Business / Construction Glossary

Batten: Narrow strips of wood used to cover joints or as decorative vertical members over plywood or wide boards.

Bay Window: Any window space projecting outward from the walls of a building, either square or polygonal in plan.

Beam: A structural member transversely supporting a load. A structural member carrying building loads (weight) from one support to another. Sometimes called a 'girder'.

Bearing Header: (a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural member over an . . . View Full Definition

Bearing Partition: A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Bearing Point: A point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation

Bearing Wall: A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Bedrock: A subsurface layer of earth that is suitable to support a structure.

Bid: A formal offer by a contractor, in accordance with specifications for a project, to do all or a phase of the work at a certain price in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the offer.

Bid Bond: A bond issued by a surety on behalf of a contractor that provides assurance to the recipient of the contractor's bid that, if the bid is accepted, the contractor will execute a contract and . . . View Full Definition

Bid Security: Funds or a bid bond submitted with a bid as a guarantee to the recipient of the bid that the contractor, if awarded the contract, will execute the contract in accordance with the bidding req . . . View Full Definition

Bid Shopping: A practice by which contractors, both before and after their bids are submitted, attempt to obtain prices from potential subcontractors and material suppliers that are lower than the contrac . . . View Full Definition

Bidding Requirements: The procedures and conditions for the submission of bids. The requirements are included ion documents, such as the notice to bidders, advertisements for bids, instructions to bidders, invita . . . View Full Definition

Bifold Door: Doors that are hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller area than standard swing doors. Often used for closet doors.

Binder: A receipt for a deposit to secure the right to purchase a home at an agreed terms by a buyer and seller.

Bipass Doors: Doors that slide by each other and commonly used as closet doors.

Blankets: Fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation that comes in long rolls 15 or 23 inches wide.

Block Out: To install a box or barrier within a foundation wall to prevent the concrete from entering an area. For example, foundation walls are sometimes 'blocked' in order for mechanical pipes to pas . . . View Full Definition

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