Home Repair Glossary

Understanding these terms will help you communicate with contractors, compare bids, and make informed decisions about your home repair projects.

Electrical

Breaker Panel: The main electrical distribution panel (also called a load center) that distributes electricity to individual circuits throughout a home.
GFCI Outlet: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter — an outlet that cuts power when it detects current leakage, required in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
AFCI Breaker: Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter — a breaker that detects dangerous electrical arcs and shuts off the circuit. Required in bedrooms and living areas.

LVP: Luxury Vinyl Plank — a waterproof flooring material that mimics hardwood. Popular for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
Subfloor: The structural layer of flooring beneath the visible finish floor. Usually plywood or OSB, attached to floor joists.

Pier and Beam: A foundation type where the house sits on concrete piers or blocks with a crawl space underneath, common in older homes.

Rough-In: The phase of construction where plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines are installed inside walls and floors before drywall goes up.
Change Order: A written agreement to modify the original scope of work in a construction contract, usually affecting the project cost and timeline.
Mudsill: The lowest horizontal member of a wall frame that sits directly on the foundation. Also called a sill plate.
Efflorescence: White crystalline deposits on masonry, concrete, or stucco caused by water carrying mineral salts to the surface.
Allowance: A budget placeholder in a contractor's estimate for items not yet selected, like light fixtures or tile. Final cost may differ.
Mil Thickness: A unit of measurement (1/1000 of an inch) used for paint, roofing membranes, and vapor barriers.
Scope of Work: A detailed written description of all work to be performed in a construction or repair project, including materials, labor, and timeline.

SEER Rating: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — measures air conditioning and heat pump cooling efficiency. Minimum SEER2 is 14 for new units in 2026.
Load Calculation: Manual J calculation that determines the correct HVAC system size for a home based on square footage, insulation, windows, and climate zone.
BTU: British Thermal Unit — the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Used to size HVAC systems.

R-Value: A measure of thermal resistance used to rate insulation effectiveness. Higher R-values indicate better insulating performance.
Vapor Barrier: A material (usually plastic sheeting) installed to prevent moisture from passing through walls, floors, or ceilings into the insulation.

Hardscape: Non-living landscape elements like patios, walkways, retaining walls, and driveways made from stone, brick, or concrete.

PEX Pipe: Cross-linked polyethylene tubing used in modern plumbing. Flexible, freeze-resistant, and cheaper to install than copper.
Backflow Preventer: A device that prevents contaminated water from flowing backward into the clean water supply. Required by code in many jurisdictions.

Soffit: The underside of an architectural element, such as the area beneath the eaves of a roof. Soffit vents allow attic ventilation.
Flashing: Thin metal or waterproof material installed at roof joints, walls, chimneys, and valleys to prevent water infiltration.
Drip Edge: An L-shaped metal strip installed along roof edges to direct water away from the fascia and into gutters.
Square (Roofing): A unit of measure equal to 100 square feet, used to estimate roofing materials and labor.

Now that you know the terms, get accurate cost estimates for your project: