Lvl. 11 - Basic Construction

Question 1

basement

Answer 1

the bottom floor of a building that is partially or completely below ground level

Question 2

beams

Answer 2

long horizontal pieces of squared wood or metal that span an opening or part of a building

Question 3

bearing wall

Answer 3

a wall that bears the weight of a roof, ceiling, or floor

Question 4

building envelope

Answer 4

the exterior shell of the building that encloses the interior and acts as a physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building

Question 5

crawl space

Answer 5

a hollow, unfinished space found underneath a house between the ground and the first floor

Question 6

drywall

Answer 6

a board made of gypsum plaster pressed between thick sheets of coarse paper

Question 7

eaves

Answer 7

the lowest edges of a roof that overhang the face of a wall and project beyond the side walls of a building

Question 8

foundation

Answer 8

the architectural structure on which the building sits

Question 9

framing

Answer 9

the skeleton of a house that gives the structure support and shape

Question 10

girder

Answer 10

the main horizontal support beam of a structure

Question 11

insulation

Answer 11

material installed to help regulate the interior temperature

Question 12

joists

Answer 12

long beams of wood or steel arranged horizontally and parallel to support a floor or ceiling

Question 13

pitch

Answer 13

a roof’s vertical rise (in inches) divided by its horizontal run (in feet)

Question 14

r-value

Answer 14

the measure of an insulating material’s capacity to resist heat flow

Question 15

rafters

Answer 15

a series of sloped internal beams that extend from the eaves to the peak of a roof, running parallel to the roof’s pitch

Question 16

roof ridge beam

Answer 16

a horizontal beam at the peak of the roof to which rafters are attached

Question 17

rough-ins

Answer 17

the first interior work that must be done; includes such things as wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems

Question 18

sheathing

Answer 18

the structural wood panel material used to cover the wall, floor, and roof assemblies of buildings

Question 19

siding

Answer 19

the finished protective material attached to the exterior walls of a building, commonly made of vinyl, wood, brick, stucco, stone, or metal

Question 20

slab-on-grade

Answer 20

a type of foundation comprised of a concrete slab constructed at ground level

Question 21

studs

Answer 21

a vertical board used in construction to frame and support a building

Question 22

air conditioning

Answer 22

a major system in home construction that cools the interior of the structure, usually through the use of an air-cooled or water-cooled process

Question 23

building permit

Answer 23

a legal document from a local authority that authorizes a construction or remodeling project

Question 24

british thermal unit (BTU)

Answer 24

a measurement of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree fahrenheit

Question 25

certificate of occupancy (CO)

Answer 25

a document issued by a code enforcement officer that states that the building is ready and fit for occupancy

Question 26

domestic water

Answer 26

water used for indoor household purposes

Question 27

drain trap

Answer 27

a device used in a waste system to prevent the passage of sewer gas into the structure

Question 28

electrical system

Answer 28

refers to the major system in residential construction that allows the distribution of electricity from an outside power source to safely flow throughout a home

Question 29

heat pump

Answer 29

an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners that works by moving heat rather than generating it

Question 30

heating system

Answer 30

a major system in residential construction that generates and/or distributes heat throughout the home

Question 31

HVAC

Answer 31

an acronym referring to the collective efforts of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; is the major system used to control the heating, cooling, and movement of air in indoor environments

Question 32

plumbing system

Answer 32

the major system in residential construction having to do with the piping for hot water, cold water, and wastewater lines

Question 33

tankless water heater

Answer 33

a water system that operates without the use of a water storage tank, rather heating water as needed

Question 34

ventilation

Answer 34

refers to the major system in residential construction that circulates fresh air throughout the home; assists in the mitigation of damage from the accumulation of moisture