Glossary of Construction Terms
In the complex world of construction, navigating through a sea of technical terms and industry jargon can often feel overwhelming. In our latest blog, we delve into an essential glossary of construction, shedding light on the terminology used by our team of professionals and empowering our clients to understand how we design around these terms.
We believe it's crucial for all key stakeholders in the design-build journey to speak the same language, ensuring effective collaboration and avoiding miscommunication. We aim to provide clients with an approachable vocabulary as they embark on their construction journey, offering context on how Clear works and thinks about these terms in the real world.
Architectural Programming:
Architectural programming is part of the pre-development phase of a building project and is a research and decision-making process that brings together your list of wants and needs, ultimately identifying the scope of work to be designed.
Construction Programming:
Construction programs clearly outline a project’s scope of work, lead times, development phases, durations, sequence of activities, and the human and material resources needed to reach each milestone.
Schematic Design (SD) and Design Development (DD):
SD is an initial design scheme that defines the general scope and conceptual design of the project. DD is an important drawing step that pinpoints dimensions, details, and materials.
Site Plan:
A site plan accurately shows site boundaries, dimensions, and locations of all buildings and structures, crucial for understanding the project's layout.
Construction Drawings (CD) and Permit Set:
CD marks the final phase of the design process, detailing how to construct the building and ideally provides visual descriptions for the aesthetics of the residence such as the crown moulding’s pattern or the radius of an arch in the hallway. A permit set, essential for starting construction, may not include all structural and design details.
Wishlist and Scope of Work:
The wishlist outlines the client's desires for the project, while the scope of work defines the tasks to be performed.
In Action: A homeowner's wishlist might include things like a gourmet kitchen, a spacious primary bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, and a backyard patio for entertaining. The scope of work for a kitchen renovation might include removing the existing cabinets and countertops, installing new appliances, replacing the flooring, and painting the walls.
Estimate and Feasibility Study:
Estimates approximate the project's cost to build and can also be known as a cost study, while feasibility studies assess its viability - can it get permitted based on the local regulations or what is the overall project timeline. Both are crucial for project planning.
Allowances and Scope Changes:
Allowances set aside money for variable costs, while scope changes involve modifications to the agreed-upon work.
Cost Study and Value Engineering:
Cost studies assess project costs, while value engineering evaluates methods and materials to reduce costs without compromising quality.
Daily Logs and Punch List:
Daily logs are a record of activities that help the contractor and homeowners check the progress of the work on-site and are kept throughout the duration of construction. When construction is essentially complete, the punch list is created during the final inspection and notes the remaining work items.
Dependencies and Critical Path:
Dependencies are tasks that must be completed before others can start and are part of the Critical Path.
In Action: Dependencies, integral to the Critical Path for schedule adherence, typically involve subcontractors, meaning certain tasks must be completed before others can proceed. For instance, insulation installation must be completed before drywall installation can commence.
As-Built Drawings and Inspection:
As-built drawings show existing conditions of the original structure, while inspections ensure construction compliance with approved plans that show the new structure.
Submittals and General Conditions:
Submittals provide product data for review by the designer or architect such as shop drawings for cabinetry or doors and windows, while general conditions outline contractor performance requirements, responsibilities, and specifications shown in architectural drawings.
Prime Contract and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP):
The prime contract defines project terms, while GMP sets the maximum price for construction.
In Action: A homeowner signs a prime contract with a general contractor to build a new house where it outlines the project scope, timeline, payment schedule, and responsibilities of both parties.
If a developer hires a construction company to build a commercial office building, the GMP contract could specify that the total cost of construction will not exceed $10 million. This provides the developer with a time and material contract with a maximum cost certainty and protection against unexpected overruns.
Time and Materials (T&M) and Change Order:
T&M contracts base payment on actual costs, while change orders document modifications to the original scope.
Scope Creep and Quantity Take-off:
Scope creep occurs when project changes go beyond the original scope of work, while quantity take-offs determine material quantities for construction based on the agreed-upon scope of work.
Shop Drawings and Specifications:
Shop drawings detail component fabrication, while specifications define desired materials and quality.
In Action: Shop drawings can detail the exact dimensions, materials, and installation requirements for each window on a construction project.
Specifications could be anything from flooring that should be hardwood in the reception area to ceramic tile in the bathrooms or carpet in the offices. From paint color to plumbing and light fixtures that should be brushed nickel, specifications have a wide range and can be very detailed.
General Contractor and Design-Bid-Build:
The general contractor oversees the construction project and the design-bid-build involves separate firms for design and construction where the structure is designed and then construction costs are estimated.
Design-Build and Request for Proposal (RFP):
Design-build integrates design and construction, while RFP solicits proposals for project services such as quotes for materials or subcontracted work like HVAC or plumbing.
Buy Out and Job Costing:
Buy out transitions from preconstruction to construction and is when the general contractor will sign up the subcontractors who have bid and won the work, while job costing tracks actual project costs during construction.
Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Quote (RFQ):
RFIs seek clarification on documents from the design team or architect, while RFQ is a request for a quote from a subcontractor or material vendor to find out product or service costs.
In Action: If the general contractor encounters an unclear detail in the architectural drawings, the contractor would submit an RFI to the architect, seeking clarification on the details.
If in the bidding process for a roofing project, the general contractor would send out RFQs to several roofing subcontractors. The RFQ request would detail quotes for the cost of materials, labor, and equipment required to complete the roofing installation based on the project specifications provided.
Mechanical Electrical Plumbing (MEP) and Subcontractor:
MEP encompasses mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and construction services. A subcontractor is a business or individual hired by the main contractor (general contractor) to perform specific tasks or services as part of a larger construction project.
Understanding construction terminology empowers homeowners to engage effectively in their building projects and with their trade teams. By breaking down complex jargon, we aim to bridge the gap between industry professionals and clients, ensuring successful outcomes and seamless communication throughout the construction process. If you're planning a project or currently working on one, we encourage you to explore this glossary! It's designed to help you navigate construction terminology and understand key concepts as you move forward with your project.