MINIDICTIONARY FOR CONSTRUCTERS
Area wells- Corrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold
back the earth.
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).
Construction drywall- A type of construction in which the interior wall finish is applied in a dry
condition, generally in the form of sheet materials or wood panelling as contrasted to plaster.
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.
Eaves- The horizontal exterior roof overhang.
Foundation ties- Metal wires that hold the foundation wall panels and rebar in place during the
concrete pour.
Gloss enamel- A finishing paint material. Forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface
and dries to a sheen or lustre (gloss)
Hip roof- A roof that rises by inclined planes from all four sides of a building.
Insulation- Any material high in resistance to heat transmission that, when placed in the walls,
ceiling, or floors of a structure, and will reduce the rate of heat flow.
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.
Keyway- A slot formed and poured on a footer or in a foundation wall when another wall will be
installed at the slot location. This gives additional strength to the joint/meeting point.
Lath- A building material of narrow wood, metal, gypsum, or insulating board that is fastened to the
frame of a building to act as a base for plaster, shingles, or tiles.
Moulding- A wood strip having an engraved, decorative surface.
Neutral wire- Usually colour-coded white, this carries electricity from an outlet back to the service
panel. Also see hot wire and ground.
Oakum- Loose hemp or jute fibre that's impregnated with tar or pitch and used to caulk large seams or
for packing plumbing pipe joints
Padding- A material installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet
life.
Retaining wall- A structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion.
Service lateral- Underground power supply line.
Threshold- The bottom metal or wood plate of an exterior door frame. Generally they are adjustable
to keep a tight fit with the door slab.
Union- A plumbing fitting that joins pipes end-to-end so they can be dismantled.
Vent- A pipe or duct which allows the flow of air and gasses to the outside. Also, another word for the
moving glass part of a window sash, i.e. window vent.
Weatherization- Work on a building exterior in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or
cooling. Work involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and
putting on weather-stripping.
Yoke- The location where a home's water meter is sometimes installed between two copper pipes, and
located in the water meter pit in the yard.
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.
