Word | Definition |
Wafer board | A manufactured wood panel made out of 1"- 2" wood chips and glue. Often used as a substitute for plywood in the exterior wall and roof sheathing. |
Walk-Through | A final inspection of a home before "Closing" to look for and document problems that need to be corrected. |
Wall out | When a painter pray paints the interior of a home. |
Warping | Any distortion in a material. |
Warranty | In construction there are two general types of warranties. One is provided by the manufacturer of a product such as roofing material or an appliance. The second is a warranty for the labor. For example, a roofing contract may include a 20 year material warranty and a 5 year labor warranty. Many new homebuilders provide a one year warranty. Any major issue found during the first year should be communicated to the builder immediately. Small items can be saved up and presented to the builder for correction periodically through the first year after closing. |
Waste pipe and vent | Plumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage system. |
Water board | Water resistant drywall to be used in tub and shower locations. Normally green or blue colored |
Water closet | Another name for toilet. |
Water meter pit (or vault) | The box /cast iron bonnet and concrete rings that contains the water meter. |
Water table | The location of the underground water, and the vertical distance from the surface of the earth to this underground water. |
Water tap | The connection point where the home water line connects to the main municipal water system. |
Water-repellent preservative | A liquid applied to wood to give the wood water repellant properties. |
Waterproofing | Type of work done by PROOFROCK WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS; also the process where a building component is made totally resistant to the passage of water and/or water vapor. |
Watt | A measure of the electrical requirement of an appliance calculated by multiplying the voltage times the amperage. For example: a 150 watt light bulb which uses 110 volt power needs a little less than 1 amp (110 volts X 1 amp= 110 watts). |
Weatherization | Work on a building exterior in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling. Work involving adding insulation, installing storm windows and doors, caulking cracks and putting on weather-stripping. |
Weatherstrip | Narrow sections of thin metal or other material installed to prevent the infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors. |
Weep holes | Small holes in storm window frames that allow moisture to escape. |
Weld | The joining of components together by fusing. In thermoplastics, refers to bonding together of the membrane using heat or solvents. |
Whole house fan | A fan designed to move air through and out of a home and normally installed in the ceiling. |
Wind bracing | Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over "domino" fashion. |
Window buck | Square or rectangular box that is installed within a concrete foundation or block wall. A window will eventually be installed in this "buck" during the siding stage of construction. |
Window frame | The stationary part of a window unit; window sash fits into the window frame. |
Window sash | The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border. |
Wire nut | A plastic device used to connect bare wires together. |
Wire Size | Conductors for building wiring are available in AWG (American Wire Gauge) sizes ranging from No. 14 to 4/0. The larger the number size, the smaller the diameter. For example #10 is smaller than #8. The larger the diameter of a wire, the lesser the resistance. |
Wonderboard ™- | A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a ceramic tile backing material. Commonly used on bathtub decks. |
Wood Fiber Plaster | Consists of calcified gypsum integrally mixed with selected coarse cellulose fibers which provide bulk and greater coverage. It is formulated to produce high-strength base coats for use in highly fire-resistant ceiling assemblies. |
Work Life | The time during which a curing sealant (usually two compounds) remains suitable for use after being mixed with a catalyst. |
Wrapped drywall | Areas that get complete drywall covering, as in the doorway openings of bifold and bipass closet doors. |
