Assessor II Glossary Flashcards
Ad valorem tax
In reference to property, a tax based upon the value of the property.
Annual Assessment Report (AAR)
A USPAP required report completed by the assessor for their client, the municipality, which explains how the assessor completed their assessment work for the year. This report must be completed within 30 days after the finaladjournment of the Board of Review.
Apportionment
A proportional distribution of the levy of a taxing jurisdiction amongmunicipalities based upon the value of the municipalities or parts of municipalities.
Assessed Value
A dollar amount assigned to the taxable property, both real (by parcel)and personal (by owner), by the assessor for the purpose of taxation. Assessed value isestimated as of January 1 and will apply to the taxes levied at the end of that year.Assessed value is called a primary assessment because a levy is applied directly against itto determine the tax due. Accurate assessed values ensure fairness between propertieswithin the taxing jurisdiction. (See Equalized value for fairness between municipalities).
<p>Assessment district</p>
<p>An assessor's jurisdiction; it may or may not be an entire tax district. Any subdivision of territory whether whole or part of a municipality where a separate assessment of taxable property is made. Such districts may be referred to as taxing districts, administrative districts, or special purpose districts. (See sec. 70.08, Wis. Stats.) </p>
<p>Assessment District</p>
<p>Any subdivision of territory whether whole or in part of a municipality in which a separate assessment of taxable property is made. Such districts may be referred to as taxation jurisdictions, administrative districts, special purpose districts. etc. (See sec. 70.08 Wis. Stats.) </p>
<p>Assessment Level</p>
<p>The relationship between the total assessed value and the equalized value of non-manufacturing property minus corrections for the prior year over and under charges within a municipality-town, village, or city. For example if the assessed value of all the property subject to property tax in the municipality is $2,700,000 and the equalized value in the municipality is $3,000,000 then the assessment level is said to be 90% ($2,700,000/$3,000,000 = .90 or 90%). </p>
<p>Assessment level</p>
<p>The ratio of the assessed value to the market value of all taxable property within a district (town, village, or city). For example if the assessed value of all the taxable property in Town ?A? is $2,700,000 and the market value of all taxable property in Town ?A? is $3,000,000 then the ?assessment level? is said to be 90%. </p>
<p>Assessment Ratio</p>
<p>The relationship between the assessed value and the fair market value For example, if the assessment of a parcel which sold for $150,000 (fair market value) was $140,000, the assessment ratio is said to be 93% (140,000 divided by 150,000). The difference in the assessment level and the assessment ratio is that the level typically refers to the taxation district; the ratio refers to the individual parcel. The assessment ratio does not apply to agricultural lands, agricultural forest, or undeveloped lands. </p>
Assessing
The act of valuing a property for the purpose of establishing a tax base.
Assessment roll
The official listing of all properties within a given municipality (Town,Village, City) by ownership, description, and location showing the corresponding assessedvalues for each.
The completed assessment roll is an official listing which contains owners and legaldescriptions of all real estate parcels and items of personal property within a taxationdistrict, acreages of most parcels, the statutory classification and assessed value, accordingto land and improvements, of general taxable parcels.
<p>Assessment year</p>
<p>The period of time during which the assessment of all properties within a given assessment district must be completed; the period between tax lien dates. </p>
<p>Assessor</p>
<p>The administrator charged with the assessment of property for ad valorem taxes; the precise duties differ from state to state depending upon state statutes. </p>
<p>Board of Review</p>
<p>A quasi-judicial board charged with the responsibility of raising orlowering assessments proven incorrect as well as correcting any errors in the assessment roll. </p>
<p>The Board of Review consists of a clerk and selected municipal officers (other than the assessor) or citizens. It hears all objections to the amount or valuation of property if objections are made in writing and filed with its clerk prior to adjournment of public hearings. The Board examines the assessment roll or rolls and corrects all apparent errors in description or computation, adds all omitted property to the assessment roll and determines whether an assessor's valuation is correct from evidence brought before it. The Board cannot determine exempt or taxable status of property. </p>
CDU rating
A composite rating of the overall Condition, Desirability and Usefulness of astructure as developed by the Cole-Layer-Trumble Company and it is used nationally as asimple, direct and uniform method of estimating accrued depreciation.
Certified Assessment Evaluator
A professional designation (CAE) conferred by theInternational Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) upon qualifying individuals.
Certified property tax
An ad valorem property tax where the assessment ratio variesfor different property classes. This differs from state to state depending upon state statutes.
<p>Doomage assessment</p>
<p>The process of arriving at an assessment from the best information available when the assessor is denied the opportunity to physically inspect a property; making an assessment without actually viewing the property or receiving and/or accepting the taxpayer's declaration of personal property. </p>
Electronic Computer Exemption Report
The Electronic Computer Exemption Report was previously known as the Computer Exemption Report. The Computer ExemptionReport is an electronically filed report filed by the assessor with the Department of Revenue by May 1st. Amended filings can be submitted through September 1st. This report provides the value of all exempt computer and peripheral equipment, as its true cash value.
Equalized Value
The estimated value of all taxable real and personal property in eachtaxation district, by class, as of January 1 and certified by DOR on August 15 of each year.The value represents market value (most probable selling price), except for agriculturalproperty, which is based on its use (ability to generate agricultural income) and agriculturalforest and undeveloped lands, which are based on 50% of their full value.
Equalization
The process of establishing the January 1 market value (or use value foragricultural land) by class of real property and item of personal property for each taxationdistrict.
Equated Value
The dollar amount placed on individual parcels of manufacturingproperty in a taxation district for tax collection purposes. It is calculated by multiplying themarket value assessment of the property as determined by DOR times the assessment levelof all other property within the taxation district.
Equity
In reference to property taxes, a condition in which the tax load is distributedfairly (or equitably), based on the concept of uniformity provided in the state constitution (i.e. each person?s share of the tax is based on each property?s value compared to the total value of all taxable property). Typically, this would require periodic reviews of the assessments (local revaluations) to account for the constantly changing economic factorsimpacting property. In practical terms, you have equity in taxes when the assessed value ofeach property bears the same relationship to market or use value.
In reference to value, it is the owner?s financial interest in the property remaining afterdeducting all liens (including mortgages) and charges against it.
<p>Estimated Fair Market Value-As found on tax bills</p>
<p>The assessed value of each locally assessed parcel (except those including agricultural land) divided by the entire taxation district's level of assessment (titled average assessment ratio on the tax bill). Thi sestimate gives the property owner a basis for comparison of their perception of the markets. what is being used to base their share of taxes on. Since the level of assessment is an average for the taxation district, and there is naturally going to be some variance in the local assessor?s accuracy on every parcel. Minor differences between the estimated fair market value and the property owner?s opinion of value shouldn't raise concern. Large differences require further investigation. </p>
Expert help
Is employed when the governing body of a municipality not subject toassessment by a county assessor determines it is in the public interest to appoint such help to aid in making the assessments in order that they may be equitably made and in compliance with the law. The expert help may be a private firm or person, or an employeeof the Department of Revenue.
Field crew
The total staff assigned to a specific appraisal project, including datacollectors, reviewers, staff appraisers, clerical and administrative supporting personnel.
Forest cropland
Land taxes at a set amount per acre, must contain at least 40 or moreacres, is more suitable for the growing of timber than for other purposes, assessed by thelocal assessor, subject to review under Chapter 70 and is open to the public for hunting andfishing.
Fractional assessment
When the assessment is made at some percentage of the fullvalue as determined by policy by the government.
Full Value
(1) Throughout this manual this term means the value at 100% of the valuestandard. This is the value that should be applied in assessing the property per Wisconsinstatutes, see pages 7-6 and 7-7. (2) The same as equalized value, however is often usedwhen referring to the value of school and special districts.
General property tax
The following elements must be present: (1) a dollar amount oflevy; (2) total assessed values of individual properties (parcels of real property/personalproperty items); and (3) uniform rate of taxation within the same common area is to be applied to all taxable real and personal property within that area.
Improvement
An addition to raw land intended to increase the value. Examples includebuildings, structures, and attachments or annexations to land that are intended to remainso attached or annexed, such as sidewalks, trees, drives, tunnels, drains, and sewers.
Land value maps
A map used in conjunction with mass appraising, generally drawn tosmall scale and showing comparative unit land values, on a block to block basis.
Levy
The amount of tax imposed by a taxation jurisdiction or government unit.
Lien
A charge against property whereby the property is made the security for the payment of a debt.
Market value
The definition of market value is the most probable price which a propertyshould bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale,the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price isnot affected by undue stimulus. Implicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale asof a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: 1) Buyer and seller are typically motivated; 2) Both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they consider their own best interests; 3) A reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market; 4) Payment is made in terms of cash in U.S. dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and 5) The price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale.
Mass appraisal
The process of valuing a universe of properties, as of a specified date,utilizing standard methodology, using common data and allowing for statistical testing.
Mass appraisal model
A mathematical formula or equation reflecting how supply anddemand factors interact on a market level.
Mill rate
A mill is one-thousandth of one dollar. Tax rates are often expressed in millsper dollar. Example: Tax = $3,000 Taxable assessed value = $100,000 Mill rate = 3,000/100,000 = 0.03 of a dollar per dollar of taxable assessed value
Municipal Assessment Report
The Municipal Assessment Report was previously known as the Assessor?s Final Report (AFR). The Municipal Assessment Report is anelectronic report filed by the assessor with the Department of Revenue. It can be filed as an?Estimate? (before the Board of Review), as a ?Final? (after the Board of Review), or as an?Amended? report to make changes to a previously filed ?Final? version. This electronic report provides changes in assessed values and reasons for the changes between the prioryear?s assessed values and the current year?s assessed values of the entire taxation district.An estimated or final version of this report must be filed by the second Monday of June.
Notice of Changed Assessment
A written notification to a property owner of theassessed value of certain properties described therein; mandated by law to be given to eachproperty owner following a change in value of the property.
Over assessed
A condition wherein a property is assessed proportionately higher thancomparable properties.
Parcel identification number (PIN)
An identification number, assigned to a parcel of land to uniquely identify that parcel from any other parcel within a given taxing jurisdiction.
Preferential assessment
An assessing system providing preferential treatment in theform of reduced rates to a particular class of property, such as a system providing for farmproperties to be assessed in accordance to their value in use as opposed to their value in theopen market.
Property class
A division of like properties generally defined by statutes and generallybased upon their present use. The basis for establishing assessment ratios in a classified property assessment system.
Property record card
A document specially designated to record and process specifiedproperty data; may serve as a source document, a processing form; and/or a permanentproperty record.
Real Estate Transfer Return
The form required to be filed with the register of deeds bythe grantor when recording real estate which has been conveyed to a different entity. Theform?s primary use is for the assessor to use in implementing the uniformity provisionArticle VIII of the State Constitution. Among other things, the form documents the property transferred, the grantor, grantee and the value placed on the property.
Reassessment
The revaluation of all properties within a given jurisdiction for the purpose of establishing a new tax base.
When a written complaint is made to the Department of Revenue by the owners of 5% ormore of the assessed valuation of the property within a municipality stating that theassessment of property in the municipality is not in substantial compliance with the lawand that the interest of the public would be promoted by a reassessment, the departmentcan order such actual doing over of the assessment roll (reassessment) of all or part of the taxable property in municipality.
Revaluation
Placing new values on all taxable property for the purpose of a new assessment. The previous year?s assessment roll is not affected. The term is often used in conjunction with sec. 70.055, Wis. Stats., where expert help can be hired to work with theassessor in revaluing the district.
Sales ratio study
A statistical analysis of the distribution of assessment or appraisal-to?sale ratios of a sample of recent sales made for the purpose of drawing inferences regardingthe entire population of parcels from which the sample was abstracted.
Tax bill
An itemized statement showing the amount of taxes owed for certain propertydescribed therein and forwardable to the party or parties legally liable for payment thereof.
Tax exemption
Either total or partial freedom from taxation granted by specific state statute.
Tax Increment District Assessment Report
The TID Assessment Report was previously known as Tax Incremental Assessor?s Final Report (TID AFR). The TID Assessment Report is an electronically filed report filed by the assessor with the Department of Revenue. Like the Municipal Assessment Report, the TID AssessmentReport can be filed as an ?Estimate? (before Board of Review), as a ?Final? (after Board ofReview), or as an ?Amended? report. Amended reports make changes to a previously filed?Final? version. This electronic report provides the total assessed value of all locallyassessed property in each Tax Increment District, by School District, Union High District (ifany), and Special District. An estimated or final version of this report must be filed by the second Monday of June.
Tax Incremental Financing District
A contiguous geographic area, within a city orvillage defined and created by resolution of the local legislative body. It is targeted towardeliminating blighted areas, rehabilitating areas declining in value, and/or promotingindustrial development. The taxes generated due to value increase are used to pay for TIFeligible projects such as public improvements.
Tax levy
In reference to property taxes, the total revenue realized by the tax.
Tax mapping
The creation of accurate representations of property boundary lines atappropriate scales to provide a graphic inventory of parcels for use in accounting,appraising and assessing. Such maps show dimensions and the relative size and location ofeach tract with respect to other tracts. Also known as assessment maps and cadastral maps.
Tax rate
The rate generally expressed in dollars per hundred or dollars per thousand(mills) applied against the tax base (assessed value) to compute the amount of taxes. The tax rate is derived by dividing the total amount of the tax levy by the total assessed value ofthe taxing district.
Tax roll
The official list showing the amount of taxes, special assessments, and chargeslevied against each parcel and item of personal property in the municipality.
<p>Tax sale</p>
<p>The sale of a taxpayer's property to collect delinquent taxes from the proceeds of the sale when the taxpayer has failed to redeem it within the statutory period. </p>
Taxation
The right of government to tax property to support the government.
Taxation District
A town, village, or city. If a city or village lies in more than onecounty, that portion of the city or village which lies in each county. (See sec. 74.01(6), Wis.Stats.).
Taxation Jurisdiction
An entity which is authorized by law to levy taxes on generalproperty which is located within its boundaries. (See sec. 74.01(7), Wis. Stats.). In additionto towns, villages and cities, this includes school districts, sewerage districts and lakerehabilitation districts, for example.
True Cash Value
The statutory reference to the market value of personal property (sec. 70.34, Wis. Stats).
Uniformity
The constitutional requirement that the taxable property must bear itsproportionate share of ad valorem basis taxes. As applied to assessing, a condition whereinall properties are assessed at the same ratio to market value, or other standard of valuedepending upon the particular assessing practices. Following a 1974 amendment to theconstitution, agricultural land may be non-uniform with other property, but must be uniform within its class. The standard for value for agricultural property is its value in use.
Use Value
The value a specific property has for a specific use. Beginning in 2000,agricultural property is assessed according to its use as farmland instead of its marketvalue as indicated by sales. The guideline values are based on 5-year average income andexpense data modified by the tax rate in each taxation district in the state.
Use Value Assessment
An assessment based on the value of the property as it iscurrently used, not its market value. This only applies to agricultural land. The guidelinesfor the use values are based on administrative rules, and developed by DOR staff serving assupport for the Farmland Advisory Council who adopts the values.
Value Standard
The basis for the methods used in estimating values for the equalized orassessed values. There are two basic values used in the process, the market value (?full value? for real property and ?true cash value? for personal property), which is the basis forvalue of all property except agricultural land. The market value is based on the most probable selling price of the property. Agricultural land, as defined by administrative rule,is based on a valuation standard which analyzes the ability to generate income as it iscurrently being used, hence ?use value?.
Woodland tax lands
Land taxes at a set amount per acre, containing at least 10 acresbut less than the acreage required for forest croplands, located outside villages and cities,void of an improvement having assessed value in itself and more suitable for the growing oftimber than for other purposes.
Aggregate ratio
As applied to real estate, the ratio of the total assessed value to thetotal selling price.
Average deviation
In a distribution of values, the average amount of deviation of all thevalues from the mean value equal to the total amount of deviation from the mean dividedby the number of deviations.
Coefficient
A value prefixed as a multiplier to a variable or an unknown quantity.
Coefficient of dispersion
As applied to an assessment-to-sale ratio distribution, a measure of dispersion in a given distribution equal to the average deviation of the ratiosfrom the mean or median ratio divided by the mean or median ratio.
Frequency distribution
A display of the frequency where each value in a given distribution occurs; or in a grouped frequency distribution, a display of the frequency of the values within various intervals, or value groupings occur.
Mean
A measure of central tendency equal to the sum of the values divided by the number. Also referred to as arithmetic average or arithmetic mean.
<p>Median</p>
<p>A measure of central tendency equal to that point in a distribution above which 50% of the values fall and below which 50% of the values fall. The 50th percentile is the 2ndquartile. </p>
Mode
A measure of central tendency equal to the value occurring most frequently in agiven distribution. In a grouped frequency distribution, the mode is equal to the midpoint ofthe interval with the greatest frequency.
<p>Multiple Regression analysis</p>
<p>A statistical technique for making statements as to the degree of linear association between a criterion (dependent) variable and one or more predicator (independent) variables; a simple linear regression having one independent variable, and multiple linear regression having more than one independent variable. </p>
Normal distribution
A distribution in which all the values are distributed symmetrically about the mean value, with 68.26% of the values falling between +1 standard deviation, 95.44% between +2 standard deviations, and 99.74% between +3 standard deviations.
Percentile rank
The relative position of a value in a distribution of values expressed inpercentage terms; for instance, as applied to an assessment-to-sale ratio distribution, aratio with a percentile rank of 83 would indicate 83% of the ratios were lower and 17% ofthe ratios were higher than that particular ratio.
Population
As applied to real estate, all the parcels of a given type in the group understudy, i.e., all the parcels of a given neighborhood, district, etc.
Precision
As applied to real estate, it refers to the closeness of estimated value to actualselling price on an aggregate basis.
Price related differential
As applied to real estate, an analytical measure of thevertical uniformity of values in a given distribution calculated by dividing the mean ratio bythe aggregate ratio; a ratio of more than one being generally indicative of the relativeundervaluation of high priced properties as compared to the less valuable properties,whereas a ratio of less than 1 would indicate the converse relationship.
Quartile
Positions in a distribution at 25 percentile intervals; the first quartile being equal to the 25th percentile, the second quartile being equal to the 50th percentile or the median, and the third quartile being equal to the 75th percentile.
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest value in a distribution.
Ratio
A fixed relationship between two similar things expressed in terms of the numberof times the first contains the second; the quotient of one quantity divided by anotherquantity of the same type, generally expressed as a fraction.
Sample
As applied to real estate, a set of parcels taken from a given universe which isused to make inferences about values for the universe.
Random sample
A sample where each parcel in the universe is given equal chance of being included.
Selective sample
A sample where each parcel in the universe being chosen by othercriteria, is not given an equal chance of being included. Essentially all assessment-to-sale ratio studies are non-probability samples.
Sample size
As applied to real estate, the number of parcels needed from a universe toachieve a desired level of precision, given the total number of parcels in the universe andthe standard deviation thereof.
Standard deviation
A measure of dispersion, variability or scatter of values in a givendistribution equal to the square root of the arithmetic mean of the squares of deviationsfrom the mean.
Standard error of the mean
A measure of the statistical variability of the mean equalto the standard deviation of the distribution divided by the square root of the sample size.
Stratified sampling
The selection of sample parcels from distinct groups within thetotal universe based upon the known sizes and characteristics of these distinct groups.
Absorption field
A drainage system consisting of a series of pipes laid in trenches filledwith sand, gravel or crushed stone, through which septic tank effluent may seep or leachinto the surrounding ground.
Acoustical tile
A ceiling or wall tile finishing material with an inherent property toabsorb sound; usually made of mineral, fiber, or insulated metal materials.
Addition
Part of building added or joined to an existing building. Living areas built ontoresidence after original construction; single wall in common with residence, usually onlyone door connects the two.
Aggregate
Any of various hard, inert materials, like sand, gravel, or pebbles added to acementing or bonding agent to make concrete, plaster, etc.
Anchor bolt
Long bolts cemented into the top of a foundation wall, and to which the sillof the structure is bolted.
Apartment hotel
A building designed for non-transient residential use divided intodwelling units similar to an apartment house, but having such hotel accommodations asroom furnishings, lounges, public dining room, maid service, etc.
Apartment house
A multi-family residence containing three or more non-transient residential living units and generally providing a number of common facilities and services.
Apron
A finish strip applied below the stool of a window to cover the rough plaster ordrywall edge. A paved or hard packed area abutting a garage door or other opening.
Arcade
A series of arches and their supports, which provides covered passage between buildings. A roofed walkway or passageway, frequently with shops on both sides.
Arch
A curved structural member used to span an opening, so designed that vertical loads are transmitted as vertical or oblique stresses on either side of the opening.
Areaway
An uncovered space next to a building, for entrance of light, air or access.
Asbestos cement
A mixture of asbestos fibers, Portland cement, and water which can be formed into building products with high fire and weather resistance.
Ashlar
A wall facing of masonry slabs (stone, terra cotta) applied over the bearing masonry of exterior walls.
Asphalt
Bitumen mixed with mineral aggregates used as a hard surface for driveways, streets, etc.
Asphalt flooring
Consists of limestone dust and coarse aggregate incorporated with either asphaltic bitumen or equal proportions of asphaltic bitumen and asphalt.
Attic
An unfinished or semi-finished portion of a building lying between the highest finished story and the roof and wholly within the roof framing.
Awning
A roof-like shelter extending over a doorway window, porch, etc., which provides protection from the sun or rain.
Backfill
The material used for refilling an excavation.
Backing
Rough inner face of a wall; earth deposited behind retaining wall.
Backup
The inner, load bearing or structural portion of a masonry wall, usually finished with face brick, stone, ashlar, stucco or other decorative or protective veneer.
Balcony
A balustraded or railed elevated platform projecting from the wall or a building ,usually cantilevered or supported by columns.
Balusters (bannisters)
A short pillar or post, usually circular, slender above and building below, supporting a rail; the uprights supporting the handrail of a staircase.
Balustrade
A row of balusters surmounted by a rail, coping or cornice.
Base molding
Finishing wood to cover construction joints between baseboard and floor.
Basement
A building story which is wholly or partly below grade level.
Batten
Narrow strips of wood or other material used to finish and cover the vertical joints where two boards meet.
Batter board
One of a pair of horizontal boards nailed to posts set at the corners of anexcavation, used to indicate the desired level of the foundation, also as a fastening forstretched strings to indicate outlines of foundation walls.
Bay
(1) a horizontal area division of a building usually defined as the space betweencolumns or division walls; (2) an internal recess formed by causing a wall to project beyondits general line.
Bay window
A window, or group of continuous windows projecting from the main wall ofa building. A bay window has its own foundation.
Beam
(1) a long structural load-bearing member which is placed horizontally or nearly soand which is supported by both ends, infrequently, at intervals along its length; (2) a principal load supporting member of a building; may be of wood, steel, or concrete; transmits load horizontally to vertical posts, columns, or bearing walls.
Beam, spandrel
A wall beam supporting the wall above, as well as the floor.
Bearing area
The area of contact between a bearing member (beam, girder, footing) andits underlying support (column bearing wall, load bearing ground).
Bed
Horizontal surface on which structural members or slabs are laid or supported.
<p>Bent</p>
<p>A transverse frame of a building designed to support either horizontal or vertical loads. </p>
<p>Beveled wood siding</p>
<p>Siding board of varying widths, with lower edge thicker than upper edge is covered by lower edge of board above. Types include Dolly Varden, and shiplap. </p>
<p>Board foot</p>
<p>A unit of measure represented by a board one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick, or 144 cubic inches. </p>
Boiler
Metal vessel for heating water for generating steam.
Bolster
A horizontal timber on a post for lessening the free span of a beam.
Bond
The arrangement of individual masonry units in certain overlapping patterns togive the finished structural unit additional strength and to allow the individual elements toact together as a cohesive, integrated unit.
Brace
A structural member reinforcing a frame or truss.
Bridging
A method of bracing floor joists by fixing lateral members between the joists.
Building
Any structure partially or wholly above ground designed to shelter people,animals or goods.
Building, fireproof
A building in which all parts carrying loads or resisting stresses(frame) and all exterior and interior wall, floors, and staircases are made of incombustiblematerials and in which all metallic structural members are encased in materials which remain rigid at the highest possible temperature in case its contents are burned, or whichprovide ample insulation from such a temperature.
Building, paper
Tarred felt paper sheathing for walls and roofs, to stop drafts andinsulate against dampness.
Building service systems
Those units or systems providing plumbing, sewerage,heating, ventilating, air conditioning, lighting, power, vertical transport, fire protection andspecial services such as public address or oxygen to a building.
Building, single-purpose
A building designed for a specific purpose that cannot be usedfor another purpose without substantial alterations, e.g., a theater or church.
Built-ins
Items like cabinets, counters, desks, benches, shelving and equipmentpermanently attached to the building structure that cannot be removed without leavingevidence of removal. These items are not considered personal property.
Built-up roofing
Two or more layers of tarred felt, joined with bonding or sealing compound.
Bulkhead
A retaining structure of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete erected along thewater for shore protection. Solid fill is usually placed behind it to extend the shore to thebulkhead line.
Bungalow
One-story dwelling unit somewhat more pretentious than a cottage.
Buttress
An external structure, usually brick or stone, built against a wall to support orreinforce it.
Caisson foundation
A foundation system where holes are drilled in the earth to bearingstrata and then filled with concrete.
Chamfer
To bevel or round off a right angle corner.
Canopy
An ornamental roof-like covering supported by posts or suspended from a wall.
Cant strip
A wedge or triangular-shaped piece, generally installed on flat roofs aroundperimeter or at the junction of that roof and an adjoining wall.
Cantilever
A structural member projecting horizontally well beyond its vertical support.
Cap
The capital or uppermost part of a column or post; its function is to transmit supported loads to the column.
Casement window
A type of window having a sash with hinges on one side, allowing window to open vertically like a door.
Catch basin
A chamber designed in a drainage system to intercept solids and prevent their entrance into the system.
Causeway
A raised or paved way (road).
Cavity wall
A masonry or concrete wall consisting of two wythes with air space between them; the inner and outer wythes are tied together with metal ties.
Cellular concrete
Cement based concrete, mixed with fine sand and large amounts of air pockets no aggregate. Lightweight.
Chimney cap
A large stone or formed concrete which finishes the top of a chimney.
Chimney pots
Cylindrical earthenware pots at the top of the chimney shaft.
Clapboard
Siding board of varying widths, with lower edge thicker than upper edge that is covered by lower edge of board above.
Cleat
A strip fastened across something to give strength or hold in position.
Clerestory window
A window or series of windows in a wall above the primary roofline; designed to provide additional lighting and ventilation for the central part of the building.
Cofferdam
A temporary box-like structure used to hold back water or earth while work is being done inside it.
Column
(1) a structurally isolated vertical member which is at least eight to ten times as long as its least lateral dimension designed to carry loads. (2) a vertical structural member supporting horizontal members (beams, girders) designed to transmit load to bearing material at base of column.
Common brick
Local inexpensive clay brick, no uniform face or precision mold.
Composition siding
A manufactured wall covering, often finished in an imitation brick pattern.
Concrete
A hard stone-like material made by mixing sand, an aggregate such as crushed stone or gravel, cement, and water, and allowing the mixture to harden.
Concrete block
Concrete formed into the shape of a block and allowed to set until it hardens. Used as a masonry unit.
Conduit
A pipe or tube. An artificial tunnel used to enclose wires or pipes or to convey water or other fluids.
Construction, brick
A type of construction where the exterior walls are bearing walls(q.v.) made of solid brick and tile masonry.
Construction, brick veneer
A type of construction where the exterior walls are one-layer brick curtain walls backed by a wood frame.
Construction, mill
A type of construction where the exterior walls are substantial masonry bearing walls, the structural members are of heavy timber and further characterized by an open design and other safeguards against fire hazards.
Construction, reinforced concrete
A type of construction where the principalstructural members, such as the floors, columns, etc., are made of concrete poured aroundisolated steel bars or steel meshwork in such manner that the two materials act together inresisting forces.
Construction, steel frame
A type of construction where a framework of steel structuralmembers for the support of all loads and the resistances of all stresses.
Construction, wood frame
A type of construction in which there is a framework ofwooden structural members for the support of all loads and the resistance of all stresses.
Continuous windows
Windows designed for saw-tooth roofs or roof monitors of industrial buildings; generally top hinged and opened by mechanical operators.
Coping
A special capping at the top of a wall, serving principally as a watershed.
Corbel
A supporting bracket of stone, brick or wood projecting from side of wall.
<p>Cornice</p>
<p>A projecting element at the top of a wall, serving principally as a decoration or as part of the coping. </p>
Cottage
One-story to two-story dwelling unit of small size and humble character.
Course
A uniform horizontal layer of brick, stone, terra cotta, shingles, or some otherstructural material, extending continuously around a building or along a wall.
Court
An open space bordered on two or more sides by the walls of a single building, or oftwo or more buildings, and by a lot line or a yard on any side not so bordered.
Craneway
The steel or concrete column and girder supports and rails on which a cranetravels. Oftentimes the craneway is attached to the building frame.
Crawl space
An unfinished, accessible space below the first floor, generally less than full story height.
Cupola
A small building-like structure on a roof.
Curtain wall
An exterior wall that encloses but does not support the structural frame of a building.
Damp proofing
The coating of a surface to prevent the passage of moisture.
Dead load
The weight of the structure itself plus any permanent fixed loads.
Dome
A roof shaped like a hemisphere or inverted bowl, so constructed as to exert equal oblique thrust stresses in all directions.
Dormer
1) a relatively small structure projecting from a sloping roof, 2) a window set upright in the face of such a structure.
Double hung window
A type of window containing two movable sash sections that slide open vertically.
Double tee
A structural member of pre-cast concrete composed of two beams connected by a common slab.
Double wall
An exterior frame wall with siding, sheathing and interior lining.
Downspout
A pipe for carrying rainwater from roof gutters to the ground or the storm sewer system.
Drain tile
Burnt clay tile pipe, rendered impervious to water by glazing; laid with loose unsealed joints or plastic perforated pipe laid next to the foundation wall for drainage.
Dressed and matched
Boards which are finished, or dressed on 1 or 2 sides and tongue and grooved on the edges.
Drilled caisson
A hole drilled into the ground then filled with concrete. Depending on soil conditions, a pipe lining may be included.
Drip edge
A projecting part of a sill or cornice that sheds rainwater and protects structural parts below.
Drop panel
In reinforced concrete slab construction, a thickened portion of the ceiling around a column head for load distribution.
Drywall construction
Any type of interior wall construction not using plaster as a finish material; e.g., wood paneling, plywood, plasterboard, or other type of wallboard.
Duct
A pipe to convey warm or cooled air; pipe containing electrical wires or cables.
Dwelling
Any building or portion thereof designed or occupied in whole or in part as a place of residence.
Dwelling, attached
A multi-family dwelling where the dwelling units are separated vertically by means of common or party walls. See ?terrace.?
Dwelling, double
A two-family dwelling that the dwelling units are separated vertically, by means of a common or party wall.
Dwelling, duplex
A two-family dwelling in which the two dwelling units are separated horizontally with a private street entrance for each; i.e., a two-family flat.
Dwelling, multi-family
A building designed as a place of residence for more than two families or households; e.g., an apartment house or tenement.
Dwelling, row
Any one of a series of similar single-family, two-family, or multi-family dwellings having one or more contiguous common, or party walls.
Dwelling unit
Any room or group of rooms designed as the living quarters of one family or household, equipped with cooking and toilet facilities, and having an independent entrance from a public hall or from the outside.
Eaves
The portion of a sloping roof projecting beyond the wall of a building.
Elevation
A drawing representing a projection of any one of the vertical sides or vertical cross-sections of a building or of any other object.
Excavation
A hole or hollow dug in the earth.
Facade
The face of a building, especially one that is decorative or imposing.
Face brick
Generally, a hard burned brick of smooth or rough-texture face, of selected color and size; used to finish the exterior walls of a building.
Fascia
Any relatively broad flat vertical surface like that on the outside of a cornice. A finishing board used to conceal rafter boards.
Felt paper
A paper sheathing on walls and roofs insulating against heat, cold and dampness.
Fenestration
The design and disposition or arrangement of windows or other openings in building walls.
Fiber plank
A decking material composed of wood fibers with moisture and fire-resistive binders often used with bulb tees.
Fiberboard
Fine spun filaments of glass made into yarn, used in wooly masses as insulation. May be added to gypsum or concrete products to increase tensile strength.
Fill
The material used to equalize or to raise topography to a desired grade.
Firebrick
A brick made of fire clay that is capable of resisting high temperatures; used toline heating chambers and fireplaces.
Fire door
Door consisting of a core and external surfaces especially constructed toprevent the spread of fire.
Fireproofing
The use of incombustible materials to protect structural components of abuilding so it can withstand a complete burnout of contents without losing structuralintegrity.
Firewall
A wall of fire-resisting material erected between two parts of a building toprevent the spread of fire from one part to the other.
Flashing
Small metal strips used to prevent leaking of roofs around chimneys, dormers,hops and valleys.
Flat
Any one floor of a building two or more stories high each floor of which constitutes asingle dwelling unit and has a private street entrance.
Float finish
The surface of concrete finished by a continuous spreading of the materialwith a flat board.
Floating foundation
(Mat, raft or rigid foundation) consists of concrete slabs usually 4 to 8 inches thick covering the entire foundation area.
Floor finish
Top, or wearing surface made of hardwood, linoleum, terrazzo, tile, or otherfinish materials.
Flue
The duct or space within a chimney through which combustion gases and smoke areallowed to escape.
Flue lining
The tile or pipe inside a chimney.
Fluorescent light
Produced from a fluorescent-coated tube that glows as electrons passfrom one end to the other.
Footing
A spreading base to a wall, column, or other supporting member, which serves towiden the ground area to which structural loads are transmitted.
Formica
The trade name for a hard, durable plastic sheeting used for table, sink andcounter tops or for wall covering resistant to heat and chemicals.
Forms
The temporary panels, usually of wood, plywood, or metal that contain and controlthe shape of poured concrete until it hardens.
Foundation
The structural members below grade level, or below the first tier of beamsabove grade level, which transmit the load of a superstructure to the ground.
Foyer
The lobby of a theater or hotel; the entrance hall of a house.
Frame
The skeletal supporting structure of a building or construction component.
Frieze
A decorative horizontal band at or near the top of a wall.
Furring
The strips of wood or metal applied to a wall or other surface to make it level, to form an air space, or to provide fastening surface for a finish covering.
Gable
(1) The triangular portion of a wall between the slopes of a double sloping roof. (2) The whole of the wall containing such a triangular portion. (3) A portion of a building extending from the remainder of the building and covered with a gable roof.
Gambrel roof
A ridged roof, with sides having two pitches or slopes.
Giant tee
A structural member of pre-cast concrete composed of a beam connected to a slab.
Girder
(1) A large or principal beam (q.v.) used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length. Girders usually support the beams and structure above. (2) Any main horizontal supporting member or beam.
Girt
A secondary horizontal framing member extending between columns or studs to stiffen the framing system; also to provide support for the siding or sheathing.
Glazed concrete block
Concrete block with a glossy vitreous material surface.
Grade
The plane of the natural or finished surface of the ground.
Grade beam
A horizontal load-bearing foundation member, end-supported like a standard beam, not ground-supported like the foundation wall.
Granolithic
An artificial stone of crushed granite and cement.
Grillage
A system of beams laid crosswise to form a foundation to evenly distribute the load.
Groin
The sharp curved edge formed at the junction of two intersecting vaults.
Grout
A thin, fluid mortar used to fill small joints and cavities in masonry work.
Gutter
A trough or channel along or under the roof eaves which carries rainwater to downspouts or conductors.
Gypsum
A common mineral, hydrated calcium sulfate, found in rocks; used in plaster of Paris.
Gypsum plank
A lightweight pre-cast roof deck of gypsum core with steel mesh reinforcement.
Gypsum plaster
Substance obtained by heating gypsum that sets in a firm, hard masswhen mixed with water.
Gypsum wallboard
A prefabricated sheet used in drywall construction as a substitute for plaster. Made of gypsum covered with paper that can be painted, textured or wallpapered.
Hardboard
Boards formed by combining shredded wood chips and glue with pressure.
Header
1) A structural member which is laid perpendicularly to a parallel series ofsimilar members and against which the latter members abut. 2) A brick or other piece ofmasonry laid in a wall in such manner that its longest dimension extends along thethickness of the wall.
Hearth
The floor of a fireplace.
Heat exchanger
Cylinder with coils in it; used to transfer heat from one gas or liquid to another.
Hip
(1) A sloping line along which two roof surfaces meet to form an external angle ofmore than 180 degrees. (2) A hip rafter (q.v.). Compare ?Ridge?; ?Valley.?
Hotel
A building designed for transient or semi-transient residential use, divided intofurnished single rooms and suites and having such accommodations as lounges, publicdining rooms and maid service, etc.
Hotel, apartment
See ?Apartment hotel.?
I-beam
Steel beam with cross section resembling the letter ?I? now designated ?S? for American Standard Beam.
Incandescent light
Light emitted from a lamp with a fine wire filament which produceslight as a current passes through it.
Insulating board or fiberboard
A building board made of compressed plant fibers suchas wood, cane or cornstalks, usually formed by a felting process, dried and pressed tospecified thickness.
Insulation
Any material used to reduce the transfer of heat, cold or sound.
Jack rafter
Shorter than a full-length rafter. Is found in hip roofs where the top edge of aroof slope is not horizontal, and in roofs with valleys.
Jalousies
Adjustable glass louvers in doors or windows to regulate light and air orexclude rain.
Jamb
The side framing or finish of a doorway or window.
Joist
One of a series of small parallel beams laid on edge and used to support floor andceiling loads, and usually supported in turn by larger beams and girders.
Keene?s cement
A white, hard finish durable plaster that sets quickly; used in bathrooms and kitchens.
Keystone
The central topmost stone or piece of an arch which holds the other in place.
King post
The vertical member at the center of a triangular truss.
Lally column
A concrete filled steel pipe used as a vertical framing support.
Lath
Strips of wood or expanded metal used as base for plaster walls.
Lattice
Any openwork panel of crossed strips, rods, or bars of wood or metal, used as a screen.
Leader
Pipe to conduct rainwater from roof gutters to ground or storm sewer system.
Lean-to
A small structure with a single pitch roof; built against an outside wall of a building.
Light
A window pane or section of a window sash for a single pane of glass.
Lintel
A beam over a wall opening, such as a door or window, designed to carry the load of the wall over such opening.
Live load
Any moving or variable load applied to a structure, expressed in pounds per square foot of floor areas for various types of building occupancy.
Load bearing wall
Weight of wall and portion of floor/roof load are supported by the wall, remainder is supported by the interior framing.
Lobby
An entrance passage or waiting area in a theater, hotel or other public building.
Loft
An unpartitioned or relatively unpartitioned upper story of a building, designed for storage, wholesaling, or light manufacturing.
Lookout
A short timber support for an overhanging roof at a gable.
Louver (or louvre)
A ventilator containing slats placed lengthwise across the ventilator opening, each slat being slanted in such manner as to overlap the next lower slat and topermit ventilation but exclude rain.
Luminous ceiling
A suspended ceiling of translucent materials, above, which is installeda system of fluorescent tubes, making the entire ceiling the source of light, a practice thatgreatly reduces glare and shadows.
Mall
Originally a shaded walk. Now adopted to designate an area for pedestrians in aretail section or shopping center.
Mansard roof
A roof with two slopes or pitches on each of the four sides, the lower slopessteeper than the upper. Convenient for adding another story to a building.
Marquise
A flat roof-like structure sheltering a doorway, having no floor beneath it andis usually supported wholly from the walls or the building.
Masonry
Anything constructed of stone, brick, concrete tile, concrete block, using mortaras a bond.
Mastic
An adhesive material used to cement two surfaces together. Flooring materialsapplied to the base floor in a stiff plastic state by spreading, rolling and troweling.
Mercury vapor lamp
Produced by an electric arc discharging through mercury vapor in a tube. White light.
Metal pan joist
A floor or roof system using metal pans to form a system of closelyspaced beams and connecting slabs.
Mezzanine
Low story formed by placing a floor between what would ordinarily be thefloor and ceiling of a high story.
Mill construction
A type of fire-resistant or slow burning construction; masonry, heavytimber framing, and planked or laminated wood floors much thicker than ordinary joistconstruction.
Millwork
All of the wooden portions of a building, whether frame construction or otherwise, which are customarily purchased in finished form from a planing mill, such asdoors, windows, trim, balusters, etc.
Mineral wool
Insulation material made by blasting molten slag or rock with steam. Suchmaterials are known as rock wool, glass wool, etc.
Molding (moulding)
A curved section formed in the edge or face of wood and/or stone,chiefly for the sake of ornament. Mostly used to fill corners. Classified by its purpose (bed,crown, shingle) or by design, cove, ogre, quarter-round.
Monitor roof
A raised structure on a roof having windows or louvers for ventilating orlighting a building such as a factory or warehouse.
Monolithic
Poured floor or structure in one piece.
Mortar
The bonding agent in masonry work made of lime, sand, and cement mixed with water.
Newel
The vertical post that the steps of a winding staircase turn. The post at the top orbottom of a staircase supporting the handrail or a balustrade.
Non-bearing wall
A wall that supports only its own weight.
On center
The distance from the center of one structural member to the center of another. Term used for spacing studs, joists, rafters, etc.
Oriel
Window type; ordinarily projects beyond exterior face of wall; octagonal or hexagonal in plan, commonly corbelled or cantilevered out.
Overhang
A finished portion of a building having full story height that extends beyondthe foundation wall line if part of the ground story, or beyond the exterior walls of theground story if part of any higher story.
Overhead structure
Similar to overhang above ground story, such as overhead pedestrian walkway.
Panic device
Door opening operator usually consisting of a door-wide bar at waist heightwhich, when pushed against, pulls back the door latching mechanism allowing the door to open.
Parapet
A low wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, ridge, or terrace. Also a parapet wall.
Parging
A coating of cement on a masonry wall, frequently used to waterproof theoutside surface of a basement wall.
Parquet floor
A hardwood floor laid in small rectangular or square patterns, not in long strips.
Partition
See ?Wall, partition.?
Penthouse
A structure or enclosure on a roof for housing stairway to roof, elevatormachinery, utility room or water tank.
Pier
(1) A thick, solid mass of masonry that is fully or partially isolated from a structuralstandpoint and which is designed to transmit vertical loads to the earth; (2) a structureprojecting from land into water for use in loading and unloading vessels. Compare ?Column.?
Pilaster
A flat-faced pillar projecting somewhat from but engaged in, the wall of abuilding and used for decorative purposes or to help support truss and girder loads or both.
Pile
A heavy timber, metallic, or masonry pillar forced into the earth to form a foundationmember.
Pitch
The slope of any structural member, such as a roof or rafter, usually expressed as asimple fraction representing the rise per lateral foot.
Plan
A drawing representing a projection of any one of the floors or horizontal cross-sections of a building or of the horizontal plane of any other object or area. Compare ?Elevation.?
Plaster
A mixture of lime, sand and water. Used as a finished surface for walls and ceilings.
Plate
A horizontal structural member laid across the top of a row of studs, serving as theframe for interior partitions, and exterior walls. The purpose of a plate is 1) to providelateral rigidity for the wall by ?tying? the studs together and 2) to serve as a support forupper story floor joists, ceiling joists and as the lower support for rafters.
Plumb (bob)
Exactly perpendicular vertical.
Plywood
A fabricated wood product constructed of three or more layers of veneer joinedwith glue; usually laid with grain of adjoining piles at right angles.
Porcelain
A vitrified, glass-like, coating of ceramic materials bonded to a base metal by fusion.
Post
A vertical structure member carrying stresses in compression, used where strengthin bending is not a requisite.
Pre-cast concrete
Concrete structural components that are cast separately, either at aseparate location or on a building site; not formed and poured in place in the structure.
Pre-engineered building
A building constructed of pre-designed, pre-manufactured,and pre-assembled units such as wall framing, floor and roof panels. Pre-engineered unitsare simply erected at the construction site.
Pre-stressed concrete
A structural member with reinforcing strands placed under tension either before or after the concrete sets.
Purlin
A beam running along the underside of a sloping roof surface and at right anglesto the rafters, used to support the common rafters, and usually supported in turn by largerstructural members, such as trusses or girders (usually run along length of building).
Radiant heat
Heat transmitted from heated surface by radiation rather than conduction or convection.
Rafter
Structural member placed, as a rule, in a sloping position and used as the supporting element for the structural material forming the plane of the roof.
Rafter, hip
A rafter placed in an inclined position to support the edges of two sloping roof surfaces which meet to form an external angle of more than 180 degrees.
Rafter, valley
A rafter placed in an inclined position to support the edges of two sloping roof surfaces which meet to form an external angle of less than 180 degrees.
Rake
A board or molding plate along the sloping sides of a frame gable to cover the ends of the siding.
Ramp
An inclined plane connecting two different floor levels and used in lieu of steps.
Reinforcement
A system of steel rods or mesh for absorbing tensile and shearing stresses in concrete work, complementing the inherent compressive qualities of concrete.
Reservoir
Below-ground fluid storage tank built with concrete walls, floor and roof.
Residence
See Dwelling.
Resilient tile
Flooring which includes a number of products such as asphalt, linoleum, cork, vinyl, and rubber.
Ridge
A horizontal line along which the upper edges of two roof surfaces meet to form an external angle of more than 180 degrees.
Rise
(1) In general, any vertical distance, (2) specifically, the rise of a roof, being the distance between the top of an exterior wall and the peak of the roof; the rise of a stair, being the distance from tread to tread.
Roll roofing
A roofing material made of compressed fibers saturated with asphalt, supplied in rolls.
Roof, curb (or curbed)
A roof where the pitch of the upper part of a sloping side is less than the pitch of the lower part.
Roof, flat
A roof that is flat or sloped only enough to provide proper drainage.
Roof, gable
A double-sloped roof having a cross section similar to the shape of the inverted letter ?v?.
Roof, gambrel
A curbed gable roof.
Roof, hip (or hipped)
(1) In general, any roof having one or more hips, (2) usually, a roof with four sloping sides meeting along four hips or along four hips and a ridge.
Roof, lean-to
(1) A roof having a single sloping side that is supported at the upper edge by the wall of an attached building or of a larger and higher portion of the same building, (2) any roof with a single slope.
Roof, mansard
A roof with two slopes or pitches on each of the four sides, the lower slopes steeper than the upper. Convenient for adding another story to a building.
Roof, monitor
A type of gable roof, commonly found on industrial buildings, having small raised portion along the ridge with openings for the admission of light and air.
Roof, pyramid
A roof having four sloping triangular sides, usually of equal pitch, meeting together at the peak.
Roof, saw tooth
A roof with a series of parallel sloping surfaces interspersed between a series of vertical surfaces which rise from the lower edges of such sloping surfaces and contain windows for the admission of light and air.
Roof, single pitch
A roof with a single slope other than a lean-to roof.
Rotunda
A circular building or room covered by a dome.
Rubblework
Masonry built of rubble or roughly dressed stones laid in irregular courses.
Sandwich panel
A core of insulation covered on both sides with materials such as concrete, metal, or asbestos.
Sanitary sewer
A sewer carrying only waste material, not surface water.
Sash
The wooden or metal framework in which the glass of a door or window is set.
Saw kerf
A notch made by a saw in a board.
Scratch coat
The first coat of plaster applied to a wall, scratched or scored to provide a bond of the second coat.
Scuttle
A framed opening in a ceiling or roof, fitted with a lid or cover.
Shake
A shingle formed by splitting a short log into a number of tapered radial sections.
Sheathing
The covering, usually of rough lumber, placed immediately over studding or rafters.
Sheet piling
Planking or steel shafts driven close together vertically to form a temporary wall around an excavation.
Shingle
A roof or wall covering of waterproof material.
Shoring
Structural bracing used as temporary support for a building during construction.
Shutter
Hinged door that covers a window.
Siding
A finish covering for exterior walls of a building.
Sill
(1) The lower horizontal part of a door-case (the threshold) or of a window; (2) thelowest horizontal structural member of a frame building, upon which the superstructure issupported.
Skin wall
External wall covering of aluminum, porcelain enamel, steel or other material. Slab on ground?A building floor (usually concrete) that rests on, or touches the ground. Slate?A hard, fine-grained rock that cleaves naturally into thin, smooth-surfaced layers. Sleeper?A structural member laid horizontally on the ground or upon a masonry base as a support to a floor or other superstructures.
Sodium vapor light
Produced by electric current passing between electrodes in lampfilled with sodium vapor. Orange light. Soffit?The undersiding of a building member such as an arch, cornice, overhang, or stairway.
Soil stack
A general term for the vertical main of a system of soil, waste or vent piping.
Span
The horizontal clear distance between supports as between those of a bridge, or between columns of a structure.
Spandrel
A beam that lies in the same vertical plane as the exterior wall.
Specifications
A detailed description of the dimensions, materials, quantities, structural procedures, etc. applicable to a projected or completed piece of construction.
Staging
A temporary scaffolding to support workmen and materials during construction.
Stair riser
Vertical part of a step in a staircase.
Stair tread
The part of a step actually trodden on when stairs are climbed.
Stile
The upright or vertical outside piece of a sash, door or panel.
Storm sewer
A sewer that only carries rain or surface water.
Story
The portion of a building enclosed by a floor, a ceiling and the exterior walls.
Story, ground
The first story lying wholly above the ground level.
Story, half (or one-half)
(1) For buildings with a mansard or gambrel roof, a finished portion of a building which lies above the wall plate or cornice and has a usable floor areasubstantially less than that of the next lower story, (2) for all other buildings, a finishedportion of a building which is above one or more full stories which is wholly or partly withinthe roof frame and has one or more exterior walls substantially lower than the full height ofthe story.
Story, one
A building having no finished story above the ground story.
Stretcher
A brick or other masonry unit laid length wise in a wall.
Stringer
Inclined member supporting the treads and risers of a stair.
Structural floor
Floors above the ground resting on walls or columns.
Strut
Any structural member that holds apart two or more other members by counteracting a pressure that tends to bring them together.
Stucco
A cement plaster used as an exterior wall surface finish; usually applied over a metal or wood lath base.
Stud
One of a series of small slender structural members placed vertically and used as the supporting element of exterior or interior walls.
Subfloor
The flooring laid directly on top of floor joists but beneath the finished floor.
Superstructure
The part of a building above the foundation or ground level.
Tenement
A building, usually of obsolete nature, designed primarily for non-transient residential use and divided into three or more dwelling units having common stairs, halls, and street entrances, and sometimes common bath and toilet rooms.
Termite shield
A sheet metal shield placed to prevent the entry of termites into the wooden portion of a structure.
Terrace
An unroofed level area covered with grass or masonry or both, raised above the surrounding ground level, and having a vertical or sloping front.
Terra cotta
A hard-baked pottery molded into decorative tiles, brick, etc. and used particularly for facing and trim on buildings.
Terrazzo
A durable floor finish made of small chips of colored stone or marble embedded in cement and polished in place to a high glaze.
Thickened edge slab
A type of concrete floor slab foundation where the slab is thickened around the edge in lieu of a foundation.
Threshold
A strip of wood, stone or metal placed beneath a door.
Tie
Any structural member that binds together two or more members by counteracting a stress that tends to draw them apart.
Tilt-up concrete panels
Concrete wall sections that are cast horizontally and tilted or lifted into building position.
<p>Trim</p>
<p>(1) The wooden portions of a plastered room, such as the doors, windows, wainscotting, and molding, or the corresponding portions of a room finished otherwise than with plaster, (2) the contrasting elements on the exterior of a building which serve no structural purpose but are intended to enhance its appearance; e.g., the cornice, occasionally, the hardware of a house, such as locks, hinges, doorknobs, etc. </p>
Trowel finish
The surface of concrete finished by smoothing with a trowel.
<p>Truss</p>
<p>Any of various structural frames based on the geometric rigidity of the triangle and composed of members subject only to longitudinal compression and tension; rigid under anticipated loads, spans large area without interior support, i.e., Bowstring, Cambered,Flat Roof, Sawtooth, Scissors and Triangular. </p>
Unit heat
Heat produced by factory-built, gas or electric fired heater, which contain a fanto direct heat to a specific area.
<p>Valley</p>
<p>A sloping line along which two roof surfaces meet to form an external angle or less than 180 degrees. </p>
Vapor barrier
Material used to retard the passage of vapor or moisture into walls andfloors, thus preventing condensation.
Veneer
A thin ornamental or protective facing which does not add appreciably to thestrength of the body to which it is attached.
Vent (ventilator)
Allows air to circulate in areas susceptible to dampness or condensation. (Basement, foundation, attic, roof and eave.)
<p>Waffle pan construction</p>
<p>Flat, reinforced concrete slab foundation with a grid of projections on its lower surface to give additional rigidity. Used when bearing capacity of soil is poor or not firm enough to support a plain flat slab foundation. </p>
Wainscot (or wainscoting)
(1) A wooden facing on the lower portion of a contrastinginterior wall, (2) by extension, a facing of marble tile, or the like on the lower portion ofinterior walls.
Wall, bearing
A wall designed primarily to withstand vertical pressure in addition to its own weight.
Wall, common
A wall owned by one party but jointly used by two parties, one or both areentitled to such use under the provisions of a lease.
Wall, curtain
A nonbearing wall which is supported by columns, beams or other structural members, and whose primary function is to enclose space.
Wall, partition
An interior bearing or nonbearing wall separating portions of a story.
Wall, party
A wall jointly used by two parties under easement agreement and erected ator upon a line separating two parcels of land held under different ownership.
Wall, retaining
A wall designed primarily to withstand lateral pressures of earth orother filling or backing deposited behind it after construction.
Waterproofing
To render impervious to water or dampness.
Weep hole
A series of small holes in a retaining wall or similar structure that permitsthe drainage of water through the wall and hence reduces the pressure against the wall.
Abandonment
(1) Cessation of the use of right of way or activity thereon with nointention to reclaim or use again. (2) The act of vacating real property and/or the leaving offixtures or other attachments.
Abstract
To reduce a legal description of a property to another form; also, to identify aproperty from its legal description.
Access
(1) The means or way by which a property is approached. (2) The means or method of entrance into or upon a property.
<p>Access Rights</p>
<p>(1) The right of ingress to and egress from a property which abuts upon an existing street or highway. It is an easement in the street that is appurtenant to abutting property and is a private right as distinguishable from the rights of the public. It is well-established law in the United States that the right of access cannot be denied or unreasonably restricted unless other reasonable access is available or provided or compensation is awarded. (2) The right of a riparian owner to pass to and from the waters upon which the premises border. </p>
Accrued depreciation
See Depreciation.
Acre
A land measure of 160 square rods or 43,560 square feet.
Actual Age
The number of years elapsed since an original structure was built. Sometimes referred to as historical or chronological age.
Aerial photo
Airplane photography of entire U.S. land mass taken by Federal Government every few years. Available from County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Office.
Age/Life Method
A method of estimating accrued depreciation founded upon the premisethat, in the aggregate, a mathematical function can be used to infer accrued depreciationfrom the age of a property and its economic life.
Agricultural property
Land and improvements devoted to or best adaptable for theproduction of crops, fruits, timber and the raising of livestock.
Air rights
The right to inclusive and undisturbed use and control of a designated airspace within the perimeter of a stated land area and within stated elevations. Such rightsmay be acquired for the construction of a building above the land or building of another, orfor the protection of the light and air of an existing or proposed structure on an adjoininglot.
Alley influence
The enhancement to the value of a property rising out of the presence ofan abutting alley, most generally applicable to commercial properties.
Allocation
The allocation of the appraised total value of the property between the landand improvements.
Allowance for Vacancy and Income Loss
That amount deducted from Potential Annual Gross Income to reflect the effect of probable vacancy and turnover, or non-paymentof rent by tenants; commonly expressed as a percentage of Potential Annual Gross Incomeand then converted to a dollar figure, the percentage of vacancy and income loss is thecomplement of the occupancy ratio.
Amenities
In reference to property, the intangible benefits arising out of ownership;amenity value refers to the enhancement of value attributable to such amenities.
Anticipation, principle of
Affirms that value is created by the anticipation of futurebenefits. (Value may be defined as the present worth of all rights to future benefits.)
Appraisal
An estimate or opinion of value, usually in written form of the describedproperty as of a specified date; may be used synonymously with valuation or appraisedvalue.
Appraiser
One who estimates value. More specifically, one who possesses the expertiseto execute or direct the execution of an appraisal.
Appreciation
Increased value of a property, in terms of money, from all causes. For example, or a property of any sort may appreciate as a result of inflation.
Arm?s-Length Sale
A sale between two parties neither of whom is related to or underabnormal pressure from the other. See Market Value.
Assemblage
The combining of two or more continuous parcels into one ownership or use.
Aesthetic value
A value, intangible in nature, which is attributable to the pleasingappearance of a property.
Azimuth
The angle between true north or true south and an object. In surveying, it ismeasured clockwise from north.
Balance, principle of
Holds that value is created and maintained in proportion to theequilibrium attained in the amount and location of essential uses of real estate. The degree of value of a property is governed by the balance or apportionment of the four factors inproduction, land, labor, capital and management.
<p>Base price</p>
<p>A value or unit rate established for a certain specified model, and subject to adjustments to account for variations between that particular model and the subject property under appraisement. </p>
<p>Bearing</p>
<p>(1) The situation or horizontal direction of one point or object with respect to another, or to the points of the compass. (2) That portion of any member of a building that rests upon its supports. </p>
Blighted area
A declining area or district characterized by structural deteriorationand/or environmental deficiencies.
Book value
The capital amount of property shown on the books of an accountant. Usually, it is the original cost less reserves for depreciation plus additions to capital.
Boring test
A study of load-bearing qualities of subterranean surface by analysis of boreor drilling residue (core samples).
Building Capitalization Rate
A rate which includes return on and return of capitalinvested in improvements, separate, and apart from capital invested in the underlyingland; used in the residual techniques which separate property income into componentsattributable to land and to improvements.
Building Residual Technique
A technique used to estimate the value of a propertyfrom a knowledge of normal net income, the discount rate, the remaining economic life ofthe property, the value of the land, the income stream attributable to the building, and theincome stream attributable to the land. The technique estimates total value by discountingthe income stream attributable to the building and adding the result to an independentestimate of the value of the land.
Bundle of Rights Theory
Ownership of a parcel of real estate embraces six rights.These include the right to buy; the right to sell it in whole or part; the right to bequeath;the right to lease; the right to use the real estate and the right to do none of these.
Capitalization
A mathematical procedure for converting the net income which a property is capable of producing into an indication of its current value.
Cash Flow Analysis
A study of the anticipated movement of money into or out of an investment.
Central business district
The center of the city in which the primary commercial,governmental and recreational activities are concentrated.
Certificate of title
A document usually given to a home buyer with the deed, statingthat the title to the property is clear. It is usually prepared by an attorney or qualifiedperson who has examined the abstract of title for the property. It is only an opinion that thetitle is good, not to be confused with title insurance.
Change, principle of
Holds that economic and social forces are constantly at work andbecause changes brought about by these forces affect real property. The appraiser viewsreal property and its environment as in transition, observing evidence of trends which mayaffect the property in the future. The law of change is fundamentally the law of cause andeffect.
Chattel
In law, any property other than a freehold or fee estate in land. Chattels aretreated as personal property, although they are divisible into chattels real and chattelspersonal.
Comparables; comparable sales
Properties that have recently sold that are similar in important respects to a property being appraised. The sale price, and the physical,functional and locational characteristics of each of the properties are compared to theproperty being appraised in order to arrive at an estimate of value. By extension, the term comparables is sometimes used to refer to properties with rent or income patterns comparable to a property being appraised.
Competition; principle of
Hold that profit tends to breed competition and excess profit tends to breed ruinous competition.
Component part-in-place method
The application of the unit-in-place method to unitgroupings or construction components. See unit-in-place method.
<p>Condemnation</p>
<p>The act of government (federal, state, county, municipal), and of duly authorized units of government and public utility companies invested with the right of eminent domain, to take private property for public use and benefit, upon the payment of just compensation. It is the act of the sovereign in substituting itself in place of the owner and/or the act of taking all or a part of the rights of an owner. </p>
<p>Condominium</p>
<p>A form of fee ownership of whole units or separate portions of multi-unit buildings by statute which provides the mechanics and facilities for formal filing and recording of a divided interest in real property, where the division is vertical as well as horizontal. Fee ownership of units in a multi-unit property and joint ownership of the common areas. Not to be confused with Cooperative. </p>
Conformity, principle of
Holds that the maximum of value is realized when a reasonable degree of homogeneity, sociological as well as economic, is present. Thus, conformity in use is usually a highly desirable adjunct of real property, since it createsand/or maintains maximum value.
Consideration
The amount of money and other valuable goods or services upon which abuyer and a seller agree to consummate a sale.
Consistent use
Maintains that a property in transition to another use cannot be valuedon the basis of one use for the land and another for the improvements.
<p>Contour line</p>
<p>Outline of a figure, body, mass; lines representing such an outline as the edge of the water of a lake. A line on a topographic map or chart connecting the points on a land surface which have the same elevation. </p>
Contract rent
Payment for the use of property as designated in a lease. Used to establish the fact that the actual rent designated, or contract rent, may differ from market rent.
Contribution, principle of
A valuation principle which states that the value of an agentof production or of a component part of a property depends upon how much it contributes tothe value of the whole; or how much its absence detracts from the value of the whole. The Principle of Contribution is sometimes known as the Principle of Marginal Productivity.
Corner influence
The enhancement of the value of a property rising out of its cornerlocation; most generally applicable to commercial properties.
Cost approach
One of the three traditional approaches to value by which an indicationof the value of a property is arrived at by estimating the value of the land, the replacementor reproduction cost new of the improvement, and the amount of accrued depreciation to theimprovement. The estimated land value is then added to the estimated depreciated value ofthe improvements to arrive at the estimated property value.
Cost factor
A factor or multiplier applied to a replacement or reproduction cost toaccount for variations in location and time, as well as for other elements of construction costs not otherwise considered.
Cover crop
A crop planted principally for the purpose of controlling wind or watererosion during the dormant season. It is normally plowed under and not harvested.
Crop rotation
The practice of alternating, usually on an annual basis, field crops, such as corn or wheat, with legumes in order to maintain or improve the structure and productivity of the soil.
Cubic content
The cubic volume of a building within the outer surface of the exteriorwalls and roof and the upper surface of the lowest floor.
Cubic yard
A measure of volume that is three feet wide, three feet high, and three feetdeep. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard.
Curable depreciation
Those items of physical deterioration and functional obsolescencethat are economically feasible to cure and hence are customarily repaired or replaced by aprudent property owner.
<p>Deed</p>
<p>A written instrument that conveys an interest in real property. A quit claim deed conveys the interest described therein without warranty of title. A trust deed conveys interest described therein to a trustee. A warranty deed conveys the interest described therein with the provisions that the freehold is guaranteed by the grantor, and the grantor's heirs or successors. </p>
<p>Delinquent taxes</p>
<p>Taxes remaining unpaid on and after a date upon which a penalty for nonpayment is normally attached. </p>
<p>Depreciation</p>
<p>Loss in value from all causes; may be further classified as physical,referring to the loss of value caused by physical deterioration; functional, referring to the loss of value caused by obsolescence inherent in the property itself; and economic, referring to the loss of value caused by factors extraneous to the property. </p>
<p>Accrued depreciation refers to the actual depreciation existing in a particular property as of a specified date. </p>
<p>Normal depreciation refers to that amount of accrued depreciation one would normally expect to find in buildings of certain construction, design, quality and age. </p>
Depreciation allowance
A loss of value expressed in terms of a percentage of replacement or reproduction cost new.
Depth factor
A factor or multiplier applied to a unit land value to adjust the value inorder to account for variations in depth from an adopted standard depth.
Depth table
A table of depth factors.
<p>Design factor</p>
<p>A factor or multiplier applied to a computed replacement cost as an adjustment to account for cost variations attributable to the particular design of the subject property which were not accounted for in the particular pricing schedule used. </p>
<p>Deterioration</p>
<p>Impairment of structural condition evidenced by the wear and tear caused by physical use and the action of the elements, also referred to as physical depreciation. </p>
Drain tile
A specially designed pipe used in a drainage system.
<p>Easement</p>
<p>A non-possessing interest held by one person in land of another person whereby the first person is accorded partial use of such land for a specific purpose. An easement restricts but does not abridge the rights of the fee owner to the use and enjoyment of the easement holder's rights. Easements fall into three broad classifications: surface easements, subsurface easements and overhead easements. </p>
Economic life
The life expectancy of a property during that it can be expected to be used profitably.
<p>Economic obsolescence</p>
<p>Loss in value of a property (relative to the cost of replacing it with a property of equal utility) that stems from factors external to the property. For example, a buggy-whip factory, to the extent that it cannot be used economically for anything else, suffers substantial economic obsolescence since automobiles have replaced horse drawn buggies. </p>
Economic rent
The rent which a property can be expected to bring in the open market asopposed to contract rent which is the rent the property is actually realizing at a given time.Also called market rent.
Effective age
The typical age of a structure equivalent to the one in question withrespect to its utility and condition. Knowing the effective age of an old, rehabilitated structure or a building with substantial deferred maintenance is generally more informative than knowing its chronological age.
Effective depth
In reference to property valuation, that depth, expressed in feet, uponwhich the selection of the depth factor is based.
Effective gross income
The estimated gross income of a property less an appropriateallowance for vacancies and collection losses.
Effective valuation date
In reference to a revaluation program, the date as of which thevalue estimate is applicable.
Eminent domain
The right by which a sovereign government, or some person acting inits name and under its authority, may acquire private property for public or quasi-publicuse upon payment of reasonable compensation and without consent of the owner. The rightor power of the government to take private property for public use upon making justcompensation.
Encroachment
The displacement of an existing use by another use.
Engineering breakdown
A method of estimating accrued depreciation under whichseparate estimates are made for the individual components and then totaled.
Environmental deficiency
A neighborhood condition such as adverse land uses, congestion, poorly designed streets, etc. operating to cause economical obsolescence and,when coupled with excessive structural deterioration, blight.
Escheat
Reversion of property to the state when the owner dies without leaving a will or heirs.
