Glossary Of Terms

A/C Condenser: The outside fan unit of the Air Conditioning system. It removes the heat from the refrigerant gas and "turns" the gas back into a liquid and pumps the liquid back to the coil in the furnace.

Air-vapor barrier: Polyethene sheathing used in the house envelope to reduce the passage of air and moisture into the home.

Amortization: A payment plan by which a loan is reduced through monthly payments of principal and interest

Appraisal: The act or process of estimating value

Architectural Control: The appointed governing architectural firm assigned by the developer to establish and monitor the variety of housing styles, usage of construction materials, landscaping treatments and colouring themes to create a cohesion within the community.

Archway: An entrance or passage under an arch.

Backfill: The material used to re-fill an excavation around the outside of a foundation wall or pipe trench.

Baseboard: A moulded board placed against the wall around a room next to the floor to conceal the joint between the floor and wall finish.

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

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, e.g. roof or floor. In addition to its own weight.

Beam: A horizontal structural member usually wood, steel or concrete, used to support vertical loads

Blown insulation: Fiber insulation in loose form and used to insulate attics and existing walls where framing members are not exposed.

Brick Veneer: A facing of brick tied to a wood frame or masonry wall, serving as a wall covering only and carrying no structural loads.

Cantilever: An overhang. Where one floor extends beyond and over a foundation wall. For example at a fireplace location or bay window cantilever. Normally, not extending over 2 feet.

Capped Rate: The mortgage interest rate will not exceed a specified value during a certain period of time, but it will fluctuate up and down below that level.

Casement Window: A framed window with a sash hinged at the side to open in or out.

Casing: Wood trim molding installed around a door or window opening.

Caulking: (1) A flexible material used to seal a gap between two surfaces e.g. between pieces of siding or the corners in tub walls. (2) To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt plastic cement to prevent leaks.

Change Order: A written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction Contract.

Chattles: Moveable possessions, personal property (generally items that may may be removed without injury to the freehold state.)

Circuit Breaker: A safety device, which opens (breaks) an electric circuit automatically when it becomes overloaded.

Clapboard: A long thin board, thicker on one edge, overlapped and nailed on for exterior siding.

Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (C.M.H.C): A federal crown corporation which administers the "National Housing Act" (NHA), and through which all federal housing policies and programs are implemented.

Construction Lean: A claim against the estate or interest of the owner in a property for labour, services, or materials supplied to it. (Formerly charged under The Mechanics' Lien Act, such claims now fall under the Construction Lien Act (1983).)

Convential Mortage: A first mortgage granted by an institutional lender such as a bank, mortgage, loan or trust company wherein the amount of the loan does not exceed 75% of the appraised lending value of the property.

Cold air return: The ductwork (and related grills) that carries room air back to the furnace for re-heating.

Corner Bead: A strip of wood or metal for protecting the external corners of plastered walls.

Contractor: A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. The generals contractor's license and some specialty contractor's licenses don't require of compliance with bonding, workmen's compensation and similar regulations. Some of the specialty contractor's licenses involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance requirements. There are various types of contractors:

General Contractor: Responsible for the execution, supervision and overall coordination of a project and may also perform some of the indivdual construction tasks. Most general contractors are not licensed to perform all specialty trades and must hire specialty contractors for such tasks, e.g. electrical, plumbing.

Remodeling Contractor: a general contractor who specializes in remodeling work.

Specialty Contractor: licensed to perform a specialty task e.g. electrical, side sewer, asbestos abatement.

Sub-contractor: A general or specialty contractor who works for another general contractor.

Dormer: Framing which projects from a sloping roof, providing an internal recess in the roof space.

Ducts: The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home. Also a tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which carries air from the the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building.

Eaves: The extension of roof beyond house walls.

Eave Soffit: The under surface of the eave.

Eaves Trough: A trough fixed to an eave to collect and carry away the run off form the roof. Also called a gutter.

Efflorescence: White Powder that forms on the surface of brick & concrete.

Equity: The "valuation" that you own in your home, i.e. the property value less the mortgage loan outstanding.

Escrow: The handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller.

Exterior Sheathing: The material applied to the exterior of the frame so as to provide additional sheathing material prior to bricking. Can be either gypsum board, Styrofoam or wood products.

Fascia: A finish member around the face of eaves and roof projections.

Fire Stop: A complete obstruction placed across a concealed air space in a wall, floor, or roof to retard or prevent the spread of flame and hot gases.

Fixtures: Permanent improvements to property that may not be removed at the expiration of the term of lease or tenure

Flashing: Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to shed water.

Foundation waterproofing: High-quality below - grade moisture protection. Used for below - grade moisture and prevent soil corrosion. Normally looks like black tar.

Framing: Rough timber work of a house including the flooring, roofing, interior walls, ceilings and beams

Frame Inspection: The act of inspecting the home's structural integrity and it's compliance to local municipal codes.

Floor Joists: Framing pieces which rest on outer foundation walls and interior beams or girders.

Footing: The widened section, usually concrete, at the base or bottom of a foundation wall, pier, or column.

Foundation: The lower portion, usually concrete or masonry and including the footings, which transfers the weight of, and loads on, a building to the ground.

Forced air Heating: A common form of heating with natural gas, propane oil, or electricity as a fuel. Air is heated in the furnace and distributed through a set of metal ducts to various areas of the house.

Gable: The end, upper, triangular area of a home, beneath the roof.

General Contractor: A contractor who enters into a contract with the owner of a project for the construction of the project and who takes full responsibility for its completion, although the contractor may enter into subcontracts with others for the performance of specific parts or phases of the project.

G.F.I: Ground Fault Circuit interrupter - an ultra sensitive plug designed to shut off all electrical current. Used in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and "wet areas". Has a small reset button on the plug.

Grade: Ground Level, or the elevation at any given point. Also the work of leveling dirt. Also the designated quality of a manufactured piece of wood.

Gross Debt: Service Ratio: Allowable ratio of payments for principal, interest and taxes (also energy cost in some instances) to gross income.

GTHBA: Greater Toronto Home Builders Association

Gutter: An eavestrough used to convey rain water from the roof to the downspout.

Gypsum board: Drywall. Wall board or gypsum - a panel made with a core of Gypsum (chalk like) rock, which covers interior walls and ceilings.

Hardware: All of the "metal" fittings that go into a home when it is near completion. For example, door knobs, towel bars, handrail brackets, closet rods, house numbers, door closers, etc. The Interior Trim Carpenter installs the "hardware"

Hip: The sloping ridge of a roof formed by two intersecting roof slopes.

High Ratio Mortgage: A mortgage loan that exceeds the normal limit of a conventional first mortgage, with regards to the percentage of the loan amount to the property's lending value, and which is insured through a mortgage insurance plan. In the case of a VTB or other private first mortgage that exceeds the normal limits, the term still applies. Whether this loan is insured, however, is at the option of the lender.

Humidifier: An appliance normally attached to the furnace, or portable unit device designed to increase the humidity within a room or a house by means of the discharge of water vapour.

I-Joists: Manufactured structural building component resembling the letter "I". Used as floor joists and rafters. I-Joists include two key parts: flangs and webs. The flange or form of the I joists may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 ½" width. The web or center of the I-joist is commonly made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). Large holes can be cut in the web to accommodate duct work and plumbing waste lines. I-joists are available in lengths upto 60 feet long.

Irrevocable: Incapable of being recalled or revoked; unchangeable, unalterable

Joists: A series of horizontal wood pieces used to support various parts of the house, such as the ceilings, floors and roof.

Jamb: The side post or lining of a doorway, window or other opening.

 

Landing: A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less then 3'x 3'square.

Lien: An encumbrance that usually makes real or personal property the security for payment of a debt or discharge of an obligation.

Loan to value ratio: The ratio of the loan amount to the property valuation and expressed as a percentage. e.g. if a borrower is seeking a loan of $200,000 on a property worth $400,000 it has a 50% loan value rate. If the loan were $300,000, the LTV would be 75%. The higher the loan value, the greater the lender's perceived risk. Loans above normal lending LTV ratios may require additional security.

Louvre: A slatted opening for ventilation in which the slats are so placed to exclude rain, sunlight or vision

Main water shut off valve: The main shut off for all the water that runs through the house. Usually located in the basement near the water meter.

Mortgage loan: A contract in which the borrower's property is pledged as collateral. It is repaid in installments. The mortgagor (buyer) promises to repay principal and interest, keep the home insured, pay all taxes and keep the property in good condition.

Mortgagee: The one whom property is conveyed as security for the payment of debt - a lender or creditor.

Mortgagor: The one who makes the mortgage - a borrower or debtor.

Mortar: A substance produced from prescribed proportions of cementing agents, aggregates and water which gradually sets hard after mixing.

Mullion: Slender framing which divides the lights or panes of windows.

Nosing: The projecting edge of a molding or drip or front edge of a stair tread.

Newel: A post to which the end of a stair or balustrade is fastened. Also, any post to which a railing or balustrade is fastened.

Ontario New Home Warranty program (ONHWP): Protects new home buyers by ensuring they receive the benefits of their builder's warranty. The warranty Program also regulates and licenses all builders of new home and condominiums in Ontario. The ONHWP is now called TARION.

PDI: Pre Delivery Inspection

Parging: A rough coat of mortar applied over a masonry wall as protection or finish; may also serve as a base for an asphaltic waterproofing compound below grade.

Partition: A wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room.

Permit: A governmental municipal authorization to perform a building process as in:

Zoning/Use Permit: Authorization to use a property for a specific use e.g. a garage, a single family residence etc.

Demolition permit: Authorization to tear down and remove an existing structure.

Grading Permit: Authorization to change the contour of the land.

Septic Permit: A health department authorization to build or modify a septic system

Building Permit: Authorization to build or modify a structure.

Electrical Permit: A separate permit required for most electrical work

Plumbing Permit: A separate permit required for a new plumbing and larger modifications of existing plumbing systems.

Plumbing Stack: A Plumbing vent pipe that penetrate the roof

Plywood: A panel of wood made of three or more layers of veneer, compressed and joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength.

Power vent: A vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow. Often installed on roofs.

Primer: The first, base coat of paint when a paint job consists of two or more coats. A first coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and holding succeeding finish coats.

P Trap: Curved, "U" section of drainpipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixtures water drain.

 

Rafter: One of the series of structural members of a roof usually designed to support roof loads, but not ceiling finish.

Receptacle: An electrical outlet. A typical household will have many 120 volt receptacles for plugging in lamps and appliances and 240 volt receptacles for the range, clothes dryer, air conditioner etc.

Register: A grill placed over a heating duct or cold air return.

Riser: Each of the vertical boards closing the spaces between the treads of stairways.

Roughing-in: The initial stage of a plumbing, electrical, heating, carpentry, and/or other project, when all components that will not be seen after the second finishing phase are assembled.

R-Value: The measurement used to indicate the thermal resistance per millimeter of thickness of materials

Saddle: A small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimney to divert water around the chimney. Also the plate at the bottom of some - usually exterior- door openings. Sometimes called a threshold.

Scupper: (1) An opening for drainage in a wall, curb or parapet. (2) The drain in a downspout or flat roof. Usually connected to the downspout.

Self-sealing shingles: Shingles containing factory- applied strips or spots of self adhesive.

Soffit: The visible underwide of structural members such as staircase, cornices, beams, a roof overhang or eave.

Stair Landing: A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction.

Statement of Adjustments: A legal document in which list the breakdown of the fees for the property that has been purchased

Stop order: A formal written notification to discontinue some or all work in a project for reasons such as safety violations, defective materials or workmanship, or cancellation of the contract.

Stringer: A long, horizontal member which connects uprights in a frame or supports a floor or the like. One of the enclosed sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers.

Stud: One of a series of wood or metal structural members used as supporting elements in walls and partitions

Subfloor: Boards or sheet material laid on joists under a finish floor.

TARION: Protects new home buyers by ensuring they receive the benefits of their builder's warranty. The warranty Program also regulates and licenses all builders of new home and condominiums in Ontario. Formerly called the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONWHP).

Term: In a mortgage, "term" is the actual length of time for which the mortgage transaction is created.

Tread: The walking surface board (horizontal part) in a stairway on which the foot is placed

Total debt service ratio: The ratio of annual (or monthly) mortgage charges of principals, interest, and taxes; plus payments on various other debts (normally bank loans, finance company loans), compared to total gross income of the borrower.

Tongue & Groove: Any lumber, such as boards or planks, machined in such a manner that there is a groove in one edge and a corresponding tongue on the other.

Three- way switch: A switch used in house wiring when a light (or lights) is controlled from two places. A three- way switch must be used at each location of halls, foyers and stairways.

Threshold: A strip of wood, metal, or other material beveled on each edge and used at the junction of two different floor finishes under doors, or on top of the door sill at exterior doors.

 

Valley: The internal angle formed by the junction of two sloping sides of a roof.

Vapor Barrier: Material used to retard the passage of water vapour or moisture.

Weather stripping/Caulking: Narrow sections of thin metal or other material installed to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors

Weephole: A small hole, as at the bottom of a retaining wall or masonry veneer, to drain water to the exposed face.

 

 

Zoning: A Governmental process and specifications which limits the use of a property e.g. single family use, high rise residential use, industrial use, etc. Zoning laws may limit where you can locate a structure.