Construction terms to know when you build a home

When you started thinking about becoming a homeowner, you probably weren’t expecting to learn a new language. Especially if you’re looking to build. Luckily for you, you haven’t wasted your time on crime dramas and real housewives. No, your hours of watching HGTV were productive — you know the terms crown molding, baseboard and dormer window. But what about soffit? Plinth block? Fenestration? Become a home jargon linguist with this handy(man) dictionary of construction terms that Jonathan and Drew didn’t teach you.

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Foundation

When it comes to the outside of your home, there’s some literal ground work that needs to be done. These definitions refer to site and building preparation.

• Excavation: Digging a hole for the home footings/foundation
• Footing: Concrete base of the foundation wall
• Full foundation: Concrete basement or crawlspace, including footings 
• Slab foundation: Concrete laid directly on the ground/dirt that forms the first floor of the dwelling
• Reinforced concrete: Concrete strengthened with reinforcing bar, used in basements

Roofline

What are shingles? Obvious. Everything else up there? Bit of a mystery.

• Eaves: Overhanging part of the roof
• Edge flashing: Metal trim along seam of roof and fascia to prevent water damage
• Fascia: Horizontal board on ends of rafters that support gutters
• Frieze: Trim where soffit meets the wall
• Soffit: Material on the underside of the eave or porch roof

Interior

Once you start talking interiors, the terms likely become more familiar, especially if you’ve ever walked through a Home Depot. Still, there’s some perplexing vernacular.

• Egress: Windows large enough to be used as a fire escape
• Fenestration: The design around the house openings such as doorways or windows
• Newel: Part of a staircase, a support post that joins a baluster to the railing
• Plinth block: Decorative piece at the bottom of a door casing, between the baseboard and door
• Transom window: Window above a doorway

Exterior

What is your new homestead ultimately going to look like? You decide.

• Elevation: Exterior design of the house. Planned-community builders often offer the same home with three or more different elevations.
• Flatwork: Any poured concrete around the dwelling such as driveways, sidewalks, garages
• Grading: Sloping the ground away from the house to prevent flooding and for landscape preparation

Move in

When can you finally move into your new place? Once you receive the final OK, it’s time to rent a moving truck and begin the hunt for packing boxes. So many boxes.

• Certificate of occupancy: Certifies the structure has passed all of the required inspections and met all the building codes
• Homeowner’s warranty: On a new build, the builder may provide a warranty covering systems and materials

Find where to build your home on KSL Homes

Now you know the lingo, you’re ready to start talking to the pros. Find a community to build your new house on KSL Homes. Learn more about preparing to build a custom home on our Resources page.