Construction Glossary

A professional licensed to design buildings and supervise their construction.

Revised set of drawings submitted by a contractor upon completion of a project, reflecting all changes made during the construction process.

A document prepared by a cost estimator listing the specific materials, parts, and labor (with their quantities) required to complete a construction project.

A technical drawing or set of drawings detailing the architectural and engineering design of a building or structure.

A set of rules that specify the minimum standards for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures.

The physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building, including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer.

An official approval issued by the local government agency that allows you or your contractor to proceed with a construction or remodeling project.

A professional engineer who designs and oversees the construction of public works, such as roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure.

A professional service that uses specialized project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end.

The primary entity responsible for overseeing a construction project, including hiring subcontractors and managing day-to-day site operations.

A traditional project delivery method where design and construction are separate phases and contracts, with the owner awarding the construction contract after design completion.

A project delivery method where one entity (the design-builder) works under a single contract with the project owner to provide both design and construction services.

A professional trained in the design, construction, and use of engines and machines, or in any of various branches of engineering.

An assessment of the practicality of a proposed project or system.

An official who examines buildings, materials, or processes to ensure they comply with regulations or standards.

A skilled worker who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship qualification in a building trade or craft.

A comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide growth and development.

A type of urban development that blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses into one space.

The practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located.

The individual, company, or organization that commissions and funds a construction project.

A detailed description of the design and materials used to make something.

A business or person that carries out work for a company as part of a larger project.

An individual responsible for the daily operations on a construction site, managing schedules, subcontractors, and quality.

The technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them.

Municipal or local government laws that dictate how real property can and cannot be used in certain geographic areas.

An additional document or information attached to or issued with a contract, usually to modify, clarify, or supplement it.

A formal offer from a contractor, in response to an invitation, to undertake construction work for an agreed price.

A type of surety bond that guarantees the bidder on a contract will enter into the contract if it is awarded.

A written document that modifies the original contract documents, authorizing an addition, deletion, or revision in the scope of work, contract sum, or contract time.

A demand or assertion by one of the parties seeking, as a matter of right, payment of money, an extension of time, or other relief with respect to the terms of the contract.

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties that outlines the obligations and responsibilities for a construction project.

A contract where the owner agrees to pay the contractor the actual cost of the work plus an agreed-upon fee or percentage for overhead and profit.

A contract provision where the contractor is compensated for actual costs incurred plus a fixed fee subject to a ceiling price.

A contractual obligation by which one party agrees to secure another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities.

A legal claim against a property by a contractor or supplier for unpaid work or materials.

A pre-agreed sum of money that one party (usually the contractor) pays to the other party (usually the owner) for failing to meet a specific contract obligation, often related to project completion delays.

A contract where a single price is agreed upon for all work described in the contract documents.

A formal communication from the owner to the contractor authorizing them to begin work on the project.

A surety bond posted by a contractor to guarantee that its subcontractors and material suppliers on the project will be paid.

A surety bond issued by an insurance company or a bank to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project by a contractor.

A document listing work items that do not conform to contract specifications, usually prepared near the end of a project.

A formal written process used by contractors to ask for clarification about contract documents, drawings, or specifications.

A document that solicits proposals, often made through a bidding process, by an agency or company interested in procurement of a commodity, service, or valuable asset, to potential suppliers.

A standard business process whose purpose is to invite suppliers into a bidding process to bid on specific products or services.

A portion of the agreed-upon contract price deliberately withheld until the work is substantially complete to ensure the contractor or subcontractor will satisfy its obligations and complete a project.

A document that clearly defines the extent of work to be performed on a project.

Detailed drawings prepared by the contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or supplier, showing how specific portions of the work shall be fabricated and/or installed.

Information, such as shop drawings, material data, samples, and product data, required by the contract documents to be submitted by the contractor to the architect or engineer for approval.

A three-party agreement whereby a surety company guarantees to the project owner (the obligee) that the contractor (the principal) will perform a contract according to its terms and conditions.

A written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary within a specified period of time.

A software solution designed to connect estimating insights to project execution, helping construction businesses create smarter, more profitable outcomes.

An amount of money set aside in a budget to cover unforeseen expenses or circumstances during a construction project.

A system of numbers or letters used to categorize and track different types of expenses associated with a construction project.

Expenses that can be directly attributed to a specific project, such as labor, materials, and equipment.

An approximate calculation of the cost to complete a construction project based on available information.

Expenses that are not directly tied to a specific project but are necessary for business operations, such as office rent, utilities, and administrative salaries.

The total cost to an employer for an employee's labor, including wages, payroll taxes, insurance, and benefits.

The ongoing business expenses not directly attributed to creating a product or service, such as rent, utilities, and administrative staff.

The percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all costs associated with a project or business operations.

The process of measuring and itemizing the quantities of materials required for a construction project from drawings and specifications.

The cost per unit of a specific item or activity in a construction project (e.g., cost per cubic yard of concrete).

A project scheduling technique that identifies the sequence of tasks critical to project completion, determining the shortest possible project duration.

A log kept by site management detailing daily activities, progress, weather conditions, and any issues encountered on a construction site.

A type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule, showing the start and finish dates of terminal elements and summary elements of a project.

The planning, execution, and control of the procurement, movement, and stationing of materials, personnel, and other resources to or from a construction site.

A significant point or event in a project's timeline, indicating progress or the completion of a major phase.

The process of assembling and transporting resources, such as personnel, equipment, and materials, to the construction site to begin work.

The final phase of a project, involving completing all contractual obligations, finalizing documentation, and demobilizing from the site.

The person responsible for planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals for a construction project.

The systematic process of ensuring that a project meets specified quality standards through planned and systematic activities.

The operational techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality, often involving inspections and testing.

A detailed breakdown of the contract sum, allocating portions of the payment to various parts of the work, used as a basis for submitting and reviewing progress payments.

The process of collecting information about the physical characteristics and environmental conditions of a construction site.

A designated space on or near a construction site where materials, equipment, and vehicles are temporarily stored or assembled before use.

The stage in the progress of the work when the work or designated portion thereof is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents so that the owner can occupy or utilize the work for its intended use.

A systematic method to improve the "value" of goods or products and services by using an examination of function.

Granular material such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, and slag used with a cementing medium to form concrete or mortar.

Material used to refill an excavated hole, usually the native soil that was removed or a controlled, granular fill.

A horizontal structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily by resisting bending.

A digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility, serving as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility.

The use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

The application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer, often for thermal insulation, weather resistance, or aesthetic purposes.

A vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below.

The process by which the density of soil or aggregate is increased by applying mechanical energy to reduce air voids.

A composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time.

A tube or trough for protecting electric wiring.

A panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum), with or without additives, typically extruded between thick sheets of facer and backer paper, used to make interior walls and ceilings.

A system of channels or pipes used to convey heated or cooled air in HVAC systems.

The principal front of a building, that faces on to a street or open space.

Thin pieces of impervious material installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure from a joint or as part of a weather resistant barrier system.

The part of a foundation that spreads and transmits the load directly to the soil.

The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level, that provides a stable base for the structure.

The technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort, aiming to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality.

Material used to reduce heat transfer or sound transmission.

One of a series of parallel beams used to support floor and ceiling loads, and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.

A wall that is an active structural element of a building, bearing the weight of elements above it.

A steel bar or mesh used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen and aid the concrete under tension.

A temporary structure on the outside of a building, made of wooden planks and metal poles, used by workers while building, repairing, or cleaning the building.

The board or panel material used in floor, wall and roof assemblies of both residential and commercial construction.

A system of temporary supports used during construction to hold up a structure or excavation until permanent supports are in place.

A structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes.