Remodeling terms, defined
Plain definitions of the remodeling words that come up on estimates, inspections and supplier calls, written for remodelers. Each term says where it matters on the job and links the Koira calculator, cost guide or template that goes with it.
A
RemodelingAging in placeAging in place remodeling makes a home easier and safer to live in as people get older: grab bars, curbless showers, wider doors, better lighting and fewer steps.Shared with 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.
C
Shared with General ContractorChange orderA change order is a signed document that changes the scope, price or schedule of a contract after work has started.Shared with 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.RemodelingCurbless showerA curbless shower has no step or curb at the entry.
D
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.RemodelingDesign-buildDesign-build is a way of running a project where one company handles both the design and the construction under one contract.Shared with Junk RemovalDumpster rentalA dumpster rental is a roll-off container dropped at a site for a set period and hauled away full.
F
Shared with General ContractorFloor planA floor plan is a drawing of one level from above, showing walls, doors, windows, rooms and their dimensions.Shared with Glass and GlazingFrameless shower doorA frameless shower door is heavy tempered glass held by hinges and clips with little or no metal frame around it.
L
Shared with DrywallLath and plasterLath and plaster is the older wall system of wood strips, or metal lath, covered with coats of plaster, found in houses built before drywall became common.Shared with 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 General ContractorLoad-bearing wallA load-bearing wall carries weight from the roof or floors above down to the foundation.
P
RemodelingPipe chaseA chase is an enclosed vertical or horizontal space framed to hide pipes, ducts or wires as they pass through a building.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.Shared with 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.
S
RemodelingSelective demolitionSelective demolition is removing only certain parts of a building, such as a kitchen or a wall, while protecting what stays.Shared with TileShower panThe shower pan is the sloped, waterproofed floor of a shower that sends water to the drain, built from mortar and a liner, a foam system or a preformed base.Shared with DrywallSoundproofingSoundproofing is building walls, floors and ceilings to cut down sound passing between rooms, by adding mass, separating framing, filling cavities and sealing gaps.Shared with 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.
W
Shared with TileWaterproofing membraneA waterproofing membrane is a sheet or roll on liquid applied over the backer in a shower or wet area so water cannot reach the wall framing.Shared with PlumbingWet wallA wet wall is a wall that holds the drain, vent and supply pipes for the fixtures along it, often built thicker than a normal wall to fit the pipes.
More for remodelers: free remodeling tools, templates and guides and how the trade runs on Koira. Or browse the whole glossary.