COSC 153 Midterm Q&A CORRECT ANSWERS UPDATED

COSC 153 Midterm Q&A CORRECT ANSWERS UPDATED Aggregate - ANSWER Mixture of sand and stone & is a major component of concrete Architect - ANSWER One who has completed a course of study in building and design and draws up plans Backing - ANSWER Frame lumber or metal installed between the wall studs to give additional support for drywall or an interior trim related item (such as handrail brackets, cabinets, towel bars). Items are screwed and mounted into solid wood or metal rather than weak drywall that may allow the item to break loose from the wall. Bearing Walls - ANSWER A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight. Concrete - ANSWER Mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water. Used to make garage and basement floors, sidewalks, patios, foundation walls, etc. Commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh) Construction Contract - ANSWER A legal document which specifies the what-whenwhere-how-how much and by whom in a construction project. A good construction contract includes: - ANSWER 1. The contractor's registration number 2. A statement of work quality such as 'Standard Practices of the Trades' or 'according to Manufacturers Specifications'. 3. A set of blue prints or plans 4. A construction timetable including starting and completion dates 5. A set of specifications 6. A fixed price for the work, or a time and materials formula 7. A payment schedule 8. Any allowances (budget for extra expenses) 9. A clause which outlines how any disputes will be resolved 10. A written warrantee Construction Drawings - ANSWER A complete set of construction drawings (drawn to scale) tends to comprise floor plans, elevations, sections and detail drawings, that together provide a complete representation of the building On many projects, each major trade on Construction Drawings will have separate trade drawings such as: - ANSWER - Architectural (including elevations, sections, details) - Structural (including foundations and superstructure, structure elevations, sections and details) - Electrical (including floor plans, elevations and details) - Plumbing (including floor plans, elevations and details) - Mechanical (including floor plans, elevations and details) - Fire Protection (including floor plans, elevations and details) - Roofing - Finishes - Etc... Drywall / Gypsum Wallboard (GWB) / Sheetrock / Plasterboard - ANSWER A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with 'joint compound'. Duct - ANSWER The AC / heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace or chilled system to rooms in the home. Also a tunnel made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass that carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to the rooms in a building. Estimate - ANSWER The amount of labor, materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for a project as summarized in the contractor's bid proposal for the project. Includes Materials & Labor, Overhead (charge a % for all the extra costs), and Profit. Footer / Footing - ANSWER Continuous (footing) or individual (footer) reinforced thick concrete pad installed underground which supports the foundation wall or column Foundation - ANSWER The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction, or below grade, including the footings (combination of everything) Grade - ANSWER Ground level, or the elevation at any given point. Also the work of leveling dirt. Also the designated quality of a manufactured piece of wood.