A window hinged on the vertical sash to allow for opening.
Glossary
Sash
The frame of a window, usually made of wood, metal or plastic, that holds the glass in place.
Glossary
Task lighting
Lighting that is focused on specific work spaces so it reduces the need to have an entire room illuminated.
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Glossary
Accent lighting
Lighting intended to highlight specific interior design elements or architectural features.
Glossary
IoT enabled/compatible
IoT is the abbreviation for Internet of Things, so being "enabled" or "compatible" means appliances or systems in the home that are connected to the internet and controlled remotely, usually with a smartphone. Examples include refrigerators that can identify what food needs to be purchased and heating systems that can be adjusted from offsite. Also called "smart home" devices.
Glossary
HEPA filter
Abbreviation for high efficiency particulate filter, which is an air filter capable of removing extremely fine particles like pollen and pet dander from the air. HEPA filters can be found on a variety of household appliances as well as in furnaces.
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Glossary
Hearth
The floor and area immediately in front of a fireplace or around a pellet or wood stove. It is usually made of stone, tile or some other non-flammable material.
Glossary
HRV/ERV (heat/energy recovery ventilator)
An HRV brings fresh air into an otherwise airtight house to prevent the buildup of moisture, bacteria and mould. The outgoing air is used to warm the fresh air before it is circulated throughout the house. An ERV does the same things as well as extracting humidity from indoor air and recirculating it during dry winter months and exhausting it outside during the humid summer.
Glossary
Drywall
Made from gypsum (naturally occurring form of hydrated calcium sulphate) pressed into sheets and covered on both sides with thick paper, it is used in the construction of interior walls and ceilings. It is then usually painted or covered with wallpaper or panelling. Other ingredients may be added to make drywall more resistant to sound, water or fire. It is also called plasterboard, gyproc or gypsumboard.
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Glossary
Gutter
See eavestrough.
Glossary
Greywater
Water from household sinks, dishwashers and washing machines that can be recycled and reused; for example, to water gardens.
Glossary
Frost heave
An uplift of soil caused when the moisture inside the soil freezes. Frost heaving can damage foundations, driveways, patios and fences. Proper construction should mitigate the effects of frost heaving.
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Glossary
Framing
The basic skeleton of a house constructed out of lumber. This includes flooring, roofing, exterior walls and interior partitions.
Glossary
Foundation
The lower portion of a structure that transfers the weight of the structure to the ground and generally forms the exterior walls of a basement. Usually made of concrete or masonry.
Glossary
Aging in place
Access to health, social and other supports to allow a person to live in their own home (see accessible, above) as long as it is safe to do so.
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Glossary
Flashing
Water-proof material designed to prevent penetration by water or direct water off the building; for example, a thin sheet metal used at the top of the foundation, around windows, doors, chimneys and at roof intersections.
Glossary
Fire resistance rating
The time in minutes or hours that a material, or assembly of materials, will withstand the passage of flames and transmission of heat in specific test conditions.
Glossary
Fire barrier
A fire-resistant wall, door or similar barrier that prevents the spread of fire within a building. Canada's building code specifies certain types of fire barriers in new-built homes.
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