Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Construction Terms’ Category

2/3 Window Wonderland FAQ: I’m selecting new windows for my home, but I’m confused by all the acronyms–for what appear to be rating systems. Can you help me sort out all the ‘E’s and ‘U’s?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 Posted in Construction Terms, Energy-Saving Tips, FAQ, Green Building Topics, Heating/Cooling, Insulation, Materials- Construction, Summer, Windows & Doors, Winter | No Comments »

A: Energy Star Acronym Guide for Windows, Doors and Skylights. In the EnergyStar standards set by the DOE and EPA for windows, doors and skylights, requirements change with the latitude. In the northern areas of the U.S., energy concerns are to ...

Q—Our contractor plans to use “Scissor trusses” to create a vaulted ceiling in our family-room addition. What is a scissor truss?

Monday, February 1st, 2010 Posted in Additions, Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Terms, Design Tips, FAQ, Remodels/Additions, Roofing/Ceilings, Structural Issues, Ventilation | No Comments »

A—You’ve probably seen more conventional roof trusses being installed on new homes under construction. They are engineered and factory-fabricated structural members designed to effectively span wide areas, often without center support. Typically with a triangular shape, they incorporate the roof ...

Q—Can you please explain the roles of the architect, general contractor, and subcontractor in the construction process? What does it mean when a construction company says they offer Design/Build services?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Construction Contract, Construction Process, Construction Terms, Design-Build, FAQ, Getting Started, Humorous Articles, Subcontractors | No Comments »

A—It might be helpful to strike an analogy between construction and orchestral music. I realize this may sound like a stretch, but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, I think I can demonstrate many similarities. Consider the homeowner. He or ...

Q—My contractor included “allowances” in our contract for appliance floor coverings, etc.. Can you explain how an allowance works?

Friday, January 8th, 2010 Posted in Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Construction Terms, Estimation, FAQ, Money-Saving Tips, Remodeling Concerns | No Comments »

A—Your builder followed the common practice of using an “allowance” as a budget placeholder for certain finish materials not specified in the contract documents. In other words, you are “allowed” to spend a certain amount without adjusting your cost of ...

Q: Help! I can’t seem to understand all the construction jargon my last contractor used. Can you share some of the most common terms?

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Process, Construction Terms, Costs, Design-Build, Estimation, FAQ, Getting Started, Humorous Articles, Materials- Construction, Remodeling Concerns, Structural Issues | No Comments »

A—Jar-gon (noun) Obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words (from WWWebster’s Dictionary on the internet).Construction, like many professions, has its share of jargon—obscure terms that are meaningless to the average person. Unlike the medical profession, however, ...