General Contractor terms, defined
Plain definitions of the general contracting words that come up on estimates, inspections and supplier calls, written for general contractors. Each term says where it matters on the job and links the Koira calculator, cost guide or template that goes with it.
A
General ContractorAllowanceAn allowance is a dollar amount in a contract set aside for items the customer has not picked yet, such as tile, fixtures or lighting.General ContractorAs-built drawingsAs-built drawings are the plans marked up at the end of a job to show how things were actually built, including changes and the real location of pipes, wires and ducts.
B
Shared with CarpentryBeamA beam is a horizontal structural member that carries loads across a span to posts, columns or walls.General ContractorBuilding inspectionA building inspection is a visit by the local inspector at a set stage of a permitted job, such as footing, framing, rough-in, insulation or final, to check the work against code.General ContractorBuilding permitA building permit is the local government's approval to do regulated construction work, with inspections at set stages.
C
General ContractorCertificate of occupancyA certificate of occupancy is the document a building department issues when a new building or major change passes final inspection and can be lived in or used.General ContractorChange orderA change order is a signed document that changes the scope, price or schedule of a contract after work has started.General ContractorContingencyA contingency is money held in a budget for unknowns, such as rot behind a wall or bad soil, rather than for a specific item.General ContractorCut sheetA cut sheet is the maker's one or two page product sheet with dimensions, ratings and install requirements for a fixture, appliance or material.
D
General ContractorDead loadDead load is the weight of the building itself: framing, finishes, roofing and fixed equipment.Shared with Money and paperworkDepositA deposit is money the customer pays when they accept an estimate, before work starts, to hold the date and cover materials.Shared with RoofingDormerA dormer is a small structure that projects out of a sloped roof, with its own roof and usually a window.Shared with Money and paperworkDraw scheduleA draw schedule lists when and how much the contractor will be paid during a job, often matched to the lender's inspection of finished stages.Shared with RoofingDry-inDry-in is the point where the roof deck is covered with underlayment, or the building with roof and wrap, so rain can no longer get in, even though the finish roofing is not on yet.
E
Shared with Windows and DoorsEgressEgress is the way out of a building or room in an emergency: doors, halls, stairs and escape windows.General ContractorElevation drawingAn elevation is a straight on drawing of one face of a building or wall, showing heights, openings and finishes.Shared with Money and paperworkEstimate vs quoteAn estimate is an approximate price that can change; a quote or bid is a firm price for a defined scope.
F
Shared with CarpentryFireblockingFireblocking is lumber, gypsum, mineral wool or approved sealant placed in concealed spaces, such as stud bays and around pipes, to slow fire spreading through them.General ContractorFloor planA floor plan is a drawing of one level from above, showing walls, doors, windows, rooms and their dimensions.
H
L
General ContractorLead timeLead time is how long it takes from ordering a material or product until it is delivered.Shared with PaintingLead-safe work practicesLead-safe work practices are the federal rules and methods for disturbing paint in older homes without spreading lead dust: containment, no dry sanding or open flame removal, and careful cleanup.Shared with Money and paperworkLien waiverA lien waiver is a document in which a contractor or supplier gives up lien rights for a payment, usually signed in exchange for that payment.General ContractorLive loadLive load is the weight of people, furniture and stored things a floor, deck or roof is designed to carry, as opposed to the building's own weight.General ContractorLoad-bearing wallA load-bearing wall carries weight from the roof or floors above down to the foundation.Shared with LandscapingLot gradingLot grading is shaping the ground so rain and snowmelt flow away from the house to a safe place, rather than toward the foundation.Shared with CarpentryLVL beamAn LVL is laminated veneer lumber: thin wood veneers glued into a stiff, straight beam used for headers, beams and rim boards.
P
General ContractorPlan setA plan set is the bound collection of drawings for a project: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details and schedules, plus general notes.General ContractorPoint loadA point load is weight concentrated in one spot, such as a post bearing on a beam or a beam bearing on a wall, rather than spread along it.Shared with Money and paperworkProgress billingProgress billing is invoicing in stages as a job hits milestones or a share of completion, instead of one bill at the end.General ContractorPunch listA punch list is the list of small items left to fix or finish at the end of a job, made during a walkthrough with the customer.
R
Shared with Home InspectionRadon testA radon test measures the level of radon, a radioactive gas from the ground, in a home's lowest lived in level with a short or long term test device.Shared with Money and paperworkRetainageRetainage is a portion of each progress payment the owner or general contractor holds back until the job is complete, as security that the work gets finished.General ContractorRFIAn RFI, or request for information, is a written question from the contractor to the designer or owner about something unclear or missing in the plans.Shared with RoofingRoof trussA roof truss is a factory built triangle of lumber joined with metal plates.General ContractorRough-inRough-in is the stage after framing when plumbing, electrical and HVAC lines are run inside the open walls and floors, before insulation and drywall.
S
Shared with Money and paperworkSchedule of valuesA schedule of values breaks a contract price into line items, each with a dollar value, that progress billing is measured against.General ContractorScope of workThe scope of work is the written description of exactly what a contractor will and will not do on a job: the tasks, materials, standards and exclusions.General ContractorSetbackA setback is the minimum distance a building or structure must stay from a property line, street or other feature under local zoning.Shared with LandscapingSilt fenceA silt fence is a fabric fence staked along the low side of a work area to hold back soil carried by runoff.General ContractorSite planA site plan is a drawing of the whole lot from above, showing property lines, the house, driveways, setbacks, easements and utilities.General ContractorStructural engineerA structural engineer is a licensed professional who designs or checks the parts of a building that carry loads, and stamps drawings for the permit.Shared with Money and paperworkSubcontractor agreementA subcontractor agreement is the contract between a general contractor and a sub that sets the scope, price, schedule, insurance and payment terms.General ContractorSubmittalA submittal is a package of product data, samples or shop drawings a contractor sends for approval before ordering or building, so the owner or designer confirms it matches the plans.
U
Shared with Money and paperworkUnit costUnit cost is the cost per unit of work, such as per square foot, linear foot, fixture or opening, including labor and materials.General ContractorUtility easementA utility easement is a strip of a property where a utility has the right to run and reach lines, so building there is limited.
More for general contractors: free general contracting tools, templates and guides and how the trade runs on Koira. Or browse the whole glossary.