Your Guide to Construction Jargon
Building works can involve a lot of technical terms that may be unfamiliar if you’re not in the trade. At Rogate Construction, we aim to make every project clear and stress-free. Use this A–Z guide as a quick reference when planning your home renovations, extensions, or structural alterations in Hampshire, West Sussex, or Surrey.
Bookmark this page to keep it handy when discussing your project with builders, architects, or planners. For more detailed examples, photos, and practical advice, check out our blog, where each term is explored in depth.
A
Architrave – The moulded frame around a door or window, providing a neat finish.
Asbestos Survey – A survey to check for asbestos in older buildings, required before major works.
B
Balustrade – A protective railing, usually found on stairs, balconies or terraces.
Beam – A long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building.
Brick Tie – Similar to wall ties, these secure brickwork to the structural frame.
Brick Slips – Thin bricks designed for interior or exterior detailing, usually 22mm thick.
Building Regulations – The legal standards that building work must meet for health, safety, energy efficiency and accessibility.
Building Control – The process of checking that building work complies with Building Regulations.
Building Notice – A way of notifying Building Control about certain building works without submitting full plans.
C
Cavity Wall – A wall made of two layers (inner and outer) with a gap (cavity) between them, often for insulation.
Cladding – A protective or decorative layer on the outside of a building, improving insulation and aesthetics.
Cornice – Decorative moulding between walls and ceilings.
Cavity Tray – A waterproof detail within a cavity wall designed to direct water to the outside.
Cement Board – A moisture-resistant board commonly used behind tiles in bathrooms and other wet areas.
Cold Roof – A roof construction where the insulation is positioned below the roof deck, leaving the roof space above it ventilated.
Conservation Area – A designated area where additional planning controls may apply to protect its character and appearance.
D
Damp Proof Course (DPC) – A barrier built into walls to prevent rising damp.
Decorative Render – A textured or coloured coating applied to exterior walls.
Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) – A waterproof layer used beneath concrete floors to prevent moisture from the ground entering the building.
Dry Lining – Fixing plasterboard to walls, usually using adhesive or a framing system, rather than applying traditional wet plaster.
Dry Rot – A type of fungal decay that can damage timber when moisture conditions are suitable.
E
Eaves – The part of a roof that overhangs the walls.
Electrical RCD (Residual Current Device) – A safety switch to prevent electric shocks.
F
Floor Joist – Horizontal beams supporting floors.
Fascia Board – Horizontal board fixed to the edge of the roof, often supporting gutters.
Finishes – The final visible materials and surfaces of a project, such as plaster, paint, flooring, tiles and joinery.
Footings – The widened base of a foundation that spreads the load of a building into the ground.
Foundation – The structural element that transfers the weight of a building safely into the ground.
G
Glazing – The glass component of windows and doors.
Groundworks – Preparatory work on the site, including foundations, drainage, and excavation.
Ground Floor Slab – The concrete layer forming the structural base of a ground floor.
Ground Source Heat Pump – A heating system that extracts heat from the ground.
H
Hip Roof – A roof that slopes on all four sides.
HVAC – Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
I
Insulation – Material used to reduce heat loss, sound, or vibration.
Insulated Plasterboard – Plasterboard with insulation bonded to it, often used to improve the thermal performance of walls.
J
Joist – A length of timber or steel supporting part of the structure of a building, typically arranged in parallel series to support a floor or ceiling.
Joist Hanger – Metal bracket used to support joists.
K
King Post – The central vertical post in a truss, providing structural support.
L
Lintel – Horizontal beam above doors and windows, supporting the weight of the structure above.
Lime Mortar – A traditional mortar made using lime, particularly important when working with older and Listed buildings.
Listed Building Consent – Permission required for certain works to a Listed building.
M
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) – Engineered wood used in furniture, skirting, and cabinetry.
Masonry – Building structures from stone, brick, or concrete blocks.
Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) – The heating, plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems within a building.
Movement Joint – A designed joint that allows parts of a building or material to move without cracking.
N
Noggin – Short horizontal timber between studs, providing stability.
O
Oven Ventilation – Systems for removing cooking fumes and heat safely.
P
Plasterboard – Panels used for walls and ceilings, also called drywall.
Pointing – The visible mortar lines between bricks or stones; repointing refreshes them.
Party Wall – A wall shared by two properties, or sometimes a wall standing on the boundary between properties.
Party Wall Agreement – An agreement made under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 for certain works affecting shared walls, boundaries or neighbouring structures.
Planning Permission – Permission from the local planning authority for certain types of development.
Plasterboard – A board material used to form walls and ceilings.
Plinth – The lower section of a wall, column or building element, often designed to protect the structure or provide a finished detail.
Primer – A preparatory coating applied before paint, plaster or another finish.
R
Render – A cement-based coating applied to walls for protection and a smooth finish.
RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) – Steel beam used when removing walls or supporting structures.
Radon – A naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and may require mitigation in affected areas.
Rooflight – A window installed within a roof to provide natural light.
Roof Rafters – Sloping structural members that form the framework of a pitched roof.
S
Scaffolding – Temporary framework for workers to access higher parts of a building safely.
Stud Wall – Non-loadbearing wall made from timber or metal studs.
Snagging – The process of checking and fixing small issues at the end of a project.
Spindles – Also known as balusters, they are the vertical rods or posts that connect the handrail to the base rail (or stringer) on a staircase.
Screed – A layer of material, usually cement-based, laid over a floor to create a level surface for the final floor finish.
Setting Out – The process of accurately marking the position and dimensions of a building or structural element on site.
Soakaway – A drainage system that allows surface water to disperse into the surrounding ground.
Structural Engineer – A professional who designs or assesses structural elements such as beams, foundations and load-bearing walls.
Structural Opening – An opening created in a wall that requires suitable structural support, such as a steel beam.
Substructure – The part of a building below ground level, including foundations and other supporting elements.
Suspended Floor – A floor constructed above the ground with a void beneath it, rather than sitting directly on a concrete slab.
T
Truss – A triangular structural frame supporting a roof.
Thermal Bridging – Heat loss through materials that conduct more heat than surrounding insulation.
Thermal Insulation – Materials used to reduce heat transfer through walls, roofs and floors.
U
Underpinning – Strengthening or extending existing foundations, usually because they are inadequate or the building needs additional support.
U-Value – A measure of how easily heat passes through a building element such as a wall, roof, window or door.
V
Ventilation – The controlled movement of fresh air into and stale air out of a building.
W
Wall Tie – Metal connectors holding cavity walls together.
Weatherboarding – Timber boards fixed to the exterior of a building for protection and style.
Warm Roof – A roof construction where insulation is positioned above or within the roof structure so the structure itself remains within the insulated envelope.
Waterproofing – Measures used to prevent water entering parts of a building, particularly basements and below-ground structures.
Window Reveal – The sides of an opening between the face of a wall and the window frame.
Wiring Regulations – The requirements governing electrical installations, commonly referred to as BS 7671.
Z
Zinc Roofing – Durable, corrosion-resistant roofing material often used on modern or heritage buildings.