A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Dado– A groove cut into a board or panel intended to receive the edge of a connecting board or panel.
Damper– A metal “door” placed within the fireplace chimney. Normally closed when the fireplace is not in use.
Dampproofing– The black, tar like waterproofing material applied to the exterior of a foundation wall.
Daylight– The end of a pipe (the terminal end) that is not attached to anything.
Dead bolt– An exterior security lock installed on exterior entry doors that can be activated only with a key or thumb-turn. Unlike a latch, which has a beveled tongue, dead bolts have square ends.
Dead light– The fixed, non-operable window section of a window unit.
Deck, decked– To install the plywood or wafer board sheeting on the floor joists, rafters, or trusses.
Dedicated circuit– An electrical circuit that serves only one appliance (ie, dishwasher) or a series of electric heaters or smoke detectors.
Default– Breach of a mortgage contract (not making the required payments).
De-humidistat– A control mechanism used to operate a mechanical ventilation system based upon the relative humidity in the home.
Delamination– Separation of the plies in a panel due to failure of the adhesive. Usually caused by excessive moisture.
Diaphragm wall (Masonry) – A wall comprising two parallel leaves and evenly spaced vertical columns (ribs) joining the leaves to form a hollow box section
Disconnect– A large (generally 20 Amp) electrical ON-OFF switch.
Discount rate– A mortgage interest rate that is lower than the current rate for a certain period of time, e.g. 2.00% below variable rate for 2 years.
Distance piece (Glazing) – A spacer, which maintains distance between the glass and frame/glazing beads
Distribution board/box – The electrical box that distributes electric power entering the home to each branch circuit (each plug and switch) and composed of circuit breakers.
Doorjamb, interior– The surrounding case into which and out of which a door closes and opens. It consists of two upright pieces, called side jambs, and a horizontal head jamb. These 3 jambs have the “door stop” installed on them.
Door stop– The wooden style that the door slab will rest upon when it’s in a closed position.
Double glass– Window or door in which two panes of glass are used with a sealed air space between. Also known as Insulating Glass.
Double hung window– A window with two vertically sliding sashes, both of which can move up and down.
Downspout / downpipe– A pipe, usually of metal or PVC, for carrying rainwater down from the roof’s horizontal gutters.
Drain (Drainage) – That part of an installation that conveys sewage from a housing unit’s) to a common drain, connecting sewer or any other sewage disposal system situated on the site concerned but excluding the following: A discharge pipe or any portion of a discharge pipe that is below ground level or The bend at the foot of a discharge stack, whether such bend is exposed or not.
Drainage installation (Drainage) – An installation that is vested in the owner of a site and that is situated on the site and is intended for the reception, conveyance, storage or treatment of sewage.
Drip (Flat concrete roofs) – A step or groove formed in the underside of a flat roof across the direction of fall.
Drying shrinkage (Cement plaster) – Shrinkage caused by the loss of water; if extensive, it results in cracking and crazing
Drywall (or Gypsum Wallboard)– Wall board or gypsum- A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard.
Ducts– Usually round or rectangular metal pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air.
Dual Pitch truss (Timber Roof Structures) – truss that has two different pitches on its top chord
Dynamic (drop weight) cone penetrometer (Foundations) – An instrument used to measure the insitu shear resistance of a soil comprising a drop weight of approximately 10Kg which falls through a height of 460mm and drives a cone having a maximum diameter of 20mm (cone angle of 60 with respect to the horizontal) into the material being used