The construction industry can be complex, with a plethora of technical terms and jargon that may be overwhelming for beginners. Whether you’re starting out in construction management or planning to buy a home, it’s important to have a basic understanding of industry terminology. To simplify the process, we have created a comprehensive construction glossary that covers the most frequently used terms in the industry. Use this handy resource to familiarise yourself with key construction concepts presented below in an ascending manner.
Aggregate
A mixture of sand, gravel, crushed stone, or other material used as a building material.
Backfill
Soil or other material used to fill a hole or trench after excavation.
Beam
A horizontal structural member that supports the weight of a building or other structure.
Blueprints
Detailed plans for a building or other construction project, typically including floor plans, elevations, and sections.
Bricks
Rectangular blocks of baked clay, used as a building material.
Building envelope
The outer shell of a building, including the roof, walls, windows, and doors, which separates the interior from the exterior
environment.
Building code
A set of regulations that govern the design, construction, and safety of buildings.
Building permit
Authorization from a government agency to begin construction of a building or other structure.
Concrete
A mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water used as a building material.
Contractor
A person or company hired to perform construction work.
Cranes
Large machines with a long arm and hook used to lift and move heavy objects on a construction site.
Drywall
Panels made of gypsum plaster and paper, used to create interior walls and ceilings.
Electrical wiring
The system of wires and cables used to carry electricity throughout a building.
Excavation
The process of removing soil or other material from a construction site.
Foundation
The base on which a building or other structure is built, typically made of concrete or masonry.
Framing
The process of building the structural framework of a building or other structure.
HVAC
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems used to control the temperature and air quality of a building.
Insulation
Material used to reduce heat loss or gain in a building.
Joist
A horizontal beam used to support a floor or ceiling.
Lath
Thin strips of wood or metal used to provide a base for plaster or stucco on interior or exterior walls.
Load-bearing wall
A wall that supports the weight of a building or other structure.
Masonry
The use of bricks, stones, or other materials bound together with mortar to create walls, columns, or other structures.
Mezzanine
A partial floor between two main levels of a building.
Mortar
A mixture of cement, sand, and water used to bond bricks, stones, or other building materials.
Nail gun
A tool that uses compressed air or electricity to drive nails into wood or other materials.
Plumbing
The system of pipes and fixtures used to supply water and remove waste from a building.
Plywood
A type of engineered wood made by gluing together layers of thin sheets of wood.
Prefabrication
The process of constructing building components off-site and then assembling them on-site.
Rafter
A sloping structural member used to support a roof.
Rebar
Short for reinforcing bar, steel bars used to reinforce concrete.
Roofing
The materials and construction methods used to create a weatherproof covering for a building.
Scaffold
A temporary structure used to support workers and materials during construction or repair of a building or other structure.
Sheathing
The covering or cladding of the exterior or interior walls of a building with boards, panels, or sheet materials.
Sill
The bottom horizontal member of a window or door frame.
Skid
A timber, log, or steel beam used as a support for heavy machinery or equipment.
Slab
A flat piece of concrete or other material used for flooring, roofing, or other construction purposes.
Span
The distance between two supports, such as the distance between two columns or piers.
Steel reinforcement
Steel bars or mesh used to reinforce concrete or masonry structures.
Stud
A vertical framing member in a wall, typically made of wood or steel.
Subfloor
The layer of flooring underneath the visible flooring, often made of plywood or concrete.
Substrate
The underlying surface or layer on which something is built or attached.
Sump
A pit or reservoir that collects water or other liquid, typically located in a basement or crawl space.
Superstructure
The part of a building or structure that is above ground level, including walls, roof, and floors.
Survey
The process of measuring and mapping land, buildings, or other features to determine their boundaries and dimensions.
Suspended ceiling
A ceiling that hangs below the main structural ceiling and is supported by wires or metal grid systems.
Tension
The stress that is applied to an object in order to stretch or elongate it.
Truss
A structural element that consists of a series of triangles used to support a roof or bridge.
Underlayment
A layer of material installed between a subfloor and the final flooring material to provide a smooth and stable surface.
Ventilation
The process of circulating air through a building in order to remove excess moisture and improve indoor air quality.
Waterproofing
The process of making a structure or material resistant to water penetration.
Workability
The ease with which a construction material can be mixed, placed, and finished during construction.
X-bracing
A diagonal structural element used to brace a building against lateral forces.
Yield strength
The amount of stress that a material can withstand before it permanently deforms or fails.
Zoning
The process of dividing a municipality into different areas, each with its own set of land-use regulations and building codes.
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