Business / Construction Glossary

Attic Access: An opening that is placed in the drywalled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic.

Attic Ventilators: In houses, screened openings provided to ventilate an attic space.

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 charge . . . View Full Definition

Backfill: The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a basement /crawl space foundationwall.

Backing: Frame lumber installed between the wall studs to give additional support for drywall or an interior trim related item, such as handrail brackets, cabinets, and towel bars. In this way, items . . . View Full Definition

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 home ready for . . . View Full Definition

Ballast: A transformer that steps up the voltage in a florescent lamp.

Balloon : A loan that has a series of monthly payments with the remaining balance due in a large lump sum payment at the end.

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.

Balusters: Vertical members in a railing used between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair treads. Sometimes referred to as 'pickets' or 'spindles'.

Balustrade: The rail, posts and vertical balusters along the edge of a stairway or elevated walkway.

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.

Base Or Baseboard: A trim board placed against the wall around the room next to the floor.

Base Shoe: Molding used next to the floor on interior base board. Sometimes called a carpet strip.

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

Bat : A half-brick.

Batt : A section of fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation measuring 15 or 23 inches wide by four to eight feet long and various thickness'. Sometimes 'faced' (meaning to have a paper covering on one . . . View Full Definition

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