Round, large cardboard tubes designed to hold wet concrete in place until it hardens.

Liquids used in paint and other finishing materials that give the coating workability and that evaporate, permitting the finish material to harden.

Conversion of acoustic or sound energy to another form of energy, usually heat.

Use of building materials or constructions that will reduce or resist the transmission of sound.

Heat supplied to the living space, for example, to a room or the living area of a building.

The distance between individual members or shingles in building construction.

Amount of sound power per unit area.

Single-number rating for evaluating the effectiveness of a construction in isolating audible airborne sound transmission across 16 frequencies. Higher numbers indicate more effectiveness. Tested per ASTM E90.

Expressed in decibels, the SPL is 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micropascals. See Decibel.

Sound proofing a wall or subfloor, generally with fiberglass insulation.

The clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports. The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

Exterior wall panel, usually between columns, that extends from the window opening on one floor to one on the next floor.

A house built before it is sold. The builder speculates that he can sell it at a profit.

Number indicating the distance a sheet of plywood or other material can span between supports.

Distance between supports, usually a beam or joist.

Concrete masonry units that are designed and made for a special use.

Horizontal member, spanning between exterior columns, that supports the floor or roof.

A written document in which the scope of the work, materials to be used, installation procedures, and quality of workmanship are detailed.

Bonding dense materials using the attraction of unlike electrical charges.

The ratio of the weight of one cubic foot of a material to the weight of one cubic foot of water.