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Coarse materials like gravel or crushed stone mixed with sand and cement to make concrete.

The decorative moulding around door and window frames.

Soil or other material used to fill in around foundations after they're poured.

Building Sustainability Index - NSW requirement for energy and water efficiency in new homes.

Thin strips of timber used to support roof tiles or create a gap for insulation.

Horizontal timber that supports floor joists, typically sits on stumps or piers.

An angled edge, often on weatherboards or skirting.

Construction where a timber frame supports the roof and brick is used as external cladding only.

Complying Development Certificate - fast-track approval for homes meeting specific standards (10-20 days).

Horizontal timber that supports the ceiling lining.

External wall covering material (brick, weatherboard, render, etc.).

A flat concrete base for the building, either on-ground or suspended.

Decorative moulding where walls meet ceilings.

Development Application - council approval required for most building work (8-20 weeks).

Damp Proof Course/Membrane - waterproof layer preventing moisture rising through floors/walls.

The part of the roof that overhangs the external walls.

Electrical Installation Compliance Certificate - mandatory certificate for electrical work.

Board fixed to the ends of roof rafters, often holds the guttering.

Metal sheeting used to waterproof joints (roof-to-wall, around windows, chimneys).

Concrete foundation that distributes the building's weight into the ground.

Construction milestone when wall and roof frames are complete.

Triangular portion of wall between edges of a sloping roof.

Sheets of gypsum plaster sandwiched between paper, used for internal walls.

Home Building Compensation Fund - NSW's mandatory home warranty insurance scheme.

Vertical sides of a door or window frame.

Horizontal timber supporting floors or ceilings.

Horizontal support over doors/windows, carries the load above.

When the building is weather-tight - roof on, windows in, external doors fitted.

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme - star rating for thermal performance (1-10 stars).

Short horizontal pieces between studs to provide bracing.

Occupation Certificate - final approval allowing you to live in the building.

Concrete or masonry column supporting the building, often under suspended floors.

When the building is essentially complete and fit for occupation.

Allowance in contract for items not yet selected (e.g., tiles, tapware). You pay the difference if you exceed it.

Estimate for work where exact cost is unknown (e.g., excavation). Adjusted based on actual cost.

Sloping timber that forms the roof structure.

A step-shaped recess cut into the edge of a piece of timber.

Cement-based coating applied to external walls.

The highest point of a pitched roof where two slopes meet.

Registered Land Surveyor - conducts site surveys before construction.

Reflective foil membrane under roof tiles for insulation and water protection.

Thin layer of cement used to level floors before tiling.

Required distance between building and property boundary.

Excavation and levelling of land before construction begins.

Board at the base of internal walls covering the joint with the floor.

The underside of the eaves.

Vertical timber in a wall frame.

Horizontal timber at the top of a wall frame.

Pre-fabricated triangular roof frame structure.

Strengthening existing foundations, often due to subsidence.

Change to the original contract scope, usually incurring additional cost.

Liquid or sheet material applied to wet areas (bathrooms) before tiling.

Small gaps in brickwork at the base to allow moisture to escape.