Vapor Barrier

Related terms

• Variance

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

• 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…

• 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…

• Takeoff

  The process of measuring quantities of materials and labor from the drawings to build an estimate. Accurate takeoffs are the foundation o…

• VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

  Gases emitted by some paints, finishes, and adhesives that affect indoor air quality. Low- and zero-VOC products are widely available and…

• Superintendent

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

• Zoning

  Local laws governing how land may be used and what can be built where, including size, height, and setback limits. Additions and footprin…

• Submittal

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