Aggregate - The collective term for sand, gravel and stone, which can be used to make concrete amongst other things, used within the building profession. They can be compacted to firmly fill a space and are often bound together with cement, to make concrete or bitumen, to re-surface roads

Appraisal - A valuation of a building undertaken by an expert

Apron - A trim board, installed under a window sill

Bonding agent - A substance which is used to bond two different parts or objects together

Beam - A horizontal support which carries the weight of a building load

Bearing partition - A partition in a building which supports its own weight and that of a vertical load

Bearing wall - A wall which supports its own weight and that of any vertical load

Blue print - Often used for architectural drawings of proposed buildings, a blue print is a copy of the planned building structure. This term usually describes the architect’s drawing and is used for a variety of necessary activities including securing permits etc.

British Standards - Specific standards established and approved by the British Standards Institute as regards the performance of products or methods

Bill of quantities - A list of the items with a cost value that will be required in the construction of a building

Building Regulations – Legislation detailing the methods and requirements for the construction of buildings, taking into account health and safety issues.

Cantilever - An overhang. Where one floor juts out over a foundation wall. Normally, not projecting over 2 feet

Construction drywall - A type of construction in which the interior wall finish is applied in a dry condition, generally in the form of sheet materials or wood panelling

Damp Proof Course - Any course of impermeable material – usually made from plastic or bitumen - placed in a vertical or horizontal position in the foundation walls, near to the ground, which prevents the upwards or sideways progression of damp through the wall

Dead Walling/Deadwork - Any building work carried out wholly or partly below ground level and whose only purpose is to adjust for sloping ground under the building

Dumpy Level - Used on a tripod this instrument takes comparative levels of ground or parts of buildings

Eaves - The horizontal exterior roof overhang at the lower edge of a roof

Estimate – A rough evaluation of the amount of labour, materials, and other costs that a building contractor anticipates for the building project

Flashing – This building term refers to material used in building construction to provide the building with protection from water seepage

Foundation - The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction

Handling Costs - These costs refer to the costs incurred in transporting goods or labour to the building site. Handling costs are often quoted on the invoice as a part of costs incurred.

Headlap - The distance a slate overlaps the next lower slate or tile

Joist - Any beams set parallel from wall to wall or across girders which support a floor or ceiling

Mortar - A mixture of cement with sand and water used in masonry work

Joist hanger - Used to support the end of a floor joist a joist hanger is made of metal and "U" shaped.

Non-bearing wall - A wall which just supports its own weight

Planning Act - This form of legislation governs the types and locations of building development

Plaster - A soft mixture of lime or sand, gypsum and water which hardens to a smooth solid and is used for smoothing over ceilings and walls

Quote - An estimate of the cost of the labour and goods involved in a building contractor carrying out building work

Quoins - The external vertical corner of a wall at a window, doorway or corner of a building, which must be built accurately vertical

Ranging Rod - a 6” wooden pole which has a steel point at one end which is used as a temporary marker the agreed, or offered, cost of providing a unit of an item (i.e. an hour’s labour)

Retaining Wall - A wall designed to hold back, or ‘retain’, higher level ground behind it

Schedule of Work - A list of all items of work included in a building project

Schedule of Materials - A list of all materials required for a project or job

Soffit – The area beneath the eaves. The underside of a structural component, such as a cornice

Sub-contractor - A labourer or business which is contracted out by the main building contractor. The main contractor will then pay for any work undertaken by the sub-contractor.

The first step in your project is to hire the right builder. Use www.findalocal-builder.co.uk to get a list of builders in your area, and then look at our other advice articles to see how to make sure you choose the best builder for you.