Definition of Flashing

Flashing

The building component used to connect portions of a roof, deck, or siding material to another surface such as a chimney, wall, or vent pipe. Often made out of various metals, rubber or tar and is mostly intended to prevent water entry.

Z-Bar Flashing

Bent, galvanized metal flashing that is installed above a horizontal trim board of an exterior window, door, or brick run. It prevents water from getting behind the trim/brick and into the home.

Creditor Proof Protection

The creditor proof status of such things as life insurance, non-registered life insurance investments, life insurance RRSPs and life insurance RRIFs make these attractive products for high net worth individuals, professionals and business owners who may have creditor concerns. Under most circumstances the creditor proof rules of the different provincial insurance acts take priority over the federal bankruptcy rules.
The provincial insurance acts protect life insurance products which have a family class beneficiary. Family class beneficiaries include the spouse, parent, child or grandchild of the life insured, except in Quebec, where creditor protection rules apply to spouse, ascendants and descendants of the insured. Investments sold by other financial institutions do not offer the same security should the holder go bankrupt. There are also circumstances under which the creditor proof protections do not hold for life insurance products. Federal bankruptcy law disallows the protection for any transfers made within one year of bankruptcy. In addition, should it be found that a person shifted money to an insurance company fund in bad faith for the specific purpose of avoiding creditors, these funds will not be creditor proof.

Re-entry

This is a provision in some term insurance policies that allow the insured the right to renew the policy at a more favourable rate by providing updated evidence of insurability.

Conventional Mortgage

A mortgage that does not exceed 80% of the purchase price of the home. Mortgages that exceed this limit must be insured against default, and are referred to as high-ratio mortgages (see below).

Home Equity

The difference between the price for which a home could be sold (market value) and the total debts registered against it.

Coach home

One of a group of homes in a two-story building, with own garage and entrance.

Courtyard home

A home with a courtyard as its main entrance.

Home warranty

Like any other warranty, this guarantees the property against failure of mechanical systems, such as plumbing, electrical, heating and installed appliances.

Patio home

Small, single-family home with a patio.

Single-family home

A detached house.

A/C Disconnect

The main electrical ON-OFF switch near the A/C condenser.

Area Walls

Corrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold back the earth.

Attic Ventilators

Screened openings in houses to allow for ventilation of an attic space.

Awning Windows

Single level windows that tilt outward and up.

Backout

Work the framing contractor does after the mechanical (heating, plumbing & electrical) subcontractors finish their phase of work at the rough stage prior to insulating to get the home ready for a municipal frame inspection. Generally, the framing contractor repairs anything disturbed by others and completes all framing necessary to pass a Rough Frame Inspection.

Balloon Framed Wall

Framed walls (generally over 10' tall) that run the entire vertical length from the floor sill plate to the roof. This is done to eliminate the need for a gable end truss.

Barge Board

A decorative board covering the projecting rafter (fly rafter) of the gable end. At the cornice, this member is a fascia board.

Baseboard

Any board or molding found at the bottom of an interior wall.

Bay Window

A window that projects outward in a curve.

Board Foot

Measurement of lumber that is the equivalent of 144 cubic inches.

Brick Veneer

A vertical facing of brick laid against and fastened to sheathing of a framed wall or tile wall construction.

Building Code

A comprehensive set of laws that controls the construction or remodeling of a home or other structure.

Built-Up Roof

A roofing composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generally used on flat or low-pitched roofs.

Bull Nose Drywall

Rounded drywall corners.

Crawlspace Vent

An opening to allow the passage of air through the unexcavated area under a first floor. Ideally there should be at least two vents per crawlspace.

Dormer Windows

Dormers are located on the second floor and project or extend out through the roof to provide window space.

Eave Vent

vent opening located in the soffit under the eaves of a house to allow the passage of air through the attic and out the roof vents.

Entry Box

See Electrical Service entry

Foil-Faced Vapor Retarder

Created by coating a foil-backed paper with a thin layer of asphalt adhesive. The coated side of the foil-backed paper is then applied to the un-faced insulation material. The asphalt adhesive bonds the foil-backed paper and the insulation together.

Gable End Wall

The triangular end of an exterior wall above the eaves formed under a gable roof.

Gable Roof

A roof that consists of two sloping planes that meet at the ridge or peak. The planes are supported at their ends by triangular, upward extensions of walls known as gables.

Gable Vent

A louver mounted in the top of the gable to allow the passage of air through the attic.

Hip Roof

A pitched roof with sloping sides.

aterial used to cover the interior framed areas of walls and ceilings

Knee Wall

A wall-like structure that supports roof rafters.

Kraft-Faced Vapor Retarder

Created by coating kraft paper with a thin layer of asphalt adhesive. The coated side of the kraft paper is then applied to the unfaced insulation material. The asphalt adhesive bonds the kraft paper and the insulation together.

Lap Siding

Slightly wedge-shaped boards used as horizontal siding in a lapped pattern over the exterior sheathing. Varies in butt thickness from ½ to ¾ inch and in widths up to 12".

Load-Bearing Wall

Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate.

Metal Flue

A metal channel through which hot air, gas, steam or smoke may pass.

Metal Insulation Support

16" or 24" wire rod or crisscrossed wire to hold floor insulation in place.

Nonbearing Wall

A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

Palladian Window

One larger window with a circle top window above and usually has two smaller, rectangular windows on each side.

Particle Board

Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. used for closet shelving, floor underlayment, stair treads, etc.

Radius Window

A window with an arched top.

Ridge Board

A horizontal board that serves as the apex of the roof structure.

Ridge Vent

A vent mounted along the entire ridge line of the roof to allow the passage of air through the attic or cathedral ceiling.

Roof Valley

The "V" created where two sloping roofs meet.

Roof Vent

A louver or small dome mounted near the ridge of the roof to allow the passage of air through the attic.

Shed Roof

A roof that pitches up further on one side than the other. Shed roofs are also used over some porches.

Siding

See Lap siding

Stick-Built Home

A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building.

Trombe Wall

A passive solar wall, usually masonry or concrete, used for passing heat from one room (like a sun room or solar garden room) to another.

Vapor Retarder

Helps control the amount of moisture passing through the insulation and collecting inside exterior walls, ceilings and floors.

Ventilation

Creates a positive flow of air that allows the house to "breathe" and helps prevent moisture build-up year-round.

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.

Wall Out

When a painter spray paints the interior of a home.

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 Sash

The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border.

Related to : home, mortgage, insurance, homebuyer, real estate, property, buy home, home insurance, financing, home financing, home buyer, first time homebuyer, homes, homebuying, credit, condo.