Here is a list of useful term definitions used within the building industry and you will hear during and after the construction of your new Excel home.
ABOVE GRADE - The portion of a building that is above ground level.
AGGREGATE - Crushed stone, slag or water-worn gravel that comes in a wide range of sizes used in construction to reinforce and strengthen concrete.
AIR DUCTS – A conduit usually made of sheet metal, which carries air throughout the home.
AIR FILTERS – Adhesive filters made of metal or various fibres that are coated with adhesive liquid to which the particles of lint and dust adhere. These filters will remove as much as 90% of the dirt if they do not become clogged. The more common filters are the disposable type.
AIR INFILTRATION – The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
ALBERTA NEW HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM (ANHWP) – This program provides workmanship and quality guarantees as well as problem resolution guidelines to homebuyers who purchase from builder members in Alberta.
APPROACH – The area between the sidewalk and street that leads to a driveway or the transition from the street as you approach a driveway.
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS/GUIDELINES – The regulation or guidelines from land developers for the placement of homes on lots, the mass of exterior elevations, exterior design details, types of exterior finishes, colours and so on.
BACKFILL – Filling in any previously excavated area.
BACKFLOW – A flow that returns towards its source.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER – A device or means to avert backflow into the potable water supply.
BEAD – An applied sealant in a joint irrespective of the method of application, such as caulking bead, glazing bead, etc. Also, a molding or stop used to hold glass or panels in position.
BELOW GRADE – The portion of a building that is below ground level.
BEVEL – The angle of the front edge of a door or counter edge.
BLUEPRINTS – Design plans for a building or construction project, which is likely to include floor plans, footings and foundation plans, elevations and other schedules and/or details.
BUILDING ENVELOPE – The external walls, floor, ceiling, roof, windows and doors of a building that affords protection to the interior of the house from the weather and elements.
BUILDING PERMIT – Written authorization from the municipality giving permission to construct or renovate a building. A building permit is specific to the building project described in the application.
BUILT GREEN® – Owned and managed by Built Green Canada, the program’s purpose is to encourage homebuilders to use technologies, products and practices that provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution.
CANTILEVER – a projecting beam or other structure supported only at one end.
CAULK/CAULKING – The application of sealant to a joint, crack or crevice. A compound used for sealing.
CHEMICAL INJECTION GROUTING – A leak repair technique usually used below grade in cracks and joints in concrete walls and floors that involves the injection of sealant (usually urethane) that reacts with water to form a seal.
CIRCUIT BREAKER – Simple switch-like device which automatically opens a circuit when the rated current is exceeded as in the case of a short circuit.
COATING – A layer of any liquid product spread over a surface for protection.
COLLAR – In roofing, a conical metal cap flashing used in conjunction with vent pipes or stacks usually located several inches above the plane of the roof for the purpose of shedding water away from the base of the vent.
CONDENSATION – The appearance of moisture (water vapor) on the surface of an object caused by warm moist air coming into contact with a colder object.
CONDUCTOR – In electrical contracting, a wire through with a current of electricity flows, better known as an electric wire.
CONTROL JOINT – A control joint controls or accommodates movement in the surface component of a roof.
CORROSION – the deterioration of metal by chemical or electro-chemical reaction resulting from exposure to weathering moisture, chemicals or other agents.
CURING – In concrete application, the process in which mortar and concrete harden. The length of time is dependent upon the type of dement, mix proportion, required strength, size and shape of the concrete section, weather and future exposure conditions.
DAMPER – Valve for controlling airflow. Registers have a damper so the airflow can be adjusted and turned off. Dampers maybe either manually or automatically operated. Automatic dampers are required for exhaust air ducts.
DAMPPROOFING – A process used on concrete, masonry or stone surfaces to repel water, the main purpose of which is to prevent the coated surface from absorbing rainwater while still permitting moistures vapor to escape from the structure. Moisture vapor readily penetrates coatings of this type. ‘Dampproofing’ generally applies to surfaces above grade; ‘waterproofing’ generally applies to surfaces below grade.
DEFECTS – Items that have been installed and completed but require additional work to meet the quality standard. These are normally cosmetic defects regarding fit, finish or appearance.
DEFICIENCIES – Items in the contract that have not been completed at the time of inspection. Seasonal Deficiencies are the most common as weather and climate make it impractical to complete certain kinds of exterior work.
DEVELOPER – One who prepares raw land for construction, then sells the land as developed lots to a builder.
DORMER – The house-like structure which projects from a sloping roof.
DOUBLE-GLAZING – Any use of two panes of glass, separated by an air space, to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In insulating glass units, the air between the glass sheets is thoroughly dried and the space is sealed, eliminating possible condensation and providing superior insulating properties.
DOWNSPOUT – The metal pipe used to drain water from a roof.
DRIP EDGE – A device designed to prevent water from running back or under an overhang.
DRYWALL – Sheetrock (gypsum board) that covers the framing and taping, coating, and finishing making the interior walls and ceilings of a building. Drywall is also used as a verb to refer to installation process.
DUCT – A cylindrical or rectangular “tube” used to move air either from exhaust or intake. The installation is referred to as ‘duct work’.
EASEMENTS/SET-BACKS – A right of access across your property for a specific purpose to repair, replace or install utilities. Permanent structures cannot be located on easements.
EAVE – The part of a roof that projects out from the side wall, or the lower edge of the part of a roof that overhangs a wall.
EFFLORESCENCE – The process by which water leaches soluble salts out of concrete or mortar and deposits them on the surface. This is not considered a defect.
ELEVATION – The exterior of a structure. Often in homebuilding this is an artists’ rendering of how the home will look once completed.
ENERGY STAR® – An international symbol of energy efficiency that helps quickly and easily identify the most energy efficient products available to save energy, money and protect the environment.
EXCAVATE – Dig the basement and or all areas that will need footings/foundations below grade.
EXPANSION JOINT – A device used to permit a structure to expand or contract without breakage.
EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS – A detailed, scaled and dimensional drawings of the roof and exterior walls of your home. They show your home’s profiles – front, sides and area – and indicate the location and types of exterior finishing materials to be used.
FACADE – The front of a building.
FASCIA – Any cover board or framed metal assembly at the edge or eaves of an overhanging roof which is placed in a vertical position to protect the roof assembly.
FINISH/FINAL GRADE – Any surface that has been cut to or built to the elevation indicated for that point. Surface elevation of lawn, driveway, or other improved surfaces after completion of grading operations.
FLASHING – A weatherproof material installed between roof sheathing (and wall sheathing) and the finish materials to help keep moistures away from the sheathing.
FLOOR PLAN – The basic layout of building or addition that includes placement of walls, windows and doors as well as dimensions.
FOOTINGS – Wide pours of cement reinforced with re-bar (reinforcing bar) that supports foundation walls, pillars, or posts. Footings are part of the foundation and are often poured before the foundation walls.
GABLE – The end of a building as distinguished from the front or rear side. Or the triangular end of an exterior wall from the level of the eaves to the ridge of a double-sloped roof.
GASKETS – Pre-formed shapes, such as strips, grommets, etc. of rubber or rubber-like composition, used to fill and seal a joint or opening either alone or in conjunction with a supplemental application of a sealant.
GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFC or GFCI) – An electrical device capable of disconnecting a circuit when it detects the current is not balanced between an energized and neutral conductor.
GROUNDING ROD – Rod used to ground an electrical panel.
GROUT/GROUTING – A cement mortar mixture commonly used to fill joints and cavities of masonry.
GUTTER – Metal trough at the eaves of a roof to carry rainwater from the roof to the downspout.
HARDWARE – Metal accessories such as doorknobs, towel bars, toilet paper holders, etc.
HATCH – An opening in a deck; floor or roof. The usual purpose is to provide access from inside the building.
HEADER – Framing members over windows, doors or other openings.
HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR (HRV) – A system that provides fresh air and improved climate control by collecting and exhausting stale indoor air and drawing in outdoor air. Excel Homes builds with passive heat recovery ventilators which are also known as PHRV.
HERMETIC SEAL – Vacuum seal between panes of a double-paned window (i.e. insulated glass unit of IGU). Failure of a hermetic seal causes permanent fogging between the panels of the IGU.
HOMEOWNER – The registered, legal owner of the home. Until title is formally transferred, the home remains the property of the builder.
HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE – Maintenance performed or required to be performed by homeowners. Homeowners need to familiarize themselves with mechanical systems, utilities and routines involved in the maintenance of the home. Damages caused by improper homeowner maintenance are not covered by warranty protection.
HONEYCOMB – Areas in a foundation wall where the aggregate (gravel) is visible.
HUMIDITY (RELATIVE) – The amount of water vapour within the air expressed as a percentage of the amount of water the air can hold at one atmosphere pressure and at a given temperature.
HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) – This acronym refers to the systems that regulate and move heated and cooled air throughout residential and commercial buildings is used from homes to offices to indoor stadiums.
INSULATION – Generally, any material that slows down or retards the flow or transfer of heat. Building insulation types are classified according to form as loose fill, flexible, rigid, reflective, and foamed-in-place. All types are rated according to their ability to resist heat flow (R-Value).
INTERIOR FLOOR PLANS – A scaled-down overview for each level of the home, including the basement.
JAMB – The frame in which a door or window sits.
JOINT – The space or opening between two or more adjoining surfaces.
JOIST – The horizontal framing members that support the floors.
LINTEL/HEADER – A horizontal piece of wood or steel over an opening such as a window or door which supports the walls immediately above the opening.
LOAD BEARING COMPONENT – The support system of the home capable of transmitting live and dead loads to the supporting ground as determined from the plans and specifications of the home, and includes only the footings, piles, foundation walls, grade beams, teleposts, load bearing walls, beams, floor systems and roof trusses.
LOT – A parcel of ground with boundaries determined by the municipality where the home will be built. The loan size is typically expressed in terms of square meters or feet. The lot size determines which home models can be built on each lot.
LOT GRADES – The engineering design level (or elevation) of the house on a lot in relation to the sidewalk, road, laneway and adjacent property. Grades also determine a number of other factors including the need for window wells and retaining walls, the design of steps and the profile of the lot after landscaping. Proper planning of Grades is essential to avoid surface water problems that could result in a damp basement or water intrusion.
LOT GRADING TERMINOLOGY:
- Level Lot – flat lot
- Level Transitional – flat lot with a grade adjustment on one side
- Back-to-Front Slope – higher grade at the rear of the lot
- Back-to-Front Transitional – higher grade at the rear of the lot with a grade adjustment on one side
- Front-to-Back Slope – higher grade at the front of the lot
- Front-to-Back Transitional – higher grade at the front of the lot with a grade adjustment on one side
- Walkout Lot – low enough grade at the rear of the lot so you are able to walk directly out of your lower level into your backyard. It makes a two-storey home feel like a three-storey home.
- Walkout Transitional – a walk-out with a grade adjustment on one side
LOT PLAN / GRADE SLIP – The orientation and location of your new home.
MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY – Guarantee made by the fabricator or assembler of a product regarding the performance, quality and reliability of that product.
MODEL – A specific home with a particular floor plan and elevation.
MOISTURE SMART® – A code of practice managed by the Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP) that provides member builders guidelines to achieve consistent results in moisture prevention through enhanced building practices.
MOLDING – Finish wood such as door and window trim.
MULTI-FAMILY – Also known as a multi-dwelling unit (MDU), it is a housing classification where multiple separate housing units are containing within one or several buildings in one development/complex. This term is different from "Single Family" which is another type of residential dwelling.
MUNICIPALITY – An incorporated city, county, metropolitan authority, town, village, township, district or rural municipality or other incorporated municipal body having corporate status and powers of self-government.
NAILER – A piece of lumber secured to non-nailable walls by bolts or other means, which provide a suitable backing onto which a deck or other component may be mechanically fastened.
NORMAL WEAR-AND-TEAR – Physical deterioration arising from age and normal use.
ON CENTRE (OC) - A measurement term meaning a certain distance between like materials. Studs placed at 16” O.C. will be laid out so that there is 16” from the centre of one stud to the centre of the next.
ORGANIC – A term designating any chemical compound which contains carbon and hydrogen.
OVERHANG – That part of the roof structure that extends horizontally beyond the vertical plane of the exterior walls of a building.
PARGING – A thin application of plaster (or cement) for coating a wall.
PATINA – The change in an object’s surface appearance resulting from natural aging due to normal wear and tear and oxidation.
PAVER STONES – Usually pre-cast concrete slabs used to create a traffic surface.
PHASE/STAGE – Developments are typically created in phases or stages (depending on the municipality), or large portions of an entire community. Generally, phase/stage 1 opens first, followed by the second and third phase/stages, and so on. The number of phase/stages in each community depends upon how large the community is and what time frame the developer uses to create the community.
PLOT PLAN – A bird’s eye view showing how a building sits on the building lot, typically showing setbacks (how far the building must sit from the road), easements, rights of way, and drainage.
POSSESSION CERTIFICATE/INSPECTION FORM – A certificate signed by the Purchaser at the end of the possession inspection and orientation which indicates approval of the overall finish of the home and notes any defects and deficiencies.
POST & BEAM CONSTRUCTION – The most common type of wall framing, using posts which carry horizontal beams on which joists are supported. It allows for fewer bearing partitions and less material.
PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER – Lumber that is treated in such a way that the sealer is forced into the pores of the wood.
PRIMER – A material of relatively thin consistency applied to a surface for the purpose of creating a more secure bonding surface and to form a barrier to prevent migration of components.
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT – A thermostat that raises and lowers the temperature automatically based on user preferences.
PROPERTY INSURANCE – Insurance that you buy for the building(s) on the land you own. This insurance should be high enough to pay for the building to be re-built if it is destroyed by fire or other hazards listed in the policy.
PROPERTY TAXES – Taxes charged by the municipality where the home is located based on the value of the home. In some cases the lender will collect a monthly amount to cover your property taxes which is then paid by the lender to the municipality on your behalf.
RAFTER – A sloping roof member that supports the roof covering that extends from the ridge or the hip of the roof to the eaves. A common rafter is one which runs square with the plate and extends to the ridge.
RAIL – The top and bottom frame members of a door or window (not the jamb).
RAKE – The angle of slope of a roof rafter.
REAL PROPERTY REPORT (RPR) – A legal document that clearly illustrates the property boundaries and measurements, specifies the location of all visible public and private improvements relative to the property boundaries and indicates any easements or encroachments. The buyer, the seller, the lending institution and the municipality can rely upon it as an accurate representation of the improvements on the property.
RE-BAR – Reinforcing bar used to increase the tensile strength of concrete.
REGISTER – A fixture through which conditioned air flows. In a gravity heating system, it is located near the baseboard.
REINFORCED CONCRETE – A combination of steel and concrete using the best properties of each. The steel consists of rebar or reinforcing bars and is placed before concrete is poured.
RETURN – In heating and cooling systems, a vent that returns cold air to be warmed. In a hot air furnace system, it is located near an inside wall.
ROUGH OPENING – The opening in a wall into which a door or window is to be installed.
ROUGH PLUMBING – All plumbing that should be done before the finished trades (eg. sheetrock, painting, etc.) including all waste lines and supply water lines that are in the walls or framing of the building.
R-VALUE – The thermal resistance of a glazing system. The higher the R-value, the less heat is transmitted throughout the glazing material.
SASH – The window frame, including muntin bars if used.
SEALANT – A material with adhesive qualities applied between components of a similar or dissimilar nature to provide an effective barrier.
SEASONAL DEFICIENCIES – Items resulting from a delay in exterior work such as applying paint, parging or stucco and pouring concrete driveways or sidewalks and final grading of the property – usually due to cold weather.
SHEATHING – Plywood or wood fiber encasing walls, ceilings, floors and roofs of framed buildings. It is the first layer of outer wall covering nailed to the studs or rafters.
SHEETROCK – Panels made primarily from gypsum installed over the framing to form the interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock is often called gypsum board.
SHINGLES – Small units of material that are laid in a series of overlapping rows as a roof covering on pitched roofs.
SHOW HOME – A home built to showcase workmanship, quality and available options.
SILL STEP – The first step coming directly off a building at the door openings.
SINGLE FAMILY – Also known as single family dwelling (SFD), it is a housing classification defining one household or family that is consisting one dwelling unit or suite. Basement suites are allowed in single family residences. This term is different from "Multi-Family" which is another type of residential dwelling.
SKYLIGHT – A structure on a roof that is designed to admit light and is somewhat above the plane of the roof surface.
SLOPE – Incline or pitch of roof surface.
SOFFIT – The underside of a part or member of a building extending out from the plane of the building walls.
SPALLING – The chipping or flaking of concrete, bricks or other masonry.
STAGE/PHASE - See "Phase/Stage".
STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS – A list that refers to all of the regular items that comprise a new home which outlines construction and finish details. Specifications are an important part of the Agreement and take precedence over working drawings in the case of a discrepancy between working drawings and specifications.
STRUCTURAL DEFECT – The failure of a load-bearing component. Items, which are not considered structural defects are driveways, basement and garage floors, patios, sidewalks, retaining walls, and other concrete work, which are not load bearing.
STRUCTURAL PLANS – Working drawings that provide cross-sectional views and details of the structural components of your new home. These include foundation footings, basement walls, roof trusses, floor joists and load-bearing beams.
STUCCO – A type of cementitious exterior finish.
STUD – The evenly spaced, vertical framing members of a wall.
SUB-FLOOR – Material such as particleboard installed before finish flooring materials.
SUBSTRATE – A part or substance which lies below and supports another.
SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT – A process of establishing and maintaining grades and systems for the control of surface water.
TAPING – Applying joint tape over embedding compound during the joint treatment of drywall.
TEXTURE PAINT – One that may be manipulated by brush, trowel or other to give various patterns.
TONGUE AND GROOVE – An expression used in flooring where the tongue of one board is joined to the groove of another board.
TRUSS – A major supporting structure usually made of timber.
UNIFORM – Having similar form, colour, texture or attributes throughout a defined area.
VALVE – A device to sop, start or regulate the flow of liquid or gas through or from piping.
VAPOUR – The gaseous form of any substance.
VENT PIPE – A vertical pipe of relatively small dimensions that protrudes through a roof to provide for the ventilation of gasses.
VENT STACK – A vertical vent pipe installed for the purpose of providing circulation of air to and from any part of a drainage system.
VENT SYSTEM – In plumbing, a system to provide a flow or air to or from a drainage system or to provide circulation of air within such system to protect traps and seals from siphonage and backpressure.
VENTING – The process of installing roof vents in a roof assembly to relieve water vapor.
VOLTAGE – The driving force behind the flow of electricity somewhat like pressure in a water pipe.
WALK THROUGH – An inspection of a home.
WARRANTY – A commitment that workmanship and material comprising the construction of the home will meet a specified condition or level of performance over a specified period of time.
WATER VAPOUR – Moisture existing as a gas in air.
WEEP HOLE – A hole which allows for drainage of entrapped water from masonry or glazing structures.
WORKING DRAWINGS – Scaled-down two-dimensional working drawings containing Exterior Elevations, Interior Floor Plans and Structural Plans which serve a number of purposes from receiving municipal building permit approval, to ordering from suppliers, to providing direction for sub-trades.
ZONING BY-LAWS – Municipal or regional bylaws that specify the use of or restrict land use including set-backs and building types.
Disclaimer: While all efforts have been made to ensure the reliability and currency of the terms, definitions and descriptions on this page, it is important to note that this page should be used as a resource not an authority. Excel Homes accepts no responsibility or liability with regard to the information provided.
Last updated on Oct. 2, 2023