Glossary

Glossary of 7847 Property Development Terms

B

Back -

• The part or surface behind the front; the rear.
• The back surface of gypsum board; the opposite side from the face; usually the side that would be concealed or the side in contact with the framing; also referred to as the Code Side.

Back Band - A simple moulding sometimes used around the outer edge of plain rectangular casing as a decorative feature.

Back Bar - A counter, shelf, or shelving for bottles and glasses extending along the wall of a barroom behind the bar.

Back Blocking - A short piece of gypsum wallboard adhesively laminated behind the joints between each framing member to reinforce the joint.

Back Board - A vertical structure used as a guard against losing thrown objects, usually specified in the design of athletic playing fields and surfaces.

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 Contractor's bill back charges to subcontractors.

Back Check - A valve that allows flow of a liquid in only one direction; a backflow preventer; a backcheck valve.

Back Clip - Specially designed clips attached to the back of gypsum board that fit into slots or other formations in the framing to hold the gypsum board in place; often used in demountable partition designs.

Back Drafting - The reverse flow of chimney gases into the building through the barometric damper, draft hood, or burner unit. This can be caused by chimney blockage or it can occur when the pressure differential is too high for the chimney to draw.

Back Drain System - The solar heat transfer fluid automatically drains into a tank by gravity. Drain back systems are available in one or two tank configurations. A heat exchanger is necessary, because the city inlet pressure would prevent draining. The heat transfer fluid in the collector loop may be distilled or city water if the loop plumbing is copper. If the plumbing is threaded galvanized pipe, inhibitors may be added to prevent corrosion. Most inhibitors are non-potable and require a double wall heat exchanger. The pump used must be sized to overcome static head.

Back Fill - Earth or earthen material used to fill the excavation around a foundation; the act of filling around a foundation.

Back Filling -

• Rough masonry built behind a facing or between two faces.
• Filling over the extrados of an arch.
• Masonry in spaces between structural timbers, sometimes called Nogging.
• The filling with earth of the excavations after the concrete and masonry work below finish grade is completed.

Back Fire - In welding, a short pop of the flame from the torch tip followed by immediate reappearance or complete extinguishment of the flame.

Back Flow - The unintentional flow of water into the supply pipes of a plumbing system from a non-supply source, back-siphonage is one type of backflow, generally due to a temporary occurrence of negative pressure (suction) in the pipes.

Back Furrow - The first cut of a plough from which the slice is laid on undisturbed soil.

Back Gouging - The forming of a bevel or groove on the other side of a partially welded joint to assure complete penetration upon subsequent welding from that side.

Back Hoe - An excavating machine with a bucket rigidly attached to a hinged stick on a boom that is drawn toward the machine in operation.

Back Mopping - Mopping the back or underside of roofing.

Back Mounted Tile - Mounted tile with perforated paper, fiber mesh, or other suitable bonding material applied to the backs or edges of the tile so that a relatively large portion of the tile area is exposed to the setting bed.

Back Nailing - The practice of nailing roofing felts to the deck under the overlap, in addition to hot mopping, to prevent slippage of felts.

Back Out - 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 property 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

Back Plastering - Plaster applied to one face of a lath system following application and subsequent hardening of plaster applied to the opposite face; used primarily in construction of solid plaster partitions and certain exterior wall systems.

Back Pressure -

• In plumbing, a higher air pressure at the sewer side of the trap than on the fixture side of the trap; water can, under certain conditions, be forced out of the trap in the wrong direction towards the fixture.
• In a refrigerating system, the pressure on the low side of the system, also called suction pressure or low-side pressure.

Back Priming - A coat of paint applied to the back of woodwork and exterior siding to prevent moisture from entering the wood and causing the grain to swell.

Back Saw - A saw perfect for the fine, accurate cut. Includes the dovetail and tenon saw. Distinguished (from other hand saws) by a stiff length of brass or steel set over the top edge of the saw blade, providing support for the blade and preventing the blade to twist or flex.

Back Seam - While all carpet seams are located on the back or underside of the carpet, those made when the carpet is turned over or face-down are called back seams, while those made with the carpet face-up are called face seams.

Back Siphonage - The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any sources other than its intended course, due to a negative pressure in such pipe.

Back Splash - A protective panel installed on the wall behind a counter, sink or lavatory.

Back Stop - To support or bolster.

Back Vent - A branch vent installed for the purpose of protecting fixture traps from siphoning; back vents include most of the vents not installed specially to permit circulation between vent stacks and soil or waste stacks.

Back Wall - The wall facing an observer who is standing at the entrance to a room, shower, or tub shower.

Back Wash - The process of cleaning the swimming pool filter by reversing the water flow.

Backband - A simple moulding sometimes used around the outer edge of plain rectangular casing as a decorative feature.

Backboard - A vertical structure used as a guard against losing thrown objects, usually specified in the design of athletic playing fields and surfaces.

Backcharge - An offsetting charge against a bill, often asserted by an owner against a prime contractor or a by prime contractor against a subcontractor based on supposedly defective construction work.

Backcheck - A valve that allows flow of a liquid in only one direction; a backflow preventer; a backcheck valve.

Backcheck Valve - A device which prevents sewage from flowing backward into a buildings plumbing system.

Backer Board - A gypsum board product designed for use as the first or base layer in a multilayer system; also called Backer Board.

Backer Rod - In glazing, a polyethylene or polyurethane foam material installed under compression and used to control sealant joint depth, provide a surface for sealant tooling, serve as a bond breaker to prevent three-sided adhesion, and provide an hour-glass contour of the finished bead.

Backfill - Earth or earthen material used to fill the excavation around a foundation; the act of filling around a foundation.

Backfill Hand - The act or process of placing excavated earth in a trench or back against the foundation of a structure, by a man and a hand shovel.

Backfire - In welding, a short pop of the flame from the torch tip followed by immediate reappearance or complete extinguishment of the flame.

Backflow - The unintentional flow of water into the supply pipes of a plumbing system from a non-supply source; back-siphonage is one type of backflow, generally due to a temporary occurrence of negative pressure (suction) in the pipes.

Backflow Connection - Any arrangement of pipe or fixtures which can cause backflow to occur.

Backflow Preverter - Backcheck valve; a device which prevents sewage from flowing backward into a buildings plumbing system.

Backfurrow - The first cut of a plough from which the slice is laid on undisturbed soil.

Background Noise - The sound level present in a room or space at any given time above which speech, music, desired signal, or sound must be raised in order to be heard or made intelligible

Background Samples Ambient - Prevalent Level Samples.

Backhand Welding - A gas welding technique wherein the flame is directed opposite to the progress of welding.

Backhoe - An excavating machine with a bucket rigidly attached to a hinged stick on a boom that is drawn toward the machine in operation.

Backhoe Loader - An excavation machine combining a bucket on a hinged stick on a boom on one end, and a bucket or scoop at the other.

Backing -

• Something forming a back.
• The wood blocking behind plastering for supporting the load of lighting fixtures, cabinets, and hardware attached to a wall or ceiling.
• Any material used as a base over which a finished material is to be installed.
• See Plaster Base.
• Material (metal, weld metal, asbestos, carbon, granular flux, etc.) backing up the joint during welding to facilitate obtaining a sound weld at the root.
• The carpet foundation of jute, kraftcord, cotton, rayon, or polypropylene yarn that secures the pile yarns and provides stiffness, strength and dimensional stability.
• The part of the wall behind the face brick.

Backing Board - A gypsum board product designed for use as the first or base layer in a multilayer system; also called Backer Board.

Backing Board Water Resistent Gypsum - A gypsumboard designed for use on walls as a base for the application of ceramic or plastic tile.

Backing Filler Material - Filler metal in the form of a ring, strip or consumable insert, fused in a single-welded joint.

Backing Ring - Backing in the form of a ring, generally used in the welding of piping.

Backing Rod - A foam plastic rod inserted in a joint to be sealed, to regulate the depth of sealant.

Backing Up - Constructing the inside section of a brick wall after the facing brick of the same wall has been laid header high.

Backlog - Reserve of uncompleted work.

Backnailing - In roofing, the practice of blind nailing (in addition to hot- mopping) all the plies to a substrate to prevent slippage on slopes of 1-1/2 inch or more for steep asphalt, 1/2 inch or more for coal-tar pitch and dead-level asphalt.

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 property 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.

Backset Of A Hinge - The distance from the edge of the door to the hinge.

Backset Of A Lock - The distance from the centreline of a tubular door lock or cylinder to the edge of the door, measured on the high side of a bevelled door.

Backstep Sequence - A longitudinal sequence wherein the weld bead increments are deposited in the direction opposite to the progress of welding the joint.

Backstep Sequence - A longitudinal sequence wherein the weld bead increments are deposited in the direction opposite to the progress of welding the joint.

Backstop - To support or bolster.

Backup -

• That part of a masonry wall behind the exterior facing.
• Support or assistance.

Backup Bar - A small rectangular strip of steel applied beneath a joint to provide a solid base for beginning a weld between two steel structural members.

Backup Block - Concrete block which is used as a non-exposed structural wall and backs a finished surface to provide a complete wall system.

Backwash - The process of cleaning the swimming pool filter by reversing the water flow.

Backwash Pipe - Piping that conducts waste water from a filter to a drainage system; connection to drainage system is made through an air gap or other approved methods.

Backwash Piping - Piping that conducts waste water from a filter to a drainage system, connection to drainage system is made through an air gap or other approved methods.

Bacteria - Micro organisms present in all water supplies including swimming pools, chlorine and other chemicals are used to keep these micro organisms under control.

Bacteriacide - Any of a number of chemicals used to kill bacteria.

Bad Debt - A debt that is not collectable

Baffle - Plate or vane used to direct or control movement of fluid or air within a confined area.

Bailiff - An official who repossesses your possessions or house if you cannot keep up on your mortgage repayments.

Bain Marie - A kitchen utensil that has a hot water compartment under an upper compartment that keeps food warm; also called steam table.

Bake Oven - A cooking device containing a chamber wherein food is baked by dry heat; a commercial or institutional oven.

Bakelite - Trademark of any of various thermosetting resins or plastics made from formaldehyde and phenol.

Baking Finishes - Baking at elevated temperatures improves certain types of coatings used on metal articles, such as automobiles and refrigerators; baking may be done in an oven, under infrared lamps or by induction heating according to the demands of shape, space and other requirements; the article that is coated must, of course, be able to withstand the temperature required for the proper baking of the finish.

Baking Japan - An enamel to which the artificial heat of an oven is usually applied in order to attain the maximum hardness or toughness of film.

Balance - An instrument that measures mass, consisting of a central pivot, a horizontal beam, and two scales.

Balance Box - A loaded box at the far side of a crane from the jib and the load, to counterbalance them.

Balance Breakdown - This is a fee that can be charged by your lender for a month-by-month breakdown of your account balance, over and above the information contained in your Annual Statement.

Balance Of Accounts - The difference between the sum of the debits and credits.

Balance Sheet - A statement of financial condition of a specific date.

Balanced Construction - A method of constructing manufactured wood products so that moisture content changes will be uniformly distributed and therefore will not cause warping. An example would be symmetrical construction of plywood in which the grain direction of each ply is perpendicular to that of adjacent plies.

Balanced Cuts -

• Cuts of tile at the perimeter of an area that will not take full tiles; the cuts on opposite sides of such an area shall be the same size.
• The same sized cuts on each side of a miter.

Balanced Door - A door swung on an arm and pivot arrangement that is spaced out from the jamb so that some of the wind impinging on the door will assist in opening the door.

Balanced Flute - A small metal device used in gas appliances which allows air to be drawn in and also allowed to escape.

Balancing Valve - A pipe valve that is used to control the flow of a liquid rather than to shut it off.

Balcony - A platform that projects from the wall of a building.

Balcony Juliet - A shallow balcony designed to provide a safety barrier in front of French Windows.

Baldachin - An ornamental canopy over an altar; also called baldachino.

Baldachino - An ornamental canopy over an altar.

Ball - An ornament of rounded form, common as the termination of a cupola or lantern.

Ball Bearing - A bearing in which the two halves are separated by a ring of small metal balls which reduces friction.

Ball Bearing Hinge - A hinge having ball bearings positioned between the protruding, cylindrical parts of the hinge, to prevent friction.

Ball Check Valve - Valve assembly which permits flow of fluid in one direction only.

Ball Clay - A secondary clay, commonly characterized by the presence of organic matter, high plasticity, high dry strength, long verification range, and a light colour when fired.

Ball Cock - An automatic valve whose opening and closing are controlled by a spherical float at the end of a lever, such as on a flush toilet.

Ball Milling - A method of grinding and mixing material, with or without liquid, in a rotating cylinder or conical mill partially filled with grinding media such as balls or pebbles.

Ball Peen Hammer - A hammer which has a rounded head at its opposite end, used extensively in machine shops.

Ball Tree - The soil and earth that clings to roots of a dug up tree that is later to be planted in a different location.

Ball Valve - A valve in which a ball regulates the opening by its rise and fall due to fluid pressure, a spring, or its own weight.

Ballast -

• A device used with a fluorescent and high intensity lamp, to provide the necessary circuit condition for starting and operation.
• Any material used as non-structural fill or dead weight.
• Heavy material, such as water, sand, or iron which has no function in a machine except increase of weight.
• Crushed rock or gravel which is spread on a roof surface to form its final surface.

Ballast Rapid Start - A ballast that provides a low-voltage winding for preheating the electrodes and initiating the arc without a starting switch or the application of high voltage.

Ballast Replacement -

• The replacement of broken stone, slag, and sand in railroads and highways to keep railroad ties in place and to provide drainage.
• The replacement of the device that regulates current in a fluorescent lamp fixture.

Ballon Frame - A wooden building frame composed of closely spaced members which are continuous from the sill to the top plate of the roof line; also called Eastern Frame; compare Platform Frame.

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.

Balloon Framing - In carpentry, the lightest and most economical form of construction, in which the studding and corner plates are set up in continuous lengths from the first floor line or sill to the roof plate to which all floor joists are fastened.

Balloon Loan - A loan that comes due and must be paid off or refinanced because the final payment is much higher than the monthly payments.

Balloon Mortgage - A mortgage, wherein a final payment is due at a specified and given date. This payment is usually much larger than normal monthly mortgage payment.

Balloon Payment - A payment due, as a final payment in a mortgage, and at a given date. This payment is usually at the end of a designated period of time and usually much larger than normal monthly mortgage payment.

Ballrace - Round or straight retainer to keep ball bearings in their proper operating position.

Ballroom - A large room or hall designed for dancing, balls, and similar festivities.

Baluster - Any of the small posts that make up a railing as in a staircase; may be plain, turned, or pierced.

Balustrade - The upstanding support unit that supports the rail or coping on a stair or balcony.

Bamboo - Giant tropical woody grasses with hollow stems.

Bamboo Fence - Giant tropical woody grasses with hollow stems that are used for making fences.

Bamboo Furniture - Giant tropical woody grasses with hollow stems that are used for making furniture.

Band -

• A low, flat moulding.
• A group of bars distributed in a slab or wall or footing.

Band Aid - An expedient often inadequate solution to a problem.

Band Clamp - For clamping round, oval and odd-shaped pieces. Features a nylon band and ratchet mechanism. The clamp is tightened by turning a handle. Can be adapted into a multi-angle (or corner) clamp by adding corner blocks, with the nylon band running through the blocks and final pressure added by the handle. Ideal for frames and objects with corners.

Band Joist - A wooden joist perpendicular to the direction of the joists in a floor framing system, closing off the floor platform at the outside face of the building.

Band Saw - The more versatile of the curve cutting saws, the thin blade allows work to be manoeuvred easily and accurately along a winding line of cut as well as in and out of tight corners. Able to make straight cuts such as rip, crosscut and mitre and possibly bevel and compound mitre (with a tilting worktable). Also excellent for re sawing boards.

Band Stage - A raised platform where musicians perform.

Banding - Metal or plastic strapping to secure bundles of building products, such as gypsum wallboard, together in a shipping unit

Bandsaw - A machine saw with a narrow endless blade that runs over pulleys.

Banjo Taper - A mechanical device which dispenses tape and taping compound simultaneously.

Bank -

• A building accommodating a financial establishment that receives and pays out money and deals generally in money and finance.
• An institution concerned with the financial aspects of personal and business finances
• More than one unit working in together such as a bank of lights, a bank of speakers, or a bank of generators.
• the sloping earth sides of a river or stream leading to the waterline.

Bank Duct - A group, series, or tier of round or rectangular metal pipes used to distribute warm or conditioned air throughout a building or structure.

Bank Gravel - Gravel found in natural deposits, usually more or less intermixed with fine material, such as sand or clay, or combinations thereof; gravelly clay, gravelly sand, clayey gravel, and sand gravel indicate the varying proportions of the materials in the mixture.

Bank Measure - The volume of earth in its natural site.

Bank Of England Base Rate - The prevailing rate of interest set by the Bank of England which all lenders generally follow.

Bank Run Gravel - Excavated material that is generally 1/4 inch minimum to 6 inches maximum.

Bankers Draft - A method for the payment of funds that is guaranteed by your bank and more secure than a personal cheque.

Bankers Draught - A method for the payment of funds that is guaranteed by your bank and more secure than a personal cheque.

Bankruptcy - A legal proceeding by which a debtor may avoid legal and financial obligations.

Bankruptcy Charge - This is an investigation carried out by the Land Charges Registry to check if a purchaser is or has ever been bankrupt. Most mortgage lenders will insist on this search being carried out and it usually carries a small charge.

Banks - A place to go for Mortgages & Loans.

Bannister - A light baluster supporting a stair handrail.

Baptistry - A part of a church or formerly a separate building for baptism; also spelled baptistery.

Bar -

• A straight wood or metal piece used as a lever, support, barrier, or fastening.
• A barrier of any shape.
• A submerged or partly submerged sand bank along a shore or in a river often obstructing navigation.
• The railing in a courtroom separating the judge, jury, lawyers, and witnesses from the spectators.
• A particular system of courts.
• The whole body of lawyers qualified to practice in a jurisdiction.
• A building, room, or counter at which food or beverages are served.
• A small shop or stall serving refreshments, such as a snack bar.
• A specialized department in a large store, as a watch repair bar.
• A steel member used to reinforce concrete.
• Unit of pressure; one bar equals 0.9869 atmospheres (one million dynes per square centimetre).
• To be banned from a working site or other location would result in the person in charge to bar someone from that particular location.

BAR (British Association Of Removers) - This is the professional trade association representing the removals industry. Membership of the BAR means that a removals business is obliged to meet certain standards in its work and practices. All members of the BAR are regularly inspected to ensure they conform to membership requirements.

Bar Angle - A steel structural member in the shape of an L; classified by the thickness of the stock and the length of the legs.

Bar Backup - A small rectangular strip of steel applied beneath a joint to provide a solid base for beginning a weld between two steel structural members.

Bar Bent - A steel reinforcing bar bent to a prescribed shape such as a truss bar, straight bar with hook, stirrup, or column tie.

Bar Bus -

• A large, flat conductor, usually solid copper, used for carrying very high electrical currents.
• An uninsulated bar or tube used as an electrical conductor at a circuit junction.

Bar Chart - A simple construction scheduling technique which graphically shows the starting and finishing times for the various tasks which make up a job.

Bar Clamp - A variation of the C-clamp with a disconnecting sliding jaw that allows the user to reverse the clamp and use it as a spreader.

BAR Conciliation Service - When a complaint with a removals firm cannot be resolved privately, the BAR will step in and mediate between the removals company and the customer. This is a free service. An independent arbitration service is also available for the speedy and cost-effective resolution of the dispute should the conciliation service fail to provide an agreement.

Bar Hanger - A metal bar, either straight or offset, to allow for the mounting of a ceiling outlet box between ceiling joists, or an outlet box, or switch box between wall studs; an adjustable hanger is one that can be made to fit the varying distances between floor and ceiling joists or rafters to securely hold electrical outlet boxes and devices.

Bar Hanger Adjusted - A metal hanger that can be made to fit the varying distances between floor and ceiling joists or rafters to securely hold electrical outlet boxes and devices.

Bar Hook - A semi circular (180 degree) or a 90 degree turn at the free end of a steel reinforcing bar to provide anchorage in concrete.

Bar Joist - A truss like floor joist or rafter fabricated from steel bars.

Bar Ladder -

• A prefabricated reinforcement designed for embedment in the horizontal mortar joints of masonry.
• Parallel deformed side rods connected in a single plane, by cross wires, thus forming a ladder like design.

Bar Lap - The amount steel reinforcing bars must lap in order to develop sufficient bond to transfer their full load capacity.

Bar Number - A number designating the size of a steel reinforcing bar, approximately the bar diameter in eighths of inches; for example, a #5 bar is approximately 5/8 inch in diameter; a #9 bar is approximately 1-1/8 inch in diameter (9/8); bar numbers are rolled onto the bar for easy identification.

Bar Parallel - A pair of bars on a support, adjustable in height and spacing, that are parallel to each other, and are used for gymnastic exercises.

Bar Pry - Has a curved blade to fit behind moulding or between two sections of an object that are to be separated. The long handle provides leverage to pry the sections apart.

Bar Reinforcing - A manufactured, usually deformed, steel bar, used in concrete and masonry construction to resist tensile stresses.

Bar Room - A room or dedicated area in a property in which the principal feature is a bar for the serving of liquor.

Bar Spacing - Distance between parallel reinforcing bars measured from center to center of the bars perpendicular to their longitudinal axis.

Bar Spreader - A variation of the C-clamp with a disconnecting sliding jaw that allows the user to reverse the clamp and use it as a spreader.

Bar Stranded Wire - Non insulated group of fine wires used as a single electric conductor.

Bar Support - A rigid device used to support or hold reinforcing bars in proper position to prevent displacement before or during concrete placement.

Barbed Barrier - Wire that is twisted with barbs or sharp points forming a barrier or fence.

Barbed Fence - Wire that is twisted with barbs or sharp points forming a barrier or fence.

Barbed Nail - A nail with a barbed shank to resist withdrawal.

Barbed Wire - Wire that is twisted with barbs or sharp points.

Barbican Wall - The outer defence of a city or castle, often a part of a system of barrier walls and consisting of a double tower above a gate or drawbridge.

Bare Electrode - A filler metal electrode used in arc welding consisting of a metal wire with no coating other than that incidental to the drawing of the wire.

Bare Solid Wire - Non insulated single wire used as an electric conductor.

Bargain - Know in Scotland as when an offer on a property has been accepted, see also Conclusion Of Missives.

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.

Barge Construction - A floating platform or vessel from which construction activities may be performed; often used in rivers to install bridge piers and also used extensively in waterfront construction.

Bargeboard - A board, sometimes ornamental, fixed to the end of a gable, running from ridge to eave, to hide the ends of the roof timbers.

Barium Sulphate - Heavy, white, extender pigment made from the mineral, barite; unaffected by acids, alkalis.

Bark - The outer protective layer of a tree.

Bark Pocket - An opening between a tree's annual growth rings that contains bark.

Bark Tree - The tough outer layer of a tree.

Bark Wood - The tough outer layer of a tree.

Barn -

• A large farm building for storing hay and grain and housing farm animals and equipment.
• An unusually large and bare building, pejoratively.
• A large building for storing a fleet of trucks or trolleys.

Barometer - An instrument for measuring atmospheric air pressure, it may be calibrated in pounds per square inch, or in inches or millimetres of mercury in a column.

Barometer Aneroid - An instrument for measuring atmospheric air pressure by its action on the elastic lid of an evacuated box. This is the basis of a surveyors aneroid barometer which is used to measure altitude; an altimeter.

Baroque - A building style associated with late Classical architecture. This style developed throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. Baroque style is characterised by exuberant decoration overlaid on classical architectural design. Highly ornate, grotesque, flamboyant, and extravagant in style.

Barracks -

• A building or building complex used to house soldiers.
• A large plain building.

Barratry - The persistent incitement of litigation.

Barrel - A container with a long round shaped body used to contain, store or ship various items but usually nails, cement, water or liquids or other items.

Barrel Ceiling - A rounded or semi circular ceiling.

Barrel Roof - A roof design, which in cross section is arched.

Barrel Shell - A scalloped roof structure of reinforced concrete that spans in one direction as a barrel vault and in the other as a folded plate.

Barrel Tile - A type of ceramic or cast roofing tile.

Barrel Tiles - Rounded clay roof tiles most often used on Spanish-style houses. Barrel Tiles are usually red, but available in many other colours.

Barrel Vault - A segment of a cylinder that spans as an arch; used as a structural technique to support a ceiling or roof by having all of the components act in compression as an arched ceiling; used extensively in ancient buildings and into the 19th century, because no structural steel or timber is needed.

Barrel Weight - A unit of weight for cement. 376 lbs. net, equivalent to 4 U. S. bags of portland cement.

Barricade - A barrier or an obstruction to prevent passage or to prevent access.

Barrier - A fence or other obstacle that bars advance or access.

Barrier Barbed - Wire that is twisted with barbs or sharp points forming a barrier or fence.

Barrier Coating - Shielding or blocking coating or film.

Barrier Moisture - Treated paper or metal that retards or bars water vapour, used to keep moisture from passing into walls or floors.

Barrier Tape - Non-adhesive tape used to mark dangerous areas or areas where work is being done and could pose a hazard.

Barrier Vapour - A type of plastic sheeting that both eliminates drafts and keeps moisture from damaging a building or structure.

Barroom - A room or dedicated area in a property in which the principal feature is a bar for the serving of liquor.

Bars Bottom - The reinforcing bars that lie close to the bottom of a reinforced concrete beam or slab.

Bars Bundled - A group of not more than four parallel steel reinforcing bars in contact with each other, usually tied together.

Bars Burglar - A grille of steel bars to protect a window or skylight opening from intrusion.

Bas Relief - Sculpture or carving in which the figures project only slightly from the background surface with no undercutting.

Basalt - A dark basic volcanic rock whose strata sometimes form columns.

Basalt Ware - A black unglazed vitreous ceramic ware having the appearance of basalt rock.

Base -

• A moulding or board placed along the bottom of a wall next to the floor; also called Baseboard.
• A vinyl, wood or metal trim applied at the floor line to protect the vertical wall from damage.
• The bottom of a column.
• One or more rows of tile installed above the floor.
• The lath or backing to which plaster is applied.
• The lowest part, or the lowest main division, of a building, column, pier, or wall.
• The lowest point of any vertical pipe.

Base Bead - A preformed metal screed with perforated or expanded flanges; provides a ground for plaster and separates areas of dissimilar materials.

Base Bid - A stipulated construction sum based on the contract documents.

Base Board - A trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor.

Base Cabinet -

• Case, box, or piece of furniture which rests on the floor with sets of drawers or shelves with doors, primarily used for storage.
• Floor mounted cabinets, usually with a counter, sink or appliance installed.

Base Cap -

• Wood strip applied to the base of a wall to protect wall surface and finish the intersection of wall and baseboard.
• A finish fitting for tile.

Base Carpet -

• Vinyl or rubber base attached to the wall with adhesive and installed as a finish for carpeting.
• A base made of carpeting serving the same purpose.

Base Coat - Any plaster, cement or paint coat or coats applied prior to application of the finish coat.

Base Coat Floating - The finishing act of spreading, compacting, and smoothing of the base coat plaster to a reasonably true plane.

Base Column - The plate beneath a column that distributes the load.

Base Course -

• The lowest row of masonry in a wall, pier, foundation, or footing.
• In asphaltic concrete paving, the layer of material immediately beneath the surface or intermediate course; it may be composed of crushed stone, crushed slag, crushed or uncrushed gravel and sand, or combinations of these materials and may also may be bound with asphalt.

Base Flashing -

• A waterproof membrane that is attached to a roof and bent up the side of a chimney.
• A waterproof membrane that is attached at a joint between any vertical member and a roof.

Base Grouting - The injection of grout to fill voids in subfloor slabs, foundations or concrete slabs.

Base Layer - The first or interior layer of gypsum board applied in a multilayer system.

Base Line - The main traverse or surveyed line running through the site of proposed construction, from which property lines, street lines, and buildings are located and plotted on the plan.

Base Lines - Part of a governmental land surveying grid system covering the country, with base lines running east and west and meridians running north and south; townships are located with reference to a specific base line and meridian; for example, T3N R12W, MDBM is read Township 3 North, Range 12 West, Mount Diablo Base Line and Meridian.

Base Manhole - The cast iron frame into which a manhole cover fits.

Base Metal - The metal to be welded, cut or brazed.

Base Mogul - A screw in style base for an incandescent lamp of generally 300 watts or more.

Base Moulding - Moulding used to trim the upper edge of interior baseboard.

Base Of Structure - The level at which earthquake motions are assumed to be imparted to a building; this level does not necessarily coincide with the ground level.

Base Paint Cement - A paint composed of portland cement, lime, pigment, and other modifying ingredients, sold as dry powder to be mixed with water for application.

Base Plate - A steel plate inserted between a column and the foundation, used to level the column and to spread the load of the column to a larger area of the foundation.

Base Ply - An asphalt-saturated and/or coated felt installed as the first ply with 4 inch laps in a built-up roof system under the following felts which can be installed in a shingle-like fashion.

Base Rate - The official rate of interest set nationally by the Bank Of England.

Base Rate Bank Of England - The prevailing rate of interest set by the Bank of England which all lenders generally follow.

Base Screed - A preformed metal screed with perforated or expanded flanges; provides a ground for plaster and separates areas of dissimilar materials.

Base Shear - Total shear force acting at the base of a structure.

Base Sheet - This is the first ply in some multi ply built-up roofing membranes; it is usually a saturated felt or a coated felt.

Base Shoe - Wood strip, with a curved or projecting surface, used to finish intersection of base and floor.

Base Shoe Moulding - Wood strip, with a curved or projecting surface, used to finish intersection of base and floor, also called Shoe Mould, or Carpet Strip.

Base Stone - The beginning or starter stone of a fieldstone wall.

Base Terrazzo - A subfloor slab or foundation using a flooring material made from marble or other stone chips set in portland cement and polished when dry.

Base Trim - A trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor.

Baseboard - A trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor.

Baseboard Heater - Heating strips that are installed at the juncture of the wall and floor and may be either recessed or surface-mounted; generally along the outside walls of rooms.

Baseboard Radiator - A heating unit installed along a baseboard in a building or structure, is usually hydronic (hot water or steam).

Basecoat - Any plaster, cement or paint coat or coats applied prior to application of the finish coat.

Baseline - The main traverse or surveyed line running through the site of proposed construction, from which property lines, street lines, and buildings are located and plotted on the plan.

Basement -

• The substructure or foundation of a building.
• The lowest habitable story of a building, usually below ground level.

Basement Access - Access to the basement area in a building.

Basement Soil - Pervious paving materials include pervious interlocking concrete paving blocks, concrete grid pavers, perforated brick pavers, and compacted gravel.

Basement Window Inserts - The window frame and glass unit that is installed in the window buck.

Baseplate - A steel plate inserted between a column and the foundation, used to level the column and to spread the load of the column to a larger area of the foundation.

Basic Lead Carbonate - A type of white lead pigment.

Basic Lead Sulphate - A type of white lead.

Basic Valuation - This is carried out for the purposes of mortgage and is prepared for the lender. A survey will also help you to find out independently whether the price is reasonable. Your mortgage lender will almost certainly insist on a basic valuation to make sure that the property is worth the amount you are paying for it. They want to ensure that you will be able to sell it again and therefore that it is a safe investment. Although it is often referred to as a survey, it doesn't go into nearly as much detail as a homebuyer or full survey would do.

Basin -

• A wide shallow open container.
• A lavatory.
• A hollow rounded depression.
• Any sheltered area of water where boats can moor safely.
• A round valley.
• An area drained by rivers and tributaries.

Basin Wrench - A plumbers tool used for installing hard to get at fittings.

Basis Of Acceptance - The method of determining whether a lot of material is acceptable under given or accepted specifications.

Basis Of Cash Accounting - A method of keeping accounting records in which income is recorded when actually received and expenses are recorded when cash is paid out, also called Cash Accounting.

Basket - Wire assembly to support and space dowel bars and expansion joints in concrete slabs on the ground.

Basketweave Bound - Module groups of brick laid at right angles to those adjacent.

Bastard Cut - Lumber, primarily hardwoods, in which the annual rings make angles of 30 to 60 degrees with the surface of the piece.

Bastard File - A course file for rough shaping of metal or wood.

Bastard Granite - A quarrier's term for nearly any stone which may not be considered a true granite, particularly applied to gneiss.

Bastard Sawn - Lumber, primarily hardwoods, in which the annual rings make angles of 30 to 60 degrees with the surface of the piece.

Bat - A half-brick.

Bat Brick - Part of a brick, usually half a brick or less.

Batavia - A natural resin used extensively in the preparation of varnishes and lacquers; usually classified according to the place from which it is shipped to market, for example, Singapore dammar or Batavia dammar.

Batch Disposal - The orderly placement or distribution of freshly mixed concrete or masonry.

Batch Mixer - A machine which mixes batches of concrete or mortar in contrast to a continuous mixer.

Batch Plant -

• A manufacturing facility for producing asphalt paving mixtures that proportions the aggregate constituents into the mix by weighed batches and adds asphalt material by either weight or volume.
• An operating installation of equipment including batchers and mixers as required for batching or for batching and mixing concrete materials; also called mixing plant when equipment is included.

Bath -

• A tub used for bathing.
• The room that contains the tub.
• Liquid solution used for cleaning, plating, or maintaining a specified temperature.

Bath Accessory - Bathroom equipment such as towel bars, grab bars, grab rails, soap dishes, toilet paper holders, and medicine cabinets.

Bath Chair - A wheelchair type chair used for taking baths or showers.

Bath Faucet - A valve used to draw hot or cold water into a bathtub.

Bath House - A building with baths and dressing rooms for public use.

Bath Room -

• A room containing a bath tub or shower and usually a toilet and lavatory.
• A polite term for any toilet room.

Bath Room Lock - A non-keyed privacy lock that can be locked from the inside by push-button and opened from the outside by a small tool; a privacy lock.

Bath Tub - The tub in a bath room.

Bath Tub Door - A folding or sliding door mounted on a bath tub rim to keep water spray within the tub area when there is a shower over the tub.

Bathhouse - A building with baths and dressing rooms for public use.

Bathroom -

• A room containing a bath tub or shower and usually a toilet and lavatory.
• A polite term for any toilet room.

Bathroom Lock - A non keyed privacy lock that can be locked from the inside by push-button and opened from the outside by a small tool; a privacy lock.

Bathroom Vanity - A bathroom cabinet with a lavatory mounted in the counter top.

Bathtub - The tub in a bath room.

Batt - A section of fibreglass or rock-wool insulation measuring 15 or 23 inches wide by four to eight feet long and various thicknesses. Sometimes faced (meaning to have a paper covering on one side) or un-faced (without paper).

Batt Insulation - Strips of insulation, usually fibreglass that fit between studs or other framing.

Batten -

• A thin narrow strip of wood or metal to cover or reinforce a joint; a pre decorated strip or joint covering designed to conceal the junction between adjacent boards; frequently used in demountable systems.
• A cleat; a narrow strip of board used to fasten several pieces together.

Batten And Board - Vertical siding where wood strips (battens) hide the seams where other boards are joined.

Batten Plate - A formed piece of metal designed to cover the joint between two lengths of metal edge.

Batten Seam - A seam in a sheet metal roof.

Batten Siding - Vertical siding which has narrow strips of metal or wood covering the joints.

Batter -

• A slight receding upward slope to the outward face of a building wall or a retaining wall.
• Stepping or sloping masonry back in successive courses; the opposite of corbel.

Batter Board - A temporary framework used to assist in locating the corners when laying a foundation; also used to maintain proper elevations of structures, excavations and trenches in any kind of below ground construction.

Batter Pile - Pile driven at an angle to brace a structure against lateral or horizontal thrust.

Battered - A feature in a property, such as a chimney, that has sloping face or sides making the feature narrower at the top than at the bottom.

Battery - One or more cells connected together to furnish electric current by interaction of metals and chemicals.

Battery Of Fixtures - Any group of two or more similar adjacent plumbing fixtures which discharge into a common horizontal waste or soil branch.

Battlement - A parapet with recesses along the top of a wall, originally as a fortification, now as ornamentation.

Baudelot Cooler - Heat exchanger in which water flows by gravity over the outside of the tubes or plates.

Bauhaus - An architectural school in Germany, founded by Walter Gropius in 1923, emphasizing technology, craftsmanship, and design aesthetics.

Bauxite - A claylike mineral containing varying proportions of alumina, the principal source of aluminium.

Bay - An extension to the main building. Otherwise referred to as canted or splayed when angled back at the side, and squared when perpendicular.

Bay Window - A window extension to the main building. Otherwise referred to as a canted or splayed window when angled back at the side, and squared when perpendicular.

Bay Window Projection - The area of a Bay window projecting from a structure.

Bazaar -

• A market in an oriental country consisting of rows of shops or stalls offering miscellaneous goods.
• A large shop selling fancy goods.
• A department store.

BCF (Bulked Continuous Filament) - Continuous strands of synthetic fiber made into yarn without spinning; often extruded in modified cross section such as multi global, mushroom or bean shape and/or texturized to increase bulk and covering power.

Bead -

• A narrow line of weld metal or sealant.
• A strip of metal or wood used to hold a sheet of glass in place.
• A narrow, convex moulding profile.
• A metal edge or corner accessory for plaster or gypsum board.
• In glazing, an applied sealant in a joint irrespective of the method of application, such as caulking bead or glazing bead,
• A moulding or stop used to hold glass or panels in position.

Bead Angle - A small moulding placed at an external angle formed by plastering surfaces in order to preserve the corner from accidental fracture.

Bead Arch Corner - A job-shaped length of corner bead used to define the curved portion of arched openings.

Bead Base - A preformed metal screed with perforated or expanded flanges; provides a ground for plaster and separates areas of dissimilar materials.

Bead Casing - Metal or wood molding used to separate different materials, used as an edge or used around openings to provide a stop.

Bead Corner - A strip of wood or metal for protecting the external corners of plastered walls.

Bead Fillet - Caulking or sealant placed in such a manner that it forms an angle between the materials being caulked.

Bead Glazing - In glazing, a strip surrounding the edge of the glass in a window or door which holds the glass in place.

Bead Heel - Sealant applied at the base of a channel, after setting the light or panel and before the removable stop is installed, one of its purposes being to prevent leakage past the stop.

Bead Moulding -

• A half-round narrow moulding, attached or milled on a larger piece.
• A square or rectangular trim less than 1 inch in width.

Bead Parting - A narrow strip between the upper and lower sashes in a double-hung window frame.

Bead Plaster - Built in edging usually metal, to strengthen a plaster angle.

Bead Sash - A strip with one edge moulded, against which a sash slides.

Bead Weld - A type of weld composed of one or more string or weave beads deposited on an unbroken surface; the metal added in welding.

Beaded Moulding - A cast plaster string of beads planted in a moulding or cornice.

Beading - A ridge or raised linear deformation that may appear at finished gypsum board joints.

Beam - A straight structural member that acts primarily to resist transverse loads; a structural element which sustains transverse loading and develops internal forces of bending and shear in resisting the loads; an inclusive term for joists, girders, rafters, and purlins.

Beam And Post - A basic building method that uses just a few hefty posts and beams to support an entire structure that contrasts with stud framing.

Beam And Post 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.

Beam Bolster - A fabricated wire device used to temporarily support reinforcing steel in structural formwork such as beams and slabs.

Beam Bond - A horizontal grouted element within a masonry wall in which steel reinforcement is embedded. A horizontal reinforced masonry beam, serving as an integral part of the wall.

Beam Bottom - The lowest horizontal member supporting a building or structure.

Beam Box - A beam of metal, concrete, or plywood which, in cross section, resembles a closed rectangular box.

Beam Cantilevered - A beam that is supported at one end only.

Beam Castellated - A steel, wide flange section whose web has been cut along a zigzag path and reassembled by welding in such a way as to create a deeper section.

Beam Cement - A horizontal structural member which transversely supports a load and transfers the load to vertical members, made of a composite material consisting of sand, coarse aggregate, cement and water.

Beam Chair - A wire seat or support for reinforcing bars designed to maintain their location while concrete for a beam is poured around them.

Beam Clamp - A device which holds a horizontal structural member to a vertical member.

Beam Collar - A horizontal piece of lumber used to provide intermediate support for opposite roof rafters, usually located in the middle third of the rafters. Also called collar beam or collar tie.

Beam Compass - A drafting tool consisting of a wood or metal bar fitted with a point and a movable pen or pencil holder to use in drawing large radius arcs and circles.

Beam Concrete - A horizontal structural member which transversely supports a load and transfers the load to vertical members, made of a composite material consisting of sand, coarse aggregate, cement and water.

Beam Fireproofing - Fire-resistant materials that cover a horizontal structural member, to insure structural integrity in the event of a fire.

Beam Formwork - The system of support for freshly placed concrete for a horizontal structural member.

Beam Furring - Strips of wood or metal fastened to a horizontal structural member to form an airspace, to give the appearance of greater thickness, or for the application of an interior finish such as plaster.

Beam Grade - An end supported horizontal load-bearing foundation member that supports an exterior wall or other building load.

Beam Gyprock - A horizontal member constructed of plasterboard.

Beam Hanger -

• A strap wire or other device used to hang beam forms from another structural member.
• A steel strap used for securing the end of a beam.

Beam Plaster - A combination of cementit like material and aggregate mixed with water and applied to a horizontal structural member, preserving in a rigid state the form or texture imposed during the period of elasticity.

Beam Plasterboard - A horizontal member constructed of plasterboard.

Beam Pocket - A notch formed at the top of a wall to receive and support the end of a beam.

Beam Precast - A concrete horizontal structural member that is cast and cured in other than its final position.

Beam Rail - A solid wood band attached to a horizontal structural member.

Beam Reinforcing - A horizontal member installed to strengthen and support the load of a structure.

Beam Ridge - A horizontal structural member usually 51mm (2 inches) thick, supporting the upper ends of rafters.

Beam Sheetrock - A horizontal member constructed of plasterboard.

Beam Tail - A relatively short beam or joist supported in a wall on one end and by a header at the other.

Beam Tie - A beam connecting the base of rafter pairs to prevent outward thrust.

Beam Wale - A horizontal beam.

Bearding - In carpeting, long fibre fuzz occurring on some loop pile fabrics, caused by fibres snagging and loosening due to inadequate anchorage.

Bearing -

• Part of a machine that supports and aligns a rotating or other moving part.
• That part of a lintel, beam, girder or truss, which rests upon a column, pier or wall.

Bearing Anti Friction - Any bearing having the capacity of effectively avoiding friction.

Bearing Block - A piece of wood fastened to a column to provide support for a beam or girder.

Bearing Capacity - Allowable bearing capacity; the maximum allowable load on a structural element.

Bearing Capacity Allowable - The amount of pressure, expressed in pounds per square foot, that any particular soil will support, in the opinion of a soil mechanics engineer, taking into account acceptable settling and a safety factor.

Bearing Header -

• A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening.
• A wood lintel.
• The horizontal structural member over an opening.

Bearing Pad - A block of metal, plastic, or synthetic material used to cushion the point at which one structural element rests upon another.

Bearing Partition - A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Bearing Plate - A plate placed under a truss, beam, girder, or column to distribute the load.

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.

Beating Block - A wooden block used to embed tiles in a flat plane; the method used is called beating in.

Becquerel - A unit for measuring radiation from radium and radon.

Bed -

• A piece of furniture used for the purpose of sleeping.
• A flat area in a cornice, designed to have enrichment planted later.
• In glazing, the bead compound or sealant applied between a light of glass or panel and the stationary stop or sight bar of the sash or frame. It is usually the first bead of compound or sealant to be applied when setting glass or panels.

Bed Casting - A form in which precast concrete units are constructed.

Bed Coat -

• In gypsum board, the first coat of joint compound over tape, bead, and fastener heads; also called Bed Coat.
• That coat of plaster to receive aggregate or other decorative material of any size, impinged or embedded into its surface before it sets.

Bed Joint - The horizontal layer of mortar in which a masonry unit is set.

Bed Mould - A flat area in a cornice, designed to have enrichment planted later.

Bed Moulding - A moulding in an angle, as between the over hanging cornice, or eaves, of a building and the side walls.

Bedding -

• A filling of mortar, putty, or other substance in order to secure a firm bearing.
• Ground or supports in which pipe is laid.
• Linen, Sheets, Pillow Cases and Covers to make up a bed.
• In glazing, the bead compound or sealant applied between a light of glass or panel and the stationary stop or sight bar of the sash or frame. It is usually the first bead of compound or sealant to be applied when setting glass or panels.

Bedding Coat -

• In gypsum board, the first coat of joint compound over tape, bead, and fastener heads; also called Bed Coat.
• That coat of plaster to receive aggregate or other decorative material of any size, impinged or embedded into its surface before it sets.

Bedding Plane - A separation or weakness between two layers of rock, caused by changes during the building up of the rock forming material.

Bedrock - A subsurface layer of earth that is suitable to support a structure.

Bedroom - A room designated for sleeping.

Bees Wax - Wax produced by honey bee.

Beeswax - Wax produced by honey bee.

Belfry - A bell tower.

Bell - That portion of a pipe which, for a short distance, is sufficiently enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of the same diameter for the purpose of making a joint, also called Bell End or Hub.

Bell And Spigot Joint - A type of joint used in cast iron pipe where a male pipe end (the spigot) slips into a female end (the bell) and is then caulked with oakum and sealed with lead.

Bell Cast Eaves - A roof which curves, sloping more gently toward the bottom.

Bell End - That portion of a pipe which, for a short distance, is sufficiently enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of the same diameter for the purpose of making a joint.

Bell Hub - That portion of a pipe which, for a short distance, is sufficiently enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of the same diameter for the purpose of making a joint.

Bell Reducer - In plumbing, a fitting shaped like a bell which has one opening of a smaller diameter used to reduce the size of the pipe in the line, and the opposite opening of larger diameter.

Belleek China - A highly translucent white ware composed of a body containing a significant amount of grit and normally having a lustre glaze.

Bellows - An instrument or machine that draws in air through a valve or orifice by expansion and contraction and expels it through a tube.

Bellows Copper - A flexible joint in copper piping that can expand or contract to allow for thermal fluctuations.

Bellows Seal - Method of sealing the valve stem; the ends of the sealing material are fastened to the bonnet and to the stem; the seal expands and contracts with the stem level.

Belly Up - The condition of a contracting firm when it becomes insolvent and goes bankrupt.

Below Grade - The portion of a building that is below ground level.

Belt Course -

• A course of bricks or other material projecting slightly from the face of the wall.
• A horizontal board across or around a building, usually made of a flat member and a moulding.
• A horizontal course on the face of a building, when continuous with a row of window sills or lintels, is referred to as a Sill Course or a Lintel course; also called a String Course.

Belt Marks - A surface defect in gypsum board made by the machines forming belt during manufacture.

Belt Sander - Reach for this tool when you want to save some elbow grease from a hand plane. Powerful and able to remove stock aggressively, this tool is fitted with a coarse abrasive belt that can grind down door edges and trim uneven frames. Comes in a range of sizes.

Belt Sander Narrow - A good sander for narrow spaces and tight spots. Easy to maneuver, but doesn't do well on wide surfaces.

Bench -

• A long seat for seating several people.
• A judges seat in a lawcourt.
• A working table or counter for a carpenter, artisan, or scientist.
• A low scaffold board that allows the gypsum board hanging crew to easily reach the ceiling area; also called Hangers Bench.

Bench Dogs - Pegs which go into holes in the top of a workbench that work with a vise to hold wide material.

Bench Grinder - Critical for a complete workshop, a grinder can buff, clean, polish, sharpen and remove rust, among many uses.

Bench Level - Designed primarily for machinists, it’s a highly accurate level used for all types of precision work.

Bench Level Aluminium - A mechanic’s bench level that is extremely stable and lightweight.

Bench Mark - A point of known or assumed elevation used as a reference in determining and recording other elevations.

Bench Saw - A power saw held securely on a stationary bench.

Bend Soil - A piece of short, curved pipe, like an elbow, used to connect two straight links of pipe in a sewage system.

Bending -

• The result of a force which tends to cause curvature in a linear element.
• The internal stresses of tension and compression are a result of this action.

Bending Moment -

• The sum of moments for all forces that occur above the neutral axis
• The moment that causes a beam or other structural member to bend.
• A measure of the tendency to produce rotational motion, equal to the result of multiplying a the magnitude of a force by its perpendicular distance from a particular axis or point.

Bending Movement - The amount of bending movement of any part of a structural member perpendicular to the axis of the member under an applied load.

Bending Spring - Coil spring which is placed on inside or outside of tubing to keep it from collapsing while bending it.

Bending Stress - A compressive or tensile stress resulting from the application of a nonaxial force to a structural member.

Beneficial Occupancy - The use of a premises or a portion for the uses intended, although the work of the project may not be completed.

Beneficial Owner - Person owning lands who is entitled to use it for his or her own benefit. Not, for instance, a trust that holds the land for the benefit of another.

Beneficiary -

• The person designated to receive the proceeds of an insurance policy.
• In a trust deed the lender.

Bent -

• A plane of framing consisting of beams and columns joined together, often with rigid joints.
• A single vertical framework consisting of horizontal and vertical members supporting the deck of a bridge or pier.

Bent Bar - A steel reinforcing bar bent to a prescribed shape such as a truss bar, straight bar with hook, stirrup, or column tie.

Bent Glass - Flat glass that has been shaped while hot into curved shapes.

Bentonite - A clay composed principally of minerals of the montmorillonoid group, characterized by high absorption and very large volume change with wetting or drying, commonly swelling to several times its dry volume when saturated with liquid.

Bentonite Membrane - A thin, pliable sheet or layer manufactured from bentonite; used for waterproofing retaining walls.

Benzene -

• A material derived from coal tar and widely used a solvent.
• also used for cleaning after painting and other finishing operations; a very powerful aromatic solvent for many materials, its use is restricted because of its toxicity and because it is a fire hazard; often confused with Benzine due to similarity in pronunciation; also called Benzol.

Benzine -

• A highly flammable petroleum product used by painters as thinning solvent and diluent
• Also used in dyeing and as a cleansing agent.

Benzol - A material derived from coal tar and widely used a solvent; also used for cleaning after painting and other finishing operations; a very powerful aromatic solvent for many materials, its use is restricted because of its toxicity and because it is a fire hazard; often confused with Benzine due to similarity in pronunciation, also called Benzene.

Berm - A small artificial ridge of soil at the top of an earth bank to prevent water drainage onto the bank.

Berylla - An inorganic material of exceptionally high thermal conductivity which is toxic in the powder form.

Beryllium Oxide - An inorganic material of exceptionally high thermal conductivity which is toxic in the powder form.

Bespoke - Custom Made.

Betula - Birch Hardwood.

Bevel -

• A slanted surface; an end or edge cut at an angle other than a right angle.
• A type of edge preparation on metal where welding is to take place.

Bevel Board - A board used in framing roof or stairway to lay out bevels.

Bevel Edge Chisel - For use in fine cabinetry work; features a chrome-vanadium steel blade and double-hooped boxwood handle. Boxwood is considered to be the best wood for tool handles because of strength and shock-absorbing qualities.

Bevel Edge Square - Useful when extreme accuracy is required to determine 90-degree angles.

Bevel Finder Magnetic - A pocket-sized tool that is actually four tools in one: a level, protractor, square and pitch gauge. Excellent for measuring and transferring angles, as well.

Bevel Gears - Meshing gears on intersecting axes.

Bevel Of A Door - The angle of the lock edge in relation to the face of the lock stile; standard bevel is 1/8 inch in 2 inches (3.2 mm in 50.8 mm).

Bevel Protractor - Read, transfer and mark angles quickly and accurately with this tool.

Bevel Siding - A type of finish siding used on the exterior of a house, usually manufactured by resawing a dry, squared, surfaced board diagonally to produce two wedge shaped pieces.

Bevel Square Adjustable - Use this square to transfer any angle accurately.

Bevel Square Sliding - Indispensable for marking, transferring and checking angles. Helpful when marking odd angles and dovetail joints and when cutting a board to fit an existing angle.

Bevel T - Indispensable for marking, transferring and checking angles. Helpful when marking odd angles and dovetail joints and when cutting a board to fit an existing angle.

Beveled Cement - An angle in concrete or inclination of any line in concrete or concrete surface that joins another.

Beveled Concrete - An angle in concrete or inclination of any line in concrete or concrete surface that joins another.

Beveling - A type of chamfering.

Bevelled - A finished edge cut at angles for a more decorative display.

Bevelled Edge - An edge cut at angles for a decorative look. Also called a Chamfer.

Bevelled Stone - Stone cut at angles for a more decorative display.

Bevelled Wood Ridge - A wood strip that covers the ridge pole; commonly found on wood-shake roofs.

Bezel -

• A sloping surface on a cutting tool, as on a chisel.
• A frame around something like a glazed opening or a built-in appliance.

Bi Fold Door - A door with two leaves, hinged together to close on itself, one edge of each leaf is hinged at the jamb and the other edge is connected and guided by an overhead track.

Bi Functional - Having two functions.

Bi Metal Utility Blades - As the name implies, bi-metal blades are produced through a patented process of combining two types of metal, each with its own attributes and benefits. The first is Spring Steel, which provides flexibility to the blade, resulting in a blade that will not break under normal work conditions. The second metal, High-Speed Steel, delivers a hardened cutting edge that stays sharp longer than traditional carbon blades.

Bi Pass Doors - Doors that slide by each other and commonly used as closet doors.

Bibb - A faucet with a nozzle that is bent downward.

Bibb Hose - A water faucet to which a hose may be attached.

Bibcock - A water faucet to which a hose may be attached.

Bibcock - A faucet with a nozzle that is bent downward.

Bibcock - A faucet with a nozzle that is bent downward.

Bid -

• An offer to perform
• An offer to enter into a contract usually for a stipulated sum of money
• A tender
• A proposal.
• At property auction the action of making a price commitment to win the right to purchase the property. The high bidder earns the right and is legally bound to buy the property being auctioned.

Bid Advertisements - Published notice for receiving of bids for a construction project.

Bid Alternate - An alternate bid that, if accepted, adds to the contract price.

Bid Base - A stipulated construction sum based on the contract documents.

Bid Bond - A bond, secured by a bidder, which guarantees that the bidder selected by the owner will accept the project, or the owner will have the project for the bid price as noted in the accepted bid.

Bid Bond Contractor - 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 Date - The date and time designated by the architect and owner for the receiving of bid proposals.

Bid Documents - Drawings, details, and specifications for a particular project.

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, and seek to induce subcontractors to reduce the subcontract price included in the bid.

Bid Time - The date and time designated by the architect and owner for the receiving of bid proposals.

Bidder -

• A prime contractor who submits a bid directly to an owner.
• A sub contractor that places a bid with a prime contractor
• A person making an offer on a property.
• At auction a person placing an auction bid.

Bidders Agreement - Legally binding contract entered into by bidder prior to entering the bidding on a property or properties.

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

Bidding Blind - When a property goes to a closing date and the agent/buyer must decide what to offer for a property without knowing what the other interested parties intend to offer.

Bidding Documents - The bidding requirements and the proposed contract documents, including any addenda issued prior to receipt of bids.

Bidding Or Negotiation Phase - One of the standard phases of architectural service (Schematic Design Phase, Design Development Phase, Construction Documents Phase, Bidding or Negotiation Phase, and Construction Phase-Administration of the Construction Contract).

Bidding Period - The time period during which contractors can prepare their bid proposals.

Bidding Requirements - The group of documents issued to general contractors who are bidding a construction project, other than the contract documents; bidding requirements include the Advertisement or Invitation to Bid, Instructions to Bidders, Supplementary Instructions to Bidders, the bid form, and other sample bidding and contract forms.

Bidet - A plumbing fixture about the size and shape of a toilet, equipped with cold and hot running water, used for personal hygiene.

Bids Blind - Applies in Scotland if there is more than one party who notes interest in a property. When there is competition for a property, you will probably only get the chance to make one offer. You do the groundwork and your research into the value (provided by your opinion, the valuation and the consultation of your solicitor) and you put in your sealed bid without knowing what the other interested parties have tabled. The seller usually gets an offer over the asking price and accepts it. However, they are under no obligation to accept any of the offers that are made to them and they can reject them all and open up the competition again, although this is rare.

Bifold Door - A door with two leaves, hinged together to close on itself, one edge of each leaf is hinged at the jamb and the other edge is connected and guided by an overhead track.

Bifunctional - Having two functions.

Billhook - A tool with a hooked blade used for cutting and pruning.

Bilt - A drill point that has a variety of uses with braces and drills. Each bit is designed for a specific application such as masonry, wood, steel, or other materials.

Bimetallic Strip - A strip made of two metals that bends as the temperature changes. A bimetallic strip of iron and brass, when heated, will bend, as brass expands more than iron, thus bending the strip, and unbending upon cooling, this action can be used to open or close a switch.

Bin -

• A box, container, or enclosed place for storage.
• A rubbish or trash receptacle.

Bin Ice Storage - A box, frame or enclosed place used for the storage of ice and the maintaining of its solid properties.

Bin Method - A method of computing cooling energy use requirements for commercial and industrial building with unusual operating needs and for residences utilizing passive heating/cooling design with high mass thermal storage.

Binder -

• A substance that acts cohesively.
• Fines which hold gravel together when it is dry.
• The nonvolatile portion of a paint which serves to bind or cement the pigment particles together; oils, varnishes and proteins are examples of binders; see vehicle.
• A chemical additive to gypsum board core formulation, frequently starch, to improve the bond between the surfacing papers and the core.
• Building, material used to bind aggregates. Usually bitumen and bitumen blends.
• Contractually, a receipt for a deposit to secure the right to purchase a property at agreed terms by a buyer and seller.

Binders Chain - In carpet making, yarns running warpwise (lengthwise) in the back of the carpet, binding all construction yarns together; the chain binder runs alternately over and under the weft binding and filling yarns, thereby pulling the pile yarn down and the stuffer yarns up for a tightly woven construction.

Binding - A strip sewed over a carpet edge for protection against unraveling.

Biodegradability - The ability of a material to rot away after use, by the action of microorganisms.

Birch - Hardwood, species Betula.

Birch Door - A door constructed or faced with a strong fine-grained birch hardwood.

Birch Paneling - Rectangular sheets of paneling that have been constructed of a strong fine grained birch hardwood.

Birch Peck - A small hole or patch of distorted grain in wood resulting from birds pecking through the growing cells in the tree.

Birch Veneer - Thin sheets of strong fine grained hardwood used in furniture, flooring, and building paneling.

Bird Bath - A hollow rounded depression in asphaltic concrete paving or in portland cement concrete flatwork.

Bird Cage - A name for the end of a stair rail where the banisters are curved in a spiral to form a newel post.

Bird Screen - Wire screening attached to louvers, ventilators and openings in a building or structure to prevent birds and small animals from entering.

Birdbath - A hollow rounded depression in asphaltic concrete paving or in portland cement concrete flatwork.

Birdcage - A name for the end of a stair rail where the banisters are curved in a spiral to form a newel post

Birds Eye - Small, localized area in wood where the fibers are indented and otherwise contorted to form small circular or elliptical figures which look somewhat like birds eyes; common in sugar maple and used for decorative purposes; rare in other hardwood species.

Birds Mouth - A notch cut on the underside of a rafter to fit it to the top plate, not a full notch if there is no rafter overhang.

Birdscreen - Wire screening attached to louvers, ventilators and openings in a building or structure to prevent birds and small animals from entering.

Biscuit Chips - Glazed over chips on the edge or corner of the body of a tile.

Biscuit Cracks - Any fractures in the body of a tile visible both on face and back.

Biscuit Joint - An oval shapped disk that when inserted in a slot with glue swells to form a tight bond. A special tool is required to cut the slot.

Bisect -

• To divide into two parts.
• To divide into two equal parts.

Bisque Fire - The process of kiln firing ceramic ware prior to glazing.

Bit -

• A unit of computer information expressed as a choice between two possibilities. a 0 or 1 in binary notation; short for binary digit.
• Of a key, the projecting blade, cut in a manner that actuates the lock tumblers.
• The removable cutting edge of a tool, as a drill bit.
• Of a screw gun, the replaceable tip or portion that seats in the slotted screw head.

Bit Carbide - Tool used to drill holes in brick or block.

Bit And Brace - This is a hand drill with a crank shaped handle with a flat knob on the end, special auger bits with a square tapered shank fit into a two jaw chuck. This is a ancient system but still works well when jobs are done by hand.

Bit Auger - A long, 7" to 10" bit typically used with a brace for drilling holes in wood. An auger bit bores a faster, cleaner hole because of its screw point and spur design.

Bit Forstner - These have a center spur and circular rims with cutting teeth that cut clean flat bottomed holes.

Bit Pilot - A router bit with a bearing at the end of the cutter that rides against the edge the material or a template to guide the cut.

Bit Spade - These are an inexpensive bit, suitable for general use, they get their name from their shape.

Bit Wood - A bit designed specifically for boring holes into wood.

Bite - The amount of the edge of a pane of glass that is covered by the stop.

Biting - Solvent in topcoat of a lacquer surface dissolves or bites into coat below, if lacquer solvent is too biting, the dried lacquer surface may be rough or produce an orange peel effect.

Bitting - The configuration of notches and hollows on the blade of a door lock key.

Bitumen - Similar to asphalt in that it is adhesive and used in sealants and damp-proof courses.

Bituminous - Resembling, containing, or impregnated with various mixtures of hydrocarbons, like tar or asphalt, together with their nonmetallic derivatives.

Bituminous Concrete - A mixture of bitumen and aggregates (coarse and fine including sand). Produced as Hot Mix or Cold Mix. Referred to as BC (Bituminous Concrete) or AC (Asphaltic Concrete).

Bituminous Dampproofing - Impregnated mixtures of hydrocarbons, like tar or asphalt, together with their nonmetallic derivatives used on a surface to prevent moisture from passing through, dampproofing will not ordinarily resist water under hydrostatic pressure.

Bituminous Emulsion -

• A suspension of minute globules of bituminous material in water or in an aqueous solution.
• Invert emulsion; a suspension of minute globules of water or an aqueous solution in a liquid bituminous material.

Bituminous Grout - A mixture of bituminous material and fine sand that will flow into place without mechanical manipulation when heated.

Bituminous Membrane - A thin layer or sheet of an impregnated mixture of hydrocarbons together with their nonmetallic derivatives, used as dampproofing.

Bituminous Sidewalk - A walkway constructed with an impregnated mixture of hydrocarbons together with aggregate such as sand or stone, commonly called blacktop.

Black Bone - Pigment made from calcined animal bones; dark in color, but does not have a strong tinting strength like lampblack.

Black Carbon - Jet black, non bleeding pigment, made by burning natural gas in insufficient supply of air.

Black Iron Cap - A steel fitting, with female threads, which seals the end of a pipe.

Blackboard - A panel or board with a smooth, usually dark, surface for writing on with chalk.

Blacktop - A walkway constructed with an impregnated mixture of hydrocarbons together with aggregate such as sand or stone.

Blade -

• The flattened part of a paddle or oar.
• The projecting parts of a fan, turbine, or propeller.
• The sharp cutting part of a knife or saw.
• The flat or concave part of a bulldozer.

Blade Diameter - The measurement of a saw blade measured on the extreme outside edge of two opposite tips. Larger diameter blades can accommodate more teeth for smoother cuts.

Blade Grader - A grader.

Blade Stablisers - Metal disks aprox. 3 1/2" in diameter that go on each side of a saw blade to minimize flexing and rim vibration.

Blades Bi Metal - As the name implies, bi-metal blades are produced through a patented process of combining two types of metal, each with its own attributes and benefits. The first is Spring Steel, which provides flexibility to the blade, resulting in a blade that will not break under normal work conditions. The second metal, High-Speed Steel, delivers a hardened cutting edge that stays sharp longer than traditional carbon blades.

Blaine Fineness - The fineness of powdered materials such as cement and pozzolans, expressed as surface area usually in square centimeters per gram, determined by the Blaine air permeability apparatus and procre.

Blanc Fixe - Artificially prepared barium sulphate, an extender pigment.

Blanket - Soil or broken rock left or placed over a blast to confine or direct throw of fragments.

Blanket Attenuation - Material utilized to help in the rction of the energy or intensity of sound.

Blanket Insulation - Thermal insulating material made of fibrous glass or mineral wool, sometimes with paper or foil surfacing, formed in batts or rolls.

Blanket Mortgage - A single trust deed or mortgage that covers two or more parcels of real property.

Blast Angle - Angle of sand blasting nozzle with reference to surface.

Blast Bright - White blast.

Blast Brush Off - Lowest blast cleaning standard.

Blast Cleaning - Cleaning with propelled abrasives.

Blast Freezer - Low temperature evaporator which uses a fan to force air rapidly over the evaporator surface.

Blast Furnace - A smelting furnace into which compressed hot air is driven.

Blast Furnace Slag - A non metallic waste product developed in the manufacture of pig iron, consisting basically of a mixture of lime, silica and alumina, the same oxides that make up portland cement, but not in the same proportions or forms; it is used both in the manufacture of portland blast furnace slag cement and as an aggregate for lightweight concrete.

Blasting Water - Blast cleaning using high velocity water.

Blating Angle - Blast cleaning at angles less than 90 degrees.

Bleach - To remove colour or stains from.

Bleacher - An outdoor tiered stand of benches to provide seating at a sports ground.

Bleaching - Restoring discolored or stained wood to its normal color or making it lighter by using bleaching agents.

Bleb - A small blister or bubble.

Bleed Valve - Valve with a small opening inside which permits a minimum fluid flow when valve is closed.

Bleeder Gun - A spray gun with no air valve; trigger controls fluid flow only.

Bleeding -

• The upward movement of asphalt in an asphalt pavement resulting in the formation of a film of asphalt on the surface; usually caused by too much asphalt in one or more of the pavement courses, resulting from too rich a plant mix, an improperly constructed seal coat, too heavy a prime or tack coat, or solvent carrying asphalt to the surface; usually occurs in hot weather; also called Flushing.
• The autogenous flow of mixing water within, or its emergence from newly placed concrete or mortar; caused by the settlement of the solid materials within the mass; also called Water Gain.
• In gypsum board, a discoloration, usually at a joint, which may occur on a finished wall or ceiling.
• Penetration of color from the underlying surface; seeping of a stain or lower coat through the top coat, spoiling the appearance of the top coat.
• When coloring material from the wood or undercoat works into succeeding coats and imparts to them a certain amount of color; see Extractive Bleeding.
• Slowly rcing the pressure of liquid or gas from a system or cylinder by slightly opening a valve.
• The draining or loosening of saturants from the roofing material.

Bleeding Stain - Stain which works up or bleeds through succeeding coats of finishing materials.

Blemish - A physical imperfection that affects appearance.

Blend -

• To mix or make homogeneous.
• A mixture, as of two pigments, to obtain a desired colour.

Blending - Mixing one color with another so the colors mix or merge gradually.

Blind -

• A panel, shade, or screen used on a window to block out light, give protection, add insulation, or as decoration.
• A shutter.

Blind Bidding - When a property goes to a closing date and the agent/buyer must decide what to offer for a property without knowing what the other interested parties intend to offer.

Blind Bids - Applies in Scotland if there is more than one party who notes interest in a property. When there is competition for a property, you will probably only get the chance to make one offer. You do the groundwork and your research into the value (provided by your opinion, the valuation and the consultation of your solicitor) and you put in your sealed bid without knowing what the other interested parties have tabled. The seller usually gets an offer over the asking price and accepts it. However, they are under no obligation to accept any of the offers that are made to them and they can reject them all and open up the competition again, although this is rare.

Blind Bids Sealed - Applies in Scotland if there is more than one party who notes interest in a property. When there is competition for a property, you will probably only get the chance to make one offer. You do the groundwork and your research into the value (provided by your opinion, the valuation and the consultation of your solicitor) and you put in your sealed bid without knowing what the other interested parties have tabled. The seller usually gets an offer over the asking price and accepts it. However, they are under no obligation to accept any of the offers that are made to them and they can reject them all and open up the competition again, although this is rare.

Blind Header - A concealed header in the interior of a wall, not showing on the faces.

Blind Nailing -

• Attaching boards to framing or sheathing with nails driven through the edge of each piece so as to be concealed by the succeeding board.
• In installing tongue-and-groove flooring, the nails are placed at the root of the tongue where they will be hidden by the groove of the next piece; the nails pierce the subfloor at a 45 degree angle.
• The practice of nailing the back portion of a roofing ply so that the nails will be concealed by the next ply of roofing.

Blind Stop - A rectangular molding, usually ¾ by 1-3/8 inches or more in width, used in the assembly of a window frame. Serves as a stop for storm and screen or combination windows and to resist air infiltration.

Blind Story - A building story that has no windows.

Blind Vent - An ineffective, sometimes illegal, vent which stops in a wall thus giving the appearance of a vent but not actually functioning as a vent.

Blinding - Compacting soil immediately over a tile drain to rce its tendency to move into the tile.

Blinds Roman - Soft fabric blinds which gather into pleats when raised.

Blinds Venetian - Blinds made of metal or wooden slats, attached to cloth tape, and worked by a cord on a pulley system, and available in many widths, colours, and sizes. Blinds provide excellent light control while allowing some view to the outside.

Blinds Vertical - Strips of fabric (louvers) suspended vertically from a head-rail.

Blister -

• A raised spot in a built-up roof caused by expansion of entrapped moisture, water vapor, or other gases, between any of the layers of roofing or mopping.
• A loose raised spot on the gypsum board face usually due to an air space or void in the core.

Blistering -

• In ceramic tile, the development, during firing, of enclosed or broken macroscopic vesicles or bubbles in a body or in a glaze or other coating.
• A bulging of the finish plaster coat as it separates and draws away from the basecoat; the resulting protuberances are often termed turtle backs.
• Formation of bubbles on surface of paint or varnish film, generally caused by moisture behind the film or excessive heat.

Blisters -

• Cloudy or milky-looking raised spots on finished surfaces.
• Protuberances on the finish coat of plaster caused by application over a too damp base coat or troweling too soon.

Block -

• A compact, solid piece of substantial material that is worked or altered from its natural state to serve a particular purpose.
• A wooden or metal case enclosing pulleys and having a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached.
• A building divided into separate functional parts.
• A part of a building or structure distinctive in some respect.
• An area between two streets in a city or town.

Block Acoustical - A masonry block used for its sound-absorbing qualities.

Block And Brick - A house which is built with a brick outer skin and an inner Construction skin of block work or similar masonry products.

Block Angle - A square of tile specially made for changing direction of the trim.

Block Backup - Concrete block which is used as a non-exposed structural wall and backs a finished surface to provide a complete wall system.

Block Beating - A wooden block used to embed tiles in a flat plane; the method used is called beating in.

Block Bond Beam - A concrete masonry unit with the upper part of the ends and webs removed to make room for horizontal reinforcing bars and grout. U-blocks are sometimes used to form bond beams, especially as over openings.

Block Bullnose - A concrete masonry unit which has one or more rounded external corners.

Block Cap -

• A solid flat slab usually 2-1/4 inches thick used as capping units for parapet and garden walls
• Also used as a Paving Unit.

Block Cement - A hollow concrete masonry unit constructed of a composite material consisting of sand, coarse aggregate, cement, and water.

Block Channel -

• A concrete masonry unit with a solid bottom and sides but no ends or webs, for use in a lintel.
• A hollow unit with web portions depressed less than 1-1/4 inches to form a continuous channel for reinforcing steel and grout.

Block Concrete - A hollow concrete masonry unit constructed of a composite material consisting of sand, coarse aggregate, cement, and water.

Block Dampproofing - The act or process of applying a water-resistant material to the surface of a concrete or masonry block to prevent passage or absorption of water or moisture.

Block Demolition - The act or process of tearing down an old block wall structure.

Block Glass - A hollow masonry unit made of glass.

Block Granite - A masonry unit consisting of a very hard natural igneous rock used for its firmness and endurance.

Block Grout - Mortar mixes used in block walls to fill voids and joints.

Block Of Flats - Accumulation of flats within a building.

Block Out - To install a box or barrier within a foundation wall to prevent the concrete from entering an area.

Block Plane - Designed for trimming end grain. Also used for smoothing small wood pieces and for edge-planing plywood, particleboard and plastic laminate.

Block Raggle - A specially designed masonry block having a slot or opening into which the top edge of the roof flashing is inserted and anchored.

Block Sequence - A combined longitudinal and buildup sequence for a continuous multiple pass weld wherein separated lengths are completely or partially built up in cross section before intervening lengths are deposited.

Block Sequence Wandering - A block sequence wherein successive blocks are completed at random after several starting blocks have been completed.

Block Splash - A small masonry block laid with the top close to the ground surface to receive roof drainage from downspouts and to carry it away from the building.

Block Terminal - A decorative element forming the end of a block structure.

Block Vent - An opening serving as an outlet or inlet for air in a block structure.

Blockboard - Sheet material made up of strips of hardwood or softwood, sandwiched between either a hardwood or softwood veneer.

Blocked (Door Blocking) - Wood shims used between the door frame and the vertical structural wall framing members.

Blocked Diaphragm - A diaphragm in which all sheathing edges not occurring on framing members are supported on and connected to wood blocking.

Blocked Rafters - Short 2 by 4's used to keep rafters from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span.

Blocked Wood - Wood blocks used as filler pieces or stabilization between framing members.

Blocking -

• Pieces of wood inserted tightly between joists, studs, or rafters in a building frame to stabilize the structure, inhibit the passage of fire, provide a nailing surface for finish materials, or retain insulation.
• A system of tying together two brick walls that were not built at the same time; the two adjoining or intersecting walls are tied together by offset and overhanging blocks of courses of bricks.

Blocking Ceiling - Wood pieces installed between ceiling joists and rafters to provide nailing surfaces for finishing ceiling materials.

Blocking Wall - Framing lumber cut in short lengths and installed horizontally between wall studs as filler pieces to stabilize the framing, to act as fire blocking, or to provide a backing for fastening a finish item.

Blocks - The usually rectangular areas of land between the streets in a town or city.

Blocks Anti Walk - Elastomeric blocks that limit lateral glass movement in the glazing channel which may result from thermal, seismic, wind load effects, building movement, and other forces that may apply.

Blocks Breeze - Hollow concrete or cement building blocks.

Blocks Cement - Mass produced building blocks made from pouring concrete into a mould.

Blocks Setting - Generally rectangular cured extrusions of neoprene, EPDM, silicone, rubber or other suitable material on which the glass product bottom edge is placed to effectively support the weight of the glass.

Bloom -

• A visible exudation or efflorescence on the surface.
• Whitening; blushing; clouded appearance on varnished surface.
• Condition of clouding or fogging of paint film, usually caused by reactive materials in paint film coming into contact with dust, oil, deposits from gases in the air or soluble matter in rain.

Blots - Marks or stains on the face of a tile.

Blow - In gypsum board, a large area of paper separated from the core during the manufacturing process; it may appear as a large puffy blister or a full loose sheet of paper.

Blow Arc - The deflection of an electric arc from its normal path because of magnetic forces.

Blow Back - Rebound of atomized sprayed material.

Blow Insulation - Fibre insulation in loose form and used to insulate attics and existing walls when framing members are not exposed.

Blow Torch - A gasoline torch used in burning off paint film, should be used only by experienced painters, it is a dangerous fire hazard when used by amateurs.

Blown In Insulation - Loose cellulose insulation that is blown into an attic, crawl space, or walls by a blowing machine.

Blowout - A concrete form giving way.

Blowtorch - A gasoline torch used in burning off paint film, should be used only by experienced painters, it is a dangerous fire hazard when used by amateurs.

Blue Lead - A basic sulphate of lead containing small amounts of lead sulphide and carbon that impart a bluish gray color, used primarily for its rust preventive value.

Blue Prints - 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 Stain - A bluish or grayish discoloration of the sapwood caused the growth of certain mold like fungi on the surface and in the interior of a piece, made possible by the same conditions that favor the growth of other fungi.

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.

Blue Stone - A sandstone of a dark greenish to bluish gray color that splits into thin slabs, commonly used to pave surfaces for pedestrian traffic.

Blue Top Stakes - Surveyors stakes, marked with a blue lumber marking crayon, that should not be disturbed.

Blue Tops - Surveyors stakes, marked with a blue lumber marking crayon, that should not be disturbed.

Blueprint -

• Construction plans containing in-depth detail about a building produced on blue tinged paper.
• An obsolete method of copying construction drawings and maps, a wet process that produces a print with white lines on a blue background, a cyanotype or sun print.
• Loosely, any construction drawing.

Bluestone - A sandstone of a dark greenish to bluish gray color that splits into thin slabs, commonly used to pave surfaces for pedestrian traffic.

Blunging - The wet process of blending or suspending ceramic material in liquid by agitation.

Blushing -

• A finish is said to blush when it takes on white or grayish cast during drying period; usually caused by the precipitation or separating of a portion of the solid content of the material, causing an opaque appearance.
• Applied to lacquers when they become flat or opaque and white on drying; usually occurs when applied in a humid atmosphere.

Board - Any lumber less than nominally 51 mm (2 inches) thick and wider than 100 mm (4 inches).

Board -

• Any lumber less than nominally 51 mm (2 inches) thick and wider than 100 mm (4 inches).
• A flat thin piece of sawn lumber, usually long and narrow; lumber less than 2 inches thick.
• A group of persons having supervisory, investigatory, or advisory powers.
• A sheet of insulating material carrying circuit elements and terminals so that it can be inserted in an electronic apparatus.
• A flat panel of compressed fibers.
• A flat panel used for posting bulletins or as a chalkboard.

Board And Batten - Linear vertical wood boards with wood strips covering vertical joints used as an exterior cladding for a framed wall.

Board Base - A trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor.

Board Batten - One of a pair of horizontal boards nailed to posts set at the corners of an excavation, used to indicate the desired level, also as a fastening for stretched strings to indicate outlines of foundation walls.

Board Calcined - Gypsum board which has been subjected to excessive heat.

Board Cement - An adhesive used to bond pieces of wood together.

Board Composite - An insulation board, which has two different insulation types laminated together in 2 or 3 layers.

Board Concrete - A panel made out of concrete and fibreglass usually used as a tile backing material.

Board Concrete Finish - A board that is made of several compressed materials; used for sheathing, wallboard, or as an insulation or acoustical barrier.

Board Dock - Heavy timber used in the construction of the raised platform used for the loading and unloading of trucks.

Board End Matched - A board having tongued and grooved ends.

Board Foot - A unit of measure for lumber equal to 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide by 12 inches long.

Board Gauge - Board used to carry grout needed to patch small jobs.

Board Insulation - A rigid structural building board made of coarse wood or cane fiber in ½- and 25/32-inch thickness It can be obtained in various size sheets, in various densities, and with several treatments.

Board Knife - A hand tool holding a replaceable blade to sharply score or trim gypsumboard products, a popular brand is a Stanley knife.

Board Measure - The standard system for the measurement of lumber.

Board Projection - In roofing, heavy asphalt impregnated boards which are laid over bituminous coatings to protect against mechanical injury.

Board Rafter - The wooden structural member that makes up the sloping parallel beams used to support a roof.

Board Ridge - The board against which the tips of rafters are fastened, the top line of a roof.

Board Saw - A short hand saw with very coarse teeth for cutting gypsumboard for door and window frame openings.

Board Siding - A type of lumber installed on the exterior walls of a building or structure to act as the finish sheathing.

Board Spot - Board used to carry grout needed to patch small jobs.

Board Sub Floording - A wooden member that is installed on floor joists to which the finished floor is fastened.

Board Subflooring - A wooden member that is installed on floor joists to which the finished floor is fastened.

Board Window - A horizontal board fixed internally at the sill level.

Boarding In - The process of nailing boards on the outside studding of a house.

Boards - Yard lumber less than 2 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide.

Boards Corner - Used as trim for the external corners of a house or other frame structure against which the ends of the siding are finished.

Boards Lumber - Sawn lumber less than 51 mm (2 inches) thick and 100 mm (4 inches) or more wide.

Boatswains Chair - A trapeze like seat that is slung from rigging to support a worker.

Bodega -

• A wine vault or cellar; a wine shop where wine is drawn from barrels.
• A storeroom or warehouse.

Bodied Linseed Oil - Linseed oil that has been thickened in viscosity by suitable processing with heat or chemicals. Bodied oils are obtainable in a great range in viscosity from a little greater than that of raw oil to just short of a jellied condition.

Body -

• The structural portion of ceramic articles; also refers to the material or mixture from which the article is made.
• The structural portion of an article covered with ceramic tile.
• Thickness, consistency, or viscosity of a fluid.

Body Coat - Intermediate coat of paint between priming and finishing.

Body Feed - The continuous addition of small amounts of filter aid during the operation of a diatomaceous earth filter.

Body Tiles Cement - Tiles with the body made from a mixture of sand and portland cement, the surface may be finished with portland cement, spheroids of marble, or other materials.

Boiled Linseed Oil - Linseed oil in which enough lead, manganese or cobalt salts have been incorporated to make the oil harden more rapidly when spread in thin coatings.

Boiled Oil - Drying oil treated with driers to shorten the drying time.

Boiler -

• An enclosed vessel in which water is heated and circulated, either as hot water or as steam, for heating or power.
• A storage tank for hot water distribution.
• A heating system in which water is used as the distribution medium.

Boiler Bow Off - An outlet on a boiler to permit emptying or discharging of water or sediment in the boiler.

Boiler High Pressure - Boiler furnishing steam at pressures of 15 pounds per square inch gauge or higher (1.05 kg/cm2).

Boiler Horsepower - Term now seldom used, meaning equivalent to a heating capacity of 33,475 Btu/hr. (983 watts).

Boiler Hot Water And Low Pressure Steam - A boiler furnishing hot water at pressures not more than 30 pounds per square inch gauge (2.12 kg/cm2) or steam at pressures not more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge (1.06 kg/cm2).

Boiler Plate - Standardized, formulaic, or hackneyed language in a contract.

Boiler Room - The space provided for a hot water or steam boiler, circulating pumps, and other mechanical and electrical equipment; engine room.

Boiling -

• The temperature at which a liquid boils
• The point at which a liquid starts to change to gas; boiling temperature of a liquid under a pressure of 14.7 psia (760 mm)
• Water boils at 100° C or 212° F.

Boiling Point -

• The temperature at which a liquid boils
• The point at which a liquid starts to change to gas; boiling temperature of a liquid under a pressure of 14.7 psia (760 mm)
• Water boils at 100° C or 212° F.

Boiling Temperature -

• The temperature at which a liquid boils
• The point at which a liquid starts to change to gas; boiling temperature of a liquid under a pressure of 14.7 psia (760 mm)
• Water boils at 100° C or 212° F.

Boiling Water -

• The temperature at which a liquid boils
• The point at which a liquid starts to change to gas; boiling temperature of a liquid under a pressure of 14.7 psia (760 mm)
• Water boils at 100° C or 212° F.

Bole -

• The main stem of a tree of substantial diameter.
• Rough wood capable of yielding saw timber, veneer logs, or large pole.
• Seedlings, saplings, and small diameter trees have stems, not boles.
• A fine soft clay, yellow or dark, colored by iron oxide, formerly used as a pigment.

Bollard -

• Short steel post, usually filled with concrete, set to prevent vehicular access to or to protect property from damage by vehicular encroachment.
• Steel or cast iron post to which ships are tied.

Bollard Pipe - Short pipe length, placed vertically in the ground and filled with concrete to prevent vehicular access or to protect property from damage by vehicular encroachment.

Bolster -

• A short piece of timber set horizontally across the top of a post, either to afford a greater bearing surface for a girder or girders, or to allow a post above to set between the ends of the girders, or to shorten the span of girders.
• A long wire type chair used to support steel reinforcing bars in a concrete slab while the concrete is being placed.

Bolster Beam - A fabricated wire device used to temporarily support reinforcing steel in structural formwork such as beams and slabs.

Bolster Slab - Continuous, individual support used to hold steel reinforcing bars in the proper position.

Bolt -

• A threaded metal rod or pin for joining parts, having a head and usually used with a threaded nut.
• A sliding bar for locking a door or gate.
• A bar in a lock, moved by a key.

Bolt Anchor - A bolt embedded in concrete for the purpose of fastening a building frame to a concrete or masonry foundation.

Bolt Cane - An L shaped rod, mounted on a swinging or sliding door or gate, that drops into a pipe sleeve below the floor surface to secure the door or gate.

Bolt Carriage - A threaded bolt with a round smooth head and a square neck directly under the head to prevent rotation.

Bolt Cutter - A hand tool, utilizing effective leverage, that can shear bolts and steel reinforcing rods.

Bolt Dead - A lock bolt having no spring action nor bevel, and which is operated by a key or a turn piece.

Bolt Door - The tongue of a lock installed to prevent a door opening.

Bolt Wood - Bolts specifically used in wood applications, that have an unslotted oval head and square shoulders that sink into the wood to prevent turning.

Bolted Steel - Steel structural system where the members are assembled and connected with bolts as opposed to welding.

Bolted Truss - Beams, frames, trusses, or other supports connected to support a roof, bridge, or floor system, that are fastened together with bolts.

Bolting Pattern - The arrangement, spacings, and dimensions of bolts used to attach two or more structural members together.

Bolts Anchor - In residential construction, Bolts to secure a wooden sill plate to concrete, or masonry floor or wall. In commercial construction, Bolts which fasten columns, girders or other members to concrete or masonry such as bolts used to anchor sills to masonry foundation.

Bond -

• The solid connection of one material to another; a substance which causes such a joining to take place.
• The adhesion between masonry units and mortar or grout.
• The patterns and methods in which brick and block are installed, for example, American bond, basket weave, Dutch cross bond, Flemish bond, running bond, and stack bond.
• The adhesion between the surface of a reinforcing bar and the adjacent concrete, mortar, or grout.
• The adhesion of cement paste to aggregate.
• The degree of firmness with which the paper adheres to the gypsum board core.
• The junction of the weld metal and the base metal.
• The adherence of the bitumens between two layers of roofing felts.
• Chemical Bond. the bond produced by cohesion between separate laminates of similar crystalline materials, based on formation and subsequent interlocking of crystals. The adherence of one plaster coat to another or to the base which implies formation of interlocking crystals or fusion between the coats or to the base.
• Mechanical Bond, the physical keying of one plaster coat to another or to the plaster base. Tying masonry units together with metal ties or reinforcing steel or keys.
• Surety Bond, a surety companys guarantee that it will stand behind a manufacturers liability to finance roofing membrane repairs occasioned by ordinary wear within a period generally limited to 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.
• Completion Bond, a bond guaranteeing to the lender that the project will be completed free of liens.
• Performance Bond, a bond, secured by the general contractor, which guarantees that the contract will be performed; an undertaking by a surety that a contractor will perform a contract.
• Payment Bond, a guarantee by a surety that those persons who supply work and materials to a construction project will be paid for the work and materials.
• Roof Bond, a legal guarantee that a roof installed is in accordance with specifications and will be repaired or replaced if it fails within a certain period of time due to normal weathering.
• Bid Bond, a bond, secured by a bidder, which guarantees that the bidder selected by the owner will accept the project, or the owner will have the project for the bid price as noted in the accepted bid.

Bond Adhesive - A relationship between two materials in contact with each other causing them to stick or adhere together by means other than cohesion.

Bond All Stretcher - A brick bond showing only stretchers on the face of the wall with each stretcher divided evenly over the stretchers under it; staggered vertical joints.

Bond American - In masonry, a form of bond in which every sixth course is a header course and the intervening courses are stretcher courses.

Bond Beam - A reinforced horizontal concrete masonry or concrete beam installed in place to strengthen a masonry wall and tie a masonry wall together.

Bond Beam Block - A concrete masonry unit with the upper part of the ends and webs removed to make room for horizontal reinforcing bars and grout; . U-blocks are sometimes used to form bond beams, especially as over openings.

Bond Bid - A bond, secured by a bidder which guarantees that the bidder selected by the owner will accept the project, or the owner will have the project for the bid price as noted in the accepted bid.

Bond Breaker - A substance or a tape applied between two adjoining materials to prevent adhesion between them.

Bond Brick - The pattern or arrangement of bricks in a wall.

Bond Chemical - The bond produced by cohesion between separate laminates of similar crystalline materials, based on formation and subsequent interlocking of crystals. The adherence of one plaster coat to another or to the base which implies formation of interlocking crystals or fusion between the coats or to the base.

Bond Coat - A material used between the back of the tile and the prepared surface. Ssuitable bond coats include pure portland cement, dry set portland cement mortar, latex-type portland cement mortar, organic adhesive, and similar.

Bond Common - Brickwork laid with each five courses of alternating stretchers followed by one course of headers.

Bond Completion -

• A bond guaranteeing to the lender that the project will be completed free of liens
• A bond guaranteeing to the lender that the project will be completed free of liens.

Bond Contract - Performance Bond and Payment Bond, required by some construction contracts.

Bond Course - The course consisting of units which overlap more than one wythe of masonry.

Bond DIagonal - This is a form of raking bond in which the bricks are laid in an oblique direction in the middle section of a thick wall, the bricks may also be laid in this fashion in paving.

Bond Dutch - In masonry, a bond having the courses made up alternately of headers and stretchers.

Bond English - Brickwork laid with alternating courses, each consisting entirely of headers or stretchers.

Bond Flemish - A brick bond consisting of headers and stretchers alternating in every course, so laid as always to break joints, each header being placed in the middle of the stretchers in courses above and below.

Bond Flemish Garden - A brick bond where bricks are laid so that each course has a header to every 3 or 4 stretchers.

Bond Garden Wall - A name that is given to any brick bond that is especially suitable for a wall two tiers thick, consisting of one header to three stretchers in every course.

Bond Grout - The adhesion to, and the interlocking of grout with the masonry units and the reinforcement.

Bond Header - A brick bond that will show only headers on the face or surface of a wall, each header would be divided evenly over the header underneath it.

Bond Herringbone - Bricks laid in a zigzag fashion representing a herringbone pattern.

Bond Hiding - Ability of a paint to hide or obscure the surface on which it is applied, degree of opacity of a pigment or paint.

Bond Humidified - In gypsum wallboard, the ability of the surfacing paper to resist delamination from the core under extremely high humidity conditions.

Bond Labour And Material - A bond secured by the general contractor which guarantees that the costs for labour and materials for the project will be paid.

Bond Labour And Materials - A bond, secured by the general contractor, which guarantees that the costs for labour and materials for the project will be paid.

Bond Manufacturers - A surety companys guarantee that it will stand behind a manufacturers liability to finance roofing membrane repairs occasioned by ordinary wear within a period generally limited to 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.

Bond Mechanical - The physical keying of one plaster coat to another or to the plaster base. Tying masonry units together with metal ties or reinforcing steel or keys.

Bond Mortar - The adhesion of mortar to masonry units.

Bond Old English - Brickwork laid with alternating courses, each consisting entirely of headers or stretchers.

Bond Payment - Guaranty by a surety company that if a contractor fails to perform under a contract, the surety company will complete the work.

Bond Performance - An amount of money (usually 10% of the total price of a job) that a contractor must put on deposit with a governmental agency as an insurance policy that guarantees the contractors' proper and timely completion of a project or job.

Bond Perpend - In masonry, a header brick or large stone extending through a wall so that one end appears on each side of the wall and acts as a binder.

Bond Plaster - The state of adherence between plaster coats or between plaster and a plaster base, produced by adhesive or mechanical interlock of plaster with base or special supplementary materials.

Bond Plumb - In brick laying, an all stretcher bond with all joints directly over one another.

Bond Raking - Bricks that are laid in a zigzag fashion.

Bond Roof - A legal guarantee that a roof installed is in accordance with specifications and will be repaired or replaced if it fails within a certain period of time due to normal weathering.

Bond Running - Brickwork consisting entirely of stretchers, lapping of units in successive courses so that the vertical head joints lap.

Bond Surety - A surety companys guarantee that it will stand behind a manufacturers liability to finance roofing membrane repairs occasioned by ordinary wear within a period generally limited to 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.

Bond Zigzag - Bricks that are laid in a zigzag fashion.

Bondability -

• Indicating ease or difficulty in bonding a material with adhesive.
• Ease or difficulty of a contractor in obtaining a surety bond.

Bonded - To be attached to a surface using cement, mortar or other bonding agents.

Bonded Latex Cushioning - Rubber or latex cushioning adhered to the carpet at the mill.

Bonded Rubber Cushion - Rubber or latex cushioning adhered to the carpet at the mill.

Bonded Stop Notice - A stop notice that is accompanied by a surety bond which guarantees any costs assessed against the claimant should the claimant lose its lawsuit.

Bonded Tendon - A prestressed tendon that is bonded to concrete either directly or through grouting.

Bonded Wall - A masonry wall in which two or more wythes are bonded to act as a structural unit.

Bonderising - A five step proprietary custom process for phosphatizing.

Bonding - Adhesion.

Bonding Agent - A substance applied to a suitable substrate to create a bond between it and a succeeding layer as between a subsurface and a terrazzo topping or a succeeding plaster application.

Bonding Jumper -

• A reliable conductor to assure the required electrical conductivity between metal parts required to be electrically connected.
• At the main service, the connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor.
• At equipment, the connection between two or more portions of the equipment grounding conductor.
• In a circuit, the connection between portions of a conductor in a circuit to maintain required ampacity of the circuit.

Bone Ash - Calcined bone consisting essentially of calcium phosphate.

Bone Black - Pigment made from calcined animal bones; dark in color, but does not have a strong tinting strength like lampblack.

Bonnet -

• The upper portion of the gate valve body into which the disc of a gate valve rises when it is opened.
• A small roof attachment over a bay.

Bonus - An extra payment to a contractor for achieving some specified goal, such as early completion.

Book Matched - Wood veneer where adjoining sheets are sliced from the same log so that the grain matches like an open book.

Bookmatch - Successive layers of veneer are arranged side by side to resemble a mirror image of each other.

Boom -

• A long beam extending out from an upright to lift or carry something and guide it as needed; a derrick boom
• A barrier across a river or around an area of water to prevent floating logs from dispersing or to contain an oil spill.
• To undergo swift, vigorous growth or development; flourish.
• A period of business prosperity, or industrial expansion.
• A sudden favorable turn in business prospects.
• A truck used to hoist heavy material up and into place.
• To put trusses on a property or to set a heavy beam into place.

Booster - Common term applied to the use of a compressor when used as the first stage in the cascade refrigerating system.

Booth -

• A small temporary roofed or unroofed structure used as a market stall.
• A small enclosure used for various purposes, as for telephoning or voting.A
• set of a table and benches in a restaurant or bar.

Booth Spray - An area in a building or structure used for spray painting; blocked off by walls to prevent dust and dirt from work surface.

Border -

• The edge or boundary of anything
• A verge.

Bore -

• To drill a hole.
• The diameter of a tube.
• Inside diameter of a motor cylinder.
• A high tidal wave rushing up a narrow estuary.

Bored Lock - A door lock manufactured for installation in a circular hole.

Boring -

• Making holes in wood or metal to aid in the insertion of bolts, nails or other fasteners.
• Drilling into the ground to bring up samples of earth for testing.
• Rotary drilling.

Borrow - Excavated material that has been taken from one area to be used as fill at another location.

Borrow Pit - An area designated as the source of earth removal to be used elsewhere for fill.

Borrowed Light Opening - A glazed window unit in an interior partition.

Boss -

• A round knob, stud, or other protuberance on the center of a shield or in ornamental work.
• A piece of ornamental carving covering the point where the ribs in a vault or ceiling cross.
• The employer or contractor on a construction job.

Boston Ridge - A method of applying asphalt or wood shingles at the ridge or at the hips of a roof as a finish.

Bosuns Chair - A trapeze-like seat that is slung from rigging to support a worker.

Bottle Cooler - A container used for cooling or maintaining the coolness of bottled liquids.

Bottom Bars - The reinforcing bars that lie close to the bottom of a reinforced concrete beam or slab.

Bottom Beam - The lowest horizontal member supporting a building or structure.

Bottom Chord - The lower or bottom horizontal member of a truss.

Bottom Dip - The lowest water or waste point in a trap.

Bottom Line -

• The last line on a financial report which shows the profit or loss.
• The most important factor or statement.

Bottom Pivot Hinge - A flexible pair of plates joined by a pin to allow swinging of a door or gate installed at the bottom.

Bottom Plate - The 2 by 4's or 6's that lay on the sub floor upon which the vertical studs are installed, also called the Sole Plate.

Boulder - A large stone worn smooth by erosion; a rock which is too heavy to be lifted readily by hand.

Bounce Bank - Spray rebound similar to blow-back.

Bound Basketweave - Module groups of brick laid at right angles to those adjacent.

Boundaries - These are the areas around a property which identify the start and end of the land and ownership.

Boundaries - A separating line that indicates or fixes a limit or extent.

Boundary Elements - Portions along wall and diaphragm edges strengthened by longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, boundary elements do not necessarily require an increase in the thickness of the wall or diaphragm.

Boundary Survey - A survey of the property lines of a piece of land.

Bourbon Tube - Thin walled tube of elastic metal flattened and bent into circular shape which tends to straighten as pressure inside is increased, used in pressure gauges.

Bow - A curve, bend, warping or other deviation from flatness in glass or wood.

Bow Off Boiler - An outlet on a boiler to permit emptying or discharging of water or sediment in the boiler.

Bow Saw - Ideal for pruning, landscaping work and sawing firewood. Tubular steel frame with blade-tensioning lever that snaps closed to form a handle.

Bow Saw English - Curves and straight lines can be cut accurately with a bow saw. The blade can be rotated 360-degrees to a convenient working position. Historically used to cut chair legs, arm and arches.

Bow Trowel - A finishing trowel with a slight curve for crowning the final application of gypsum board joint treatment.

Bow Window - A bay window with a curved front.

Bowed Board - A board in a structure that is warped or curved along it’s length.

Bowl Toilet - The oval part of a toilet which receives the waste and fills with water after flushing the toilet tank.

Box Alarm - A box housing a warning sound or device, as in smoke alarm or burglar alarm.

Box Balance - A loaded box at the far side of a crane from the jib and the load, to counterbalance them.

Box Beam - A beam of metal, concrete, or plywood which, in cross section, resembles a closed rectangular box.

Box Culvert - A concrete drainage structure rectangular shaped, reinforced and cast in place or made of precast sections.

Box Culvert Formwork - The temporary wooden structure which holds wet concrete in place for the final curing of a rectangular-shaped, reinforced concrete drainage system.

Box Culvert Reinforcement - Iron or steel rods that are embedded in the wet concrete of a rectangular shaped drainage system to give additional strength.

Box Cutter - A specially designed hand tool for shear-cutting electrical outlet holes in gypsum board.

Box Distribution - A box which contains the circuit breakers, connects to the service wires, and delivers current to the various outlets throughout a building or structure.

Box Electrical Junction - An electrical box used for wire splicing.

Box Floor - A metal electrical rough in box fed by conduits in or under the floor to provide for a floor outlet.

Box Gang - Electrical rough in box constructed of metal or hard plastic, to provide for two or more outlets or switches.

Box Joint - Square shaped finger joints used to join pieces at right angles.

Box Junction - An electrical box used for wire splicing.

Box Main - The main box through which electrical power is brought into the home and then distributed.

Box Mains - The main box through which electrical power is brought into the home and then distributed.

Box Miter - An apparatus to guide a saw to make miter joints.

Box Plastic - An electrical box for the joining of electrical wires, constructed of hard plastic and nailed in place.

Box Pull - An electrical rough in box placed in a length of conduit, through which cables can be pulled.

Box Scew Cover - A removable ornamental or protective plate that is mounted to an electrical rough in box.

Box System - A framing system that is made up of bearing walls with lateral forces being resisted by shear walls and diaphragms.

Box Tap - The electrical box where the public service electrical supply line is connected with a branch to serve a particular building or structure.

Box Terminal - A metal electrical box, usually with a removable cover, that contains leads from electrical equipment ready for connection to a power source.

Box Weatherproof - An electrical box, designed for exterior installation, that is impervious to the outside elements, such as water.

Box Wrench - A type of end wrench in which the gripping end surrounds the nut or bolt head.

Boxing - Mixing by pouring back and forth from one container to another.

Boyles Law - A physical law governing the behavior of gases, stating that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature and inversely proportional to its pressure.

Brace - A device, such as a supporting beam in a building that steadies or holds something else erect.

Brace And Bit - This is a hand drill with a crank shaped handle with a flat knob on the end, special auger bits with a square tapered shank fit into a two jaw chuck. This is a ancient system but still works well when jobs are done by hand.

Brace Collar - A horizontal piece of lumber used to provide intermediate support for opposite roof rafters, usually located in the middle third of the rafters. Also called collar beam or collar tie.

Brace Knee - A corner brace, fastened at an angle from wall stud to rafter, stiffening a wood or steel frame to prevent angular movement.

Brace Sway - Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over domino fashion.

Braced Frame - A truss system or its equivalent which resists lateral forces.

Braced Framing - Construction technique using posts and cross-bracing for greater rigidity.

Braced Wall Line - A series of braced wall panels in a single story.

Braces - Pieces fitted and firmly fastened to two others at any angle in order to strengthen the structure.

Bracing -

• Diagonal members, either temporary or permanent, installed to stabilize a structure against lateral loads.
• Structural member used to prevent buckling or rotation of wood studs.
• The process of attaching supports to a wall, roof, or floor at an angle to help stiffen and secure the structure at that particular point.
• Usually a temporary measure until full framing is completed.

Bracket -

• A projecting support for a shelf or other structure.
• In furring and lathing, a superficial structure usually in angles forming a frame to support lath, used to save material and weight in ornaments or cornices.

Bracket Hanger - Hanger supporting a wall hung sink.

Bracket Wall -

• A wall-mounted support for shelving or other object.
• A wall-mounted lighting fixture.

Bracket Wall -

• 1. A wall-mounted support for shelving or other object.
• 2. A wall-mounted lighting fixture.

Brad - A small slender wire nail with a thickened top for a head.

Brad Point Bit - A drill bit used for precision drilling in wood. Designed for boring exact size holes for a clean, finished look that is required in doweling, cabinetry, and other fine woodworking.

Bradawl - A small sharp tipped device for boring small holes into wood in order to start or guide a screw.

Brake - A machine for flanging, bending, or folding sheet metal.

Brake Metal -

• Sheet metal that has been bent into a specified configuration, such as gravel stop, flashing, L shapes, and Z shapes, formed on a sheet metal brake.
• Sheet metal that has been bent to the desired configuration.

Branch -

• A member or part of a system or structure which diverges from the main portion, as in heating, ventilation, or electrical installations
• A smaller or subordinate duct, pipe, or circuit extending from the main line.
• In plumbing, any part of the piping system other than the main, riser or stack.

Branch Breaker - A switch which stops the flow of current by opening the circuit automatically when more electricity flows through the circuit than the circuit is capable of carrying, resetting may be either automatic or manual.

Branch Circuit -

• That portion of a wiring system extending beyond the final automatic overcurrent protective device, excluding any thermal cutout or motor running overload protective device that is not approved for short circuit protection.
• A circuit supplying several localized electrical outlets from a single breaker.

Branch Circuit Appliances - Circuits supplying energy either to permanently wired appliances or to attachment plug receptacle, that is appliance or convenience outlets, or to a combination of permanently wired appliances and additional attachment plug outlets on the same circuit, such circuits to have no permanently connected lighting fixtures not a part of an appliance.

Branch Circuit General Purpose - A branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for both lighting and appliances.

Branch Circuit Lightning - Circuits supplying energy to lighting outlets only.

Branch Circuit Motor - Circuits from the motor branch circuit protective device to the motor, including the controller and overload protective device.

Branch Circuit Multi Wire - A multiwire branch circuit is a circuit consisting of two or more ungrounded conductors having a potential difference between them, and an identified grounded conductor having equal potential difference between it and each ungrounded conductor of the circuit and which is connected to the neutral conductor of the system.

Branch Interval - This is the vertical distance, generally a floor or story in height, but never less than 8 feet, within which the horizontal branches from one floor of the building are connected to the main DWV stack.

Branch Vent - A vent pipe that connects a branch of the drainage system to the main stack.

Branding Iron - A tool for burning a name or logo on to wood, electric or flame heated.

Brass - A metal alloy consisting essentially of copper and zinc in variable proportions.

Brass Fitting - Threaded pipe connector made of brass, used to join two pieces of pipe together.

Braze - Solder with an alloy of brass and zinc at a high temperature.

Braze Welding - Sometimes known as Bronze Welding. Often carried out as in fusion welding except that the base metal is not melted. The base metal is simply brought up to what is known as a tinning temperature (dull red colour) and a bead deposited over the seam with a bronze filler rod.

Brazed Connection - Parts that are hardened and connected by soldering with an alloy.

Brazing - A welding process wherein coalescence is produced by heating to suitable temperatures above 800° F. and by using a nonferrous filler metal having a melting point below that of the base metals, the filler metal is distributed between the closely fitting surfaces of the joint by capillary attraction.

Breach Anticipatory - A positive statement by a party to a contract that the party will not perform the terms of the contract.

Breach Of Contract - A material failure to perform an act required by contract.

Breadboard - A draw board in a kitchen cabinet used for kneading and slicing bread.

Break -

• To damage by separating into pieces under a blow or strain; shatter.
• An interruption as in a circuit.
• An interruption in the continuity of an element, such as a plastered wall or cornice.

Break Capillary - A slot or groove intended to create an opening too large to be bridged by a drop of water, and thereby to eliminate the passage of water by capillary action.

Break Even Point - The financial position wherein total revenue received equals the sum of the costs and expenses for a particular project showing neither profit nor loss.

Break Joints - To arrange joints so that they do not come directly under or over the joints of adjoining pieces, as in shingling, siding, and brick laying.

Breakdown - An itemized list of building costs.

Breakdown Arrears - A month-by-month breakdown of arrear balances and charges for your mortgage. A fee for this service is often added to your account once you have been sent the breakdown.

Breakdown Balance - This is a fee that can be charged by your lender for a month-by-month breakdown of your account balance, over and above the information contained in your Annual Statement.

Breakdown Cost - A breakdown of all the anticipated costs on a construction or renovation project.

Breakdown Of Building Costs - An itemized list of building costs.

Breaker Bond - A substance or a tape applied between two adjoining materials to prevent adhesion between them.

Breaker Branch - A switch which stops the flow of current by opening the circuit automatically when more electricity flows through the circuit than the circuit is capable of carrying, resetting may be either automatic or manual.

Breaker Circuit - A device which looks like a switch and is usually located inside the electrical breaker panel or circuit breaker box. It is designed to

• Shut of the power to portions or the entire house and
• To limit the amount of power flowing through a circuit (measured in amperes). 110 volt household circuits require a fuse or circuit breaker with a rating of 15 or a maximum of 20 amps. 220 volt circuits may be designed for higher amperage loads.

Breaker GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) - A breaker or receptacle that detects excessive electrical current flow and stops electrical flow in the circuit. It is a required safety feature in many areas of the home where there is an increased risk of shock.

Breaker Main - A switch in a main electrical service panel where the service wires attach.

Breaker Panel - The electrical box that distributes electric power entering the property to each branch circuit (each plug and switch) and composed of circuit breakers.

Breaker Strip - Strip of wood or plastic used to cover joint between outside case and inside liner of refrigerator.

Breaker Vacum - In plumbing, a device to prevent backflowback siphonage by means of an opening through which air may be drawn to relieve negative pressure.

Breaker Vacuum - In plumbing, a device to prevent backflowback siphonage by means of an opening through which air may be drawn to relieve negative pressure.

Breaking Joints - The manner of laying masonry units so as to avoid vertical joints in adjacent courses from lining up. Also the distribution of joints in boards, flooring, lath and panels so no two adjacent end-joints are directly in line.

Breakpoint - The point at which a rising concentration of chlorine in swimming pools kills germs and bacteria by oxidizing organic matter, once all matter is oxidized, the amount of chlorine remaining is free or uncombined.

Breast -

• The front part of a fireplace above and around the firebox opening.
• The projecting portion of a chimney, especially when projecting into a room.

Breast Drill - A portable drill equipped with a plate that the operator leans against to provide pressure.

Breastplate - The pressure plate of a breast drill.

Breastsummer - A beam to carry the load above a fireplace opening, also called bressumer.

Breathing Zone - Area of a room in which occupants breathe as they stand, sit, or lie down.

Breeching - Space in hot water or steam boilers between the end of the tubing and the jacket.

Breeze Blocks - Hollow concrete or cement building blocks.

Bressumer - A beam to carry the load above a fireplace opening, also called breastsummer.

BRI - Building Related Illness.

Brick - A solid masonry unit having the shape of a rectangular prism; usually made from clay, shale, fire clay, or a mixture of these.

Brick Abobe Construction - Construction that utilizes unburned (unfired) clay masonry units.

Brick Acid Resisting - Brick suitable for use in contact with chemicals, usually in conjunction with acid-resistant mortars.

Brick Air - A brick designed with holes through it so as to provide ventilation. Widely used by the construction industry and self build enthusiasts.

Brick Anchor - Fasteners that are designed to attach and secure a veneer to a concrete or brick wall.

Brick And Block - A house which is built with a brick outer skin and an inner Construction skin of block work or similar masonry products.

Brick And Brick - The laying of bricks by which the bricks are touching each other and the mortar used is just enough to fill the irregularities of the bricks.

Brick Angle - Any brick shaped to an oblique angle to fit a salient corner.

Brick Arc - Wedge-shaped brick for special use in an arch.

Brick Arch - A brick having a wedge shape, also one with a curved face suitable for wells and other circular work.

Brick Bat - Part of a brick, usually half a brick or less.

Brick Bond - The pattern or arrangement of bricks in a wall.

Brick Building -

• Brick for building purposes not especially treated for texture or color, also called Common Brick.
• A building made of brick.

Brick Bulk Nose -

• A brick having one rounded corner.
• Bricks that have their ends or corners rounded off.

Brick Chimney - Brick, chosen for the specific use in the construction of chimneys, because of its ability to withstand high temperatures without cracking.

Brick Common - Brick for building purposes not especially treated for texture or color, also called Building Brick.

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

Brick Fire -

• Brick that has been tested for fire-resistance and then graded for specific construction uses.
• Brick whose composition and characteristics make it suitable to use for masonry fireplace fire boxes and fire chambers.
• Brick made of refractory ceramic material which will resist high temperatures.
• Used in a fireplace and boiler.

Brick Firewall - A masonry wall constructed to prevent or retard the spread of fire.

Brick Grade NW - No Weather brick intended for use as a back-up or interior masonry.

Brick Grade SW - Severe Weather grade of brick intended for use where high resistance to freezing is desired.

Brick Ledge - The jutting portion of a foundation that the exterior brick will be placed on.

Brick Lintel - The metal angle iron that brick rests on, especially above a window, door, or other opening.

Brick Manhole - A vertical access shaft from the surface to an underground area, constructed of bricks.

Brick Mason - A mason who builds in brick; also called a brick layer.

Brick Mason Hammer - Indispensable masonry tool, designed exclusively for setting and splitting bricks, masonry tile and concrete block. Forged steel head with a square striking face opposite a flat, sharp cutting edge. Should never strike metal, including a brick set or stone chisel.

Brick Masonry - Bricks that are shaped and molded in different sizes and shapes.

Brick Moderate Weather - Moderate Weather grade of brick for moderate resistance to freezing used, for example, in planters.

Brick Mould - Trim used around an exterior door jamb that siding butts to.

Brick Mould Trim - A brick used around an exterior door jamb that siding butts against.

Brick Moulding - Milled trim piece designed to fill the gap between finished milled parts like door and window frames and irregular surfaces like masonry.

Brick MW - Moderate Weather grade of brick for moderate resistance to freezing used, for example, in planters.

Brick No Weather - No Weather brick intended for use as a back-up or interior masonry.

Brick NW - No Weather brick intended for use as a back-up or interior masonry.

Brick Paver - Brick units that are used in foot traffic areas, usually four inches wide, eight inches long, and 1-5/8 to 2-1/4 inches thick.

Brick Removal - The act or process of the demolition of a brick structure.

Brick Saw - Used in sawing bricks. Features coarse-cutting blade that cuts on both the push and pull strokes.

Brick Severe Weather - Severe Weather grade of brick intended for use where high resistance to freezing is desired.

Brick Stock - A traditional clay brick commonly used in house construction within the U.K.

Brick SW - Severe Weather grade of brick intended for use where high resistance to freezing is desired.

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 Tongs - An iron grasping device consisting of two bars pivoted in the middle like a scissors and allowing two workers to lift and move a small pile of bricks.

Brick Trowel -

• The brick trowel is larger than the buttering trowel.
• The primary tool of masons, used when any preparatory brick work has to be done, its greater surface and weight are advantageous in the buttering and tapping in of block, brick, or larger tiles.

Brick Veneer - A vertical facing of brick laid against and fastened to sheathing of a framed wall or tile wall construction.

Brick Veneer Wall - The facing of brick commonly used on modern constructed exterior load bearing walls.

Bricklayer - A brick mason.

Bricklayer Hammer - Tool shaped like a chisel to trim brick or stone.

Bricks - Common building blocks made from clay burnt in a kiln.

Brickwork -

• The technique or work of constructing with bricks and mortar.
• A structure made of bricks.

Brickwork - Masonry of bricks and mortar.

Bridge - A straightedge used as a starting line for the laying of tile, it can be blocked up to support tile over an opening.

Bridge Crain -

• A hoisting device spanning two overhead rails
• the hoisting device moves laterally along the bridge with the bridge moving longitudinally along the rails.

Bridge Deck - The slab or other structure forming the travel surface of a bridge.

Bridge Glaze - Colourless or coloured ceramic glaze having high gloss.

Bridging -

• Diagonal or longitudinal members used to keep horizontal members properly spaced, in lateral position, vertically plumb, and to distribute load; pieces fitted in pairs from the bottom of one floor joist to the top of adjacent joists, and crossed to distribute the floor load, sometimes pieces of width equal to the joists and fitted neatly between them.
• In painting, forming a skin over a depression.
• A small wood or metal piece that is placed diagonally between floor joists or wall studs at a mid-span point in order to stiffen floors or walls.

Bridging Architect - An owners architect who designs the project and then is replaced by the design build entities architect who prepares the construction documents.

Bridging Loan - A short-term loan to complete the purchase of a property while the buyer is waiting for the sale their home before selling your old home.

Briding - A section sized to fit inside the flanges of studs and channels to stiffen construction.

Bright Blast - White blast.

Bright Glaze - A high gloss coating with or without colour.

Brilliance Colour - Very bright.

Brilliant Colour - Very bright.

Brine - Water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.

Brinell Hardness Test - A laboratory test for measuring the hardness of a material by hydraulically pressing a steel ball into the surface.

British Association Of Removers (BAR) - This is the professional trade association representing the removals industry. Membership of the BAR means that a removals business is obliged to meet certain standards in its work and practices. All members of the BAR are regularly inspected to ensure they conform to membership requirements.

British Standard Pipe (BSP) - BSP is Short for British Standard Pipe.

British Thermal Unit (BTU) - A unit of thermal energy used in reference to heating or cooling.

Brittle -

• Easily broken
• Not tough.

Brittle Failure -

• Failure in material which generally has a very limited plastic range
• Material subject to sudden failure without warning.

Broach -

• Any of various pointed or tapered tools, implements, or parts.
• A drill bit.
• A pointed tool for roughly dressing stone.

Broad Knife - A wide flexible finishing knife for applying joint finishing compound.

Broad Leaved Trees - Generally one of the botanical groups of trees that have broad leaves in contrast to the conifers or softwoods. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood.

Broadcast - To sprinkle solid particles on a surface.

Broadloom - Carpet woven on a broad loom in widths of 6 feet or more. usually 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18-ft. widths, and up to 30 ft. in Chenille, broadloom is not a type of weave of carpet, nor a pattern or color, it is simply a designation of width.

Brochure Charge - Most estate agents charge extra for printing a brochure for a property, although some agents subtract brochure costs from their final fee.

Broiler Kitchen - A cooking device in a kitchen that cooks food by direct exposure to radiant heat.

Broker - An intermediary who will give advice and offer a range of mortgages.

Broker Estate - A broker who assists in the purchase or selling of a property.

Broker Mortgage - A broker who represents numerous lenders and helps consumers find affordable mortgages; the broker charges a fee only if the consumer finds a loan.

Broker Real Estate - A broker who assists in the purchase or selling of a property.

Bromide -

• A chemical compound containing bromine, a halogen
• Sodium or potassium bromide in solution will produce free bromine if chlorine is added to the pool.

Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements.

Bronze Tools -

• Non sparking tools
• Tools used when fire hazards are particularly acute.

Bronze Welding - Sometimes known as Braze Welding. Often carried out as in fusion welding except that the base metal is not melted. The base metal is simply brought up to what is known as a tinning temperature (dull red colour) and a bead deposited over the seam with a bronze filler rod.

Bronzing - Formation of metallic sheen on a paint film.

Bronzing Liquid - A vehicle especially formulated for use as a binder for aluminum, gold, or bronze powder.

Broom -

• A long handled brush of bristles for sweeping and brushing
• Also used for concrete finishing.

Broom Finish - A finish applied to an uncured concrete surface, to provide skid or slip resistance, made by dragging a broom across the freshly placed concrete surface.

Brooming - In roofing, embedding a ply by using a broom to smooth out the ply and ensure contact with the adhesive under the ply.

Brown Coat -

• The coat of plaster directly beneath the finish coat
• In two coat work, brown coat refers to the basecoat plaster applied over the lath
• In three coat work, the brown coat refers to the second coat applied over a scratch coat
• Brown coats are applied with a fairly rough surface to receive the finish coat.

Brown Out - To complete application of basecoat plastering.

Brown Stain - Brown discolouration of the sapwood of some pines caused by a fungus.

Browncoat - The coat of plaster directly beneath the finish coat. In three-coat work, the brown is the second coat.

Brownfield Site - A building site that has been previously built upon and is possibly polluted with toxic chemicals.

Brownstone -

• A sandstone building of prevailing brown colour.
• A dwelling faced with brownstone.

Brush -

• A painters implement composed of bristles set into a handle, used for applying paint and other coatings to a surface.
• An electrical conductor that makes contact with a moving part.

Brush Cutting - The act of removing unwanted plants to clear an area.

Brush Hand - A painter whose ability lies in his skill in applying material.

Brush Hook - A long handled tool for clearing brush.

Brush Off Blast - Lowest blast cleaning standard.

Brushability -

• Adaptability of paint to application with a brush.
• The ability or ease with which a paint can be brushed.

Brushcoating - The application of paint, stucco color, or other materials with a broad brush.

Brushed Surface - A sandy texture obtained by brushing the surface of freshly placed or slightly hardened concrete with a stiff brush for architectural effect or, in pavements, to increase skid resistance.

Brussels - A term formerly, but now rarely, used to describe a loop pile or round-wire carpet woven on the Wilton loom.

Brutalism - A heavy plain style of architecture.

BSP (British Standard Pipe) - Short for British Standard Pipe.

BTU (British Thermal Unit) - A unit of thermal energy used in reference to heating or cooling.

Bubble - A large void in the core of gypsum board caused by the entrapment of air while the core is in a fluid state during the manufacturing process.

Bubble Air - Bubble in paint film caused by entrapped air.

Bubbling - In glazing, open or closed pockets in a sealant caused by release, production or expansion of gasses.

Buck - Often used in reference to rough framing. Door bucks used in reference to metal door frame also see Window Bucks.

Buck Saw - A saw set in a frame and used for sawing wood on a sawhorse.

Bucket - Large metal container into which concrete is discharged; the bucket is raised by crane to the placement area.

Bucket Trap - A mechanical steam trap operating on buoyancy that prevents the passage of steam through the mechanical system it protects.

Buckle - To bend under compression; with very thin members, the bucking may be elastic, and the member will spring back if the load is removed; if the load is continued or if the buckling occurs with the stresses above the yield point, the member will fail by collapsing completely.

Buckles - In old plastering, raised or ruptured spots which eventually crack, exposing the lath beneath; most common cause for buckling is application of plaster over dry, broken or incorrectly applied wood lath.

Buckling -

• Wrinkling or ridging of the carpet after installation, caused by insufficient stretching, dimensional instability, or manufacturing defects.

Bucksaw - A saw set in a frame and used for sawing wood on a sawhorse.

Budget - A managerial plan of proposed operations to accomplish a financial objective.

Buffer - A pile of blasted rock left against or near a face to improve fragmentation and rce scattering from the next blast

Buffing - A router trimming of the shear cut end of gypsum board to smooth cut and adjust for length tolerances prior to the bundling tapes being applied.

Buffing Compound - Soft abrasive in stick form, bonded with wax.

Bug Attachment - A device which, by insertion in a receptacle, establishes connection between the conductors of the attached flexible cord and the conductors connected permanently to the receptacle.

Bughead Screw - A special design screw that will seat beneath the plane of the gypsumboard surface without tearing the paper.

Build - Construct by putting materials or parts together.

Build To Suit - A building that is custom built by the owner to satisfy the needs and wants of the buyer.

Builder -

• One who constructs.
• A building contractor.

Builders Hardware - Hardware used in construction, such as bolts, nuts, screws, nails, and other fastenings, metal and plastic parts, hinges, butts, catches, and similar parts.

Builders Level - A simple form of transitlevel for measuring and setting levels on a construction site, also called a contractors level.

Builders 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.

Builders Warrant - An enforceable guarantee of the quality of construction offered and given as a guarantee of workmanship by a builder or property developer.

Building - A fixed structure forming an enclosure and providing shelter.

Building Brick - Brick for building purposes not especially treated for texture or color, formerly called "common brick." It is stronger than face brick.

Building Brick - Brick for building purposes not especially treated for texture or color; also called Common Brick.

Building Codes - Community ordinances governing the manner in which a property may be constructed or modified.

Building Cost Breakdown - An itemized list of building costs.

Building Coverage - The percentage of a specific parcel of land covered by buildings.

Building Demolition - The destruction, by means of explosives or otherwise, of a standing construction.

Building Drain - The part of the lowest piping of a drainage system that receives the discharge from soil, waste, or other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building (house) and conveys it to the building sewer beginning 3 feet outside the building wall.

Building Drainage System - Complete system of piping used for carrying away waste water and sewage, also called House Drainage System.

Building Envelope - The outer limits of a building as encompassed by the exterior walls, roof, and foundation.

Building Excavation - The act or process of removing an area of earth and rock to make room for a foundation.

Building Inspector - A public official that examines the work in the field to determine compliance with the applicable building laws.

Building Insurance - Insurance covering the structure of the building.

Building Integrated Photovoltaic Cell - Photovoltaic cells that substitute for building elements or materials, such as spandrel panels or roofing panels.

Building Lime - A lime whose chemical and physical characteristics and method of processing make it suitable for ordinary or special construction uses; also called construction lime.

Building Main - Water supply pipe that carries the water from the source of supply to the first branch of the water distributing system in the building.

Building Metal - A building or structure constructed of a structural steel frame covered by metal roof and wall panels; commonly prefabricated in a factory and assembled at the site.

Building Official - The official charged with administration and enforcement of the applicable building code, or his duly authorized representative.

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.

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.

Building Related Illness - Diagnosable illness whose symptoms can be identified and whose cause can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants, for example, Legionnaires disease, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Building Report - An official, detailed and professional survey of a property. This type of survey should not be mistaken for a simple valuation survey. A building report is recommended on older buildings or on buildings with obvious or suspected structural problems.

Building Residual - A real estate appraisal technique where a reasonable return on the land is first dcted from the income, the balance being attributable to the improvements.

Building Sewer - The piping that takes the soil and waste water from the building drain and conveys it to the public sewer or private sewage disposal system; also called House Sewer.

Building Society - Another place to go for Mortgages & Loans.

Building Sub Drain - That part of the drainage system of a house that receives the discharge from the fixtures and cannot drain into the building sewer because it is located below the building sewer or building drain, this piping usually drains into a sump and is pumped up into the house sewer or building drain.

Building Survey - An extensive survey carried out by a qualified surveyor intended to locate and point out faults and potential problems in a property.

Building Trap - A trap placed in the building drain to prevent entry of sewer gases from the sewer main.

Buildings And Contents Insurance - Buildings and contents insurance can often be purchased together protecting both the building structure and your belongings and possessions inside.

Buildings Insurance - Insurance to cover any structural damage to your house.

Buildings Survey - An official, detailed and professional survey of a property. This type of survey should not be mistaken for a simple valuation survey. A building report is recommended on older buildings or on buildings with obvious or suspected structural problems.

Buildmark - This is a structural guarantee from the National Home Builders Council that covers around 85% of new houses. It covers you against the developer going bust. It also means that builders are responsible for remedying any defects the building may have for the first two years after completion (known as the initial guarantee period). It also means that the developers are responsible for any major damage caused by structural defects for the entire life of the warranty.

Buildup Sequence - A combined longitudinal and buildup sequence for a continuous multiple pass weld wherein separated lengths are completely or partially built up in cross section before intervening lengths are deposited, see Backstep Sequence.

Built In Appliance - An appliance which is fastened or otherwise secured at a specific built into a location.

Built In Oven - An oven installed directly into a wall or cabinet.

Built In Shelving - Shelving that is permanently installed in a cabinet frame.

Built In Units - Items that are built in to a property and made an integral part thereof. Such as built in kitchen and bathroom units.

Built Up Member - A single structural component made from several pieces fastened together.

Built Up Plaque - Layers of a localized abnormal patch on a surface.

Built Up Roof - A roof 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.

Built Up Roof Removal - The act or process of removing many layers of old roofing material.

Built Up Roofing Membrane (BUR) - Roofing material applied in sealed waterproof layers or plies, or saturated or coated felts alternated with layers of bitumen, surfaced with mineral aggregate or asphaltic materials.

Built Up Sequence - The order in which the weld beads of a multiple pass weld are deposited with respect to the cross- section of the joint.

Built Up Steel Lintel - Lintel fabricated of two or more pieces of structural steel secured together to act as one member.

Built Up Timber - A timber made of several pieces fastened together and forming one of larger dimension.

Bulb Sensitive - Part of sealed fluid device which reacts to temperature, used to measure temperature or to control a mechanism.

Bulb Tree - Rolled steel in the form of a T with a formed bulb on the edge of the web.

Bulge -

• An irregular swelling.
• A lump.

Bulk -

• Size, magnitude, large mass or quantity.
Large quantities as in bulk cement.To cause to swell or bulge.A small structure projecting from a building, as a booth or stall.

Bulk Density - The weight of a material per unit of volume.

Bulk Excavation - The digging out of large amounts of dirt and debris.

Bulk Float - A tool comprising a large, flat, rectangular piece of wood, aluminum, or magnesium usually 8 in. (20 cm) wide and 42 to 60 in. (100 to 150 cm) long, and a handle 4 to 16 ft. (1 to 5 m) in length used to smooth unformed surfaces of freshly placed concrete.

Bulk Mail Shot - A bulk direct mailing campaign.

Bulk Mail Slot - An opening in a wall or door big enough to receive large pieces of mail.

Bulk Nose Brick -

• A brick having one rounded corner.
• Bricks that have their ends or corners rounded off.

Bulked Continuous Filament (BCF) - Continuous strands of synthetic fiber made into yarn without spinning; often extruded in modified cross section such as multi global, mushroom or bean shape and/or texturized to increase bulk and covering power.

Bulkhead -

• A vertical partition separating compartments, as on a ship or aircraft.
• A structure or partition to resist pressure or shut off water, fire, or gas.
• A retaining wall along a waterfront.
• A projecting structure with a sloping door giving access to a cellar stairway or shaft.

Bulkhead Formwork - The temporary formwork that blocks fresh concrete from a section of forms or closes the end of a form at a construction joint.

Bulking - Increase in the bulk volume of a quantity of sand in a moist condition over the volume of the same quantity dry.

Bulking Curve - Graph of change in volume of a quantity of sand due to change in moisture content.

Bulking Factor - Ratio of the volume of moist sand to the volume of the sand when dry.

Bulking Value - Of a pigment, its ability to add volume to a paint.

Bull Nose -

• In plastering, an external angle that is rounded in order to eliminate a sharp corner, can be made by running with plaster or using a bull nose corner bead with the proper radius.
• Any material with a rounded edge such as a concrete block, ceramic tile, or brick.

Bull Nose Drywall - Rounded drywall corners.

Bulldozer - A tractor driven machine with a horizontal blade for clearing land, road building, or similar work.

Bulletin Board -

• A wall hanging unit upon which information or messages are attached.
• A thin board, often of cork, hung on a wall for the attachment of public announcements.

Bulletproof - Manufactured to prevent breakage or penetration from a strong external force.

Bulletproof Glass - A protective laminated glass sheet, heat and pressure bonded with resin sheets to resist the passage of bullets.

Bulletproof Partition - A dividing wall which has been rendered bulletproof by using specific materials in its construction.

Bullfloat - A tool used to finish and flatten a slab. After screeding, the first stage in the final finish of concrete, smoothes and levels hills and voids left after screeding. Sometimes substituted for darbying. A large flat or tool usually of wood, aluminium or magnesium with a handle.

Bullnose Block - A concrete masonry unit which has one or more rounded external corners.

Bullnose Corner - A type of ceramic tile bullnose trim with a convex radius on two adjacent edges.

Bullnose Glazed - A ceramic trim tile with a convex radius on one edge that has been given a glassy or glossy surface.

Bulls Eye -

• A small circular window or opening; a bulls eye window.
• A small thick disc of glass inserted, as in a deck, to let in light.

Bumber Door - Rubber tip devices mounted on walls or baseboards that prevent door knobs from marring walls.

Bumper Dock - Thick rubber units placed under loading dock openings to absorb the shock and prevent damage when trucks back in for loading or unloading.

Bund Wall - A wall built around a tank to contain its contents should the tank or its piping spring a leak.

Bundle - A package of shingles. Normally, there are 3 bundles per square and 27 shingles per bundle.

Bundle - Two pieces of gypsumboard packaged face to face.

Bundled Bars - A group of not more than four parallel steel reinforcing bars in contact with each other, usually tied together.

Bundling Tape - End tape to secure two pieces of gypsum board into a bundle.

Bungalow - A small one - story house.

Bunker - Space where ice or cooling element is placed in commercial installations.

Buoyant Uplift - The force of water or liquefied soil that tends to raise a building foundation out of the ground.

BUR - Abbreviation for Built Up Roofing.

BUR (Built Up Roofing Membrane) - Roofing material applied in sealed waterproof layers or plies, or saturated or coated felts alternated with layers of bitumen, surfaced with mineral aggregate or asphaltic materials.

Burden - The amount of money that has to be added to cover overhead.

Burdens - The conditions in Title Deeds which must be observed.

Burdens Ground - Special costs that may have to be paid in order to protect legal rights to occupy a property.

Burglar Alarm - A security system that signals when any of the contacts have been interrupted.

Burglar Bars - A grille of steel bars to protect a window or skylight opening from intrusion.

Burl - A hard woody outgrowth on a tree, good for highly figured veneers.

Burlap - A coarse fabric of jute, hemp, or less commonly, flax, for use as a water-retaining covering in curing concrete surfaces, also called Hessian.

Burlap Concrete - A curing concrete surface that has had a coarse fabric of jute, hemp, or less commonly, flax applied, for use as a water retaining covering.

Burlap Rub - A finish obtained by rubbing burlap to remove surface irregularities from concrete.

Burling - In carpet manufacturing, a hand tailoring operation after weaving, to remove any knots and loose ends, to insert missing tufts of surface yarn and otherwise check the condition of the fabric, also, a repair operation on worn or damaged carpet.

Burn - To cut metal with a gas flame.

Burn Thru - A term erroneously used to denote excessive Melt Thru or a hole.

Burned - Over dried, partially calcined gypsum board.

Burned Finish - Wood finish in which hard portion of grain stands out in relief, produced by using blowtorch and stiff bristled brush.

Burner - Device in which burning of fuel takes place.

Burning In - Repairing a finish by melting stick shellac into the damaged places by using a heated knife blade or iron.

Burnish - Polish by rubbing.

Burnoff Rate - In welding, the weight or length of electrode melted in a unit of tim, also called Melting Rate.

Burnt Sienna -

• An earthy substance containing oxides of iron and usually of manganese.
• Orange red or reddish brown pigment, used in paint.
• Sienna that has been roasted.

Burnt Umber -

• A brown earthy substance containing oxides of iron and manganese
• A pigment, darker than ochre and sienna, used in paint
• Umber that has been roasted.

Burr - A sharp, roughened, in turned edge on a piece of pipe which has been cut but not reamed.

Burst Strength - The internal pressure required to break a pipe or fitting, this pressure will vary with the rate of build up of the pressure and the time during which the pressure is held.

Bus Bar -

• A large, flat conductor, usually solid copper, used for carrying very high electrical currents.
• An uninsulated bar or tube used as an electrical conductor at a circuit junction.

Bus Cable - An assembly of insulated cables.

Bus Duct - A prefabricated unit containing one or more electric conductors, often a metal bar, that serves as a common connection for two or more circuits.

Bus Duct Connection - A metal bar serving as a common connection for two or more circuits in a prefabricated unit.

Bus Ground - In the main electrical service panel, where the neutral service wire, generally white, attaches and is linked to the earth by the ground wire.

Bush Hammer - In stone dressing, a steel hammer used in finishing the harder stones, it has a square-ended prismatic head divided into a number of pyramidal points.

Bushed Nipple - A pipe threaded at both ends to connect two pipes of different dimensions.

Bushing -

• A removable cylindrical lining for an opening used to limit the size of an opening, resist abrasion, or serve as a guide.
• An electrically insulating lining for a hole to protect a through conductor.
• A pipe fitting with both male and female threads used in a fitting to rce the size; used to connect pipes of different sizes.

Bushing Conduit - A threaded metal or plastic pipe connector used to connect conduit to a box or other housing where the hole is not threaded.

Business Entity Concept - The assumption that a business is separate and distinct from its owners financial operations and holdings.

Busway - A rigid assembly consisting of one or more busbars.

Butane -

• A gaseous hydrocarbon (C4H10) of the alkane series used in liquefied form as fuel.
• Also used as a low temperature application refrigerant.

Butlers Pantry - A service room between kitchen and dining room.

Butt - A type of hinge designed for mortising into the edge of the door and into the rabbet of a door frame, consisting of two plates with a removable connecting pin, also called a Butt Hinge.

Butt -

• The larger of the two ends of a log.
• Butt Hinge, the most common type of hinge. One leaf attaches to the door's edge, the other to its jamb.
• Pile Butt, the large end of a pile, the small end is called the Tip.

Butt Edge - The lower edge of the shingle tabs.

Butt Glazing - The installation of glass products where the vertical glass edges are without structural supporting mullions.

Butt Hinge - The most common type. One leaf attaches to the door's edge, the other to its jamb.

Butt Hinge - A type of hinge designed for mortising into the edge of the door and into the rabbet of a door frame, consisting of two plates with a removable connecting pin, also called a Butt.

Butt Joint - A square cut joint where two pieces of wood or other type of building materials join together.

Butt Joint -

• A plain square joint between two members.
• In wallpaper, a joint made by trimming both selvedges and butting the edges together; this is used in highest type of work.
• The cut ends of gypsum board placed adjacent to one another.
• The joint between two bricks placed end to end in the same course; also called Cross Joint, Head Joint, or Vertical Joint.

Butt Pile - The large end of a pile, the small end is called the Tip.

Butt Weld - A weld in a butt joint between two members lying approximately in the same plane.

Butt Welded Pipe - Pipe that is joined by welding.

Butt Welded Space - A reinforcing bar splice made by welding the butted ends.

Butterflies - Colour imperfections on a lime putty finish wall which smear out under pressure of the trowel, caused by lime lumps not put through a screen and insufficient mixing of the gauging.

Butterfly Reinforcement - Strips of metal reinforcement placed diagonally over the plaster base at the corners of openings before plastering.

Butterfly Roof - A roof shape that is like an inverted gable, the rain gutter being in the middle instead of the ridge.

Butterfly Valve - A valve constructed with a disc that rotates 90 degrees within the valve body.

Buttering -

• Spreading mortar on a masonry unit before it is laid.
• The spreading of a bond coat to the backs of ceramic tile just before the tile is placed.
• In glazing, application of sealant or compound to the flat surface of some member before placing the member in position, such as the buttering of a removable stop before fastening the stop in place.
• The blade of the buttering trowel is approximately 4-1/2" wide and 7" long, used in buttering rich mortar to masonry, a method commonly used in the eastern states.

Buttering Trowel - The blade of the buttering trowel is approximately 4-1/2" wide and 7" long, used in buttering rich mortar to masonry, a method commonly used in the eastern states.

Buttonback Tile - Tile that have round or square projections on the bondable side.

Buttress -

• A projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building wall and to react against horizontal outward forces.
• The broadened base of a tree trunk or a thickened vertical part of it.

Buttress Flying - A detached pier supporting the weight of a wall.

Butyl - Type of non-curing and non-skinning sealant made from butylene. Usually used for internal applications.

Butyl Acetate - A lacquer solvent made from butyl alcohol by reaction with acetic acid.

Butyl Alcohol - An alcohol of higher boiling range than wood alcohol or grain alcohol, obtained from corn by fermentation.

Butyl Caulk - Caulking that is made from various synthetic rubbers derived from butanes.

Butyl Membrane - Pliable thin sheets or layers made from synthetic rubber.

Butylene Plastics - Plastics based on resins made by the polymerization of butene or copolymerization of butene with one or more unsaturated compounds, the butene being in greatest amount by weight.

Buy Down - A subsidy (usually paid by a builder or developer) to reduce monthly payments on a mortgage.

Buy To Let Mortgage - A mortgage designed for people who buy a property with the intention of letting it out. Largely similar to other mortgages, but the maximum loan-value (LTV) is usually lower, meaning that a larger deposit is required. Other restrictions may also apply, such as minimum letting terms and rental income. Lenders will normally incorporate a proportion of the rental income when calculating how much money they are willing to lend you.

Buyer - Someone who buys property. The purchaser.

Buyers Position - Refers to whether the buyer has to sell a property in order to purchase, is a cash buyer, first time buyer etc.

Buying Costs - Short term outlay required to secure the purchase of a house.

Buying Signals - These are signs that you may give off - intentionally or otherwise - that you are very keen to buy a property. This can make the estate agent's job a lot easier, as they do not have to try very hard to sell you a property and can weaken your negotiating position as a result.

Buzzer - An electric signaling device that produces a buzzing sound.

BX Armored Cable - A factory assembly of insulated conductors inside a flexible metallic covering. It can be run except where exposed to excessive moisture and should not be run below grade. It must always be grounded and uses its armor as an equipment ground. It is difficult to pull out old wires or insert new ones.

BX Cable - A factory assembly of insulated conductors inside a flexible metallic covering. It can be run except where exposed to excessive moisture and should not be run below grade. It must always be grounded and uses its armor as an equipment ground. It is difficult to pull out old wires or insert new ones.

BX Clamp - A clamping device to hold BX cable firmly in place against a wooden or metal member.

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.

By Product - A substance obtained during the manufacture of another substance; a secondary result, sometimes unexpected or unintended, of some process.

Bypass -

• Passage at one side of, or around, a regular passage.
• A secondary pipe or bridging of any plumbing fixture allowing this fixture to be disconnected and circulation maintained.

Byte - In computing, a group of eight binary digits.

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