Glossary home
Balsa
A hardwood of the bombacaceous tree, of tropical America - also called balsawood the very light wood of this tree, used for making rafts etc - balsa is an example of a hardwood being softer than a softwood.
Barbed nail
A nail that has indentations the full length of the shank for greater gripping power.
Bearing wall
A wall that supports more than its own weight, as when it supports a roof or floor.
Benchmark
A mark on a stone or post or other permanent feature, at a point whose exact elevation and position is known-used as a reference point in surveying.
Berm
A horizontal ledge in an earth bank or cutting to ensure the stability of a steep slope.
Bill of quantities
A document drawn up by a quantity surveyor providing details of the unit measure, unit prices, dimensions quantities etc, of the materials required to construct a project.
Bitumen
A viscous liquid or solid material black or dark brown in colour, having adhesive properties, consisting essentially of hydrocarbons, derived from petroleum for occurring in natural asphalt and soluble in carbon disulphide. Used in flat roofing (with heat application).
Blinding
A layer of lean concrete put down on soil such as clay to seal it and provide a clean bed for reinforcement to be laid on.
Blow gun
A length of piping with a flattened tip, connected to a compressed-air hose, used for blowing out waste material from formwork.
Blow off
An outlet on a pipeline for discharging sediment or water or for emptying a low sewer.
Blow out
In compressed air work a sudden loss of compressed air from the tunnel or caisson, which increases rapidly and may become disastrous.
Blowhole
A bubble of air trapped against formwork during the placing of concrete and not driven out during vibration.
Boiler house
A plantroom for housing boilers.
Bona fide subcontractor
Bona fide sub- contractors are self employed and provide a service which includes materials and labour. All work carried out is invoiced to the main contractor. These contractors are responsible for their own insurance.
Bond
a guarantee by a bonding company that an obligation described in the contract will be fulfilled regardless of any misfortune to the contractor, such as his going bankrupt.
Boning
Setting out a slope by boning rods - two rods are held on pegs which have previously set on the slope at correct levels and a third rod is lined in as it is moved about between them.
Borehole
A hole driven into the ground to get information about the strata, or to release water pressure.
Bortz
An inferior grade of diamond used for cutting or drilling or, in powdered form, as an industrial abrasive.
Box shear test
A simple standard method of measuring the shear strength of soil in a box split in two, to which pressure is applied at the same time as a shearing force.
Brick
A shaped block of baked clay
Bricklayer
A person who lays and builds with bricks or blocks - often referred to as a brickie.
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