D
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.
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.
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
operator- An automatic garage door opener.
Door
stop- The wooden style that the door slab will
rest upon when it's in a closed position.
Dormer- An opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which projects
out to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or
other openings.
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.
Down
payment- The difference between the sales price
and the mortgage amount. A downpayment is usually paid
at closing.
Downspout- A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater down
from the roof's horizontal gutters.
Drain
tile- A perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid
at the bottom of the foundation wall and used to drain
excess water away from the foundation. It prevents ground
water from seeping through the foundation wall. Sometimes
called perimeter drain.
Draw- The amount of progress billings on a contract that is
currently available to a contractor under a contract
with a fixed payment schedule.
Drip-
(a) A member of a cornice or other horizontal exterior
finish course that has a projection beyond the other
parts for throwing off water.(b) A groove in the underside
of a sill or drip cap to cause water to drop off on
the outer edge instead of drawing back and running down
the face of the building.
Drip
cap- A molding or metal flashing placed on the
exterior topside of a door or window frame to cause
water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.
Dry
in- To install the black roofing felt (tar paper)
on the roof.
Drywall
(or Gypsum Wallboard (GWB), Sheet rock or Plasterboard)- Wall board or gypsum- A manufactured panel made out
of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually
1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size. The
panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the
joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'.
'Green board' type drywall has a greater resistance
to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is
used in bathrooms and other "wet areas".
Ducts- The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal
pipes installed for distributing warm (or cold) air
from the furnace to rooms in the home. Also a tunnel
made of galvanized metal or rigid fiberglass, which
carries air from the heater or ventilation opening to
the rooms in a building.
Due-on-sale- A clause in a mortgage contract requiring the borrower
to pay the entire outstanding balance upon sale or transfer
of the property.
Dura
board, dura rock- A panel made out of concrete
and fiberglass usually used as a ceramic tile backing
material. Commonly used on bathtub decks. Sometimes
called Wonder board
DWV
(drain-waste-vent)- The section of a plumbing
system that carries water and sewer gases out of a home.