New Builds trade jargon
- Aggregate
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Small particles of various crushed stone, rock, or gravel. Often used to refer to any loose building material such as sand, ballast, gravel, MOT, etc.
- Air brick
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A perforated brick that is built into a wall to increase ventilation.
- Ballast
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Mix of sand and gravel. Usually used to make concrete when mixed with cement.
- Building Act 1984
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The overarching act of legislation that covers all building regulations in the UK.
- Cavity wall
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Wall made up to two parallel masonry skins, with an air space between them to aid ventilation.
- Conservation area
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An area designated by the local authority to be of special historical or architectural significance, in which certain developments may be restricted.
- First fix
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Installation work carried out before walls and ceilings are plastered, such as fitting pipes and cables.
- Full-fill cavity
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A wall cavity that has been completely filled with insulation.
- Joist
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A horizontal beam, made of metal or wood, which can support a ceiling, wall or floor.
- Lintel
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A horizontal beam supporting a wall above a door or window.
- Party wall
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A boundary between two properties over which both sides has legal rights.
- Planning permission
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Permission needed from the local authority to allow certain developments.
- Rebar
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Short for reinforcing bar, a steel bar or frame of steel bars around which concrete is poured, with the rebar providing support.
- Second fix
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Items installed after plastering has been completed, such as plug sockets, radiators and doors.
- Sleeper wall
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A low wall that supports ground floor joists.
- Snagging
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An expression for all the small issues left over at the end of a construction project. Typically a homeowner will identify snags which the tradesperson will rectify to complete the job.
- Stone cladding
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A thin layer of real or simulated stone applied to a building to give a stone effect.
- Stud partition
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A non-load bearing dividing wall, made of a timber frame covered in plaster board.
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