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E
E&O Insurance:
Errors and Omissions Insurance.
Earnest
Money: A sum paid to the seller to show that a
potential purchaser is serious about buying.
Earthquake
Strap: A metal strap used to secure gas hot water
heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. It is intended
to
reduce the chances
of having the water heater fall over in an earthquake and
causing a gas leak.
Easement:
A formal contract which allows a party to use
another party's property for a specific purpose, e.g. a
sewer easement
might allow one
party to run a sewer line through a neighbor's property.
Eave:
The part of the roof which extends beyond the side wall.
Eaves Flashing:
Additional layer of roofing material applied at
the eaves to help prevent damage from water backup.
Edge Clearance:
Nominal spacing between the edge of the glass
product and the bottom of the glazing pocket (channel).
Edge Grain
(Vertical): Edge-grain lumber has been sawed parallel
to the pith of the log and approximately at right angles
to the
growth rings; i.e.,
the rings form an angle of 45° or more with the surface
of the piece.
Edge Metal:
A term relating to brake or extruded metal around
the perimeter of a roof.
Edging
Strips: Boards nailed along eaves and rakes to
provide secure edges for re-roofing with asphalt shingle
after cutting back
existing wood shingles.
EER:
Energy Efficiency Ratio is figured by dividing BTU hours
by watts.
Efflorescence:
A white powder on the surface of walls due to
evaporation of water. It forms on the surface of bricks.
Egress:
A means of exiting the home. An egress window
is required in every bedroom and basement. Normally a 4x4
window is
the minimum size
required.
EIFS:
Exterior Insulating and Finish System; exterior wall cladding
system consisting primarily of polystyrene foam board with
a
textured acrylic
finish that resembles plaster or stucco.
Elastomer:
An elastic rubber-like substance, such as natural
or synthetic rubber.
Elastomeric:
Of or pertaining to any of the numerous flexible
membranes that contain rubber or plastic.
Elbow:
An angled fitting that alters the direction of
the water line.
Electric
Lateral: The trench or area in the yard where
the electric service line (from a transformer or pedestal)
is located, or the
work of installing
the electric service to a home.
Electric
Resistance Coils: Metal wires that heat up when
electric current passes through them and are used in baseboard
heaters and electric
water heaters.
Electrical
Entrance Package: The entry point of the electrical
power including: (1) the 'strike' or location where the
overhead
electrical lines
connect to the house. (2) The meter which measures how much
power is used. (3) The 'panel,' 'circuit breaker box
'or 'fuse box'
where the power can be shut off and overload devices such
a fuses or circuit breakers and located.
Electrical
Rough: Work performed by the Electrical Contractor
after the plumber and heating contractor are complete with
their
phase of work.
Normally all electrical wires, and outlet, switch, and fixture
boxes are installed (before insulation).
Electrical
Trim: Work performed by the Electrical Contractor
when the house is nearing completion. The electrician installs
all
plugs, switches,
light fixtures, smoke detectors, appliance "pig tails",
bath ventilation fans, wires the furnace, and "makes
up" the
electric house
panel. The electrician does all work necessary to get the
home ready for and to pass the municipal electrical final
inspection.
Electrolytic
Coupling: A fitting required to join copper to
galvanized pipe and gasketed to prevent galvanic action.
Connecting
pipes of different
materials may result in electrolysis.
Elevation:
A side of a building.
Elevation
Sheet: The page on the blue prints that depicts
the house or room as if a vertical plane were passed through
the
structure.
Ell:
See Elbow.
Emissivity:
The measure of a surface’s ability to emit long-wave
infrared radiation.
EMT (Electrical
Metallic Tubing): Electrical pipe, also called
thin-wall conduit, which may be used for both concealed
and
exposed areas.
It is the most common type of raceway used in single family
and low rise residential and commercial buildings.
Emulsion:
In roofing, a coating consisting of asphalt and
fillers suspended in water.
End Dams:
Internal flashing (dam) that prevents water from
moving laterally within a curtain wall or window wall system.
End Lap:
The amount or location of overlap at the end of
a roll of roofing felts in the application.
Energy
Efficiency Ratio: An air conditioning efficiency
rating system which indicates the number of BTU's delivered
per watt of
power consumed.
Engineering
Service: Any professional service or creative
work requiring engineering education, training, and experience
and the
application of
special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering
sciences to such professional service or creative
work as consultation,
investigation, evaluation, planning, design and supervision
of construction for the purpose of assuring
compliance with
the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures,
buildings, machines, equipment, works or
processes.
Enter:
To go into an area to observe all visible components.
EPDM (Ethylene
Propylene Diene Monomer): A single ply membrane
consisting of synthetic rubber; usually 45 or 60 mils.
Application can
be ballasted, fully adhered or mechanically attached.
Equity:
The "valuation" that you own in your
home, i.e. the property value less the mortgage loan outstanding.
Escrow:
The handling of funds or documents by a third
party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller.
Escutcheon:
A trim piece or decorative flange that fits beneath
the faucet handle to conceal the faucet stem and the hole
in the
fixture or wall.
Estimate:
The anticipated cost of materials, labor, and
associated cost for a proposed construction, repair, or
remodeling project.
Estimating:
The process of calculating the cost of a project.
This can be a formal and exact process or a quick and imprecise
process.
Evaluate:
To assess the systems, structures or components
of a dwelling.
Examine:
To visually look. See Inspect.
Excavate:
To dig the basement and/or all areas that will
need footings/foundations below ground.
Exhaust
Fan: Extracts air or excess heat from the interior
of a home.
Expansion
Coefficient: The amount that a specific material
will vary in any one dimension with a change of temperature.
Expansion
Joint: A device used to permit a structure to
expand or contract without breakage. In residential construction,
a
bituminous fiber
strip used to separate blocks or units of concrete to prevent
cracking due to expansion as a result of temperature
changes. Also used
on concrete slabs.
Expansive
Soils: Earth that swells and contracts depending
on the amount of water that is present.
Exposed
Aggregate: A method of finishing concrete which
washes the cement/sand mixture of the top layer of the aggregate
-
usually gravel.
Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces.
Exposed
Aggregate Finish: A method of finishing concrete
which washes the cement/sand mixture off the top layer of
the
aggregate - usually
gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior
surfaces.
Exposed
Nail Method: Application of roll roofing in which
all nails are driven into the cemented, overlapping course
of roofing.
Nails are exposed
to the weather.
Exposure:
The portion of the roofing exposed to the weather
after installation.
Exposure
I Grade Plywood: Type of plywood approved by the
American Plywood Association for exterior use.
Exterior
Glazed: Glazing infills set from the exterior
of the building.
Exterior
Stop: The molding or bead that holds the light
or panel in place when it is on the exterior side of the
light or panel.
Extras:
Additional work requested of a contractor, not
included in the original plan, which will be billed separately
and will not alter
the original contract
amount, but increase the cost of building the home.
Extrusion:
An item formed by forcing a base metal (frequently
aluminum) or plastic, at a malleable temperature, through
a die to
achieve a desired
shape.
Eyebrow:
A flat, normally concrete, projection which protrudes
horizontally from a building wall; Eyebrows are generally
located
above windows.
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