ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC SYSTEM - system used to process waste from a home when the land the home is built on does not percolate and therefore cannot accommodate a standard septic system. The price of a system varies widely, depending in part on the topography of the land.

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE - committee of the Homeowner’s Association (HOA) in a subdivision that reviews and gives approval to building plans for homes that are to be built in that neighborhood. The committee is usually made up of a paid architect and local homeowners. Many require a fee that may or may not be refundable.

BATT - precut section of insulation designed to fit between studs.

BAY WINDOW - A set of two or more windows that protrude out from the wall. The window is moved away from the wall to provide more light and wider views..

BEAM - A Horizontal load-bearing element that forms a principal part of a structure, usually using timber, steel, or concrete.

BEARING WALL or PARTITION - an interior wall supporting weight from above

BLUE PRINTS - reproductions of original construction documents that produce blue/black lines on a white background. They are generally very detailed, are used to gain a building permit from the local municipal building department, your HOA’s Architectural review committee and by the builder to build your home. Multiple copies are needed.

BREEZEWAY - a roofed open passage connecting two buildings or parts of a building.

BRICK VENEER - type of wall constructed with facing brick covering a backing wall of frame or masonry.

BUFFER ZONE - segment of land between two disparate municipal zones which acts as a shield to keep one zone from encroaching upon the other. Often used to separate residential districts from commercial areas.

BUILDING CODE - regulations that ensure the safety and material compliance of new construction within a municipality. Building codes are localized to ensure they are adequate to meet the risk of common hazards.

BUILDING ENVELOPE - footprint into which you can build your home. In newer developments, you may purchase a building envelope, which is surrounded by common area space that is owned by the homeowners collectively.

BUNGALOW - one-story, home-style dating from the early twentieth century. Often characterized by a low-pitched roof.

CAPE COD COLONIAL - single-story house style made popular in New England. Often characterized by a steep roof with gables.

CARPORT - roofed area attached to the house designed to protect the car.

CASING - trim bordering the inside or outside of a window or door, commonly referred to as "inside" or "outside" casing.

CAULKING - putty-like substance used to seal joints against the weather.

CEMENT PLASTER - mixture of sand and cement that is applied to the exterior foundation wall beneath ground level to aid in watering proofing.

CERAMIC TILE - any of a wide range of sturdy floor and wall tiles made from fired clay and set with grout. May be glazed or unglazed. Colors and finishes vary. May be used indoors or out.

CLEAN-OUT - opening in the fireplace foundation for disposal of ashes from the ash dump, or a fitting attached to waste and soil pipes to allow the system to be cleaned out

CLINKER BRICK - originally, malformed bricks; when intentionally created, clinker bricks appear burned and often have slight imperfections to suggest they are rustic and handmade.

COMMON BRICK - brick used where strength in construction is required rather than a pleasing appearance.

CONDOMINIUM - development where individual units are owned, but common areas and amenities are shared equally by all owners.

CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION - Commonly, the conversion of a rental property such as an apartment complex into a CONDOMINIUM-style complex where each unit is owned rather than leased.

CONTRACTOR - responsibility for actually building an architect's design rests with the contractor, who commits to a particular price for the work, usually in competition, employs the workforce, and contracts out such specialist work as may be necessary.

COST PER  SQUARE FOOR - figure obtained by dividing the total cost of construction by the area of heated and cooled square feet in the construction building. This figure does not include cost of land or spaces that are not heated and cooled, such as garages, porches, terraces and decks, but is most often used in comparing construction prices.

CPVC - chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride. A plastic plumbing material similar to PVC, but rated for use in hot water systems.

CRAWL SPACE - open space beneath the first floor in a basement less house.

CRICKET - changes the pitch of a pueblo style home roof to divert water to a scupper or drain outlet.

CROWN MOLDING - molding where the wall and ceiling meet; uppermost molding along furniture or cabinetry.

CUL-DE-SAC - Street with only one entrance/exit.

DAMPER - adjustable metal plate controlling convection currents in a fireplace.

DRAW REQUEST - request made by a contractor to be paid for the material and labor installed into a building project during the previous 30 days or after specific stages, to be drawn from the construction loan. Banks will have an appraiser or home inspector review and approve the request, prior to releasing the draw to the contractor.

DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOW - window which operates by means of two sashes that slide vertically past each other.

DUPLEX - single-building improvement which is divided and provides two units which serve as homes to two families.

EASEMENT - the right of a non-owner of property to exert control over a portion or all of the property. For example, power companies often own an easement over residential properties for access to their power lines.

EAVE - projecting lower edge of a roof.

ECONOMIC LIFE - amount of time which any income-producing property is able to provide benefits to its owner.

EFFECTIVE AGE - subjective, estimated age of a property based on its condition, rather than the actual time since it was built. Excessive wear and tear can cause a property's effective age to be greater than its actual age.

ELEVATION - An orthographic view of some vertical feature of a house. (Front, rear, side, interior elevation)

EMINENT DOMAIN - legal process whereby a government can take ownership of a piece of property in order to convert it to public use. Often, the property owner is paid fair-market value for the property.

ENCROACHMENT - building or other improvement on one property which invades another property or restricts its usage.

EXPANSION TANK - tank located near the heating plant of a hot water system used to help balance the pressure.

FLAGSTONE - flat sheets of red or white stone mined locally, used for flooring in homes and on patios.

FLOOR PLAN - representation of a building which shows the basic outline of the structure, as well as detailed information about the positioning of rooms, hallways, doors, stairs and other features, as seen from above. Often includes detailed information about other fixtures and amenities.

FRONTAGE - The segment of a property that runs along a point of access, such as a street or water front. 

GABLE ROOF - the triangular end of a wall above the eaves with a peak roof.

GAMBREL ROOF - ridged roof with two slopes on either side, the lower slope having the steeper pitch Often flared beyond the front and rear of the house forming a deep overhang A common feature on Dutch Colonial

GIRDER - large beam of steel or wood that supports the center of the floor for the length of the house.

HARD COSTS - all the costs associated with a project that purchase real (hard), resalable components, such as land, building materials or construction labor.

HEADER - brick laid in a wall so that only its end appears on the face of the wall. To add a varied appearance to brickwork, headers are alternated with "stretchers," bricks laid full length on their sides

PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION - visual and physical inspection by a licensed home inspector of the various mechanical systems and the physical structure of a home. Many home inspectors have backgrounds as engineers. The home inspector is paid a fee (usually by the buyer or new home owner) and provides a written report detailing information about the home’s condition. It’s equally important to have a newly constructed home inspected as an existing home, as even the most conscientious builders make mistakes. We insist that all our home buyers obtain an inspection for their own protection.

HYDRONIC HEATING - In-floor hot water heating system where hot water is pumped through a thermal mass floor which absorbs the heat and evenly radiates the over an extended period of time.

JAMB - the upright side of a window or door opening, against which the sash or door abuts.

JOIST - one of a series of parallel beams, usually two inches in thickness, used to support floor and ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.

KIVA - small ``beehive-shaped'' fireplace.

LINTEL -  wooden beam bridging window or door openings.

MANUFACTURED HOME - is one that is constructed almost entirely in a factory.

MISSION ROOFING TILE - a clay tile, fourteen to eighteen inches long, curved to the arc of a circle and laid alternately with the concave side up flanked by tiles laid concave side down.

MODULAR HOME - manufactured housing designed for assembly on the home site and built in accordance with a "Specification Code" administered by each state, generally following the national Uniform Building Code (UBC). Constructed of pre-made parts and unit modules, but unlike a manufactured home a modular home must comply with building codes in effect in the area where they are constructed These structures are transported to a location with the intent to remain affixed to that location indefinitely.

MOULDING - continuous, narrow surface (projecting or recesses, plain or ornamented) designed to break up a surface, to accent, or to decorate

NICHE - shallow recess in a wall designed to contain a statue or some other ornament

PERCOLATION TEST - A test performed by a professional to determine if land that does not have public/private sewer service can accommodate a standard septic system. Holes are dug in the land and filled with water to determine the rate of percolation. If land does not perc, an alternative septic system is required.

PITCH - the rate at which a roof or other surface slopes.

PLASTER - surface covering for walls and ceilings applied wet, dries to smooth, hard protective surface.

P0LYETHYLENE - derived from a polymer developed in the 1950's. This pipe is a rigid typically black product used in both sewer and water lines. In 1997 the pipe was also produced blue with black interior or black with a blue stripe. This pipe is typically labeled with either HDPE or MDPE.

PRESSED BRICK - brick molded under mechanical pressure to provide a smooth face.

PUBLIC  REPORT - This report is required to be given to buyers by developers in a new home subdivision. The purpose is to point out information about the development that a buyer might want to know when making a decision to purchase.

PUD - planed unit development can consist of townhomes or single-family dwellings. The residences are grouped into clusters with a substantial amount of remaining land, generally hilltops and wash, left as open space.

PUNCH LIST - written list of unfinished or incorrectly finished items that must be finished or corrected before the owner will accept the project as completed from the contractor.

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride. A plastic plumbing material, typically white or black, used primarily for yard service pipe, outdoor irrigation systems or interior drain, waste and vent systems.

RAFTERS - the parallel beams that support a roof surface.

REINFORCED CONCRETE - concrete in which steel rods or mesh are embedded in the forms prior to pouring so the two materials act together for added strength.

RIVER ROCK - A naturally rounded stone; sometimes called cobbles.

ROUGH IN - to install the basic, hidden parts of a plumbing, electrical, or other system while the structure is in the framing stage. The installation of “finished” electrical work or plumbing consists of the visible parts of the system such as faucets, toilets, ceiling fans, etc.

SALTILLO TILE - simple fired earthen tile made in Saltillo, Mexico.

SANDSTONE - sedimentary rock formed by the consolidation and compaction of sand and held together by a natural cement, such as silica.

SCALE - proportion between two sets of dimensions. On building plans, the house is drawn smaller than the actual house, but in scale, so that the proportions are the same. For example, when the scale is expressed as ¼” = 1’-0”, ¼ inch on the drawing equals 1 foot on the actual house.

SCHEMATIC - an electrical diagram of electrical symbols.

SCUPPER - opening in a building that allows water to run off the deck or roof.

SEPTIC SYSTEMS - household sewage is called black water, and drainage water (from sinks) is called gray water. They drain into a sealed tank that’s located 2 feet below the ground surface. Overflow goes to the leach field for dispersion. The tank’s outlet is about an inch lower than the inlet so that the top scum and bacteria isn’t removed. As the tank fills up, the excess goes out the outlet and along a bunch of perforated pipes to be disbursed by the leach field into the ground water. If a home has a septic tank, a qualified inspector prior to sale must inspect it.

SETBACK - The statutory distance between buildings and the property line, imposed by municipalities, home associations, or other agreements.

SHUTOFF VALVE - This valve is close to the house or inside the house and shuts the water off to the interior water lines.

SIDELIGHTS - narrow vertical windows beside an entry door.

SILL PLATE - the lowest member in the framing of a structure; usually 2-by (as in 2x4, 2x6, etc.) lumber bolted to the foundation wall on which the floor joists rest. Also called a mudsill.

SITE PLAN - drawing of all the existing conditions on the lot, usually including slope and other topography, existing utilities, and setbacks.

SKELETON FRAMING - construction in which a steel or reinforced concrete frame carries the weight of the building.

SLATE - fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin, smooth-surfaced layers. In building, most often used in this area for roofing.

SLEEPERS - joist set in concrete to provide nailing strips for flooring.

SLIDING WINDOW - window that opens by sliding large panes from one side to the other.

SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS - systems designed to heat water for the potable water system. These are not designed to heat living spaces. These are usually installed as an auxiliary system that works in conjunction with a standard water heater.

SPANISH CLAY TILE - a roofing material made from clay soil into red brick; common to Mediterranean Revival houses.

SPECIFICATIONS - document that takes up where drawn plans leave off. This includes quantity and quality of material and a general description of how the work should be done and what will be included.

STRIKING JOINTS - the act of forming the mortar at the joints of brick, stone , or tile construction for the purpose of decoration.

STRUT - a brace or other structural piece designed to resist pressure in a framework.

STUCCO - a mixture of Portland cement, sand, lime and water spread over metal screening or chicken wire or wooden lath on wooden walls to form the exterior covering of and exterior wall.

STUDS - upright timbers in a timber-framed building.

SUBCONTRACTOR - any constructor entity with which another constructor entity (prime, sub, or any level) contracts to perform part or all of the work the original constructor has already contracted to do. This relationship can exist in both design-bid-build and design-build.

SUBFLOOR – plywood or oriented strand boards attached to the joists. The finish floor is laid over the subfloor.

SURVEY - provided by a professional surveyor who marks the corner boundaries and researches any easements or encroachments of a property for a fee. Now often required as part of a home or land sale. A surveyor can also provide a topographical survey, which shows trees and changes in elevations on land that is used by an architect for designing a custom home.

SWISS CAP - decorative furnace cap that exhales smoke by spinning.

TABBY - a concrete building material made by mixing oyster shells and lime.

TALAVERA TILE - colorful hand-decorated Mexican tile used for counter tops and trim

TERRA COTTA - Hard fired clay, brownish-orange in color, used for pottery, roofing, floor tiles (ladrillos), and bricks.

TIE-BEAM -  main horizontal beam in a roof, connecting the bases of the rafters, usually just above a wall.

TIE ROD - a metal rod that passes through a wall or building and is anchored at each end to create structural tension.

TRELLISWORK - an open pattern of interwoven strips, usually of wood but sometimes metal; also called latticework.

TRUSS - an assemblage of beams forming a framework, that serves as a bracket to support other members or to bridge a span.

VARIANCE - an exemption to the zoning ordinance for a specific parcel of land.

VENEER -  decorative covering of brick, wood, stone, or other material over rough construction, used to simulate more substantial or expensive construction.

VIGAS - ceiling beams or rafters made from single logs or poles,either shaved or raw, to support ceiling and roof.

VITRIFIED - surface glazed, referring to brick and other fired clay products.

WAINSCOT - a paneled wooden lining of an interior wall, usually extending only about halfway up the wall.

WHITEWASH A mixture of lime and water, often with whiting, size, or glue added, that is used to whiten walls, fences, or other structures.

WORKING DRAWING SET - the architect will provide a set of drawings needed to apply for a building permit. Here’s a typical list: Plot plan of the entire parcel with all existing and proposed structures – Floor plan with the location, size, and use of each room, location and size of windows and doors, location of plumbing and heating fixtures – Foundation plan with all dimensions including exterior and interior footings, stem wall, pier blocks, and foundation support- Elevation plan of the finished exterior including all openings, siding material, original and finished grade, and roof pitch – Framing plan for floors and roof including lumber grade, floor girder size and spacing, floor joists, wall studs, ceiling joist, and roof rafters and/or trusses – Electrical plan that shows the location of outlets, plugs, ceiling lights and subpanels – Signatures of plan designers and engineers as required by code – Other items can include structural and engineering calculations, soil report, and permits required by other agencies.

XERISCAPE: Quality, low-maintenance landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment by using mulch, soil analysis, and appropriate plant selection. Especially beneficial in drought-ridden areas.

ZONE specific area within a municipality or other jurisdiction which conforms to certain guidelines regarding the use of property in the zone. Typical zones include single-family, multi-family, industrial, commercial and mixed-use. Zoning starts at the county or city level. Cities enact zoning laws to isolate land uses. That is, they want to keep commercial uses separate from residential uses. The subcategory zones tell how many residences can be on the property, or how many acres they require per residence, or some other criteria