CONSTRUCTION DICTIONARY

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HANDYMAN'S SPECIAL:
A descriptive term for a property which requires significant work to bring it up to normal standards of condition and repair. Often marketed at a lesser price.

HEADER:
A beam of wood placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in order to accommodate an opening such as a staircase through a floor or a window opening in a wall.

HEADER BAND:
A board nailed perpendicularly across the ends of floor joists.

HEADER TRIMMER:
A wood stud that supports the ends of a header, thus transferring any load on the header along its length to the ground.

HEADROOM:
Also referred to as clearance. Refers to the total distance from a floor to the nearest obstruction above.

HEARTH:
The inner floor of a fireplace, usually made of firebrick, stone or tiles.

HIGH RISE:
A descriptive term for any building that has enough floors to make an elevator a necessity.

HIP ROOF:
A pyramid shaped roof with four equally sloping sides from each edge of the roof that meet in the middle.

HOLLOW CORE DOOR:
A door whose faces are composed of sheets of thin material with a hollow core that has been filled with a stiffening material. As opposed to a solid core door which is made of a solid material throughout.

HOPPER WINDOW:
Any single pieced window that is hinged at the bottom edge and swings down when opened.

HOSE BIB:
A water tap or faucet with a treaded end that enables a hose to be attached.