Glossary Of Design And Construction Terms
At Edenlane Homes we want to make sure that our clients understand the design and build industry and are equiped to make the best possible decisions. Part of understanding the industry is to comprehend all of the commonly used terms related to your design and build project. To that end, we have put together a glossary to familiarize you with some of the conventional terms.
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The Glossary
Allowance: An amount of money set aside in the construction contract for materials and finishes not yet specified/selected or costs that are unknown until construction begins (i.e. cost of blasting). Going over an allowance will be considered an extra and spending less than the allowance will result in a credit to the client.
Architectural Technologist: An accredited designer who specializes in the science of building, providing an alternative to engaging an architect for building projects in accordance with the Ontario Building Code. The work of an accredited Architectural Technologist is always conducted in a professional and ethical manner.
Bungalow (aka Ranch): A one-storey home or cottage with or without a basement.
Builder's Risk Insurance: Insurance coverage over and above a contractor’s liability insurance, effective during the construction of a project. The coverage protects the client and their property from any damages incurred during construction that are not covered by the contractor’s liability insurance.
Building Code: A legal set of rules, standards, and principals established by the Province and enforced by local municipalities governing the manner in which a home may be constructed or modified and the structural safety of buildings.
Construction Contract: A written legal document that specifies the details of the work to be performed in a construction project and should include timelines, specifications, price, allowances, payment schedule, dispute resolution, and warranty.
Construction Drawings (aka Working Drawings): A set of plans prepared by an accredited designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating, securing permits, and actual construction.
Contractor: There are two main types of contractors – general and sub. A general contractor is responsible for the overall project management, coordination, and supervision of a project. A general contractor may perform some of the construction tasks but is usually not licensed to perform specialty trades. A sub contractor works for the general contractor and is often licensed to perform specialty tasks.
Competitive Bidding: Collecting bids from two or more companies on the same project, based on the same set of specifications and choosing your builder based on price, timelines, reliability, and trust.
Cost Plus Pricing (aka Time and Material Pricing): A price for a construction project based on the actual cost of materials and labour plus a set mark-up or management fee for the general contractor.
Deposit: A retainer given as security and partial payment to commence architectural or construction work.
Elevation: An architectural drawing that represents a home or structure as being projected on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides and drawn to scale.
Estimate (aka Bid): Is a builder’s offer to perform your project for a specified price, based on a detailed description of the work to be done and the construction drawings. The estimate will specify materials, products, labour, allowances, etc. with accompanying costs or final price. A written offer is legally binding and becomes part of the contract between you and the builder, should you accept it. Unaccepted estimates are normally valid for a period of time stated and will become null and void upon expiration of the stipulated date.
Extra: Work required or requested that is not part of the original construction contract.
Finishings: All exterior and interior components of a construction project that have both functional and aesthetic components such as siding, flooring, trim, and cabinets.
Floor Plan: A diagram of an entire or partial floor of a building, shown from above and drawn to scale.
Grading Plan: A diagram drawn to scale of a lot or lots showing topographically drainage patterns pre and post construction. Grading plans are sometimes a condition of a building permit and must be designed to protect neighbouring properties, infrastructure, and environmental features.
Open Concept: Denotes a plan where the main living area is one large space rather than several smaller rooms. In an open concept design, different uses of the space are denoted by changes in furniture, floor coverings, or other visual cues rather than walls.
Permit: An authoritative or official certificate of permission for different portions of a construction project including building, septic, grading, and occupancy permits.
Plans: A set of architectural drawings that can include renderings, elevations, floor plans, site plans, and construction drawings, all drawn to scale.
Price Per Square Foot: Usually used as a guesstimate to set a ballpark budget for construction and includes all labour and materials for a new home but does not include site preparation, services (i.e. septic, hydro), demolition, or landscaping.
Project Management: Coordination and supervision of all facets of a construction project from design to hiring sub contractors through to completion.
R Value: A measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat. The higher the R value, the more effective the material is at insulating.
Raised Bungalow (aka Raised Ranch): A home or cottage with a single level and a finished basement with large windows creating extra living space below, while a raised roof leaves room for bedrooms above.
Renderings: Architectural drawings that include elevations and floor plans but not construction drawings.
Site Inspection: Visiting the building site or lot to better understand environmental conditions as they relate to the design and construction of a project such as topography, soils, vegetation, and location of water courses and neighbouring properties.
Site Plan (aka Plot Plan): A plan that shows that shows an aerial view of the existing and planned location of all buildings, natural features, services, setbacks, lot lines, easements etc. on a lot.
Specifications: A list written to supplement the construction drawings that details specific construction materials and methods to be employed in a project and may include allowances.
Stick Built: A house built without prefabricated parts.
Stipulated Price: A price for a construction project based on a lump sum fee for all labour and materials as agreed upon by the contractor and the client.
Survey: An aerial plan drawn to scale by an surveyor or engineer showing existing conditions such as location of buildings, lot lines, easements, services, and environmental features.
Tarion: Is responsible for administering the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which outlines the warranty protection that new home builders must provide, by law, to their clients. The primary purpose of Tarion is to ensure that builders abide by this legislation and to step in to protect consumers when builders fail to fulfill their warranty obligations. All new home builders in Ontario must be members of Tarion to construct homes legally.
Topographic Map: An aerial plan showing contour lines and topographic features, used to determine elevation and slope.
Two-storey: A home or cottage with 2 levels above ground.
Turnkey: A construction project where all materials and labour are provided by the contractor including landscaping and all interior finishings. At the end of a turnkey project, the client can move right in.
Warranty: In construction there are two general types of warranties. One is provided by the manufacturer and the other is for the labour. For example, a roofing contract may include a 20 year material warranty and a 5 year labour warranty. Most new home builders provide a comprehensive one year warranty and a seven year warranty on structural defects.
Zoning: Local ordinances enforced by municipal governments that detail the permitted legal uses of a property including the type, size, location, and height of buildings that can be constructed. The zoning by-law implements the municipal official plan policies that guide development in the long term planning horizon.
Don't see the term you're looking for? To suggest additions to our glossary, please EMAIL US.