A.C.C~an authority to commence construction. Aggregate~Gravel or rocks that are used in concrete Architrave~Timber strips on face of all around windows and doors. Area allowance~ An allowance charged to cover the additional costs involved in building in distant or difficult to access areas. Australian Height Datum~the value to which all vertical control for mapping is to be referred. Australian Standard~mandatory when referred to in building regulations. Awning window~ A window usually timber hinged at the top. The bottom moves out on spiral screw. Balcony~A balustraded platform with access from an upper floor level. Baluster~One of the vertical pieces of a stair or porch railing. Balustrade~Railing fixed from stair treads, landing, balcony or bridge. Bargeboard~A wide timber piece or more recently metal piece at the end of the gable to screen off ends of tiles, batterns etc. Bay window~A projecting compartment that is glazed and has windows all around. Beam~a Large solid member of timber or steel to carry loads. Bearer~ A sub-floor structural timber member which supports the floor joists. Bi-fold doors~ A door consisting of a number of hinged leafs folding to one or both sides of a door opening. B.O.S.~An acronym which stands for Building over sewer. Bottom plate~Timber plate at the bottom of a wall frame. Box gutter~A roof guttering which is not on the exterior edge of the roof. Brace~A member usually a diagonal which resists lateral forces and/or movements of a framed structure. Brick ties~Galvanised steel wire (or plastic) ties built into brick walls to link internal and external portions of a cavity brick wall. Bricks~ Made of clay and fired in a kiln. Brick veneer construction~a single leaf non-load bearing wall of brickwork, tied to a load-bearing structure. Building agreement~The document signed by both customer and the builder that governs relations between the two. Building Code of Australia~A set of national requirements for the use in the design, construction, alteration or demolition of buildings. Bulkhead~Lowered portion of a ceiling usually to hide a beam, a drainage pipe or as a decorative feature. Cavity~The space between the brick skin and the timber frame in a brick veneer wall. Ceiling~The top or overhead portion of a room or building. Ceiling Joist~The structural member that supports the ceiling lining and ties the roof to the rest of the structure at wall plate level. Cement render~A wall finish where cement mixture is plastered onto a wall surface. May be smooth or patterned. Certificate of Title~Document issued by the Land Titles Office that confirms the registered owner of the land. Check Survey~A survey to confirm that the home is positioned on site as per the approved plans. Column~ A free standing vertical load bearing member usually stone, brick, aluminium or another compound. Construction Certificate~The final component of approval to construct. Construction insurance premium~ Insurance taken out by the builder to insure against theft, damage, fire, public risk etc. Construction joint~A joint provided in structure to allow for movement in the structure due to expansion and contraction. Contour Survey~A survey of the building site that identifies the amount of rise/fall represented by lines of equal level. Cornice~Mouldings fixed to the junctions of walls and ceilings. Course step down~The stepped down edge of concrete slab on which the outer brick wall rests. Cut and fill~Used to provide a level area on a sloping site. Development Application~The plans submitted to be approved by the Local Council. Damp-proof course~A layer of an impervious material placed in a masonry wall to prevent the migration of moisture. Dressed all round~timber that has been planed on all sides. Detention pit~A pit designed to slow down the flow of stormwater from private property into the public drainage system. Door furniture~Used to describe any fittings on the door except the hinges. Door jambs~The vertical sides of the door opening. Double Hung window~A window where two sashes fill the opening, and both are vertically sliding. Deposited Plan ~A plan which shows the exact bearings and dimensions of the block of land and any easements on it. Driveway gradient~The gradient of the driveway between the garage floor and the front boundary. Dual water~Where a block is serviced by town water and grey water services. Duct~Any large pipe used to distribute air from a central heating or air-conditioning system. Ducted exhaust fan~A device connected to ducts that will direct kitchen and/or bathroom fumes to the outside of the home. Earth leakage safety switch~A device designed to prevent electrocution and some fires. Easement~A restriction on the title to your land which means that part of the land is to be left free for some purpose. Eaves gutter~A preformed trough fixed to the fascia board or the face of rafters. Efflorescence~A white, powdery substance that sometimes appears on brick walls. Effluent~A liquid discharge from sewerage or septic systems. Electrical earth~A safety circuit that should cause electric current to flow to earth, usually a wire connected to a water pipe. Escutcheon plate~A plate surrounding or covering a keyhole. Facade~The front of a house. Fanlight~A semicircular transom window over a door or window. Fascia~ Timber board to which the gutter is fitted metal or timber edge capping of the roof to which the rain water gutter is fixed. Fibreglassing~ A waterproofing process for the wet areas where required. Fibrous plaster~Gypsum plaster cast in sheets, which is reinforced with sisal or fibreglass fibres. Final account~The final statement of account prepared prior to the handover of completed home. Finial~ Decorative finish at the top of the gable. Flashing~A strip of impervious material dressed or fitted to cover a joint or cavity where water would otherwise penetrate. Flight~ An uninterrupted series of steps between floors or between a floor and a landing. Flood Study~Completed by a registered surveyor to determine the degree of inundated effect of a flood way and/or over land flow condition. Floor space ratio~Amount of floor space divided into size of land eg 4/10 or 40% of gross land area. Footing~A concrete construction in either strip or pad form or integrated into the design of a concrete slab. Foundation~The natural or built-up formation of soil, sub-soil or rock upon which a building or structure is supported. Frieze~ Continuous band of decorative panelling under the edge of a verandah or decorative panel around the top of the wall. Gable end~The vertical end, generally triangular of a roof above the eaves line. Geotechnical Report~a document detailing the suitablility of the surface soil and the substarts for building Glazing~The glass element of a window, door, sidelite OR the surface finish of roof tiles and bathroom tiles. Glazing bar~The timber or aluminium bar or strip on windows that divides the panes into smaller areas. Grout~The joint filling material used in wall and floor tiling. Gyprock~A trade name for plasterboard. Header~A wall framing member used over a door or window opening. Highlight~A glazed panel positioned above a standard window or front entry unit. Hip roof~The sloping end of a roof where the ridge line splits and terminates on the external corner. House peg out survey~used to position set out pegs to show concretors the precise position of the home. Infill panel~A panel or section used to fill in an area or space between structural sections. Infill Slab~A reinforced concrete slab poured inside a perimeter wall of brick work. Insulation~A material used to improve the thermal or acoustic efficiency of a building. Jamb~The inside of a door frame. Joist~Timber or steel beam directly supporting a floor or ceiling. Ceiling Joist~A beam spanning between walls or other supports which carries the ceiling below it, but not the floor above. Floor Joist~A beam to which the flooring is fixed, usually supported by bearers. Lagging~Material wrapped around piping for insulation or protection of pipe, particularly reducing heat loss in hot water pipes. Laminated timber~Made from several timber sections glued together to increase its strength or to create a multi-grain effect in benchtops etc. Landing~An intermediate platform between two flights of stairs. Lattice~A framework of crossed wood or metal strips used as a screen. Letter of commencement~ A letter from a lending authority confirming that mortgage documents have been signed and it is ok to start building. Lintel~A beam spanning over an opening and supporting loads above. Louvre~an overlapping timber, glass or metal blades built into an adjustable frame or opening to ventilate, or control light penetration. Manhole~An access opening in a ceiling, etc, to allow inspection of the roof structure, floor structure, plumbing or electrical wiring. Mantle~The shelf above a fireplace. Masonry~A construction of brick, concrete block, stone, terra cotta or other structural units laid in mortar. Moulding~Decorative strips of wood used to conceal joints. Mortar~A suitable proportioned plastic mixture of sand, cement and/or lime, or proprietry plasticiser and water. Mullion~The vertical member between two adjoining windows. Newel~The bottom or top post of a stair balustrade. Nogging~A horizontal timber strut fixed between studs or joists in framed construction to provide stiffening. Nosing~The internal sill finish of a window, or the leading edge of a stair thread. Notice of Practical Completion~Provided by the builder to client to indicate that in the builders view contracted works are now completed. Provisional Allowance~An estimated sum allowed for the completion of a particular item of work eg. rock excavation. Panelled door~Door with sunken raised panels on its faces. Panel lift doors~Trade name for sectional lift panel garage doors. Doors roll up in 4-5 sections. Prime Cost Items)~Generally items like baths, toilets, stoves etc. and "white goods". Pediment~Projecting triangular gable over an entrance, door or window or forming the gable end of a roof. Peg off set~The distance from the house to the surveyors pegs. Pest Treatment~Treatments to the underside of the slab, the perimeter of the slab and to the timber frame to prevent termites. Pier~A column or post supporting a superstructure, such as beams, floor or verandah bearers. Piering~Columns of concrete, usually poured into drilled holes in the ground, on which the concrete slab will rest. Pitch~The angle of a sloping roof, usually expressed in degrees eg. 22 degree pitch. Plaster~A mixture of lime or cement and sand used to cover walls or ceilings. Plasterboard~A plasterboard wall and ceiling lining sheets. Plate~A horizontal member, usually on flat and supported throughout its length. Plumb~Vertical and even, 90 degrees to level. Proof of Funds~Evidence furnished by the client to the builder that sufficient funds exist to pay the contract sum. Pointing~The filling of joints in brickwork or masonry. Quarry Tile~Machine-made, unglazed tile often used for floors. Quoin~A decorative stone or brick corner of a wall. Quote~The document provided by the builder that details what work is to be done and the costs included. Raked Ceiling~Where the ceiling line follows the line of the roof timbers also referred to as a Cathedral Ceiling. Rafter~A sloping member in a roof providing the principal structural support for the roofing material. Raft slab~A concrete floor slab designed with integrated edge and internal beams to support the full load of the structure above. Reactive Soil~subject to varying degrees of swelling and shrinkage due to changes in moisture content. Render~A hardwall finish such as cement or plaster applied to brick or masonry walls. Reinforcement~Rods, bars or prefabricated mesh, usually of steel, embedded in concrete for the purpose of resisting particular stresses. Reinforced concrete~Concrete which has been strengthened by the inclusion of steel reinforcing mesh, bars and rods. Restrictive covenant~Restrictions placed on the title of the land which prevent the owner from doing certain things. Ridge~The highest edge of a roof, usually horizontal. Riser~The vertical surface of a stair between two treads. Roller door~Metal garage door that roll up on a drum, manually activated or motor driven. Roof~The upper enclosing element of a building or area which gives protection to the covered space from the external environment. Gambrel roof (Dutch Gable)~one having a small gable near the ridge of a hipped end. Hip(ped) roof~one which is pyramidal in shape with sloping surfaces and level eaves all round. Skillion roof~one which slopes on one direction only, without a ridge or peak. Roof tile~Usually of concrete or terracotta. Roughing in~The preliminary stage of installation of plumbing, wiring etc. Right of Way~A restriction on the title that grants vehicular access for adjoining properties over your land. Sarking~The silver like membrane laid on over the roof timbers and immediately under the roof tiles. Sash~Framework that holds the panes of glass in a window. Scaffolding~A tubular steel structure assembled on site which provides a working platform for tradesmen. Scale~The relationship of the size of a drawing to the size of the actual object Seasoned Timber~Timber dried to a stable moisture content prior to use. Section~Elevation view through a cut away. Sediment Control Barrier~A barrier placed around the boundary of the land on the low side to prevent silt or soil washing from the land. Septic system~A sullage disposal system. Set back~The distance from the front boundary to the front of the home. Shadow Diagram~A diagramatic representation of the shadowing effect on adjoining properties by the proposed new home. Sill~The lower horizontal portion of a window or door. Site~The block of land on which the home is to be built. Site Analysis~Site analysis examines and records the existing characteristics of the site. Site cost~an expense that arises from placing a chosen home on your land and the cost of connecting to services. Site coverage~The percentage of the site covered by the new home. Site inspection~Carried out on your new building site to assess the all characteristics that are to be assessed in preparing a quotation. Skillion~A roof sloping in one direction only with rafters pitching from, or leaning against the wall. Skirting~Narrow and horizontal timber or customwood strips around the bottom of internal wall where it joins the floor. Slab~A flat concrete foundation that rests directly onto the ground, sometimes called slab-on-ground. Slab in brick work~A flooring system where by before the concrete slab is poured a perimeter wall of brick work is constructed. Soil classification~A system to gauge reactivity of soil. Soffit~The underside of eaves. Span~The horizontal distance between two supports of a beam bridge or other structural element. Stormwater Management System~designed for the collection and controlled distribution of roof and surface water on a building site. Stringer~The two pieces of timber between which the stairs are set. Stud~An upright supporting member of a timber wall frame to which wall covering (plasterboard) are fixed. Sub-floor~The open space below an elevated floor. Terracotta~A reddish-brown, fired clay often used to make flowerpots, flooring tiles, roof tiles and other decorative ornaments. Tiger Tail~a black and yellow striped warning over existing aerial powerlines for the protection of workers on a building site. Tilt-a-door~Usually timber on metal frame that tilts up in one piece to permit passage. Top plate~Timber plate at the top of a wall frame. Transom~A horizontal member dividing window or door frame units at the top of the frame. Transom light~A sash or light above a door or window, usually fixed. Tread~The horizontal part of a stair upon which you step. Truss~A structural frame made up wholly of members in tension or compression lying in the same plane. Valley gutter~A metal gutter built into the roof valley to carry water to the eaves guttering. Variation~An alteration to standard design or specification. Generally not accepted by the builder after Building Agreement signed. Vault~A space with an arched ceiling. Verandah~A long covered porch. Waffle pod slab~An engineered slab design featuring a grid of internal beams created around polystyrene pod formers. Washable paint~Internal wall paint that can be lightly washed to remove grime and finger marks. Weephole~A formed opening in a masonry wall to permit the drainage of any accumulated water. Wind load~All forces on a building or structure caused by or imputed due to wind pressure. Zone of influence~A term used to describe the area adjacent to sewer pipes or stormwater lines.