Glossary
Remodeling Glossary: Plain-English Terms
Words you will hear when someone talks about remodeling a home, explained simply.
Call us today615-431-3789- Scope of work
- The written list of what will be done, room by room.
- Allowance
- A set amount for items not yet chosen, such as tile or fixtures.
- Change order
- A written change to the scope, schedule or cost of a project.
- Punch list
- A final list of small items to finish or fix.
- Walkthrough
- A tour of finished work with the owner.
- Demolition
- Removing existing finishes and structure so new work can begin.
- Framing
- The wood or steel skeleton of walls, floors and roofs.
- Rough-in
- Installing pipes, wires and ducts inside walls before they are closed.
- Header
- A beam over a door, window or opening that carries the load above.
- Load-bearing wall
- A wall that carries the weight of the floors or roof above.
- Beam
- A strong horizontal member that carries loads across an opening.
- Joist
- A horizontal framing member that supports a floor or ceiling.
- Stud
- A vertical framing member inside a wall.
- Subfloor
- The structural layer under finished flooring.
- Underlayment
- A layer between the subfloor and finished flooring.
- Drywall
- Gypsum board used to make interior walls and ceilings.
- Joint compound
- The paste used to finish drywall seams and screw holes.
- Skim coat
- A thin layer of compound that smooths a wall.
- Primer
- A first coat that helps paint stick and look even.
- Sheen
- How shiny a paint finish is, from matte to gloss.
- Crown molding
- Trim where the wall meets the ceiling.
- Baseboard
- Trim where the wall meets the floor.
- Casing
- Trim that frames a door or window.
- Wainscoting
- Paneling on the lower part of a wall.
- Board and batten
- Paneling made of wide boards with narrow strips over the seams.
- Shiplap
- Horizontal boards that overlap or fit together with a small gap.
- Millwork
- Finished woodwork such as trim, doors and built-ins.
- Built-in
- Furniture or storage built permanently into a room.
- Stock cabinets
- Factory cabinets in standard sizes and finishes.
- Semi-custom cabinets
- Factory cabinets with more size and finish options.
- Custom cabinets
- Cabinets built to exact dimensions and specifications.
- Reveal
- The small gap between a cabinet door and its frame.
- Inset door
- A cabinet door set flush inside the frame.
- Soft-close
- A hinge or slide that stops a door or drawer from slamming.
- Backsplash
- The surface behind a counter that protects the wall.
- Waterfall edge
- A counter that continues down the side of an island to the floor.
- Quartz
- An engineered stone made from quartz and resin.
- Granite
- A natural stone often used for counters.
- Butcher block
- A counter made of strips of wood glued together.
- Template
- A pattern of a counter or shape used to cut a slab.
- Work triangle
- The path between sink, stove and refrigerator in a kitchen.
- Island
- A freestanding counter in a kitchen.
- Pantry
- A space for food storage, from a cabinet to a walk-in room.
- Vanity
- A bathroom cabinet with a sink.
- Curbless shower
- A shower with no step at the entrance.
- Shower pan
- The waterproof base of a shower.
- Membrane
- A waterproof sheet or coating under tile.
- Niche
- A recessed shelf in a shower wall.
- Grout
- The material between tiles.
- Thinset
- The mortar that bonds tile to a surface.
- Large-format tile
- Tile that is bigger than about twelve inches on a side.
- Porcelain
- A dense, durable ceramic used for tile.
- Luxury vinyl plank
- Water-resistant flooring that looks like wood.
- Engineered wood
- Flooring with a real wood top layer over layers of plywood.
- Hardwood
- Solid wood flooring that can be refinished.
- Transition
- A strip where two floors meet.
- Egress window
- A window large enough to escape through in an emergency.
- Vapor barrier
- A layer that slows moisture moving through a wall or floor.
- Insulation
- Material that slows heat moving through walls, floors and roofs.
- Air sealing
- Closing gaps that let air leak in and out.
- Rim joist
- The band of framing at the edge of a floor, often a source of drafts.
- Sump pump
- A pump that removes water from a basement.
- Grading
- The slope of the ground around a house.
- Footing
- The wide base of a foundation or post.
- Ledger
- A board that attaches a deck to a house.
- Flashing
- Thin metal or membrane that directs water away from joints.
- Joist hanger
- A metal bracket that connects a joist to a beam.
- Composite decking
- Boards made from wood fiber and plastic.
- Setback
- The required distance between a building and a property line.
- Permit
- Official approval from a city or county to do certain work.
- Inspection
- A check by the building department during or after work.
- HOA
- A homeowners association that sets rules for a neighborhood.
- Variance
- Permission to depart from a zoning rule.
- Survey
- A measured drawing of a property and its boundaries.
- Structural engineer
- A professional who designs beams, posts and foundations.
- Design-build
- A method where one team handles design and construction.
- 3D rendering
- A realistic image of a design that has not been built yet.
- Elevation
- A drawing of one wall or face of a room or building.
- Floor plan
- A drawing of a level seen from above.
- Lead time
- How long a product takes to arrive after it is ordered.
- Aging in place
- Remodeling a home so it stays safe and comfortable as needs change.
- Universal design
- Design that works for people of every age and ability.
- Grab-bar blocking
- Extra wood inside a wall so a grab bar can be added safely.
- Recessed light
- A light fixture set into the ceiling.
- Dimmer
- A switch that changes how bright a light is.
- Low voltage
- Wiring for data, sound and some lighting at reduced power.
- Pocket door
- A door that slides into the wall.
- Prehung door
- A door that comes already hung in its frame.
Do I need drawings to start?
No. A few photos and a list of what bothers you are enough. We measure the room and draw the plan for you.
Can I live in the house during a remodel?
Often yes. We set up a temporary kitchen or bath if needed, control dust and keep paths safe. For larger projects we plan phases with you.
Will I see the design before you build?
Yes. For most projects we prepare a layout and, for larger ones, 3D views that show cabinets, counters, tile and light so you can approve them before work begins.
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Tell us about your home, the room you would like to change and when you would like to begin. We reply promptly and treat every inquiry with care. Prefer to talk? Call 615-431-3789.
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One Room Remodels is a Nashville home remodeling company. We remodel kitchens, baths, basements and whole homes, build additions, decks and porches and handle the repairs and details in between, one room at a time.
- 615-431-3789
- Home remodeling, additions and repairs
- Serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee
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