A
ACC: Authority to Commence Construction. The point in time when we have received all the approvals needed to proceed to a site start
Access and Handling: A monetary allowance for the use of additional machinery and labour required when working on restrictive and dificult sites
Architrave: The moulding that seals the join between wall and window/door frame
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B
BA: Building Agreement. The document that encapsulates the formalised arrangements agreed to between customer and builder for the building of a home
Barge Tile: The angular concrete tile that is used to finish off the front of a gable roof
BASIX: Building and sustainability index
Batts: Insulation used in walls or ceilings
BOS: Building Over Sewer. The application that is made to Council for building within the Zone Of Influence within an easement. See Zone of Influence.
Boundary: Building Over Sewer. The application that is made to Council for building within the Zone Of Influence within an easement. See Zone of Influence.
Bracing: Refers to frame strengthening and additional reinforcing and/or use of stronger materials in high wind areas
Building Envelope: A "zone" within a parcel of land in which you are permitted to build. You cannot build outside the envelope.
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C
Colour Selection: A meeting when all internal and external colours are recorded by our Colour Consultant to go with the orders for materials etc for the home
Contour Survey: A survey used to determine the site fall/slope of a block. Displayed as a series of contour lines at differing levels
Contract: See BA
Cornice: The curved or decorative plaster moulding that covers the join between wall and ceiling sheet
Covenant: The design requirements of a subdivision
Cut and Fill: See Earthworks
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D
Downpipe: The pipe that conducts roof water via guttering to the stormwater lines
Dutch Gable: A perpendicular triangle of roof that sits above a hip. Used as a feature.
Dwarf Wall: A wall of lesser height than a full height wall ie one taller than 2440mm.
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E
Earthworks: The act of preparing a block of land to be made ready for home construction
Easement: Area of land within a site containing a pipe (sewer/storm water) or right of access or other right granted by a Government body. Cannot be built within or over
Eaves: The lining under a roof overhang. Also called the soffit
Envelope: See Building Envelope
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F
Façade: The frontal detail and styling of a home
Fall: The amount of site slope on land
Fascia: The colourbond metal finishing strip that covers the end of the roof trusses and sits behind the guttering
Fixing Stage: Completion of the internal fit out of the home
Flickmixer: A tap fitting with one handle that controls the blending and delivery of hot and cold water simultanoeusly
Footprint: The outline of the home on the site/the space it occupies
Frame Stage: Completion of the errection of the frame
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G
Gable Roof: A perpendicular triangle of roof often used as a feature. May display "gable ornament" on it
Gradient: The degree of site slope. Often used in referring to Driveways
Guttering: The metal channels that conduct roofwater from roof to downpipe
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H
Handover: The stage where the home is completed and the keys are exchanged for the final payment
Hip Roof: An angled section of roof that runs from a ridge or valley to a barge or guttering See also Barge and Guttering
Hob: The tiled flat area surrounding a bathtub
HSTP: Household Sewerage Treatment Plant
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L
Laminate: A veneer of coloured/textured material covering a cupboard
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M
Meter Box: The metal box mounted to the external wall of a home that houses the meters, circuit breakers etc
Mixer Taps: See Flickmixer
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P
PA: Provisional Allowance. A monetary amount allowed towards a cost that is not possible to fully calculate at the time of quoting
Pavilion: An under roof outside entertaining area
Penetrations: The points of entry through the slab for items such as drains etc
Percolation Test: A test done to determine the water holding/absorbing capacity of soil. Used to design HSTP's. See HSTP
Picture Nook: A recess in a wall used to "frame" a picture
Piers/Piering: Support mechanisms usually made from poured concrete under the slab of a home. Often used in filled areas. Brick piers; square columns of brickwork usually used for the support of a roof structure eg a porch.
Pitch: Refers to the angle of the roofline
Plan of Development: A subdivision where special permissions have been granted by Council for variances to standard building or siting requirements.
Platform: See Pad
Pods: The moulds used over which a slab is poured. Also known as a "Pod Slab" or "Waffel Pod"
Pointing: The cement used to set in the ridge capping. See Ridge Capping
Post Formed: Used to describe the rounded edges of the benches of kitchens and vanity uniys
Practical Completion Stage: The home has reached the stage where it is fit for the purpose it was built. It can be lived in.
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Q
Quotation: A document produced following the receipt of a home order together with all site reports. Has to be approved before going to Contract
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R
Raft Slab: See Pods
Relaxation: An approval by a Council to vary it's own requirements. Usually associated with boundary setbacks.
Ridge Capping: The angled tile cap that seals the ridge of the home
Risers: The vertical part of a stair that gives height.
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S
Sarking: The foil sheet used in roofs to assist with preventing water intrusion; generally in high winds
Services Connection: The connection of water, power, sewer and telephone between point of connection and the home
Setback: The distance a home is located from its boundary
Sisilation: See Sarking but used on the external side of the frame.
Site Access: The ability to move freely or not onto a site. Referred to as Site Access
Site Cut: See Earthworks
Site Preparation: See Earthworks
Siteworks: See Earthworks
Siting: The act of placing a home on a site. The position of the home
Skillion Roof: A roof projecting from a building that has neither gable or hip ends
Skirting: The moulding that seals the join between floor and wall
Slope: The change of grade on a block of land
Soil Test: A Geotechnical survey used to determine soil type and reactivity. Ultimately used for foundation design.
Square Set Opening: An opening in a wall that has had the opening set square (not curved)
Sub Board: A secondary internally mounted housing for circuit breakers. See also Meter Box
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T
Transition Zone: The area immediately in front of a garage that "levels out" prior to entering the garage
Treads: The horizontal part of a stair that is walked upon. Also see Risers.
Trickle feed water: Used where full mains pressure water is not available. Delivers limited flow and requires tanks.
Truncation Zone: Angled area of land across the frontage corners of a corner allotment. Driveways cannot cross this
Two Pac/2 Pac: A cabinet finish that is painted in high gloss with gloss polyurethane coating
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V
Valley: Point at which two planes of roof meet at a declining point. It conducts rainwater to the guttering
Vinyl Wrap: A cabinet finish where colored vinyl is heat wrapped onto moulded doors/cupboards
VO's: Variations to the order. The changes or additions made to a standard floorplan
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W
Waffle Pod: See Pods
Wet Areas: Bathrooms, ensuites, laundries, powderooms
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Z
Zero Lot: A block of land where a dwelling can be built to the boundary
Zone of Influence: That area surrounding a pipe where pressure can bear. Usually occurs around easements