load-bearing
Describes a wall or structure that supports the weight of the building above it.
Example: You cannot remove a load-bearing wall without extra support.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Buildings & Architecture vocabulary — B2
Construction vocabulary for how a building is put together, including a load-bearing wall, insulation, zoning rules and the joists, trusses and girders that support it.
16 questions
Words in this set
16insulation
/ˌɪnsəˈleɪʃən/Material used in walls, roofs or pipes to reduce heat loss or noise.
Example:
New insulation cut the house's heating bills in half.
zoning
/ˈzoʊnɪŋ/Local government rules that control what type of buildings can be built in a particular area.
Example:
Zoning rules stopped the factory from being built near the school.
aggregate
/ˈæɡrəɡət/A mixture of sand, gravel or crushed stone used in making concrete.
Example:
The lorry delivered a load of aggregate for the concrete mix.
joist
/dʒɔɪst/A long beam of wood or metal that supports a floor or ceiling.
Example:
One of the joists had rotted and needed replacing.
truss
/trʌs/A framework of beams that supports a roof or bridge.
Example:
The roof truss was lifted into place by crane.
snagging
/ˈsnæɡɪŋ/A final inspection of a new building to find small faults that still need fixing.
Example:
The snagging report listed a dozen minor faults.
girder
/ˈɡɜrdər/A large steel or concrete beam that supports a building or bridge.
Example:
Cranes lifted the steel girder into place across the bridge.
mortar
/ˈmɔrtər/A mixture of cement, sand and water used to bind bricks together.
Example:
The bricklayer spread fresh mortar before laying the next row.
gable
/ˈɡeɪbəl/The triangle-shaped part of a wall under a sloping roof.
Example:
A small window sat high in the house's gable.
underpinning
/ˈʌndərˌpɪnɪŋ/Strengthening the foundations of an existing building.
Example:
Underpinning the corner cost more than the extension.
screed
/skrid/A smooth layer of material spread over a floor.
Example:
The screed has to cure before anything is laid on it.
soffit
/ˈsɔfɪt/The underside of a roof overhang or arch.
Example:
The soffit had rotted where the gutter had leaked.
party wall agreement
A written agreement about work affecting a shared wall.
Example:
The party wall agreement delayed the start by three months.
snag list
A list of small faults to be put right before handover.
Example:
The snag list ran to sixty items on a two-bedroom flat.
clerk of works
The person who checks that building work meets the specification.
Example:
The clerk of works rejected the whole first batch of blocks.
