Building inspectors can uncover problems that should be addressed in remodeling and also monitor compliance with building codes during construction.
Remodeling Glossary
Having trouble relating to some of the construction or remodeling jargon that you're not used to? Don't worry, you're not alone. Use the handy locator below to search the glossary for terms you'd like to understand better. It is alphabetized, and easy to use.
| Calcium Carbonate | A white chalky material, which is very often found on concrete basement walls and other concrete surfaces where water has leached some of the chemicals out of the concrete. The appearance of the material is typically a sign of past or present moisture pen |
| Cantilever | A projecting structure supported on one end, such as a balcony. |
| Carbond Monoxide | A toxic colorless and odorless gas that is the by-product of combustion from fireplaces, furnaces, grills, generators, and hot water heaters. These require proper installation and service in order to prevent CO exposure. |
| Casement window | A window unit in which the single sash cranks outward, to the right or left. |
| Casing | Molding of various widths, thickness and shapes applied to the framework of window and door units. |
| Caulking | A flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls. |
| Cavity | The empty space between studs or joists to place insulation batts. |
| Central Air Conditioning | A system which uses ducts to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more than one room or uses pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchangers in more than one room, and is not plugged into an electrical convenience outlet. |
| Change Order | A written construction document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction contract. |
| Check rail | On a double-hung window, the bottom rail of the upper sash and the upper rail of the lower sash, where the lock is mounted. |
| Chip board | A manufactured wood panel composed of 1- and 2-inch wood chips and glue. It is often incorrectly used as a substitute for plywood. |
| Circuit Breaker | A device that looks like a switch and is located inside the electrical panel or circuit breaker box in a home or building. A regular circuit breaker switch is designed to shut off the power to the portion of the home it controls and also limits the amount of current to the circuit that is connected to it. |
| Cladding | An aluminum or vinyl material locked to the outside faces of many Pella products to provide a durable, low-maintenance exterior surface. |
| Clerestory | An outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows. |
| Clerestory window | A venting or fixed window above other windows or doors on an upper outside wall of a room. |
| Closed Loop | A system in which each component is connected to the next component with the last component being connected to the original device, forming a complete circle. |
| Coffered Ceiling | A ceiling with recessed square panels, bordered with trim for ornamental purposes. |
| Collar Beam | A horizontal tie beam in a roof truss that connects two opposite rafters at a level considerably above the wall plate. |
| Concrete | A construction material used for foundations, ground level floors and sidewalks. Most concrete is made out of Portland cement, sand, and gravel or aggregate. Concrete is commonly reinforced with steel rods, known as rebar or wire screening, called mesh. |
| Concrete Block | Often used in low rise commercial and some residential construction, a hollow concrete 'brick' most commonly 8 inches x 8 inches x 16 inches in size. The original design and use is attributed to the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. |
| Concrete Board | A panel composed of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material. |
| Conduit | A tube or duct for enclosing electric wires or other cables. |
| Construction Contract | A legal document that includes the specifics of what-when-where-how-how much and by whom of a construction project. It usually includes the contractors registration number, a statement of work quality such as 'Standard Practices of the Trades.' |
| Construction Documents | All drawings, specifications and addenda associated with a specific construction project. |
| Contractor | One who is licensed to perform construction activities. |
| Cornice | Overhang of a pitched roof, usually consisting of a fascia board, a soffit and appropriate trim moldings. |
| Cost Plus Contract | A construction contract specifying a price for different elements of the work such as, cost per hour of labor, overhead, profit, etc. |
| Cottage double-hung | A double-hung window in which the upper sash is shorter than the lower sash. |
| CPVC | A type of white plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines. |
| Crawlspace Foundation | The space between the ground and the first floor of a home, usually no higher than four feet. |
| Crawlspace Vent | An opening to allow the passage of air through the unexcavated area under a first floor. Ideally there should be at least two vents per crawlspace. |
| Cross Bracing | A system of bracing by the use of ties. Typically used between floor joists to prevent them from twisting. |
| Crown Molding | A molding used on cornice or wherever an interior angle is to be covered, especially at the ceiling to wall corner. |
| Curtain Drain | A ditch sometimes filled with gravel and a drain tile that diverts storm and drain water away from a structure. |
