151 Most Important Construction Terms To Know

In the dynamic and intricate world of civil engineering and construction, effective communication and a profound understanding of the industry’s terminology are paramount. The plethora of construction terms used by professionals encapsulates the technicalities, processes, and materials that are pivotal to successful project execution. From planning and design to execution and maintenance, these terms serve as the linchpin, ensuring clarity, precision, and efficiency at every project phase.

This comprehensive repository of 151 essential construction terms aims to demystify the jargon, providing clear definitions and descriptions that are indispensable for architects, engineers, contractors, and all stakeholders involved in the construction process. By mastering this vocabulary, individuals can enhance their proficiency, contribute to smoother project workflows, and ensure that all parties are on the same page, fostering a collaborative and productive construction environment.

151 Most Important Construction Terms

Below is a list of 151 construction construction terms commonly used in the civil engineering and construction industry, sorted in alphabetical order:

1. Abutment: A structure that supports the end of a bridge or dam.
2. Aggregate: A combination of materials like crushed stone, gravel, and sand that are used in mixing concrete.
3. Anchor Bolt: A bolt used to attach structural elements to concrete.
4. Apron: A concrete or paved area around a building for drainage or vehicle access.
5. Arch: A curved structure that spans an opening and supports weight.
6. As-Built Drawings: Revised set of drawing submitted by a contractor upon completion of a project or a specific job.
7. Backfill: The replacement of excavated earth into a trench around or against a structure.
8. Bar Joist: A type of structural component used for supporting floors and roofs.
9. Bearing Capacity: The capacity of soil to support the loads applied to the ground.
10. Bearing Wall: A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
11. Blinding Concrete: A layer of concrete used to level out the ground before laying foundation.
12. Bond: The arrangement of bricks in a structure such that they overlap to improve strength.
13. Bracing: Additional structural support to improve stability.
14. Caisson: A watertight structure used in underwater construction.
15. Camber: A slight upward curve in a beam or deck to compensate for expected deflection.
16. Cantilever: A projecting structure supported at one end, such as a balcony.
17. Casing: Material used to enclose or protect a structural element.
18. Cast-in-Place: Concrete that is poured and cured on-site.
19. Cavity Wall: A wall consisting of two separate walls with a space between them for insulation.
20. Chase: A groove or channel for piping or wiring.
21. Cladding: Material applied to the exterior of a building for protection and aesthetics.
22. Collateral Load: Additional load applied to a structure during construction.
23. Column: A vertical structural element that supports loads.
24. Compaction: The process of increasing soil density by mechanical means.
25. Concrete: A building material made from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement, and water.
26. Construction Management: A professional service that uses specialized project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project.
27. Contingency: An amount of money set aside to cover unexpected costs during construction.
28. Contract: A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.
29. Control Joint: A joint in concrete to prevent cracking.
30. Coping: The covering on top of a wall for protection.
31. Corbel: A projecting block supporting a beam or other structure.
32. Cornice: A decorative horizontal molding or projected roof overhang.
33. Cripple Wall: A short wall that supports a house in the space between the foundation and the first floor.
34. Curing: The process of allowing concrete to dry slowly to strengthen it.
35. Dampproofing: Treatment applied to prevent moisture penetration.
36. Dead Load: The constant, static load applied to a structure by the weight of the building materials.
37. Decking: The material installed over the framing of a floor or roof.
38. Deflection: The bending or sagging of a structural element under load.
39. Demolition: The process of tearing down or dismantling a structure.
40. Dewatering: The removal of groundwater or surface water from a construction site.
41. Drywall: A construction material used to create walls and ceilings.
42. Easement: A legal right to use another’s land for a specific purpose.
43. Egress: A means of exit from a building.
44. Elevation: The height of a point above or below a reference level.
45. Excavation: The process of digging or removing earth.
46. Expansion Joint: A joint that allows for expansion and contraction in construction materials.
47. Fascia: A flat board that runs along the edge of a roof.
48. Flashing: Material used to prevent water penetration at joints in a building.
49. Footing: The lower portion of a foundation, typically wider than the rest of the foundation.
50. Formwork: Temporary or permanent molds used to hold concrete until it sets.
51. Foundation: The supporting portion of a structure below the ground.
52. Framing: The structural elements of a building that provide shape and support.
53. Frost Line: The maximum depth at which the ground freezes in winter.
54. Gable: The triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof.
55. Girder: A large beam that supports smaller beams.
56. Grade: The level of the ground surface.
57. Grading: The process of adjusting the slope and elevation of the ground surface for drainage and stability.
58. Grout: A mixture of cement and water used to fill gaps or voids.
59. Gusset: A plate used to reinforce or connect structural elements.
60. Header: A beam placed perpendicular to joists to support ends and prevent twisting.
61. Hip Roof: A roof with slopes on all four sides.
62. Insulation: Material used to reduce heat transfer.
63. Joist: Horizontal structural elements used to support floors or ceilings.
64. Kicker: A brace used during concrete frame construction.
65. Lag Bolt: A large metal bolt with a heavy, coarse thread.
66. Lap: The overlap of two materials to provide a secure joint.
67. Lateral Load: A load applied perpendicular to the vertical axis of a structure.
68. Live Load: A temporary, moving load on a structure, such as people or furniture.
69. Load-Bearing Wall: A wall that supports the weight of the structure above it.
70. Masonry: Construction using stone, brick, or concrete block.
71. Mortar: A mixture of cement, sand, and water used to bond masonry units.
72. Parging: A thin coat of plaster applied to masonry for protection or finish.
73. Pile: A long, slender column driven into the ground to support a structure.
74. Pitch: The slope of a roof.
75. Plaster: A mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water used to coat walls and ceilings.
76. Plinth: The base of a column or wall.
77. Plywood: A type of engineered wood made from thin layers of wood veneer.
78. Point Load: A concentrated load applied at a single point on a structure.
79. Post-Tensioning: A method of reinforcing concrete using tendons pulled tight after the concrete has set.
80. Purlin: A horizontal beam supporting the rafters of a roof.
81. Rafter: The sloping beams that support a roof.
82. Rebar: Steel bars used to reinforce concrete.
83. Reinforced Concrete: Concrete strengthened with embedded steel bars or mesh.
84. Retaining Wall: A wall designed to hold back earth or water.
85. Reveal: The side of a window or door opening that faces the inside of a wall.
86. Ridge: The highest point of a sloped roof.
87. Roof Truss: A preassembled framework of beams used to support a roof.
88. Scaffolding: A temporary structure used to support workers and materials during construction.
89. Sheathing: The boards or panels used to form the surface of walls, floors, or roofs.
90. Shoring: The process of supporting a building, vessel, structure, or trench with shores (props) when in danger of collapse or during repairs or alterations.
91. Sill: The bottom horizontal member of a window or door frame.
92. Slab: A flat, horizontal layer of concrete.
93. Slope: The inclination of a surface, expressed as a ratio or percentage.
94. Soil Load: The weight of soil pressing against a structure.
95. Soffit: The underside of a roof overhang or eave.
96. Spalling: The chipping or flaking of concrete or brick, often due to freeze-thaw cycles or the rusting of embedded steel.
97. Stem Wall: A short wall that supports a building’s structure and connects the foundation to the walls.
98. Stiffener: A plate or rib used to strengthen another plate against buckling.
99. Stud: A vertical framing member in a wall.
100. Subfloor: The structural layer of flooring beneath the finish floor.
101. Subgrade: The soil prepared to support a structure or pavement system.
102. Survey: The process of determining the boundaries and topography of a parcel of land.
103. Tendon: A steel cable used in post-tensioned concrete.
104. Tieback: A horizontal wire or rod used to support a wall.
105. Topsoil: The uppermost layer of soil.
106. Truss: A framework of beams forming a rigid structure.
107. Underpinning: The process of strengthening or stabilizing the foundation of a building or structure.
108. Vapor Barrier: A material designed to restrict the flow of vapor through walls, ceilings, and floors.
109. Veneer: A thin layer of decorative material applied to a surface.
110. Wainscoting: Wooden paneling that lines the lower part of the walls of a room.
111. Weep Hole: A small opening in a wall to allow water to drain away.
112. Wind Load: The force exerted by wind on a structure.
113. X-bracing: A type of bracing system that forms an “X” shape.
114. Yield Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation.
115. Zoning: Laws or regulations governing the use of land and construction of buildings.
116. Zero Lot Line: A situation in which a building is up against the property line.
117. Zone: An area designated for a particular use or function within a larger area, such as a construction site or building.
118. Zoning Ordinance: A law that defines how property in specific geographic zones can be used.
119. Work Order: A written authorization for a contractor to proceed with a specific task or job.
120. Water Table: The level below which the ground is saturated with water.
121. Waterproofing: The process of making a structure water-resistant or impervious to water.
122. Welding: The process of joining metals by melting and fusing them together.
123. Wind Brace: A diagonal support used to stabilize a structure against wind forces.
124. Window Sill: The horizontal bottom portion of a window frame.
125. Wire Mesh: A network of intersecting metal wires used as reinforcement in concrete.
126. Working Drawings: The set of plans used by the contractor to build the project.
127. Yard: An open space around a building or on a construction site.
128. Yield Point: The point at which a material begins to deform plastically and will not return to its original shape.
129. Z-Flashing: A type of flashing used above windows and doors to prevent water from entering.
130. Zero Energy Building: A building with net-zero energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used annually is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on-site.
131. Zone Valve: A device used to control the flow of water or steam in a heating system.
132. Zoning Map: A map that shows the division of a city or other area into zones, each with specific land use regulations.
133. Underlayment: A layer of material (such as plywood or felt) placed over the subfloor to provide a smooth, even surface for the finish flooring.
134. Uniform Load: A load that is evenly distributed over a structural element or surface.
135. Utility Easement: A right-of-way granted to a utility company to install and maintain utility lines or pipes on a property.
136. Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces.
137. Vapor Permeability: The ability of a material to allow water vapor to pass through it.
138. Variable Load: A load that can change in magnitude and location, such as people moving around in a building.
139. Vegetative Roof: A roof partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil.
140. Ventilation: The process of supplying fresh air and removing stale air from a building.
141. Viscosity: A measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow.
142. Waler: A horizontal beam used to support the face of a retaining wall.
143. Wall Tie: A metal tie used to connect a brick or masonry wall to the frame of a building.
144. Warping: The distortion of a material due to uneven shrinkage or expansion.
145. Water-Cement Ratio: The ratio of the weight of water to the weight of cement in a concrete mix.
146. Weep Screed: A screed at the bottom of a stucco wall that allows water to drain out.
147. Windward: The side of a building facing the wind.
148. X-Ray Testing: A non-destructive testing method used to inspect the interior of materials.
149. Yield Line: A theoretical line on a structural element where plastic deformation occurs under load.
150. Zone of Influence: The area surrounding a construction site that is affected by the construction activities.
151. Zoning Code: The set of laws and regulations governing land use and building construction within a specific area.

Most Essential eBook to Ace Your Civil Engineering and Construction Job Interview;

• Construction Jobs Interview: An Ultimate Interview Preparation Guide Ebook
• Construction Management Job Interview Guide + 200 Interview Q&A PDF eBook
• An Ultimate Guide to Launch Your Career in Digital Construction: Ebook
• BIM Job Interview Preparation Guide + 210 Interview Questions and Answers PDF eBook

Construction Terms under specific categories