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D
Dado:
A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank.
In interior decoration, a special type of wall treatment.
Damper:
An air valve that regulates the flow of air inside
the flue of a furnace or fireplace.
Dampproofing:
A process used on concrete, masonry or stone surfaces
to repel water, the main purpose of which is to
prevent the coated
surface from absorbing rain water while still permitting
moisture vapor to escape from the structure.
(Moisture vapor
readily penetrates coatings of this type.) "Dampproofing"
generally applies to surfaces above grade;
"waterproofing"
generally applies to surfaces below grade.
Darby:
A flat tool used to smooth concrete flatwork immediately
after screeding. See Bullfloating.
De-Humidistat:
A control mechanism used to operate a mechanical
ventilation system based upon the relative humidity in
the home.
Dead Load:
The constant, design-weight (of the roof) and
any permanent fixtures attached above or below.
Decay:
Disintegration of wood or other substance through
the action of fungi.
Deck:
An elevated platform. "Deck" is also commonly
used to refer to the above-ground floors in multi-level
parking garage.
Deck Paint:
An enamel with a high degree of resistance to
mechanical wear designed for use on such surfaces as porch
floors.
Decorative:
Ornamental; not required for the operation of
essential systems and components of a home.
Deflect:
To bend or deform under weight.
Deflection:
The amount of bending movement of any part of
a structural member perpendicular to the axis of the member
under an applied
load.
Density:
The mass of substance in a unit volume. When expressed
in the metric system, it is numerically equal to the
specific gravity
of the same substance.
Describe:
Report in writing on a system or component by
its type or other observed characteristics to distinguish
it from
other components
used for the same purpose.
Design
Pressure: Specified pressure a product is designed
to withstand.
Designer:
One who designs houses, interiors, landscaping
or other objects. When used it the context of residential
construction it
usually suggests that a designer is not a licensed architect.
Most jurisdictions don't require an architectural
license for most
single family construction.
Determine:
To arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant
to examination.
Dew Point:
Temperature at which vapor condenses from the
atmosphere and forms water.
Dimension
Lumber: Yard lumber from 2 inches to, but not
including, 5 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide. Includes
joists, rafters,
studs, plank, and small timbers.
Direct
Gain System: Passive solar heating system in which
sunlight penetrates and warms the house interior directly.
Direct
Nailing: To nail perpendicular to the initial
surface or to the junction of the pieces joined. Also termed
Face Nailing.
Dismantle:
To open, take apart or remove any component, device
or piece that would not typically be opened, taken apart
or removed by an
ordinary occupant.
Disposer:
A device that grinds food sufficiently to enter
drains for disposal without clogging them.
Distortion:
Alteration of viewed images caused by variations
in glass flatness or in homogeneous portions within the
glass. An inherent
characteristic of heat-treated glass.
Diverter:
Valves which have a single inlet and direct water
to one of two outlets. Diverters are used with handshowers,
shower risers,
tub & shower combinations, and kitchen faucet sprayers.
Diverter
Valve: A device that changes the direction of
water flow from one faucet to another.
Dolly Varden
Siding: Beveled wood siding which is rabbeted
on the bottom edge.
Doorjamb
(Interior): The surrounding case into which and
out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two
upright pieces,
called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb.
Dormer:
A converted attic with windows projecting through
a sloping roof.
Double
Coverage: Application of asphalt roofing so that
the lapped portion is at least 2 inches wider than the exposed
portion, resulting
in two layers of roofing material over the deck.
Double
Hung Window: A window with sashes that slide vertically
and allow opening from the top and bottom.
Double
Plate: When two layers of 2x4s are placed on top
of studs in framing a wall.
Double
Strength: In float glass, approximately 1/8"
(3 mm.) thick.
Double
Tree: Refers usually to a precast roof deck panel
poured with two fins in its underside to impart flexural
rigidity.
Double-Glazing:
In general, any use of two lights of glass, separated
by an air space within an opening to improve
insulation against
heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In insulating glass
units, the air between the glass sheets is
thoroughly dried
and the space is sealed, eliminating possible condensation
and providing superior insulating properties.
Downspout:
The pipe that carries water down from the gutter
or scupper. Also called a leader.
Draw:
The amount of progress billings on a contract that is currently
available to a contractor under a contract with a fixed
payment schedule.
Drawing
Detail: A top view drawing of a building or roof
showing the roof perimeter and indicating the projections
and roof
mounted equipment,
drawn to scale.
Drawing
Outline: A top view drawing of a building or roof
showing only the perimeter drawn to scale.
Dressed
and Matched (Tongued & Grooved): Boards or
planks machined in such a manner that there is a groove
on
one edge and a
corresponding tongue on the other.
Dressed
Size Lumber: The dimension of lumber after shrinking
from green dimension and after machining to size or
pattern.
Drier Paint:
Usually oil-soluble soaps of such metals as lead
manganese or cobalt which, in small proportions, hasten
the oxidation and
hardening (drying) of the drying oils in paints.
Drip:
(a) A member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior finish
course that has a projection beyond the other parts for
throwing off water.
(b) A groove in the underside of a sill or drip cap to cause
water to drop off on the outer edge instead of
drawing back and
running down the face of the building.
Drip Cap:
A molding placed on the exterior top side of a
door or window frame to cause water to drip beyond the outside
of the frame.
Drip Edge:
A device designed to prevent water from running
back or under an overhang.
Drippage:
Bitumen material that drips through roof deck
joints, or over the edge of a roof deck.
Drop Siding:
Usually ¾ inch thick and 6 and 8 inches wide with
tongued-and-grooved or shiplap edges. Often used as
siding without
sheathing in secondary buildings.
Dropping
a Stringer: In carpentry, "dropping"
a stringer refers to cutting short on the bottom of a stairs
to allow for
thickness of the
first tread.
Dry Glazing:
Also called compression glazing, a term used to
describe various means of sealing monolithic and
insulating glass
in the supporting framing system with synthetic rubber and
other elastomeric gasket materials.
Dry Rot:
See Fungal Wood Rot.
Dry Seal:
Accomplishment of weather seal between glass and
sash by use of strips or gaskets of Neoprene, EPDM,
silicone or other
flexible material. A dry seal may not be completely watertight.
Dry Sheet:
A ply mechanically attached to wood or gypsum
decks to prevent asphalt or pitch from penetrating the deck
and leaking into
the building below.
Dry-In:
To make a building waterproof.
Drywall:
A gypsum board material used for walls or ceilings.
Drywall
Construction: A type of construction in which
the interior wall finish is applied in a dry condition,
generally in the
form of sheet materials
or wood paneling as contrasted to plaster.
Drywall
Hammer: A special hammer used for nailing up gypsum
board. Also known as an ax or hatchet. Edges should
be smooth and the
corners rounded off. The head has a convex round & checkered
head.
Drywall
Nail: Nails used for hanging regular drywall that
is to be taped and finished later must have adequate holding
power and a head
design that does not cut the face paper. They must also
be of the proper depth to provide exactly 1 inch
penetration into
the framing member. Nails commonly used are chemically-etched
and are designed with a cupped head.
Duct:
A cylindrical or rectangular "tube" used to move
air either from exhaust or intake, and for distributing
warm air from
the heating plant
to rooms, or air from a conditioning device or as cold air
returns. The installation is referred to as "duct
work."
Ductwork:
A system of distribution channels used to transmit
heated or cooled air from a central system (HVAC)
throughout a home.
Due-On-Sale:
A clause in a mortgage contract requiring the
borrower to pay the entire outstanding balance upon sale
or
transfer of the
property.
Dumbwaiter:
An elevator with a maximum footage of not more
than 9 sq. ft. floor area; not more than 4" headroom
and a
maximum capacity
of 500 lbs. used for carrying materials only.
Dura Board,
Dura Rock: A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass
usually used as a ceramic tile backing material.
Commonly used on
bathtub decks. Sometimes called Wonder Board.
Durometer:
A gauge to measure the hardness of an elastomeric
material.
DWV (Drainage,
Waste & Vent): The pipes in a plumbing system
that remove waste water.
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