Understanding all that goes into a construction project means starting with the basics, whether it be a renovation, a historic restoration in one of Charleston’s historic neighborhoods, or a custom-built Lowcountry home.  A clear understanding of how the Architect and General Contractor do business, and the terms and phrases they use will help to improve your chances of having a great experience.

In this blog we focus on some of the common terms starting with “A ” & “B ” used in creating your Charleston property.  We have also prepared a Free E-Book on the subject, our  “Guide to Construction Terms used in Historic Downtown Charleston, SC, “ that you can download and keep with you.  This is the world our construction crews live in on a daily basis and the building related jargon we use when we build-out and restore homes in and around Charleston, SC and the surrounding barrier islands.   

• Acoustical Tile – Special tile for walls and ceilings made of mineral, wood, vegetable fibers, cork, or metal. Its purpose is to control sound volume, while providing cover.
• Air Duct – Pipes that carry warm air and cold air to rooms and back to furnace or air conditioning system. 
• Ampere – The rate of flow of electricity through electric wires, measured in Amps.
• Apron – A paved area, such as the juncture of a driveway with the street or with a garage entrance.
• Backfill – The gravel or earth replaced in the space around a building wall after foundations are completed.
• Balusters Balustrade – Upright supports of a balustrade rail. A row of balusters topped by a rail, edging a balcony or a staircase.
• BAR – Board of Architectural Review. A review board in Charleston with governance over buildings in the historic districts. 
• Baseboard- A board along the floor against walls and partitions to hide gaps.
• Batt – Insulation in the form of a blanket, rather than loose filling, usually resin bonded glass fibre.
• Batten – Small thin strips covering joints between wider boards on exterior building surfaces.
• Beam – One of the principal horizontal wood or steel members of a building.
• Bearing Wall- A wall that supports a floor or roof of a building.
• Bib or Bibcock – A water faucet to which a hose may be attached, also called a hose bib or sill cock.
• Bleeding –Seeping of resin or gum from lumber. This term is also used in referring to the process of drawing air from water pipes.
• Brace – A piece of wood or other material used to form a triangle and stiffen some part of a structure.
• Braced Framing – Construction technique using posts and cross–bracing for greater rigidity.
• Brick Veneer- Brick used as the outer surface of a framed wall.
• Bridging- Small wood or metal pieces placed diagonally between floor joists.
• Building Paper- Heavy paper used in walls or roofs to damp proof.
• Built-Up Roof – A roofing material applied in sealed, waterproof layers, where there is only a slight slope to the roof.
• Butt Joint- Joining point of two pieces of wood or molding.
• Bx Cable – Electricity cable wrapped in rubber with a flexible steel cover. Typically used in commercial construction.   

Note: Learning Charleston property building terms is fun but can be difficult to get started.  As your Charleston construction project progresses, you have the chance to experience the construction process first-hand, and we encourage you to visit your job site as frequently as possible.  Start by getting familiar with building terms in our FREE eBook Guide and you’ll be talking like a pro in no time …