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Not all of our homes
have all of these items, and there are many home features that are not described below. If there are any specific terms you do not understand
throughout the buying process, please ask for clarification from your local independent Cardinal Builder.
Would you like someone to explain these terms or walk you through the modular home building process? Click
here to contact a builder in your area»
A B C
D E F
G H I
J K L
M N O
P Q R
S T U
V W X
Y Z
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A/C- An abbreviated term which means
Air Conditioning or Air Conditioner.
Anchor Bolts - Bolts used to
secure a wooden sill plate to foundation system.
Appraisal - A method of giving
an estimate of fair market value for property.
Architectural shingles - Shingles
that have added dimension because of extra layers
or tabs, giving a shake-like appearance.
Backfill - Dirt or other material
used to fill around foundation walls, usually
built up to drain water away from the foundation.
Base Molding - A decorative board
used to cover the joint between wall and floor.
May also called baseboard molding.
Beam - A structural member bearing
a load from one support to another.
Bearing wall - A wall that supports
a load in addition to its own weight.
Bifold door - Doors that are
hinged in the middle for opening in a smaller
area than standard swing doors. Often used for
closet doors.
Blueprints - Complete construction
plans, drawn to scale, used by Cardinal Homes,
Builders and subcontractors to build a structure.
They usually include site plan, foundation plan
and cross-section, floor plans, elevations, building
and cross-sections, mechanical systems, and special
construction details. The term blueprint derives
from the chemically treated blue paper on which
drawings are printed in white; the term commonly
refers to any set of working home drawings, whether
printed on blue, white, or other paper.
Building Code - Codes are established
by building officials and others with first-hand
knowledge of construction practices. They govern
the requirements for construction in a given area.
Codes may vary depending on the structure being
built (ie: commercial, residential, multi family,
etc.) Cardinal's homes and structures are built
to meet or exceed the building code used for stick
built homes. Manufactured homes (mobile) are built
to a less strict code known as HUD code.
Bull nose (drywall) - Method
of rounding corners on drywall.
Cantilever - When one floor extends
beyond the foundation wall. For example at a fireplace
location or bay window cantilever. Normally, a
cantilever does not extend more than 3 feet.
Casement Window- A window sash
with hinges on one vertical side and swings open
like a typical door. Is opened by using a crank
style handle.
Casing - A trim molding installed
either on the interior or exterior to cover the
window frame or jamb and the rough openings between
the window unit and the wall.
Caulking - A substance, usually
waterproof, which is used to fill and seal joints
or seams.
Ceiling joist - The horizontal
framing members that support ceiling loads. Also
may be called roof joists.
Certificate of Occupancy (CO) -
A legal document issued by a building inspector,
stating that a house has passed all inspections
and is ready for utility hook-up and occupancy.
Chair Rail - A trim molding applied
at chair back height horizontally along a wall
to protect the wall finish from chairs being pushed
against it. It is decorative, yet functional.
Change order - A document which
modifies the plans, specifications and/or the
price of the sales order. Once
Circuit Breaker - A safety feature
for electrical distribution. If the demand for
electricity on a particular circuit is excessive,
the circuit breaker stops the flow of electricity
through that circuit. The circuit breaker must
manually be reset in order for electricity to
flow to that circuit.
Collar ties - Nominal 1- or 2-inch-thick
members connecting opposite roof rafters. Generally
two inch members joining opposite roof rafters
to strengthen the roof structure.
Commode - Toilet, water closet.
Contractor - An individual or
company licensed to perform certain types of construction
activities. Some of the specialty contractor licenses
involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance
requirements. There are various types of contractors:
General contractor (responsible for the execution,
supervision and overall coordination of a project),
remodeling contractor (specializes in remodeling),
specialty contractor (licensed to perform specialty
tasks such as plumbing or electrical), subcontractor
(works for another contractor). Cardinal Builders
are required to be "Class A Licensed General
Contractors".
Crawl Space - In houses without
slabs, pilings or basements it is the space enclosed
by the foundation wall under the living space
of the home.
Cricket - When two different
roof pitches meet, a second roof is built on top
of the primary roof to create a valley. This helps
water drain.
Crown Molding - A decorative
trim board installed horizontally to cover the
joint between wall and ceiling.
Cultured Marble - A manufactured
marble-like material commonly used for countertops
and lavatory surfaces. It is water resistant,
normally much lighter weight and less expensive
than quarry marble.
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DP Rating (windows & doors) -
stands for Design Pressure. The DP Rating is a
value that determines the structural wind loading
requirements of a window or door. Local and state
building codes determine the DP Rating which is
required for the windows and doors used in your
home.
Dead bolt lock - A security lock
installed on exterior entry doors that can be
activated only with a key or thumb-turn. Unlike
a latch, which has a beveled tongue, dead bolts
have square ends.
Door stop - a piece of wood or
some other material that is attached to the doorjamb
to keep the door from swinging all the way through
the jamb when closing.
Doorjamb, interior doors - The
case installed in a doorway in which a door closes
and opens. It consists of two upright pieces,
called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb.
These 3 jambs have the "door stop" installed
on them.
Dormer - A structure which protrudes
from the roof. Dormers may have a window installed
vertically inside of a small gable or may be used
to extend the dimension of an upstairs room.
Double glass - Window or door
in which two panes of glass have a sealed air
space between the panes. Insulates the home
from outside temperatures as well as noise.
Double hung window - A window
that has two sashes which slide vertically in
one frame. Both sashes are able to move independent
of each other up and down.
Dry in - a term used with modular
construction. It is the stage a home is at after
being set onto the foundation and being safe from
the weather elements. Keep in mind that most modular
homes are approximately 80% complete once dried
in.
Drywall - Is a panel made from
gypsum used for interior wall and ceilings. The
panels are usually 1/2 inch thick and nailed or
screwed to the framing studs. To finish the drywall
the joints must be taped and a joint compound
must be applied and sanded. Cardinal primes the
walls and ceilings once the drywall has dried.
Also called wallboard, plaster board, gypsum board
or sheetrock.
Ducts, Ductwork - Usually round
or rectangular metal pipes installed to distribute
warm and cold air from the heating and cooling
source into the home.
Eaves - The horizontal part of
a roof that extends beyond the exterior wall.
Egress - A means of exiting the
home. Building codes generally determine the egress
requirements for homes and other building structures.
Elevation Plan - A line drawing
floor plan which shows the outside view of the
house.
Fascia - Material attached along
the gable line of a home or other building structure.
They may be made of aluminum, metal, wood, vinyl
or a composite. Drainage gutters are normally
attached to the fascia.
Flashing - is used to cover joints
and openings on roof and walls to protect against
water leakage.
Flat paint - An interior paint
that dries with a dull finish.
Floor Joists - The horizontal
framing members that support the floor.
Floor Plan - Drawing of a home
that shows the layout as if viewing from above.
Footer, footing - Continuous
8" or 10" thick concrete pad installed
at the base of foundation walls, columns and piers
to help distribute the weight of the home over
a larger area.
Gable - The end wall of a home
that extends from the eaves to the peak of the
roof, normally it is triangular in shape.
GFCI, or GFI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
- Generally these are outlets used in
"wet areas" like the kitchen and bath.
They utilize a plug that is designed to shut off
all electric current.
H V A C - An abbreviated term
for Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
Hip roof - A roof system where
each wall's roof section slopes up to the peak
of the roof. There are generally no gables with
a Hip roof.
Hose bib - A water faucet located
on the exterior of a home.
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I-joist - Structural building
components that resemble the letter "I".
Can be used as floor joists and ceiling rafters.
I-joists are manufactured with two key parts:
flange and web. The flange is usually made with
laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber
and the web or center of the I-joist is commonly
made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB).
Large holes can be cut in the web to accommodate
duct work, plumbing and electrical lines.
Infiltration - The means of air
passing from indoors to outdoors or vice versa;
term is usually associated with drafts from cracks,
seams or holes in homes/buildings. Cardinal's
modulars generally have less infiltration because
of the extra measures they take to seal possible
openings.
Inspections - Examination of
work completed by an expert on any process or
element of construction to determine compliance
with code requirements. Cardinal requires in-plant
inspections by team leaders, the quality control
team as well as independent third party inspections.
Insulated glass- Window or door
in which two panes of glass are sealed with air
space between. Also referred to as Double
glass.
Insulation - Any material used
in construction to resist heat loss, protect against
sound transmission or fire; also used to cover
electrical conductors.
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) -
A structural beam composed of wood laminates.
They are pressure bonded with adhesives to attain
a high integrity structural beam.
Landing - A platform used in
stairs often when stair runs change directions.
Mantel - The shelf and / or decorative
trim around a fireplace opening.
Marriage Line - A term used in
modular construction that identifies the place
that two modules are joined together on the foundation.
Masonry - Term used when referring
to materials set in mortar. (may include stone,
brick, concrete, tile and glass block)
Mechanical Systems - General
term for plumbing, heating and air conditioning,
and electrical systems. While main plumbing and
electrical lines are installed in Cardinal's plant,
a Mechanical Systems Subcontractor will be required
onsite to join utilities and install your HVAC.
Modular Builder (applicable to Cardinal)
- A licensed contractor who has been
approved to sell and build building components
provided by Cardinal Homes, Inc.
Modular Home (applicable to Cardinal)
- A home constructed in multiple sections
referred to as "modules" at the Cardinal
plant in Wylliesburg. The construction method
meets or exceeds the state and local building
codes (the same code which governs conventional
stick-built homes). The "modules" are
then transported to the home site where they are
assembled and finished on site by the local independent
Cardinal Homes Builder.
Modular Manufacturer - An entity
that builds modular building components in a controlled
environment using an assembly line process. This
building process has many advantages for builders
as well as home buyers.
Molding - A trim piece used for
a decorative finish around doors, windows and
around the top and bottom of walls. Cardinal uses
wood molding, but other companies may use plastic
molding as well.
NEC (National Electrical Code) -
Rules which govern wiring methods to optimize
safety. Local codes may differ from the NEC.
Nonbearing wall - A wall which
supports its own weight.
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On Center (OC) - A measurement
for spacing studs, rafters and joists. Ie: studs
placed at 16" O.C. will be laid out so that
there is 16" from the center of one stud
to the center of the next.
Oriented Strand Board - A wood
panel composed of compressed strands of wood fiber
and resin. Can be used as an alternate sheathing
on the walls, roof and floors.
Overhang - The part of a roof
that extends past the outside wall.
Panel box- The electrical box
that distributes electric power entering the home
to each circuit.
Pedestal Sink - A sink bowl attached
to a base leg without a cabinet.
Percolation Test (Perc test) -
Soil test performed by a soil engineer to determine
if the soil on a proposed building lot is capable
of handling the discharge from a septic system.
The results from this test dictate the best location
for septic fields as well as the size of a septic
system.
Permit - A certificate granted
by a local government agency permitting construction
to be performed within the criteria of the local
codes. Permits must be obtained before work begins
and each agency granting permits must inspect
the work at specified points of construction.
Pex - a flexible pipe which is
used for hot and cold water lines. There are many
benefits to Pex pipe: it is generally quieter
than rigid pipe systems, less likely to have scale
buildup and is more withstanding in freezing temperatures
than rigid pipes.
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Zoning - A governmental process
which limits the use of a property or where a
structure may be built. (ie: single family residential
use, multi family residential use, commercial,
etc.)
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