Home services glossary

Air Duct Cleaning

Supply vent

Registers that push conditioned air into rooms.

Return vent

Larger grilles that pull air back to the system.

Negative pressure

A vacuum setup that keeps debris moving out of the ducts.

Blower wheel

The fan inside the furnace or air handler.

MERV rating

A filter efficiency scale; higher catches smaller particles.

Appliance Repair

Compressor

Pumps refrigerant through a fridge or freezer.

Defrost system

Prevents frost from blocking airflow in the freezer.

Drain pump

Moves water out of a washer or dishwasher.

Igniter

Lights the gas in an oven or dryer.

Model number

The identifier techs use to find the right parts.

Carpet Cleaning

Hot water extraction

Often called steam cleaning; hot water and extraction remove soil.

Pre-spray

A treatment applied before cleaning to loosen soil.

Enzyme treatment

Breaks down organic stains like pet urine.

Carpet pad

The cushion under carpet that can hold odors.

Wicking

When stains reappear as carpet dries.

Chimney Services

Flue

The passage that carries smoke out.

Creosote

Combustible residue from wood smoke.

Crown

The concrete top that sheds water off the chimney.

Flashing

Metal sealing where chimney meets the roof.

Damper

A plate that closes the flue when not in use.

Concrete

Control joint

A cut line that guides where concrete cracks.

Air-entrained

Concrete with tiny bubbles that handle freeze-thaw.

Rebar / mesh

Steel reinforcement inside the slab.

Cure

The time concrete needs to reach strength.

Spalling

Surface flaking from moisture and salt.

Event Dumpster Rental

Roll-off

A rectangular container delivered by truck.

Yard

Cubic yards of container volume.

Swap

Exchanging a full container for an empty one.

Tonnage

Weight allowance included before overage.

Diversion

Keeping waste out of landfill via recycling/compost.

Fencing

Board-on-board

Overlapping pickets for full privacy.

Post footing

Concrete that anchors posts.

Linear foot

How fencing is measured.

Rail

Horizontal supports between posts.

Cap rail

A top board that finishes the fence.

Fire & Smoke Damage

Soot

Fine particles left by combustion.

Thermal fogging

Deodorization that penetrates like smoke.

Pack-out

Removing contents for off-site cleaning.

HEPA

High-efficiency particulate air filtration.

Board-up

Covering openings to secure a property.

Hardwood Flooring

Acclimation

Letting wood adjust to home humidity.

Engineered

A hardwood top layer on a stable core.

Screen and recoat

Light abrasion and new finish.

Tongue and groove

Interlocking board edges.

Heart pine

Dense old-growth pine in older homes.

Garage Door

Torsion spring

Spring above the door that lifts its weight.

Photo-eye sensor

Safety sensors near the floor.

Rollers

Wheels that run in the track.

R-value

Insulation rating.

Belt drive

Quiet opener type.

Gutters

Downspout

Vertical pipe carrying water down.

Pitch

The slight slope toward downspouts.

Fascia

Board the gutter attaches to.

K-style

Common gutter profile.

Splash block

Pad that directs water away.

Handyman

Punch list

A list of small finishing tasks.

Stud

Vertical framing used for mounting.

Mud

Joint compound for drywall.

Caulk

Sealant for gaps and joints.

Trim

Molding around doors, windows and floors.

HVAC

SEER2

Cooling efficiency rating.

AFUE

Furnace efficiency percentage.

Heat pump

Moves heat in both directions.

Condenser

The outdoor AC unit.

Manual J

Load calculation for sizing.

Painting

Sheen

Paint gloss level.

Primer

Base coat for adhesion.

Cut-in

Brushing edges and corners.

Back-rolling

Rolling after spraying.

VOC

Volatile organic compounds in paint.

Pavers & Paving

Base

Compacted gravel under pavers.

Polymeric sand

Joint sand that hardens.

Edge restraint

Keeps pavers from spreading.

Permeable

Allows water infiltration.

Segmental wall

Stacked block retaining wall.

Pest Control

Exclusion

Sealing entry points.

IPM

Integrated pest management.

Bait station

Contained rodent or insect bait.

Perimeter treatment

Barrier around the foundation.

Harborage

Places pests hide.

Plumbing

Main shutoff

Valve that stops all water to the home.

PEX

Flexible plastic supply pipe.

Cleanout

Access point for the sewer line.

Anode rod

Protects a water heater tank.

Sump pit

Basin that collects groundwater.

Pressure Washing

Soft wash

Low-pressure cleaning with solutions.

PSI

Pounds per square inch.

Surface cleaner

Spinning attachment for flat surfaces.

Oxidation

Chalky fading on siding.

Algae streaks

Dark streaks on roofs and siding.

Roofing

Square

100 sq ft of roofing.

Underlayment

Layer beneath shingles.

Flashing

Metal at joints and penetrations.

Ice and water shield

Membrane that prevents ice-dam leaks.

Pitch

Roof slope.

Siding & Stucco

Stucco

Cement-based plaster finish.

Color coat

Final tinted stucco layer.

Weep screed

Lets moisture drain at the base.

Elastomeric

Flexible coating.

Fiber cement

Cement and fiber siding.

Tree Removal

Arborist

Tree care specialist.

Crown thinning

Selective branch removal.

DBH

Diameter at breast height.

Stump grinding

Grinding the stump below grade.

Emerald ash borer

Invasive beetle that kills ash trees.

Water Damage Restoration

Extraction

Removing standing water.

Air mover

High-velocity drying fan.

Dehumidifier

Pulls moisture from air.

Category 1/2/3

Water contamination levels.

Moisture meter

Measures moisture in materials.

Basement Waterproofing

French drain

Gravel trench with pipe.

Hydrostatic pressure

Water pressure against walls.

Efflorescence

White mineral deposits.

Vapor barrier

Moisture-blocking sheet.

Grading

Slope of soil around the house.

Window Replacement

Low-E

Heat-reflective glass coating.

U-factor

Heat loss rating.

SHGC

Solar heat gain coefficient.

Insert install

Replacement within existing frame.

Argon fill

Gas between panes.

Kitchen Remodeling

Work triangle

Sink, stove, fridge layout.

Refacing

New doors on existing cabinet boxes.

Quartz

Engineered stone counter.

Soffit

Boxed area above cabinets.

Scope

What's included in the project.

Bathroom Remodeling

Curbless shower

No step into the shower.

Waterproof membrane

Layer behind tile.

Rough-in

Initial plumbing placement.

Vanity

Sink cabinet.

Exhaust fan

Removes moisture.

Home Remodeling

Scope of work

What the contractor will do.

Change order

A written change to the scope.

Load-bearing wall

A wall supporting structure.

Permit

Local approval for construction.

Punch list

Final small items.

Mid-Century Remodeling

Post-and-beam

Exposed structural framing.

Clerestory

High band of windows.

Terrazzo

Chips set in cement or resin.

Breeze block

Decorative concrete block.

Butterfly roof

V-shaped roofline.