Renovating your home can be an exciting project, as you can completely transform your living space and mould it into your image. During your renovation journey, you will benefit greatly from hiring a team of contractors to help you streamline the process. There are several roles within a contracting team including the project manager, architect, construction engineer, civil engineer, subcontractor, and more.
Understanding the home renovation terminology used by contractors will benefit you if you are getting hands-on with the project yourself. The contracting team you choose will use home renovation terms throughout the process for quicker communication and a more efficient process. General real estate terms will also be used during the process.
This guide will help you recognise the home renovation terminology that you will need to know for the duration of your project.
Glossary of Home Renovation Terms
Architect
An architect is someone who creates building blueprints, taking into account every detail including the overall layout and the way people utilise the house. This also includes all of the plumbing and electronics inside the home.
C.A.R
This is a type of insurance that is specifically made for building projects and construction operations. C.A.R stands for Contractors All Risk and it can cover everything involved with the renovation project, including the product, employer and public responsibility.
Cessation of Works
A cessation of work is when all work stops on a renovation project for around 30 to 60 days. Reasons for this can include misconduct, redundancies, lack of capability, and more.
CFA Piling
This is an approach that is frequently applied on construction sites and stands for Continuous Flight Augering. CFA piling establishes a building’s foundation by piling in large concrete piles to keep it sustained.
Contract Value
This is one of the more simple home renovation terms as it is simply the total price that’s paid to the contractors for the work that’s carried out. It will take into account any changes and subsidiaries in the valuations.
Dilapidation Report
The dilapidation report is used to carry out work on a property that is in desperate need of repair, and it assures the safety of the workers on such a project. This can also be known as a Schedule of Condition report.
E.L
Using an initial code word, employer’s liability is a type of insurance designed to cover all the contractors that are involved with the project. It protects them if they are injured or fall ill as a direct result of their workplace or project.
Excavation
This home renovation terminology refers to the act of digging underground to remove soil and rock so that the layer foundation can be installed properly. It can also help with laying electrical wires or positioning underfloor heating.
J.C.T
Joint Contract Tribunal refers to an organisation that defines the working relationship between the contractors and employer involved with the project.
Joint Names
The contract of insurance can involve multiple parties so that more people are covered during the project. In particular, the joint names process will include the name of the contractor company and the employer of the project.
Load Bearing Walls
The main walls on the inside and outside of the building are referred to as load bearing walls and their primary role is to keep up the rest of the construction by relieving pressure of the rest of the structure.
Non-Neg
Clause numbers 21.2.1 or 6.5.3 are used in short of non-negligent party wall insurance. This protects the neighbouring property from damage that could be caused by the home renovation project.
Party Wall Act
Party Wall refers to the middle wall between semi-detached properties. The 1996 act prevents disputes that could occur from a renovation project taking place near a boundary or other close buildings. An agreement can be put in place that protects the two sides of a claim.
Performance Bond
A specific kind of secure bond issued by an insurer or bank that guarantees the contractor will complete the project to a satisfactory level.
Professional Indemnity
This is a type of insurance that protects the home renovation employer against any claims made against them for damages usually caused by site neglect.
Plant
Plant hire is used throughout a renovation project and is one of the most used home improvement terms. It helps contractors and employers hire equipment and machinery such as excavators, rollers, and telehandlers.
PCC
Standing for Practical Completion Certificate, it is issued to keep responsible for any further losses to the project transfers from the contracting team to the employer.
Schedule of Works
One of the popular remodelling terms is a schedule of works, which plans out every aspect of the construction process. This will be agreed upon by the employer, contractors, and project manager.
Structural Engineers
This refers to the contractors responsible for the design plan of the home renovation project. They will ensure that the load-bearing walls are efficient enough for the building.
Tender
Getting a quote for the renovation project from the contractors and builders is often referred to as a tender process. It can also be used to describe the quotations of products from suppliers.