Construction Terminology

B2B / Professional Language

Consumer-Facing Language

Kitchen

Bathroom

Both

🏗Project Structure & Roles

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
General Contractor (GC)	Licensed pro who manages the full project — hires subs, pulls permits, owns timeline and budget delivery	General Contractor / GC	Your main contractor / the person running the job	Both
Subcontractor (Sub)	Specialist hired by the GC for a specific trade — plumber, electrician, tile setter, etc.	Subcontractor / Trade Partner	The specialists the contractor brings in	Both
Scope of Work (SOW)	Written document listing every task, material, and deliverable included in the contract	Scope of Work / SOW	What's included in your project / the work list	Both
Change Order (CO)	Formal written amendment to add, remove, or modify work after the contract is signed — always affects price	Change Order / CO	An update to your plan / extra work you approved	Both
Punch List	Final list of small items to fix or finish before project closeout and final payment	Punch List / Closeout List	The final fixes before you sign off	Both
RFI	Request for Information — a formal question from the contractor to clarify plans or specs mid-project	RFI (Request for Information)	A question from your contractor about your project	Both

📋Permits, Compliance & Legal

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Building Permit	Government approval required before structural, electrical, plumbing, or major work can begin	Building Permit / Pull a Permit	City approval / permit for the work	Both
Inspection	Mandatory visit by a city inspector to verify work meets code before it's covered up or used	Inspection / Rough-In Inspection / Final Inspection	City check / inspector sign-off	Both
Code Compliance	Work meets local building, electrical, and plumbing codes — required for permits and resale	Code Compliant / Up to Code	Done to code / meets safety standards	Both
Certificate of Occupancy (CO)	Official document confirming a space is safe and legally approved for use after renovation	Certificate of Occupancy / CO	Final approval to use your space	Both

🔩Structural & Demo

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Demolition (Demo)	Removing existing structures, fixtures, cabinets, tile, or walls before new work begins	Demo / Selective Demo / Full Demo	Tearing out the old stuff	Both
Load-Bearing Wall	A wall that supports the structure above it — removing it requires engineering and a beam	Load-Bearing Wall / Structural Wall	A wall you can't just remove	Both
Framing	The wood or metal skeleton of walls and ceilings — built new or modified during gut renovations	Rough Framing / Stud Work	Building the wall structure	Both
Subfloor	The structural layer beneath finished flooring — may need repair or leveling before tile or hardwood	Subfloor / Substrate	The base layer under your floor	Both
Drywall / Sheetrock	Panels of gypsum used to create interior wall surfaces — hung, taped, mudded, and painted	Drywall / GWB (Gypsum Wallboard)	The wall panels / drywall	Both

🔧Plumbing

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Rough-In Plumbing	Installing the pipes and drains inside walls/floors before walls are closed — done before fixtures are set	Rough-In / Rough Plumbing	Putting the pipes in before the walls close	Both
Fixture Relocation	Moving a sink, toilet, or shower drain to a new position — requires opening walls and floors, adds significant cost	Fixture Relocation / Moving the Stack	Moving where the sink/toilet sits	Both
P-Trap	The curved pipe under the sink that holds water to block sewer gases from entering the home	P-Trap / Trap Assembly	The curved pipe under your sink	Kitchen
Wet Wall	The wall containing the main supply and drain pipes — wider than normal, not suitable for relocation without major cost	Wet Wall / Plumbing Wall	The wall with all the pipes behind it	Bathroom
Shower Pan	The waterproof base of a shower — can be prefab (acrylic) or custom-built (tile over mortar bed)	Shower Pan / Mortar Bed / Shower Base	The shower floor / shower base	Bathroom
Shutoff Valve	A valve that stops water supply to a specific fixture — every sink and toilet should have one	Angle Stop / Supply Stop / Shutoff Valve	The water shut-off under the sink or toilet	Both

⚡Electrical

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Rough-In Electrical	Running wires, boxes, and conduit inside walls before drywall goes up	Rough-In / Rough Electrical	Running the wiring before the walls close	Both
Dedicated Circuit	A breaker serving only one appliance — required by code for refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, ranges	Dedicated Circuit / Single-Purpose Circuit	Its own breaker / separate outlet for the appliance	Kitchen
GFCI Outlet	Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter — required within 6 ft of water sources; shuts off if it detects a shock hazard	GFCI Outlet / Ground Fault Receptacle	The outlet with the TEST/RESET buttons (required near water)	Bathroom
Panel Upgrade	Replacing or expanding the electrical panel to handle more circuits — often required in full kitchen renos	Panel Upgrade / Service Upgrade / Load Center	Upgrading the breaker box	Both
Under-Cabinet Lighting	Low-voltage LED strips or puck lights mounted beneath upper cabinets to illuminate the countertop work surface	Task Lighting / UCL / Low-Voltage Strip	Lights under the cabinets	Kitchen

🪟Finishes & Materials

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Cabinetry — Stock vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom	Stock = prefab sizes, ready to ship. Semi-custom = limited size/finish options, 2–4 wk lead time. Custom = made-to-order any spec.	Stock / Semi-Custom / Custom Cabinetry	Ready-made cabinets / built-to-order cabinets	Kitchen
Countertop Substrate	The structural base beneath the countertop surface — typically plywood, required before stone installation	Substrate / Deck / Countertop Backer	The base layer under your countertop	Kitchen
Backsplash	Tile or panel behind a sink or cooktop that protects the wall from splashes	Backsplash / Wall Field Tile	The tile behind the sink or stove	Both
Grout vs. Caulk	Grout fills joints between tiles. Caulk is used at corners and transitions where movement occurs — they're not interchangeable	Grout / Caulk Joint / Movement Joint	The filler between tiles / the flexible sealant at corners	Both
Waterproofing Membrane	A barrier applied to shower walls and floor before tile — prevents water from reaching the framing	Waterproofing Membrane / Schluter / RedGard	The waterproof layer behind the tile	Bathroom
Vanity	The combined cabinet + sink unit in a bathroom — includes the basin, faucet rough-in, and storage below	Vanity / Lavatory Cabinet	The bathroom sink cabinet	Bathroom
LVP / LVT	Luxury Vinyl Plank/Tile — waterproof, floating floor that mimics wood or stone; popular in wet areas	LVP / LVT / Luxury Vinyl Plank	Waterproof vinyl flooring / vinyl plank	Both
Toe Kick	The recessed panel at the base of cabinets that allows you to stand close to the counter without kicking it	Toe Kick / Base Kick	The recessed panel at the bottom of the cabinets	Kitchen

🚿Fixtures & Appliances

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Rough-In Dimension	Distance from the wall to the center of the toilet drain — standard is 12", must match your toilet model	Rough-In / Toilet Rough-In	The toilet drain position / how far the toilet sits from the wall	Bathroom
Walk-In Shower vs. Wet Room	Walk-in: enclosed shower without a door or tub. Wet room: entire bathroom floor is waterproofed and drains — fully open concept	Walk-In Shower / Barrier-Free / Wet Room	Open shower / doorless shower / full wet bathroom	Bathroom
Appliance Package	Matching set of kitchen appliances (range, refrigerator, dishwasher, hood) from the same brand/line	Appliance Package / Suite	Matching appliances / appliance set	Kitchen
Range Hood / Exhaust Fan	Ventilation unit above the cooktop — ducted (vents outside) vs. recirculating (filters and returns air); ducted requires ductwork	Range Hood / Exhaust Hood / CFM Rating	The vent above the stove	Kitchen
PVD / Finish Coating	Physical Vapor Deposition — a durable finish applied to metal fixtures; more scratch-resistant than plated finishes	PVD Finish / Solid Brass / Finish Grade	The finish on the fixtures (matte black, brushed gold, etc.)	Both

📊Cost, Timeline & Delivery

Term	What It Means	B2B Professional Says	Consumer Understands	Scope
Allowance	A budget placeholder in the bid for items not yet selected — if you spend over, it's a change order	Owner Allowance / Fixture Allowance	A budget set aside for things you haven't picked yet	Both
Lead Time	The time between ordering a product and its delivery — custom cabinets and stone can be 6–14 weeks	Lead Time / Procurement Window	How long it takes for something to arrive after you order it	Both
Contingency	A reserve budget (typically 10–20%) for unexpected costs — hidden damage, code upgrades, surprises behind walls	Contingency / Risk Reserve	A buffer for surprises / wiggle room in the budget	Both
Substantial Completion	The project is usable for its intended purpose even if minor items remain — often triggers final payment	Substantial Completion / Project Closeout	Basically done / ready to use	Both
Lien Waiver	A signed document from the contractor/sub confirming they've been paid and waiving the right to place a lien on the property	Lien Waiver / Conditional / Unconditional Waiver	Proof the contractor was paid / protects your home from contractor debt	Both
Progress Draw / Draw Schedule	Payment structure tied to project milestones — e.g., 10% at signing, 30% at demo, 30% at rough-ins, 30% at completion	Draw Schedule / Payment Milestones	When payments are due as the project moves forward	Both

B2B Language Rules

When to use the professional term

In any GC-facing interface, spec, or contract document
When building credibility with industry partners or investors
In internal tooling where contractors enter their own project data
On the estimate reveal screen — "rough-in plumbing" shows expertise
In permit or compliance-related fields and tooltips

Consumer Language Rules

When to use plain language

In every homeowner-facing step of the 6-step intake flow
In ads, landing pages, and the progress map shown at Step 0
As tooltip text when a technical term is unavoidable
In confirmation emails, SMS follow-ups, and match notifications
When a consumer term appears, briefly note the pro term in parentheses — it builds vocabulary without creating friction