurements of the building represented by the plans or blue prints.

SEALANT - An elastomeric material with adhesive qualities applied between components of a similar or dissimilar nature to provide an effective barrier against the passage of the elements.

SHEATHING - Plywood, gypsum or wood fiber encasing walls, ceilings, floors and roofs of framed buildings. It is the first layer of outer wall covering nailed to the studs or rafters.

SHEETROCK - Panels made primarily from gypsum installed over the framing to form the interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock is often called gypsum board.

SHORING - A temporary support erected in a trench or other excavation to support the walls from caving in.

SKYLIGHT - A structure on a roof that is designed to admit light and is somewhat above the plane of the roof surface.

SLAB ON GRADE - A type of construction in which footings are needed but little or no foundation wall is poured.

SLOPE - Incline or pitch of roof surface.

SOFFIT - The underside of a part or member of a building extending out from the plane of the building walls.

STUCCO - A type of exterior finish.

STUD - The evenly spaced, vertical framing members of a wall. See also: Wood grades.

SUB CONTRACTOR - A contractor who specializes in a particular trade such as waterproofing.

SUB-FLOOR - Material (such as particleboard) installed before finish flooring materials.

TIE-IN - In roofing, a term used to describe the joining of a new roof with the old.

TILT-UP WALL - Cast concrete units which are preformed which, when cured, are tilted to their vertical position and secured by mechanical fasteners to prior erected structural steel. May be pre-cast.

TRUSS - A major supporting structure usually made of timber.

VALVE - A device to stop, start or regulate the flow of liquid or gas through or from piping.

VAPOR RETARDER (BARRIER) - A membrane which is placed between the insulation and the roof deck to retard water vapor in the building from entering the insulation and condensing into liquid water.

VENTING - The process of installing roof vents in a roof assembly to relieve vapor Pressure; the process of water in the insulation course of the roof assembly evaporating and exiting via the roof vents.

VENT SYSTEM - In plumbing, a system to provide a flow of air to or from a drainage system or to provide circulation of air within such system to protect traps seals from siphonage and back pressure.

VISUAL MOCK UP - Small scale demonstration of a finished construction product.

WALKWAYS - Designated areas for foot traffic.

WATERPROOFING - Type of work done by PROOFROCK WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS; also the process where a building component is made totally resistant to the passage of water and/or water vapor.

WATER REPELLANT COATING - Transparent coating or sealer applied to the surface of concrete and masonry surfaces to repel water.

WATTAGE - The electrical unit of power. KILOWATTS is 1000 watts and electric customers are billed on how many kilowatts of power they have used.

WELD - The joining of components together by fusing. In thermoplastics, refers to bonding together of the membrane using heat or solvents.