Architrave
The strip of timber or metal that rounds off your door or window frame
 
Balustrade
A set of posts or screen placed to prevent people from falling from an elevated position such as a balcony or stairs
 
Bargeboard
A board fixed to the gable end of a roof to hide the ends of the roof members
 
Bottom course
The lowest row of bricks laid in a wall
 
Bottom plate
The length of frame that sits on the floor and forms the bottom of the wall
 
Breakfast bar
The cabinetry panel that sits under the benchtop and the back side of a row of cabinets or island.
 
Cavity slider
A type of door with a pocket frame inside the wall cavity that the door slides into on a track or running gear.
 
Ceiling batten
A horizontal beam, usually blue metal, that is attached to the underside of the ceiling joists to which the roof sheets are attached.
  
Cladding
A covering that is attached to the outside of a building to protect it against bad weather or make it more attractive.  Cladding can be FC sheeting, blueboard, timber, stone, brick, vinyl or something more specialised.
 
Control join
A gap that is purposefully left to allow movement and prevent cracking to the surface.  The gap is often filled with a flexible sealant to prevent water ingress or pest infestation.
 
Cornice
An ornamental moulding that is installed in the join between wall and ceiling.
 
Damp proof membrane
A material, often black plastic, that is placed to prevent moisture from penetrating the floor and walls of a building.
 
Downpipe
A vertical pipe that is run from the gutters into the stormwater pipes underground.
 
Drummy tile
A tile that has an air pocket between it and the substrate due to insufficient adhesive during installation or compromised adhesive due to movement.  A drummy tile produces a hollow sound when tapped with a solid object.
 
Fascia board
The long straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof.  The fascia board carries the guttering and supports the lower edge of the bottom row of tiles or roof covering.
 
Flashing
A thin material that is placed the direct water away from entering a home.  Flashings are found in many areas including windows, sliding doors, roof coverings, penetrations etc.
  
Flip mixer
A type of tap that has a single handle to control hot, cold and water flow.  Often found in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
 
Footings
An essential part of a building’s foundations. The footings are concrete slabs or beams that support the foundation of a building.  Most houses are built with a waffle pod system and the footings run as a grid pattern between the waffle pods to provide the required support.
 
Formwork
A temporary structure usually made of timber that is placed to contain and shape wet concrete as it is poured.  The formwork is removed once the concrete has set.
 
GPO
General Purpose Outlet.  Also known as a power point, power outlet or power socket.
 
Gutter
A metal trough that is installed on the fascia board and runs along the edge of the roof to carry rainwater away from the building foundations.
 
Hinge
A metal joint that is attached to both the door and the door frame to allow the door to swing.
 
Hinge pin
The central pin that holds the leaves together and provides an axis on which the door will swing.
 
Lift off hinge
A specific type of door hinge that allows for the door to be lifted off. Installed in bathrooms and water closets without sufficient swing space inside the room.
 
Mitre joins
A join between two pieces of timber or other material that forms a 90° angle in a way that the join bisects this angle.  Most commonly seen in the architrave of a door or window.
Mortar
A mixture of sand and cement that is placed in between bricks and acts as an adhesive and sealant.  The standard thickness of a mortar join is 10mm.
 
Block or Noggin
A horizontally placed piece of framing that is placed in between the vertical studs of a framed wall to provide rigidity to the framework.
 
Penetration
A hole in a wall or panel to allow the passage of a pipe of conduit. Penetrations should be sealed with a flange or sealant.
 
Rebar
Reinforcing steel rods placed inside concrete to improve its tensile strength.
 
Rough-in
Initial stage of installation of plumbing or electrical work during the early stage of construction.  This is when the lines are laid out but the final connections are not made until the fit off stage.
 
Sarking
A flexible membrane that is installed under the roof covering but on top of the roof framing to prevent the entry of water, dust, condensation and other contaminants. Sarking helps to prevent small leaks from impacting the interior or framing of the house.
 
Skirting boards
A narrow length of timber or metal that is placed at the bottom edge of the wall and runs along the floor to create a neat transition from wall sheets to floor covering.
 
Soffit & Eave lining
The horizontal sheet or cladding that is placed under the eaves of the roof overhang.  These provide a barrier for water, dust or pests entering the roof space.
  
Splashback
Placed behind a benchtop to prevent the wall sheeting from experiencing damage from moisture or heat and allows that section of wall to be easily cleaned.  Splashbacks are often tile, stone, glass or metal.
 
Square set
When the junction between wall and ceiling is finished with an internal corner instead of a cornice.
 
Striker plate
The metal plate attached to the door jamb that the door that the lock bolt of the door furniture latches into when closed.
 
Stud
The vertical piece of timber or steel frame that runs from the bottom plate to the top plate and forms the bulk of the timber frame.
 
Tapping stick
A tool used to tap against soft timbers and floor tiles to test for defects.
 
Tie down rods
A metal rod that connects the roof of a structure to the slab to provide strength and support from lifting forces, often associated with wind.
 
Top course
The top row of bricks that form the cap or finish of a wall.
 
Top plate
The horizontal beam that sits at the top of the wall studs.  The studs are attached into the top and bottom plate.  The top plate also supports the roof by carrying the vertical forces of the rafters of the roof.
  
Truss
A timber or metal framework consisting of rafters, posts and struts and placed to bridge the space above a room and provide support for a roof.
 
Waterfall end
Typically seen in stone benchtops. This is a continuation of the benchtop material down the gable end of the cabinetry to the floor.
 
Waterproofing membrane
A layer of waterproof material that forms a barrier between a wet area and a building’s structural components.  Waterproofing membranes can be applied to external or internal areas.  They are a critical component to a compliant bathroom or laundry.
 
Weephole
A small opening in brickwork that allows water to drain away and maintains an air pressure equilibrium between the interior and exterior areas.  Weepholes are often seen in the bottom course of brick, under windows and at the base of second story.