Renovation projects come with a lot of new terminology. This glossary explains common design, construction, and project management terms you may encounter throughout your remodeling journey.
Architectural Drawings – Also called Construction Documents, Permit Set or Construction Set, this is the collection of drawings (including site plans, floor plans, roof plans, elevations, reflected ceiling plans, sections) and details that provide the information necessary for permit and construction. Previously known as “blueprints,” architectural drawings are now created using computer aided design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and Chief Architect before being exported as PDFs or printed.
As-Builts – Drawings (floor plans, elevations, sections, roof plans etc.) that depict your existing home as it is currently built.
Custom Cabinets – Available in any size, shape, color, and wood species. They provide the best fit and finish, particularly with inset cabinets and paneled appliances.
Design Boards – The design team uses digital design boards for presentations. The boards will show inspiration images, elevations and renderings of your space, materials, fixtures, and finishes.
Design & Development Agreement (DDA) – The DDA defines the broad scope of the project and includes the estimated construction cost and design fees. Upon execution of the DDA, the client pays a Design Retainer and is officially entered into the queue.
Detailed Design (DD) – Sometimes referred to as “interior design.” In this phase we will dig into all the architectural and interior design details of your project, including exterior and interior materials and finishes, plumbing, lighting, cabinetry, countertops, tile, hardware, wallpaper, and more!
Design Selections – The design team will walk you through the Detailed Design phase using boards and samples to help you decide on all of your Selections. These include plumbing, lighting, cabinetry, countertops, tile, hardware, wallpaper, paint, doors, windows, trim, and more.
Elevations – Scaled two-dimensional drawings representing one side or one wall of a structure. For example, a typical young child’s drawing of a house showing one side with doors, windows, and a pitched roofline is in elevation.
Furnishings – Also called soft goods, furnishings include the furniture, textiles, lighting, window treatments, and accessories that complete a room after construction is finished. These items are not permanently attached to the home and help create a cohesive, finished design.
Floor Plan – Two-dimensional scaled drawings showing the relationship between rooms and physical features viewed from above. Floor plans are typically cut on a horizontal plane 4 feet above the floor, meaning anything below that cutline, including structural elements, doors, windows, plumbing, cabinets, and furniture, will appear in the drawing.
Reflected Ceiling Plan – Similar to a floor plan, this is a two-dimensional scaled drawing showing the relationship of structural and architectural ceiling features, lighting, etc. that appears above the 4 ft horizontal cut plane. To help orient yourself, imagine placing a mirror on the floor and looking down on it to view what’s happening on your ceiling.
Rendering – Can be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional drawing used to communicate the design intent to the client. Renderings are not typically used to convey any technical information, but rather an overall concept and spatial relationships. Color and materials are often used to help the client visualize the end result but may not reflect exact design details and finishes. Renderings are not used for construction purposes.
Schematic Design (SD) – The first phase of our design process. SD takes ideas and concepts and turns them into a design through use of floor plans and elevations.
Sections – A two-dimensional drawing showing a vertical cut through of a structure or area as if you have cut through it like a cake, exposing its filling and layers. Sections are used to show the vertical relationship between spaces and structural elements within the building.
Semicustom Cabinets – Typically available in 1” wide increments in a limited number of colors and wood species. Most semi-custom cabinet lines can accommodate panel-ready appliances.
Stock Cabinets – Typically available in 3” wide increments in a very limited number of colors and wood species. Stock cabinet lines cannot accommodate panel-ready appliances.
FAR (Floor Area Ratio) – The measurement of a building’s total conditioned floor area in relation to the size of the lot.
Historic and Landmark Districts – Neighborhoods that have enacted protections to conserve the historical integrity and character of their original architectural styles.
Lot Coverage – The percentage of the lot’s area that is covered by buildings, driveways, decks, porches, and hardscape.
Permit Expediter – A third party contractor who manages the permit submittal and any correspondence and collaboration between the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) and your design-build team.
Setback – The minimum open space between the home and the front, back and side property lines that is determined by the zoning classification.
Site Plan – A certified plan of existing conditions and proposed improvements to the site.
Site Survey – A graphic representation of existing conditions of a site, including buildings, hardscape, utilities, lot lines, easements, trees, and topography.
Variance – The process and approval required for a proposed project to deviate from existing building and zoning requirements, including lot coverage, setback, FAR, height, etc.
Certificate of Occupancy – A document issued by the local jurisdiction (city or county) that states that the project has passed all inspections, complies substantially with the plans and codes, and is in condition suitable for occupancy.
Change Order (CO) – A Change Order may be necessary to cover work outside the scope of the original Contract Agreement. Typical reasons a CO would be necessary might be that the client decided to increase the scope of work after the commencement of the Construction Phase, or an unforeseen issue was discovered after work began (i.e. mold, compromised framing, etc.). Included in the CO would be a description of the work and its associated incremental cost.
Construction Agreement (CA) – The CA is developed at the end of the Design Phase, after the schematic drawings have been finalized, the subcontractor quotes have been obtained, and the interior design selections have been made. The CA includes the final fixed price for the construction of the project, and a detailed description of the scope of work. Upon execution, the project moves ahead into the Construction Phase.
MEP (Mechanicals, Electrical, Plumbing) – The phase of construction that comes after framing and before drywall installation.
Trade Partners (also referred to as Subcontractors) – Copper Sky partners with skilled trades for many components of the construction work. These trusted partners are all licensed and insured and bring their unique expertise to the project. Subcontractor work includes framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, masonry, tile installation, among others.
Cost Plus – A pricing structure used by some contractors and design-build firms where the cost to the customer is calculated by marking up the actual vendor/subcontractors’ prices by a certain percentage after the costs are incurred.
Design-Build – A full-service firm where the entire project – from architecture to interior design to construction – is handled by the same company.
Feasibility Study – A project estimate that’s provided prior to the commencement of the Design Phase. It is in the form of a price range and is based on a discussion of the scope, not on actual architectural drawings.
Fixed Price – A pricing structure where the cost to the customer is based on quotes provided by subcontractors and vendors prior to the start of the project. The quotes are locked in at that point and the price that is in the construction contract is fixed and will not fluctuate. This is the pricing structure used by Copper Sky.
