Custom Home Building Terms and Definitions

Molding: Wood, metal, plastic or plaster trim used around windows and doors, at the tops and bases of walls, along cornices, and for other decorative details.
Base Molding: A decorative band or finish board that is used to cover the joint between the wall and the floor; it is also sometimes called baseboard.
Crown Molding: Decorative wood, metal or plastic trim used to cover the area where the wall and the ceiling intersect.
Flashing: Sheet metal or plastic used to cover joints and openings in exterior surfaces of the house to protect against water leakage.
Framing: The structural skeleton of the house, usually made of beams, studs and joists.
Beams: Members used to support the structure.
Center Beam: Member that runs the length of the first floor of a house and supports the house structure above it.
Collar Beam: Horizontal member in the roof that provides structural strength by connecting opposite rafters.
Studs: Upright wood or metal members used to form the walls and partitions.
Joists: Horizontal parallel beams that support floors and ceilings.
Cornices: Structural trim that is used to cover the area where the roof and the wall meet.
Soffit: Special type of cornice that covers the exposed underside of a projecting house part, such as the exposed underside of part of your roof that extends beyond a wall of your house.
Eaves: The edges of roof that run parallel to the ground. You put gutters along the eaves to carry off rainwater and snowmelt from the roof.
Rafters: Structural members that form the legs of the triangle created by the framing.
Ridge Board: Length of lumber at the peak of the roof to which the upper ends of the rafters are fastened.
Gable: Triangular end wall of a house that extends from the eaves to the peak of the roof.
Dormer: Projection built out from a sloping roof as a room extension or for a window.

Looking For More Information On Custom Home Building?

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Saving Money While Building
There are several ways to save money during the building process. You may not see the savings up front, but over the long run your pocketbook will definitely appreciate it if you take the time to carefully consider the choices you make during the construction of your new house.

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Stock Plans vs. Custom Home Plans
The building process requires you to address many different aspects. Such things as where to build, what size home to build, what features to include, what items to include, what costs should be included in the budget, what the design/build timeframes should be, and who will build the home, are just a few of the important aspects that need special attention.

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Choosing Your Lot
Investigating a lot is a fundamental and challenging activity in the organization and execution of construction projects. It is a step-by-step process that includes soil testing, identifying environmental concerns, and how utilities will run within the home. Each step will be carefully investigated and eventually will go through a process of approval.

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