The Breakdown
A to Z of Building
- ACC: Authority to Commence Construction - Confirmation through the Financer's Commencement Letter that the funds have been unconditionally approved and that the construction project can commence
- Alfresco: Outdoor living space located under the roof of the home - usually at the side or rear
- Architrave: A moulding located between the wall and the door or window frame serving both a functional and decorative purpose
- BA: Building Approval - The official authorisation given by the local governing authority which confirms that the rules and regulations have been complied with
- BAL: Bushfire Attack Level - Rating system used to assess the risk of exposure your home is at in the event of a bushfire
- Balustrade: A railing typically used on stairs or balconies to provide support and a safety barrier
- Base Stage: A claim stage in the home building process when the building's floor, i.e. slab, is finished. Refer to HIA Contract for more information
- Batts: Insulation material used in walls and ceilings
- BERS: Building Energy Rating Scheme - A computer-based program used to assess the energy efficiency of a home, referred to as a star rating
- BOS: Build Over Sewer - A permit application to authority when building within the Zone of Influence of a sewer main or easement
- Boundary: The physical perimeter of the property
- Bracing: Provides extra support to the entire home against lateral loads
- Building Envelope: The zone within a block of land that you are permitted to build on. You cannot build outside the building envelope
- Bulkhead: A vertical wall of partition, typically made of Gyprock, that is used for structural, space-defining or aesthetic purposes. Often used to conceal utility items or overhead kitchen cabinetry
- CL: Ceiling Level - Refers to vertical measurement from the slab to the underside of the frame, typically referenced in millimetres (mm)
- Cladding: A type of material used on the exterior of the home as an alternate finish to brick
- Colour Selection Appointment: The meeting with your Interior Designer where you make all of the internal and external selections for your home
- Colour Schedule: A document outlining all of your interior and exterior selections for the home
- Colour Tender: A document that outlines the Colour Schedule and any additional upgrade items from the Colour Selection Appointment. It also includes any changes from the Preliminary Tender. The Colour Tender is presented to you for review before proceeding to the Contract Tender
- Construction Drawings: The technical drawings that provide the essential details to construct a new home. They include detailed plans for the layout as well as the elevation, foundation, electrical, plumbing and structural plans
- Contour Survey: A drawing created to show the measurements and elevations of a block. It is displayed as a series of height lines that connect points of equal elevation to measure the fall and slope of the land
- Contract: An agreement between a home builder and home owner that outlines the scope of work for construction, materials, costs and timelines for building a new home. It also includes details related to the home's design, payment schedule, warranties and other legal terms, conditions and obligations
- Contract Tender: A document that includes the Contract Drawings and all changes from the Preliminary Tender and Colour Tender (where applicable). This is presented alongside your HIA Contract
- Cornice: A plaster moulding that is installed along the upper edge of the wall and the ceiling, creating an aesthetic transition between the two
- Covenant: The design requirements and regulations that must be met within an estate
- Cut & Fill: A process which involves the excavation of soil to create a level building platform
- Deposit: A payment made prior to entering into a preliminary agreement with a builder. It is a set amount to cover the builder's costs to engage resources to work on your house plans up to the contract stage. Deposits are non-refundable
- Downpipe: A pipe used to direct the flow of rainwater from the roof to the ground
- Earthworks: The process of preparing a block of land for construction. Earthworks include the Site Cut, Site Preparation, Siteworks, Cut & Fill and Site Access
- Easement: Area of land located within a property reserved by the local authority to provide access to a service pipe or other purposes granted by a governing body. Easements cannot be built upon or over
- Eaves: Edge of a roof that extends beyond the exterior walls of the home creating an overhang
- Elevation: Refers to a two-dimensional drawing that provides a visual representation of how the house will look from each side
- Enclosed Stage: A claim stage in the home building process when the roof covering and external wall cladding, windows and doors have been fixed and the structural floor has been laid, i.e. your house can be 'locked up' with the interior sealed off from the outside environment. Refer to the HIA Contract for more information
- Facade: The front-facing exterior part of the home
- Fall: The amount of slope on a block
- Fascia: The Colorbond metal trim that runs along the perimeter of the roof to give a finished look. The fascia sits adjacent to the gutter
- Fixing Stage: A claim stage in the home building process when all internal components of the house are fitted and fixed into position, including but not limited to architraves, cabinets, cornices, doors to rooms, flooring and tiling. Refer to HIA Contract for more information
- Floor Plan: A detailed drawing showing the layout of a home, including the dimensions of each room, as well as the arrangement of walls, doors and windows
- Footprint: The term used to describe the area or outline of a home's foundation
- Frame: Structural skeleton of a home that provides support for the walls, roof and other components of the house, typically made from steel or timber
- Frame Stage: A claim stage in the home building process when wall and roof frames have been erected and fixed, and all tie-downs and bracing are complete. Refer to HIA Contract for more information
- FFL: Finished Floor Level - Refers to the level of the completed floor surface, not including any finishes or coverings
- Gable: A vertical triangular section of a roof created by the formation of two sloping sides of the roof that meet at the peak of the structure. Often decorated with ornamental features to increase the overall aesthetic such as trim, overhangs or siding
- GPO: General Power Outlet - Refers to the power point in a wall into which you can plug an electrical device to receive power
- Gradient: The degree of slope of a building element. For example, used when measuring the slope of a driveway to confirm compliance
- Gutter: Part of the roofing system that collects and channels rainwater away from the roof surface and into the downpipes
- Hall Wall: A wall typically shorter than 2440mm and less than the full height of the wall
- Handover: The final stage in the home building process whereby the house is completed and the keys are handed over to the owner in exchange for final payment
- Hebel: A building material made from autoclaved aerated concrete. It is an incredibly lightweight yet strong material that is perfect for exterior cladding due to its acoustic and fire-rating properties
- Hip Roof: A type of roof design where all sides of the roof slope downwards to the walls, forming a ridge at the top of the roof
- Hob: A flat, tiled area that encircles a bathtub
- HSTP: Household Sewerage Treatment Plan - A wastewater treatment system designed to treat and dispose of sewage from homes, typically used on acreage properties
- Indicative: A representation or artistic concept of what a finished home or room might look like, rather than a specific and finalised plan
- Knockdown + Rebuild: The process of demolishing an existing property, prior to rebuilding a new home in its place
- Laminate: A layer of coloured / textured material that is applied to a cabinet to provide a decorative or protective finish
- Maintenance Period: Refers to the 12-month maintenance period after handover where logged defects and issues can be rectified by the builder. Refer to QBCC Standards and Tolerance Guide for more information
- Meter Box: A metal box installed on the outside of the home that contains electricity meters
- Mixer Tap: A tap fitting that combines both hot and cold water streams into one
- New Home Assessment: A document used in the Sales process to provide the client with an outline of the home design, facade, lot size, inclusions and estimated price range for their new home build
- New Home Consultant: Also referred to as a Sales Executive, they assist clients in the process of building a new home. They provide guidance and advice on different aspects of the process, such as selecting or evaluating a block, and choosing a floor plan and facade to meet the client's needs, lifestyle and budget
- PA: Provisional Allowance - An amount of money allocated to cover the cost of items or materials that are not yet specified or determined at the time of quoting
- Percolation Test: A test used to determine the ability of soil to absorb and disperse water. It is commonly performed to evaluate the suitability of soil for the installation of an HSTP
- Perspective View: Refers to a 3-dimension representation that gives an artistic impression of what the home will look like
- Piers: Concrete elements placed deep in the ground under the slab to provide a stable foundation for the building. Piers help distribute the weight of the home evenly and prevent it from sinking or shifting over time
- Pitch: The angle of slope of the roof
- Plan of Development: A document disclosing special council-granted deviations from standard building or site requirements
- Plumb: Refers to a measurement of straightness. When something is 'plumb' it means it is perfectly vertical or straight up and down
- Plumbing Stack: A vertical pipe that runs from the main sewer line to the roof of a home. It is used to depressurise the sewer service in a home
- Pods: Polystyrene blocks on which the concrete slab is poured. Also known as Waffle Pods
- Practical Completion: A claim stage in the home building process where the home has finished being built, in compliance with the HIA Contract, subject to any minor defects being rectified. At this stage, the builder meets the client on site for a practical completion meeting to explain what needs to take place before handover can occur. Refer to the HIA Contract for more information
- Preliminary Drawings: Initial plans that help to visualise and communicate the design of the new home. They typically include floor plans, elevations and site plans. Preliminary Drawings form part of the Preliminary Tender
- Preliminary Tender: Document that outlines the scope of work of the new home build, including any inclusions and exclusions, preliminary drawings, modifications, upgrades, and the estimated cost of your new home. This is presented to you by your New Home Consultant to review before proceeding to the Colour Tender
- Raked Ceiling: A type of ceiling that is pitched at an angle, giving a room a more spacious feel and unique look
- Relaxation: A dispensation of a council requirement, e.g. building setbacks or fence heights
- Risers: The vertical portion between the treads (horizontal steps) of the staircase
- RL: Reference Level - Refers to an elevation or height of any point on a site
- Sarking: The layer of insulated material installed under the roof or wall cladding to improve thermal insulation and provide a moisture barrier to improve the home, improving overall energy efficiency
- Services Connection: The connection of the new home to public utilities such as water, gas, electricity, sewage systems, NBN etc
- Setback: The perpendicular distance of the home from a boundary line
- Sisalation: A type of foil-backed insulation material that is commonly used to reduce heat transfer and improve energy efficiency
- Site Access: Ability to enter and exit the construction site, as well as the availability to store materials and equipment
- Site Cut: A process where the land is excavated or levelled to prepare the site for construction. This may involve removing soil, rocks, and other debris to create a level foundation for the building
- Site Supervisor: The person responsible for overseeing the onsite construction of your home. They will be your main point of contact while your home is under construction
- Site Plan: A detailed drawing that shows the location and layout of the home, driveway, walkways, retaining walls, fencing, landscaping, and other features on the building site
- Site Preparation: The process of clearing and grading the land where the home will be built
- Siting: The process of selecting the best position for the home on a site
- Skillion Roof: A sloping roof that only has one pitch or angle, often used in modern home design
- Skirting: A moulding located between the wall and the floor serving both a functional and decorative purpose
- Slope: The angle or incline of a block of land
- Soffit: The underside of any structure that sticks out from the side of a building such as a roof or balcony. It is often made of fiber cement and is used to give a finished look to the structure, as well as provide ventilation and other functional benefits
- Soil Test: The evaluation of the reactivity of the soil on your site. The result indicates what type of slab you should use, if any soil amendments are needed, and what other strategies should be used to make sure your home is compliant with building regulations
- Square Set Opening: An architectural feature in which the corners of an opening, such as a door or window, are finished with clean, crisp right angles rather than a traditional moulding or trim
- Traffic Control: The Management of vehicle and pedestrian traffic around a building site to ensure safety and allow access to the site of larger vehicles like concrete trucks and cranes
- Transition Zone: A flat area located right before the entrance to a garage
- Tread: The horizontal part of a stair step that a person walks on when climbing up or down a staircase
- Truncation Zone: An area of land across the front corners of a corner block. Driveways cannot cross this area
- Truss: A series of interconnected frames that provide a structural component and support for the roof of a home
- Turnkey: A full turnkey home is one that is considered finished and suitable for occupancy
- Two Pac: A type of cabinet finish that involves a polyurethane coating to create a glossy and durable finish, and a sleek and polished look
- Upgrade: An optional addition to the standard feature or finish of a home that can be added at an additional cost. This can include items such as tapware, appliances or flooring
- Void: An open vertical space that is left between the floors or ceiling within the home's structure. Typically used for aesthetic purposes to create a sense of openness and light, a void also allows for ventilation to flow through a home. Voids are usually placed in entryways, stairwells or living areas
- Waffle Pod: A type of foundation system that consists of a grid of reinforced concrete beams and a series of polystyrene pods that are placed within the grid. The pods provide support for the slab, while the beams form a rigid structural foundation
- Wall Wrap: Also known as a house wrap, it is a moisture barrier that is applied to the exterior walls of a home, prior to exterior cladding. It helps to prevent water from penetrating the walls while allowing moisture to escape, which can improve energy efficiency and protect the structure from damage
- Warranty: A guarantee provided by the builder that covers any defects or issues that may arise with the construction of the home within a certain period after completion. The terms and length of the warranty can vary depending on the builder
- Wind Rating: A rating that determines the ability of a structure to resist the racking effects of wind, typically measured in terms of wind speed. Building codes specify minimum wind ratings for homes to ensure their strength and safety
- Wet Areas: An area that is exposed to water such as bathrooms, ensuites and laundry rooms. These areas may require additional work, such as waterproofing to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage
- Weep Hole: A small opening in a wall or foundation that allows for ventilation. It's used to prevent condensation build-up and thus damage in brick walls
- Zero Lot: A type of property that can be constructed up to 250mm of the boundary line
- Zone of Influence: The area of soil that bears the load of a structure, typically surrounding a pipe and usually occurs around easements
