Takeoff

Related terms

• Foundation

  The structure (slab, crawl space, or basement) that transfers the building's load to the ground. Foundation condition underlies the feasi…

• Value Engineering

  Reviewing the design to find lower-cost ways to achieve the same function and quality — substituting materials or methods to bring a proj…

• Superintendent

  The on-site supervisor who runs the field operation — directing crews, sequencing trades, and enforcing safety and quality at the job site.

• Vapor Barrier

  A material that limits moisture diffusion through an assembly to control condensation. Correct placement is climate-dependent — wrong-sid…

• Submittal

  Product data, samples, or shop drawings the contractor submits for approval before ordering or installing, confirming what will actually…

• Variance

  Official permission to deviate from a zoning requirement (e.g., to build closer to a property line than the setback allows). Requires app…

• Subfloor

  The structural sheet material (plywood or OSB) fastened over floor joists that everything else — underlayment and finish flooring — is bu…

• Veneer

  A thin layer of a finish material bonded to a cheaper substrate — wood veneer on cabinet panels, stone or brick veneer on walls — deliver…