Construction Terms You May Need To KnoW
1. RFP – Request for proposal or when an owner requests pricing from General Contractors to bid a project
2. SOV – Schedule of Values or a statement furnished by the contractor reflecting the contract sum for the various parts of the work and used as the basis for reviewing the contractor’s applications for progress payments
3. Redlines – A red line drawing is a drawing that shows a correction or change in the drawing. These changes or mark-ups show changes made to the drawings for future use.
4. RFI – Request for Information is a request for clarification or information about a project detail
5. PO – Purchase Order is a document from the general contractor that indicates their intent to purchase materials. IE doors, frames, & hardware etc.
6. Field measure – Taking measurements within the structure itself rather than relying on blueprints. We often do this prior to bidding a project or once we have started in order to lay things out.
7. Load-bearing wall (partition)- A partition or load-bearing wall carries the load of the structure above it. As a result, they cannot be removed without compromising the integrity of the structure. There are solutions to this. We would need to work with a structural engineer and determine how we can shift the weight and support.
8. EIFS – Exterior insulation and finish system is a general class of non-load bearing building cladding systems that provides exterior walls with an insulated, water-resistant, finished surface in an integrated composite material system. This surface can be use in place of masonry and is often a nice look for a façade.
9. HVAC – An abbreviation that stands for heat, ventilation, and air conditioning. We refer to this as the mechanical aspect of our projects.
10. Structural steel – Structural steel is a category of steel used for making construction materials in a variety of shapes. Many structural steel shapes take the form of an elongated beam having a profile of a specific cross section. This plays a role in the framing and layouts of many of our builds.
11. AFF – Above Finish Floor
12. VIF – Verify in Field
13. LOI – Letter of intent
14. SOW – Scope of work
15. TI – Tenant Improvements
16. Submittals – Material data, shop drawings, and product data for architects and engineers so they can verify that the correct products are being installed.
17. Takeoff – A document that lists the types and quantities of materials that will be required for the construction project.
18. Time and Materials Contracts (T&M) – A type contract method where the contractor is paid for the actual costs, which include time and materials.
19. Specifications – The specifications provide details regarding the materials and work quality desired for the building design.
20. Work Break-down Structure (WBS) – Scope of work broken down per division and per trade by reviewing construction documents.
21. Cast In Place – construction of concrete walls and slabs of buildings at the site in the formwork. This is different from precast, where as concrete is erected elsewhere and brought to the site.
22. Furring – installing thin strips of wood or other material to level or raise surfaces of another