Glossary
Balcony: A balustrade platform with access from an upper floor level.
Baluster: One of the vertical pieces of a stair or porch railing.
Balustrade: A stair or porch railing
Bargeboard: A wide timber piece or more recently metal piece at the end of the gablescreen off ends of tiles, battens etc.
Bay window: A projecting compartment that is glazed and has windows all around.
Beam: Large solid member to carry loads.
Bearer: A sub-floor timber supporting the floor joists.
Bi-fold doors: A door consisting of a number of hinged flaps folding at one or both sides of
a door opening.
Bottom plate: Timber plate at the bottom of a wall frame.
Box gutter: A roof guttering which is not on the exterior edge of the roof.
Brace: Used to stiffen or support.
Brick ties: Galvanised steel wire (or plastic) ties built into brick walls at regular intervals to link internal and external portions of a cavity brick wall.
Brick veneer: The most common type of brick construction. The house is framed with timber and the brick acts only as an exterior sheathing or cladding.
Bricks: Used on outer wall of brick veneer homes. Made of clay and baked. May vary in colour and a wide range of types and textures are available. This outer wall is not load bearing but is cladding or “skin” only.
Building agreement: (Contract). The document signed by both client and builder that governs relations between the two. It sets out what is to be done and how much it will cost.
Bulkhead: Lowered portion of a ceiling usually to hide a beam or drainage pipe.
C.C: Construction Certificate. Your green light to commence works. Produced by Council or Private Certifier. Documents requested in the Development Consent Letter are collated.
Cathedral ceiling: Where the ceiling follows the line of the roof timbers left exposed.
Cavity: The space between the inside of a brick veneer wall and the outside of the plasterboard lining, also contains the stud wall.
Ceiling Joist: The structural member spanning the room to support the ceiling lining which also ties the roof to the rest of the structure at plate level.
Ceiling: The top or overhead portion of a room or building.
Cement render: A wall finish where cement mixture is plastered onto a wall surface. May be smooth or patterned.
Certificate of Title: Document issued by the Land Titles Office that confirms your ownership of the land. Required as evidence of said ownership.
Column: A free standing vertical load bearing member usually stone, brick, aluminium
or another compound. Sometimes only decorative.
Construction insurance premium: Insurance taken out by the builder to insure against theft, damage, fire, public risk etc.
Construction joint: A joint provided in structure to allow for movement in the structure due to expansion and contraction.
Cornice: Ornamental molding used as a finish between ceiling and wall or column.
Course step down: (3 course). The stepped down edge of concrete slab on which the outer brick wall rests.
Cut and fill: The method often used to provide a level area on a sloping site, where part of the sloping surface is cut away and used to provide fill on the portion of the slope immediately below it.
(Development Application). The plan submitted to the relevant municipal Council to seek approval for a development. Usually approved with a large number of conditions- all of which must be met by the builder and/or the owner.
D.A.R: Dressed all round - timber that has been planed on all sides.
D.P: Deposited Plan. A copy of the plan held by (deposited with) the Land Titles
Office. This shows the exact bearings and dimensions of the block of land
and any easements on it.
Damp course:
A waterproof membrane built into brickwork and masonry, or in the situation
where rising damp could occur (usually bitumen coated aluminium, PVC,
copper or lead).
Detention pit:
A pit designed to slow down the flow of storm water from private property
into the public drainage system. Pits can be required for each individual lot
or may be provided, by the land developer, for the subdivision as a whole.
Door furniture:
All fittings on the door - except the hinges.
Door jambs:
The vertical sides of the door opening.
Double Hung window:
A window where two sashes fill the opening, and both are vertically sliding,
balanced by cords and weights, springs or balances.
Driveway gradient:
The maximum amount of slope that Council will permit for a driveway. This is
designed to avoid you ending up with a driveway that is too steep for safety.
Dual water:
A system now in use which provides for waste water to be collected,
cleansed and recycled through a second system of water pipes. Such water
is not suitable for drinking or household use.
Ducted exhaust fan:
Fans that have been connected to ducts that will take the fumes to the
outside of the home. Another type is a recirculating fan which recirculates
room air through purifiers to remove noxious fumes - air is then returned to
the room.
Ducts:
Large pipes used to distribute air from a central heating or air-conditioning
system.
Dutch gable roof:
A mainly pyramid shaped roof with the top portion shaped to include a triangular
shaped gable portion a combination hip and gable. The gable is
placed some way up the hip not at the wall line as on a conventional gable.
Dutch gables are usually smaller and generally decorative.
Facade:
The front (face) of a house. Brad Thompson Homes come with a wide range
of facade choices from Traditional, Colonial, Federation, Classic, Classique,
Regency, Riviera, Tuscany, Vogue and more.
Fanlight:
A semicircular transom window over a door or window.
Fascia:
Timber board to which the gutter is fitted.
Fibreglassing:
A technique used where fibreglass is applied to the corners of a shower recess,
bathroom or laundry to render them waterproof.
Fibrous plaster:
Gypsum plaster cast in sheets, which is reinforced with sisal or fibreglass fibres.
Final account:
The final statement prepared prior to the handover of completed home
showing all costs incurred, all monies paid and money still owing.
Finial:
Decorative finish at the top of the gable.
Flashings:
Pieces of galvanised iron, lead plastic or other impervious material used in
many parts of a house to prevent the penetration of moisture.
Flight:
An uninterrupted series of steps between floors or between a floor and a
landing.
Floor space ratio:
Amount of floor space divided into size of land usually 4:10. Area of floors
must not exceed 40% of the area of land.
Footing:
The construction whereby the weight of the structure is transferred from the
base structure to the foundation.
Foundation:
That portion of the land on which the structure is supported.
Frieze:
Continuous band of decorative paneling under edge of the verandah or
decorative panel around the top of the wall.
Gable:
The triangular portion of the end wall of a house formed by continuing the
wall up from eaves level to meet the sloping roof profile.
Glazing bar:
The timber or aluminium bar or strip on windows that divide them into smaller
areas e.g. Colonial glazing bars. Can be stuck on, clip on or integral to window.
Glazing:
Refers to two meanings -
a. Refers to glass windows e.g. a glazed window is one with glass in it.
b. Can refer to the baked finish on tiles.
GPO:
General purpose outlet or electrical power point.
Grout:
Thin fluid mortar for filling of joints or cracks, e.g. in brickwork, wall or floor tiles,
concrete.
Gyprock:
A trade name for plasterboard. A plaster compound contained between
sheets of stiff brown paper. Very widely used.
Header:
A framing member used over a door or window opening.
Highlight:
(Or celestory window). A window above the roof of another part of the
building sometimes used to admit light or ventilation to inner rooms in houses
or into the rear portion of large rooms.
Hip roof:
A roof roughly pyramidal in shape, with ends and sides inclined and each
surface terminating at an inclined ridge or hip rafter.
Home:
Where the heart is! Ideal place to raise a family and/or enjoy life.
House identification survey:
A survey of which a copy goes to the bank and Council to confirm the
home as sited complies with Council requirements.
House peg out survey:
Survey to show concreters precisely where the home is to be sited.
Infill panel:
A panel or section used to fill in an area or space between structural sections,
e.g. timber panelling, decorative panels, brickwork or metal sheeting.
Insulation:
Material placed in the cavity between studs to prevent passage air from
indoors to outside and vice versa. Usually fibreglass batts. Generally used
on external walls and ceiling only. Keeps home warmer in winter, cooler in
summer.
Jamb:
The inside of a door frame.
Joist:
The horizontal structural members that support a floor or ceiling.
Lagging:
Insulating covering for hot water pipes.
Laminated timber:
A built up timber member made from several timber sections glued together
to increase its structural strength or to create a multi-grain or colour effect in
bench tops etc.
Landing:
An intermediate platform between two flights of stairs.
Lattice:
A framework of crossed wood or metal strips used as a screen.
Letter of commencement L.O.C.:
(Sometimes called A.C.C.). A letter from a building authority confirming that
mortgage documents have been executed and it is ok to start building.
Light:
A single pane of glass
Lintel:
A horizontal load-bearing member spanning an opening.
Louvres:
Overlapping timber, glass or metal blades built into an adjustable frame or
opening to ventilate, or control light penetration.
Manhole:
An access opening in a ceiling, etc, to allow inspection of the roof structure,
floor structure, plumbing or electrical wiring.
Mantle:
The shelf above a fireplace.
Mortar:
A cement-sand mixture used to bond bricks or concrete block
Moulding:
Decorative strips of wood used to conceal joints.
Mullion:
The vertical member between two adjoining windows
Newel:
The bottom or top post of a stair balustrade.
Noggins:
Short horizontal piece of timber between two studs to prevent them from
twisting.
Nosing:
The internal sill finishes of a window, or the leading edge of a stair thread.
Notice of Practical Completion:
Notice furnished by the builder to client to indicate that in the builders view
contracted works are now completed.
P.S.:
(Provisional Sum). A sum designed to relate to a particular item of work, the
cost of which is difficult to estimate. This can be varied up or down by the
builder. You should question these in some depth.
P.C:
(Prime Cost Items). Generally items like baths, toilets, stoves etc. and “white
goods”.
P.O.F:
(Proof of Funds). Evidence furnished by the client to the builder that sufficient
funds exist to pay the contract sum. This may take the form of a copy
of a bank passbook, copy of fixed term deposit documentation or solicitors
letter.
Panel lift doors:
Door with sunken and raised panels between its framed members
Panelled door:
Door with sunken and raised panels between its framed members.
Pediment:
Projecting triangular gable over an entrance, door or window; or forming
the gable end of a roof.
Peg off set:
The distance from the house to the surveyors pegs
Pest Treatment:
Treatments to the underside of the slab, around the perimeter of the slab
and to the lower portion of the timber frame. Designed to prevent the intrusion
of termites. Various forms of treatments should be discussed with a sales
consultant.
Pier:
A masonry or concrete column used to support a floor or porch.
Piering:
Columns of concrete usually poured into drilled holes in the ground, on
which the concrete slab will rest. This ensures that the slab is ultimately resting
on the ground sufficiently solid to support the weight of the home. The
size and extent is determined by a Civil Engineer.
Pitch:
The angle of a sloping roof, usually expressed in degrees e.g. 27 degree
pitch.
Plaster:
A mixture of lime or cement and sand used to cover walls or ceilings.
Plasterboard:
See Gyprock
Plate:
The horizontal members of a frame wall. The sole plate is at the bottom of
the wall; the top plate is at the top. Plate height is often used to refer to the
ceiling height of a room.
Plumb:
Vertical and even, 90 degrees to level.
Pointing:
The filling of joints in brickwork or masonry.
Quarry Tile:
Machine-made, unglazed tile often used for floors.
Quoin:
A decorative stone or brick corner of a wall.
Quote:
(Tender). The document provided by the builder that details what work is to
be done and the costs included. Forms part of the contract
Quarry Tile:
Machine-made, unglazed tile often used for floors.
Sarking:
The silver like membrane laid on battens placed over roof trusses before the
roof tiles are put in position. Generally required in high wind areas, under low
pitched roofs (less than 17.5 degree pitch) or under terracotta tiles.
Sash:
Framework that holds the panes of glass in a window.
Scaffolding:
A tubular steel structure assembled on site which provides a working platform
for tradesmen - usually bricklayers. More recently a metal fence like
structure placed around the edge of the roof to protect tilers from falling.
Required by law.
Scale:
The relationship of an object to the human body (human scale); the relationship
of the size of a drawing to the size of the actual object.
Section:
Elevation view through a cut away.
Sediment Control Barrier:
A barrier placed around the boundary of the land on the low side to prevent
silt or soil washing from the block of land and entering the drainage
system. Usually hessian or hay installed and maintained by the builder. A
Council requirement.
Septic system:
A sewerage disposal system, relying on bacterial action to break down the
sewerage, incorporating a holding tank, a liquefying tank and an effluent
disposal line.
Set back:
The distance from the front boundary that the home is sited. Council has
minimum standards in this regard.
Side set back:
As above for side boundaries.
Sill:
The lower horizontal part of a window or do
Site costs:
Those costs that arise from placing a chosen home on your land and the
cost of connecting to services. These are almost never included in the basic
price of the home and will be an extra cost. Can range from $7,000 - $30,000
or more depending on the home and the characteristics of the site. Include
shaping the site, connection of sewer and storm water, removal of trees,
piering under the slab, deep edge beams, connection to power, material
handling costs etc, etc
Site coverage:
A formula, usually imposed by Council, designed to prevent buildings being
out of scale (too big) with the surrounding neighbourhood. Also designed to
ensure sufficient open space, play area and off street parking. You may be
allowed to cover 40% - 60% of the site.
Site inspection:
The term used to describe the situation where the builder has a qualified
building supervisor visit your land and assess the costs of building on it. He
would look at the location of services, amount of slope of the land, location
of trees, access for trucks, space to store building materials etc. These will
appear in your tender, together with the relevant cost. This inspection itself is
a FREE service offered by Impact Design and Construct P/L
Skillion:
A roof sloping in one direction only with rafters pitching or leaning against
the wall.
Skirting:
Narrow and horizontal timber or custom wood strips around the bottom of
internal wall where it joins the floor.
Slab in brick work:
A flooring system whereby before the concrete slab is poured a perimeter
wall of brick work is constructed, filling brought in and the slab laid on top
of the brick work. Usually used where it’s necessary to raise the finished floor
levels.
Slab:
A flat concrete foundation that rests directly onto the ground, sometimes
called slab-on-ground.
Soffit:
The lower face or under-surface of anything as, for example, the under-face
of an arch, the underside of the eaves of a roof.
Soil classification:
A system to gauge volatility of soil.
“S” means stable ground - not much expansion or contraction.
“M” means moderately reactive soil - some expansion or contraction.
“H” means highly reactive - large measure of expansion and contraction.
These conditions are determined by Engineers and slabs are designed to
cope with them
Span:
The distance between structural supports measured horizontally.
Square set opening:
A door opening that does not have timber architraves. The plasterboard is
squared off or “square set”.
Stringer:
The two pieces of timber between which the stairs are set. These can be
painted or stained.
Stud:
An upright supporting member of a timber wall frame to which wall covering
(plasterboard) are fixed.
Sub-Floor:
Any floor laid as a base for other floor finishes, e.g. concrete to be tiled.
Tender:
See quote.
Terracotta:
A reddish-brown, fired clay often used to make flowerpots, flooring tiles, roof
tiles and other decorative ornaments.
Tilt-a-doors:
One piece garage door. Usually timber on metal frame that tilts up in one
piece to permit passage. Spring operated, or can be electrical.
Top plate:
Timber plate at the top of a wall frame.
Transom light:
A sash or light above a door or window, usually fixed.
Transom:
A horizontal member dividing window or door frame units at the top of the
frame.
Tread:
The horizontal part of a stair upon which you step
Truss:
An engineered fabricated structural load-bearing unit spanning between
supports e.g. roof truss or floor truss.
Valley gutter:
A metal gutter built into the roof valley to carry water to the eaves guttering.
Variation:
An alteration to standard design or specification. Generally not accepted
by the builder after Building Agreement signed.
Vault:
A space with an arched ceiling.
Verandah:
A long covered porch.
Waffle pod slab:
(Or Rib Raft Slab). The term used to describe a method used to construct a
concrete slab. Instead of carefully placing sand in position on the ground,
forming it up with timber and steel panels and then pouring the slab. This
method requires that large polyurethane boxes or pods are placed on the
ground and the concrete is poured over and around them. Requires less
cutting of the ground and work may continue in wet weather.
Washable paint:
Internal wall paint that can be lightly washed to remove grime and
finger marks - not scrubbable, which may be preferred if young children are
present.
Weep hole:
A small drain hole in a masonry wall.
Zone of influence:
A term used to describe the area close to sewer pipes that will require
special treatment if you are to build within it.
Baluster: One of the vertical pieces of a stair or porch railing.
Balustrade: A stair or porch railing
Bargeboard: A wide timber piece or more recently metal piece at the end of the gablescreen off ends of tiles, battens etc.
Bay window: A projecting compartment that is glazed and has windows all around.
Beam: Large solid member to carry loads.
Bearer: A sub-floor timber supporting the floor joists.
Bi-fold doors: A door consisting of a number of hinged flaps folding at one or both sides of
a door opening.
Bottom plate: Timber plate at the bottom of a wall frame.
Box gutter: A roof guttering which is not on the exterior edge of the roof.
Brace: Used to stiffen or support.
Brick ties: Galvanised steel wire (or plastic) ties built into brick walls at regular intervals to link internal and external portions of a cavity brick wall.
Brick veneer: The most common type of brick construction. The house is framed with timber and the brick acts only as an exterior sheathing or cladding.
Bricks: Used on outer wall of brick veneer homes. Made of clay and baked. May vary in colour and a wide range of types and textures are available. This outer wall is not load bearing but is cladding or “skin” only.
Building agreement: (Contract). The document signed by both client and builder that governs relations between the two. It sets out what is to be done and how much it will cost.
Bulkhead: Lowered portion of a ceiling usually to hide a beam or drainage pipe.
C.C: Construction Certificate. Your green light to commence works. Produced by Council or Private Certifier. Documents requested in the Development Consent Letter are collated.
Cathedral ceiling: Where the ceiling follows the line of the roof timbers left exposed.
Cavity: The space between the inside of a brick veneer wall and the outside of the plasterboard lining, also contains the stud wall.
Ceiling Joist: The structural member spanning the room to support the ceiling lining which also ties the roof to the rest of the structure at plate level.
Ceiling: The top or overhead portion of a room or building.
Cement render: A wall finish where cement mixture is plastered onto a wall surface. May be smooth or patterned.
Certificate of Title: Document issued by the Land Titles Office that confirms your ownership of the land. Required as evidence of said ownership.
Column: A free standing vertical load bearing member usually stone, brick, aluminium
or another compound. Sometimes only decorative.
Construction insurance premium: Insurance taken out by the builder to insure against theft, damage, fire, public risk etc.
Construction joint: A joint provided in structure to allow for movement in the structure due to expansion and contraction.
Cornice: Ornamental molding used as a finish between ceiling and wall or column.
Course step down: (3 course). The stepped down edge of concrete slab on which the outer brick wall rests.
Cut and fill: The method often used to provide a level area on a sloping site, where part of the sloping surface is cut away and used to provide fill on the portion of the slope immediately below it.
(Development Application). The plan submitted to the relevant municipal Council to seek approval for a development. Usually approved with a large number of conditions- all of which must be met by the builder and/or the owner.
D.A.R: Dressed all round - timber that has been planed on all sides.
D.P: Deposited Plan. A copy of the plan held by (deposited with) the Land Titles
Office. This shows the exact bearings and dimensions of the block of land
and any easements on it.
Damp course:
A waterproof membrane built into brickwork and masonry, or in the situation
where rising damp could occur (usually bitumen coated aluminium, PVC,
copper or lead).
Detention pit:
A pit designed to slow down the flow of storm water from private property
into the public drainage system. Pits can be required for each individual lot
or may be provided, by the land developer, for the subdivision as a whole.
Door furniture:
All fittings on the door - except the hinges.
Door jambs:
The vertical sides of the door opening.
Double Hung window:
A window where two sashes fill the opening, and both are vertically sliding,
balanced by cords and weights, springs or balances.
Driveway gradient:
The maximum amount of slope that Council will permit for a driveway. This is
designed to avoid you ending up with a driveway that is too steep for safety.
Dual water:
A system now in use which provides for waste water to be collected,
cleansed and recycled through a second system of water pipes. Such water
is not suitable for drinking or household use.
Ducted exhaust fan:
Fans that have been connected to ducts that will take the fumes to the
outside of the home. Another type is a recirculating fan which recirculates
room air through purifiers to remove noxious fumes - air is then returned to
the room.
Ducts:
Large pipes used to distribute air from a central heating or air-conditioning
system.
Dutch gable roof:
A mainly pyramid shaped roof with the top portion shaped to include a triangular
shaped gable portion a combination hip and gable. The gable is
placed some way up the hip not at the wall line as on a conventional gable.
Dutch gables are usually smaller and generally decorative.
Facade:
The front (face) of a house. Brad Thompson Homes come with a wide range
of facade choices from Traditional, Colonial, Federation, Classic, Classique,
Regency, Riviera, Tuscany, Vogue and more.
Fanlight:
A semicircular transom window over a door or window.
Fascia:
Timber board to which the gutter is fitted.
Fibreglassing:
A technique used where fibreglass is applied to the corners of a shower recess,
bathroom or laundry to render them waterproof.
Fibrous plaster:
Gypsum plaster cast in sheets, which is reinforced with sisal or fibreglass fibres.
Final account:
The final statement prepared prior to the handover of completed home
showing all costs incurred, all monies paid and money still owing.
Finial:
Decorative finish at the top of the gable.
Flashings:
Pieces of galvanised iron, lead plastic or other impervious material used in
many parts of a house to prevent the penetration of moisture.
Flight:
An uninterrupted series of steps between floors or between a floor and a
landing.
Floor space ratio:
Amount of floor space divided into size of land usually 4:10. Area of floors
must not exceed 40% of the area of land.
Footing:
The construction whereby the weight of the structure is transferred from the
base structure to the foundation.
Foundation:
That portion of the land on which the structure is supported.
Frieze:
Continuous band of decorative paneling under edge of the verandah or
decorative panel around the top of the wall.
Gable:
The triangular portion of the end wall of a house formed by continuing the
wall up from eaves level to meet the sloping roof profile.
Glazing bar:
The timber or aluminium bar or strip on windows that divide them into smaller
areas e.g. Colonial glazing bars. Can be stuck on, clip on or integral to window.
Glazing:
Refers to two meanings -
a. Refers to glass windows e.g. a glazed window is one with glass in it.
b. Can refer to the baked finish on tiles.
GPO:
General purpose outlet or electrical power point.
Grout:
Thin fluid mortar for filling of joints or cracks, e.g. in brickwork, wall or floor tiles,
concrete.
Gyprock:
A trade name for plasterboard. A plaster compound contained between
sheets of stiff brown paper. Very widely used.
Header:
A framing member used over a door or window opening.
Highlight:
(Or celestory window). A window above the roof of another part of the
building sometimes used to admit light or ventilation to inner rooms in houses
or into the rear portion of large rooms.
Hip roof:
A roof roughly pyramidal in shape, with ends and sides inclined and each
surface terminating at an inclined ridge or hip rafter.
Home:
Where the heart is! Ideal place to raise a family and/or enjoy life.
House identification survey:
A survey of which a copy goes to the bank and Council to confirm the
home as sited complies with Council requirements.
House peg out survey:
Survey to show concreters precisely where the home is to be sited.
Infill panel:
A panel or section used to fill in an area or space between structural sections,
e.g. timber panelling, decorative panels, brickwork or metal sheeting.
Insulation:
Material placed in the cavity between studs to prevent passage air from
indoors to outside and vice versa. Usually fibreglass batts. Generally used
on external walls and ceiling only. Keeps home warmer in winter, cooler in
summer.
Jamb:
The inside of a door frame.
Joist:
The horizontal structural members that support a floor or ceiling.
Lagging:
Insulating covering for hot water pipes.
Laminated timber:
A built up timber member made from several timber sections glued together
to increase its structural strength or to create a multi-grain or colour effect in
bench tops etc.
Landing:
An intermediate platform between two flights of stairs.
Lattice:
A framework of crossed wood or metal strips used as a screen.
Letter of commencement L.O.C.:
(Sometimes called A.C.C.). A letter from a building authority confirming that
mortgage documents have been executed and it is ok to start building.
Light:
A single pane of glass
Lintel:
A horizontal load-bearing member spanning an opening.
Louvres:
Overlapping timber, glass or metal blades built into an adjustable frame or
opening to ventilate, or control light penetration.
Manhole:
An access opening in a ceiling, etc, to allow inspection of the roof structure,
floor structure, plumbing or electrical wiring.
Mantle:
The shelf above a fireplace.
Mortar:
A cement-sand mixture used to bond bricks or concrete block
Moulding:
Decorative strips of wood used to conceal joints.
Mullion:
The vertical member between two adjoining windows
Newel:
The bottom or top post of a stair balustrade.
Noggins:
Short horizontal piece of timber between two studs to prevent them from
twisting.
Nosing:
The internal sill finishes of a window, or the leading edge of a stair thread.
Notice of Practical Completion:
Notice furnished by the builder to client to indicate that in the builders view
contracted works are now completed.
P.S.:
(Provisional Sum). A sum designed to relate to a particular item of work, the
cost of which is difficult to estimate. This can be varied up or down by the
builder. You should question these in some depth.
P.C:
(Prime Cost Items). Generally items like baths, toilets, stoves etc. and “white
goods”.
P.O.F:
(Proof of Funds). Evidence furnished by the client to the builder that sufficient
funds exist to pay the contract sum. This may take the form of a copy
of a bank passbook, copy of fixed term deposit documentation or solicitors
letter.
Panel lift doors:
Door with sunken and raised panels between its framed members
Panelled door:
Door with sunken and raised panels between its framed members.
Pediment:
Projecting triangular gable over an entrance, door or window; or forming
the gable end of a roof.
Peg off set:
The distance from the house to the surveyors pegs
Pest Treatment:
Treatments to the underside of the slab, around the perimeter of the slab
and to the lower portion of the timber frame. Designed to prevent the intrusion
of termites. Various forms of treatments should be discussed with a sales
consultant.
Pier:
A masonry or concrete column used to support a floor or porch.
Piering:
Columns of concrete usually poured into drilled holes in the ground, on
which the concrete slab will rest. This ensures that the slab is ultimately resting
on the ground sufficiently solid to support the weight of the home. The
size and extent is determined by a Civil Engineer.
Pitch:
The angle of a sloping roof, usually expressed in degrees e.g. 27 degree
pitch.
Plaster:
A mixture of lime or cement and sand used to cover walls or ceilings.
Plasterboard:
See Gyprock
Plate:
The horizontal members of a frame wall. The sole plate is at the bottom of
the wall; the top plate is at the top. Plate height is often used to refer to the
ceiling height of a room.
Plumb:
Vertical and even, 90 degrees to level.
Pointing:
The filling of joints in brickwork or masonry.
Quarry Tile:
Machine-made, unglazed tile often used for floors.
Quoin:
A decorative stone or brick corner of a wall.
Quote:
(Tender). The document provided by the builder that details what work is to
be done and the costs included. Forms part of the contract
Quarry Tile:
Machine-made, unglazed tile often used for floors.
Sarking:
The silver like membrane laid on battens placed over roof trusses before the
roof tiles are put in position. Generally required in high wind areas, under low
pitched roofs (less than 17.5 degree pitch) or under terracotta tiles.
Sash:
Framework that holds the panes of glass in a window.
Scaffolding:
A tubular steel structure assembled on site which provides a working platform
for tradesmen - usually bricklayers. More recently a metal fence like
structure placed around the edge of the roof to protect tilers from falling.
Required by law.
Scale:
The relationship of an object to the human body (human scale); the relationship
of the size of a drawing to the size of the actual object.
Section:
Elevation view through a cut away.
Sediment Control Barrier:
A barrier placed around the boundary of the land on the low side to prevent
silt or soil washing from the block of land and entering the drainage
system. Usually hessian or hay installed and maintained by the builder. A
Council requirement.
Septic system:
A sewerage disposal system, relying on bacterial action to break down the
sewerage, incorporating a holding tank, a liquefying tank and an effluent
disposal line.
Set back:
The distance from the front boundary that the home is sited. Council has
minimum standards in this regard.
Side set back:
As above for side boundaries.
Sill:
The lower horizontal part of a window or do
Site costs:
Those costs that arise from placing a chosen home on your land and the
cost of connecting to services. These are almost never included in the basic
price of the home and will be an extra cost. Can range from $7,000 - $30,000
or more depending on the home and the characteristics of the site. Include
shaping the site, connection of sewer and storm water, removal of trees,
piering under the slab, deep edge beams, connection to power, material
handling costs etc, etc
Site coverage:
A formula, usually imposed by Council, designed to prevent buildings being
out of scale (too big) with the surrounding neighbourhood. Also designed to
ensure sufficient open space, play area and off street parking. You may be
allowed to cover 40% - 60% of the site.
Site inspection:
The term used to describe the situation where the builder has a qualified
building supervisor visit your land and assess the costs of building on it. He
would look at the location of services, amount of slope of the land, location
of trees, access for trucks, space to store building materials etc. These will
appear in your tender, together with the relevant cost. This inspection itself is
a FREE service offered by Impact Design and Construct P/L
Skillion:
A roof sloping in one direction only with rafters pitching or leaning against
the wall.
Skirting:
Narrow and horizontal timber or custom wood strips around the bottom of
internal wall where it joins the floor.
Slab in brick work:
A flooring system whereby before the concrete slab is poured a perimeter
wall of brick work is constructed, filling brought in and the slab laid on top
of the brick work. Usually used where it’s necessary to raise the finished floor
levels.
Slab:
A flat concrete foundation that rests directly onto the ground, sometimes
called slab-on-ground.
Soffit:
The lower face or under-surface of anything as, for example, the under-face
of an arch, the underside of the eaves of a roof.
Soil classification:
A system to gauge volatility of soil.
“S” means stable ground - not much expansion or contraction.
“M” means moderately reactive soil - some expansion or contraction.
“H” means highly reactive - large measure of expansion and contraction.
These conditions are determined by Engineers and slabs are designed to
cope with them
Span:
The distance between structural supports measured horizontally.
Square set opening:
A door opening that does not have timber architraves. The plasterboard is
squared off or “square set”.
Stringer:
The two pieces of timber between which the stairs are set. These can be
painted or stained.
Stud:
An upright supporting member of a timber wall frame to which wall covering
(plasterboard) are fixed.
Sub-Floor:
Any floor laid as a base for other floor finishes, e.g. concrete to be tiled.
Tender:
See quote.
Terracotta:
A reddish-brown, fired clay often used to make flowerpots, flooring tiles, roof
tiles and other decorative ornaments.
Tilt-a-doors:
One piece garage door. Usually timber on metal frame that tilts up in one
piece to permit passage. Spring operated, or can be electrical.
Top plate:
Timber plate at the top of a wall frame.
Transom light:
A sash or light above a door or window, usually fixed.
Transom:
A horizontal member dividing window or door frame units at the top of the
frame.
Tread:
The horizontal part of a stair upon which you step
Truss:
An engineered fabricated structural load-bearing unit spanning between
supports e.g. roof truss or floor truss.
Valley gutter:
A metal gutter built into the roof valley to carry water to the eaves guttering.
Variation:
An alteration to standard design or specification. Generally not accepted
by the builder after Building Agreement signed.
Vault:
A space with an arched ceiling.
Verandah:
A long covered porch.
Waffle pod slab:
(Or Rib Raft Slab). The term used to describe a method used to construct a
concrete slab. Instead of carefully placing sand in position on the ground,
forming it up with timber and steel panels and then pouring the slab. This
method requires that large polyurethane boxes or pods are placed on the
ground and the concrete is poured over and around them. Requires less
cutting of the ground and work may continue in wet weather.
Washable paint:
Internal wall paint that can be lightly washed to remove grime and
finger marks - not scrubbable, which may be preferred if young children are
present.
Weep hole:
A small drain hole in a masonry wall.
Zone of influence:
A term used to describe the area close to sewer pipes that will require
special treatment if you are to build within it.