2cm vs. 3cmKitchen
Slab thickness options. 3cm is sturdier and often installed without plywood support; 2cm is lighter/cheaper but usually needs a buildup or substrate. Affects look and cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
Glossary › Kitchen
221 of 221 terms · A to Z
Slab thickness options. 3cm is sturdier and often installed without plywood support; 2cm is lighter/cheaper but usually needs a buildup or substrate. Affects look and cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
Arc-fault circuit interrupter protection, required by current code on many kitchen circuits, that detects dangerous arcing. Modern remodels typically must add it where it didn't exist.
A budgeted dollar figure placeholder in the contract for an item not yet selected (e.g., tile, fixtures). If your final selection costs more than the allowance, you pay the difference — scrutinize low allowances in bids.
A trade worker learning a craft through a structured program of paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction under journeymen, the standard path into the skilled trades.
Source: U.S. DOL — Apprenticeship.gov
The licensed architect legally responsible for the design documents submitted for permit, certifying the design meets applicable codes and standards.
Source: Wikipedia — Architect of Record
Updated drawings that reflect the project exactly as constructed, including all field changes — invaluable for future remodels and locating concealed utilities.
Source: Wikipedia — As-Built Drawing
A small secondary sink, often in an island or beverage zone, that adds a second water station. Adds plumbing runs and cost but improves multi-cook workflow.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
A floor-standing cabinet (standard 34.5 in. high, 24 in. deep) that supports the countertop and provides under-counter storage. The structural backbone of the kitchen layout.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A primary horizontal member that carries loads from joists or framing across a span to posts or walls. Opening up a floor plan usually means adding a sized beam.
Source: Wikipedia — Beam (Structure)
The recess in a wall or foundation that receives and bears the end of a beam. Cutting in new beam pockets is part of the cost when opening a load-bearing wall.
Source: Wikipedia — Beam (Structure)
A contractor's formal price proposal for a defined scope of work. Always compare multiple bids on the same written scope so you are comparing like for like, not just bottom-line numbers.
Source: Merriam-Webster — Bid
A corner base cabinet where part of the interior is hidden and hard to reach behind the adjacent run. Pull-out or swing-out hardware reclaims the dead space.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A surety bond is a guarantee from a third party that the contractor will complete the work (performance bond) or pay subs and suppliers (payment bond). Bonding is a sign of contractor financial stability.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Surety
Single, double-equal, or low-divide bowl arrangements. Single large bowls suit big cookware; doubles suit simultaneous tasks — a workflow, not just style, decision.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
A faucet whose hot and cold valves connect via an exposed horizontal bridge. A vintage/transitional design statement, typically deck-mounted with two holes.
Source: Wikipedia — Tap (Valve)
British Thermal Units per hour, the measure of a gas burner's heat output. Higher BTU sears faster but raises ventilation (CFM) and make-up-air requirements.
Source: Wikipedia — British Thermal Unit
Finishing the interior of a commercial shell or tenant space to suit a specific occupant — partitions, ceilings, lighting, HVAC distribution, finishes and fixtures. The scope is usually spelled out in the lease as tenant improvements.
Source: Wikipedia — Tenant Improvement
The set of minimum legal standards for safe construction adopted by your jurisdiction (in Ohio, based on the International Residential Code). Work must meet code to pass inspection and protect resale.
Source: Wikipedia — Building Code
A true flush, cabinet-depth refrigerator (often panel-ready) integrated into the cabinetry. The premium tier above counter-depth, with a matching price.
Source: Wikipedia — Refrigerator
A fully rounded counter edge. Soft and traditional; hides chips well but reads less modern than a square/eased edge.
Source: Wikipedia — Bullnose
A counter of glued wood strips. Warm and repairable but needs oiling and is vulnerable to water and heat — often used as an accent run rather than the whole kitchen.
Source: Wikipedia — Butcher Block
A transitional service space between kitchen and dining room with counter, cabinets, and often a sink — used for staging, serving, and extra storage in higher-end projects.
Source: Wikipedia — Butler's Pantry
The structural box of a cabinet — sides, bottom, back — minus doors and drawer fronts. Box material (plywood vs. particleboard vs. MDF) is the single biggest quality and longevity factor.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Decorative molding at the top of wall cabinets that finishes them to the ceiling or soffit. Adds a built-in, finished look and is a common upgrade line item.
Source: Wikipedia — Crown Molding
Replacing doors, drawer fronts, and applying new veneer to existing boxes while keeping the carcasses. A mid-cost refresh that only works if the existing boxes and layout are sound.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Sanding and repainting or restaining existing cabinets and doors in place. The lowest-cost cosmetic update; results depend heavily on prep and spray finish quality.
Source: Wikipedia — Wood Finishing
The stock / semi-custom / custom budget band. Because cabinets are typically 30–40% of a kitchen budget, the tier chosen is the single biggest driver of total cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A skilled tradesperson who constructs, installs, and repairs structures and fixtures from wood and other materials — framing, trim, cabinetry, and finish work.
Source: U.S. BLS — Carpenters
A flexible sealant used to close gaps and joints against air and water (around trim, tubs, counters). The right caulk for the location matters — kitchen/bath joints need a mildew-resistant silicone.
Source: Wikipedia — Caulk
A rigid cement-based panel used as a stable, water-durable substrate for tile in wet areas — preferred over drywall behind tile in showers and on counters.
Source: Wikipedia — Cement Board
A document issued by the building department certifying a structure complies with code and is safe to occupy. Often required after major remodels and before a property can be legally sold.
A written, signed amendment that adds, removes, or modifies work after the contract is signed, adjusting price and schedule accordingly. Verbal changes are the leading cause of remodel disputes — get every change in writing.
Source: Wikipedia — Change Order
Meeting all applicable codes, permit conditions, and regulations for the work performed. Documented compliance is what protects you at resale and with insurers.
Source: Merriam-Webster — Compliance
A mix of cement, aggregate, and water that cures into a hard structural material used for footings, slabs, and foundations. Curing time affects schedule on any structural work.
Source: Wikipedia — Concrete
A cast custom counter, often site-formed, with an industrial look. Heavy, customizable, and porous — requires sealing and can hairline-crack.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
A reserve (typically 10–15% of project cost) set aside for hidden conditions and surprises uncovered once work begins. The line clients most want to skip and most often need.
Source: Investopedia — Contingency
The legally binding agreement between owner and contractor that defines scope, price, schedule, and responsibilities. A remodel should never start on a handshake — the contract is your primary protection.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Contract
The full set of papers that together form the agreement — the signed contract, drawings, specifications, scope of work, allowances, and any addenda. All of it governs the job, not just the signature page.
Source: Wikipedia — Contract
The person the contractor names as its single point of contact for the owner for the life of the job. At iSpec that is the project manager who takes the first call: the liaison between the owner, the designer and the crew, with a skilled-trades lead running the site day to day and reporting to them.
Source: AIA — A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction
An oven with a fan that circulates heated air for faster, more even cooking. A common upgrade over conventional radiant-only ovens.
Source: Wikipedia — Convection Oven
A counter-set cooking surface with no oven below, paired with a separate wall oven. Frees the under-counter space and supports a flexible layout — at higher combined cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Cooktop (Hob)
Zonda's annual study comparing remodel cost to resale return by project and region. It places minor kitchen remodels among the strongest ROI of any home project (~96%+).
Source: Zonda — Cost vs. Value Report
Two contract structures: fixed-price (lump sum, contractor bears overrun risk) versus cost-plus (owner pays actual costs plus a fee, owner bears overrun risk). Each shifts risk and pricing transparency differently.
A refrigerator built shallower (~24–30 in.) to sit nearly flush with counters for a built-in look. Costs more and trades some interior capacity for the cleaner line.
Source: Wikipedia — Refrigerator
Cutting, edging, and finishing slabs to the templated dimensions including sink and cooktop cutouts. A precision shop process billed separately from the slab material.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
NEC rule that no point along a counter is more than 24 in. from a receptacle (and any counter ≥12 in. wide gets one). Drives how many outlets a remodel must add.
The joint where two counter pieces meet, unavoidable on runs longer than a slab or at certain angles. Seam placement and quality are a fabrication craftsmanship marker.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
A shallow accessible void below the floor (instead of a basement or slab) housing structure, plumbing, and ducts. Its condition affects access cost and moisture risk on remodels.
Source: Wikipedia — Crawl Space
Cabinets built to exact specifications, any size, material, or finish. The highest cost and longest lead time, justified for unusual layouts or specific design intent.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
The roll-off container for construction waste. Placement, permits for street placement, and haul-away are real line items and logistics on any sizeable remodel.
Source: Wikipedia — Roll-Off (Dumpster)
A separate circuit serving one appliance (range/oven 240V, dishwasher, disposal, microwave, often the refrigerator). Multiple dedicated circuits are why a kitchen often needs panel capacity.
The controlled removal of existing finishes and structure to prepare for new work. A clean, properly contained demo is where most hidden conditions (rot, old wiring, mold) are first uncovered.
Source: Wikipedia — Demolition
A delivery method where one entity handles both design and construction under a single contract, giving the owner one point of responsibility and tighter cost/design feedback.
Source: Wikipedia — Design–Build
A code-required backflow-prevention fitting (often a small counter cylinder) that keeps drain water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. Required by plumbing code in many jurisdictions.
Source: Wikipedia — Air Gap (Plumbing)
A counter- or sink-mounted pneumatic button that switches the disposal without a wall switch — useful where no wall is nearby and increasingly the clean modern choice.
Two oven cavities (stacked wall ovens, or a double-oven range) for cooking at two temperatures at once. A capacity upgrade favored by frequent entertainers.
Source: Wikipedia — Oven
A vent that rises behind or beside the cooktop and pulls air downward, used where an overhead hood is undesirable (islands). Generally less effective than an overhead hood.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Hood
The agreed timeline of payments tied to completed project milestones rather than calendar dates. A fair draw schedule keeps payments slightly behind the work completed, never ahead of it.
Source: Investopedia — Construction Loan
The drawer's structural box. Solid-wood sides joined with dovetail joints signal quality and durability; stapled particleboard boxes are the low end.
Source: Wikipedia — Dovetail Joint
The coordinated package of plans — floor plans, elevations, sections, and details — that defines the design and governs construction and permitting.
A self-rimming sink that drops into a counter cutout with its rim resting on top. Lowest-cost install; the rim catches debris but works on any counter material.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
Gypsum panel wall and ceiling material (also called sheetrock) that is hung, taped, mudded, and finished. Any wall opened during a remodel needs drywall repair and finish.
Source: Wikipedia — Drywall
Ducted hoods exhaust outside (most effective); ductless/recirculating hoods filter and return air to the room (used where no duct path exists, far less effective).
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Hood
Temporary barriers, zip walls, and negative-air setups that keep demolition and sanding dust out of occupied areas. Standard practice for live-in remodels and required where lead is present.
A nearly-square counter edge with the sharp corner slightly softened. The most common, lowest-cost, and most contemporary edge profile.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
A recorded legal right for someone else (often a utility) to use part of your land. Building over an easement can force removal at your expense — check the survey before adding structures.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Easement
A kitchen with space for a table or banquette for casual dining within the room, distinct from a separate dining room. A frequent buyer priority that affects layout choices.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen
A code-required path of exit from a space in an emergency. Bedrooms and finished basements require a compliant egress window or door of minimum size and reachable height.
Source: Wikipedia — Egress Window
A licensed tradesperson who installs and maintains wiring, panels, circuits, and devices to code. Remodels that add circuits or move panels require a licensed electrician and inspection.
Source: U.S. BLS — Electricians
A flat, straight-on drawing of one face of a structure or wall (e.g., a kitchen wall elevation) showing heights and vertical relationships that a plan view cannot.
A finished panel applied to an exposed cabinet side so it matches the door fronts instead of showing raw box material — required wherever a cabinet end is visible.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Earth removal for foundations, footings, or utilities. Regulated for cave-in safety and requires utility locating before digging.
A cabinet with a solid wood frame across the front of the box. The traditional American style; the frame adds rigidity but slightly narrows the opening versus frameless.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A large single-bowl sink with an exposed front that replaces the cabinet face. A design statement that requires a specific modified sink base cabinet.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
A blank strip of matching material that fills the gap where cabinet runs meet a wall or each other, allowing doors and drawers to open without binding in corners.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A table in the drawings specifying the exact finish for every surface in every room — flooring, wall, ceiling, trim — so selections are documented, not assumed.
Thin water-resistant material installed at joints and transitions (roof-to-wall, around windows and penetrations) to direct water away and prevent leaks into the assembly.
A scaled overhead view of a level showing walls, rooms, openings, and fixture locations. The primary drawing for understanding layout and flow.
Source: Wikipedia — Floor Plan
The widened concrete base below a foundation wall or post that spreads the structure's load over enough soil to prevent settling. New structural posts require their own footings.
The lead worker who directs a specific crew or trade on site, working alongside the team while ensuring the work meets plan and schedule.
Source: Wikipedia — Construction Foreman
The structure (slab, crawl space, or basement) that transfers the building's load to the ground. Foundation condition underlies the feasibility and cost of major remodels.
A cabinet with no front frame; doors mount directly to the box for full-access interiors and a clean modern look. Demands more precise installation to keep doors aligned.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
The skeleton of wood or steel members — studs, joists, rafters, beams — that gives a structure its shape and carries its loads before finishes go on.
A standalone range with finished sides and a rear control backguard. The most common and economical configuration; works without flanking cabinets.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Stove
Doors and drawer fronts that cover almost the entire cabinet face, leaving only a thin reveal between them — a contemporary look available on both framed and frameless boxes.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Drawer hardware that lets the drawer pull out completely for full access to the back. Superior to 3/4-extension slides; load rating matters for heavy drawers.
Source: Wikipedia — Drawer (Furniture)
Thin strips fastened to a wall or ceiling to create a level, plumb nailing surface or an air gap before finish material is applied — common over masonry or uneven framing.
Source: Wikipedia — Furring
A corridor layout with two parallel runs of cabinets and a single aisle between. Efficient for cooking; the aisle width (NKBA recommends 42–48 in.) is the critical dimension.
Source: Wikipedia — Galley Kitchen
An under-sink unit that grinds food waste into the drain. Standard in most kitchens; adds an electrical and plumbing connection and, with a switch, a code consideration.
The party responsible for the overall project — scheduling, hiring and managing subcontractors, pulling permits, and delivering the finished job. Your single point of accountability.
Source: Wikipedia — General Contractor
Ground-fault circuit interrupter protection, required by code on kitchen counter receptacles, that cuts power on a fault near water. A non-negotiable code item in any kitchen remodel.
A cabinet door with a glass panel, optionally divided by mullions (grids), used to display contents and break up a wall of solid doors. Adds cost per door.
Source: Wikipedia — Mullion
Shaping the ground around a structure so water drains away from the foundation. Poor grading is a leading cause of basement and crawl-space water problems.
Source: Wikipedia — Grading (Earthworks)
A natural igneous stone slab, each piece unique. Durable and heat-tolerant but porous — requires periodic sealing. Long the benchmark premium natural counter.
Source: Wikipedia — Granite
The material that fills and seals joints between tiles. Sanded, unsanded, and epoxy grouts differ in durability and stain resistance — epoxy is the premium choice in wet, high-use areas.
Source: Wikipedia — Grout
Stripping the kitchen to studs and subfloor to rebuild everything — cabinets, surfaces, systems. The scope most cost models assume; where hidden conditions surface.
Source: Wikipedia — Renovation
The tangible construction costs — labor, materials, equipment — as opposed to soft costs like design fees, permits, and financing. Hard costs are the bulk of a remodel budget.
Source: Investopedia — Hard Cost
A condition or activity with potential to cause harm — electrical, structural, dust, fall, or material (lead, asbestos). Identifying hazards before demo drives containment and cost.
A horizontal structural member spanning the top of an opening (door, window, cased opening) that transfers the load above around the opening to the supports on each side.
Source: Wikipedia — Lintel (Header)
Alternatives to a polished stone surface: honed is matte/satin; leathered is a soft textured finish. Both hide fingerprints and etching better than polished but can need more sealing.
Source: Wikipedia — Dimension Stone
Cubic feet per minute of air a hood moves. Sized to the cooktop's output and width; too little fails to clear smoke, too much may require make-up air by code.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Hood
A cooktop that heats ferrous cookware directly by electromagnetic induction — fast, efficient, and cool-surface — but requires compatible pans and a substantial dedicated circuit.
Source: Wikipedia — Induction Cooking
Doors and drawer fronts set flush inside the face frame rather than overlaying it. A precise, premium look that costs more and is sensitive to wood movement.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A code official's review of work at defined stages (rough-in, framing, final) to verify compliance before the next phase can proceed. Failed inspections stop the job until corrected.
Source: Wikipedia — Building Inspection
A small dedicated tap delivering near-boiling water on demand from an under-sink tank. A convenience add that needs a dedicated outlet and sink-deck hole.
Material that resists heat flow, rated by R-value, installed in walls, ceilings, and floors. Opened walls are the opportunity to upgrade insulation while it is accessible.
Source: U.S. DOE — Insulation
Decorative hanging fixtures over an island providing task and style lighting. Requires a ceiling junction box positioned to the final island location.
Source: Wikipedia — Pendant Light
One of the repetitive horizontal members that support a floor or ceiling, spanning between beams or walls. Joist size, spacing, and direction govern what you can cut or load.
Source: Wikipedia — Joist
A freestanding cabinet/counter unit with access on multiple sides, adding work surface, storage, and often seating. NKBA recommends 42–48 in. of clear aisle around it; islands with utilities add plumbing/electrical cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Island
The boxed-in space between the top of wall cabinets and the ceiling. Removing it for taller cabinets or open ceiling is a common but cost-adding update because it may hide ducts or wiring.
Source: Wikipedia — Soffit
A modern alternative to the work triangle that organizes the kitchen by activity — prep, cooking, cleanup, storage, and serving — rather than three points. Preferred for large kitchens and multi-cook households.
A short wall, typically under a sloped roof or supporting a counter or railing, that is less than full ceiling height.
Source: Wikipedia — Knee Wall
Cabinetry on two perpendicular walls forming an L, opening the remaining space for a table or island. A flexible, common layout that keeps the work triangle compact.
A printed plastic-laminate surface bonded to a substrate. The lowest-cost counter; modern patterns look far better than the dated reputation but edges and seams reveal it.
NKBA-required clear counter space immediately beside an appliance or sink for safely setting items down — e.g., 15 in. beside a refrigerator, 12–15 in. beside a cooktop.
A full remodel that keeps the existing footprint and plumbing/electrical locations. Substantially cheaper than relocating fixtures because labor behind the walls drops sharply.
Source: Wikipedia — Renovation
A rotating shelf system inside a corner cabinet that brings contents to the opening. The classic corner storage solution.
Source: Wikipedia — Lazy Susan
A legal claim against your property for unpaid work or materials. A mechanic's lien filed by an unpaid subcontractor can cloud your title even if you already paid the general contractor.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Lien
A signed document in which a contractor or supplier gives up the right to file a lien for a given payment. Collect lien waivers with each payment to protect against double-payment claims.
Source: Investopedia — Lien Waiver
A trim strip on the underside of wall cabinets that conceals under-cabinet lighting and the cabinet bottom from view.
Source: Wikipedia — Molding (Decorative)
A pre-agreed dollar amount the contractor owes the owner for each day a project runs past the contracted completion date. Must be a reasonable estimate of actual loss, not a penalty.
A wall that carries weight from the structure above down to the foundation. Removing or opening one requires an engineered beam and posts — never assume a wall is non-bearing.
Source: Wikipedia — Load-Bearing Wall
Replacement outdoor air that a code requires be supplied when a powerful hood (commonly >400 CFM) exhausts more air than the house can passively replace. A real cost on pro-style kitchens.
Source: Wikipedia — Makeup Air Unit
A natural metamorphic stone prized for veining. Soft and acid-sensitive — it etches and stains — making it a high-maintenance, high-design choice.
Source: Wikipedia — Marble
A microwave that installs in a base cabinet or island and opens like a drawer, freeing the over-range location for a real hood. A premium placement choice.
Source: Wikipedia — Microwave Oven
Shop-made wood products installed as finish carpentry — trim, casing, baseboard, crown, built-ins, stair parts, doors and cabinetry. Distinct from rough framing lumber; the quality of the millwork is what the eye reads as a finished room.
Source: Wikipedia — Millwork
Two pieces joined at 45° to make the counter look thicker than the slab (a built-up edge). Common on waterfall islands and thin porcelain; adds fabrication cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Miter Joint
A cement-based paste used to bond masonry or, as thinset, to adhere tile to a substrate. Different mixes are rated for different applications and exposures.
Source: Wikipedia — Mortar (Masonry)
Building a structure from the ground up on an empty or cleared site, as opposed to remodeling or adding onto an existing one. Site work, foundation, framing and every trade follow in sequence, so the big design decisions are made before a shovel hits the ground.
Source: Wikipedia — Construction
The National Kitchen & Bath Association — the industry body whose Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines define the clearances, dimensions, and safety standards professional designers work to.
An S-curved decorative counter edge. The most ornate and costliest common profile, associated with traditional and luxury kitchens.
Source: Wikipedia — Ogee
Wall-mounted shelves used in place of upper cabinets for an airy look and easy reach. Trades enclosed storage and dust protection for display and lower cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Shelf (Storage)
Oriented strand board — an engineered panel of compressed wood strands and resin, commonly used for sheathing and subfloor. Cheaper than plywood but less moisture-tolerant.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration — the federal agency setting and enforcing job-site safety standards. A contractor's safety record is a meaningful screening signal.
Source: U.S. OSHA — Occupational Safety & Health Administration
The person the owner names to make decisions and answer questions on the owner's behalf — the homeowner, one spouse, an investor's local agent or a hired consultant. Naming one at the pre-construction conference keeps decisions and change orders running between two people, so nothing is decided twice or by the wrong person.
Source: WBDG — Project Delivery Teams
A dishwasher or refrigerator designed to accept a custom cabinet panel so it disappears into the cabinetry. Requires coordinating the panel with the cabinet order.
Source: Wikipedia — Major Appliance
Doors that cover only part of the face frame, leaving visible frame between doors. The most economical, traditional configuration on face-frame cabinets.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A non-load-bearing interior wall that divides space but carries no structural load above it. Generally simpler and cheaper to move than a bearing wall.
Source: Wikipedia — Partition Wall
An island connected to the surrounding cabinetry or wall on one end, giving similar work surface and seating without requiring clearance on all four sides — common where a full island won't fit.
Official jurisdiction authorization to perform regulated work, triggering required inspections. Unpermitted remodels can force teardown, block sale, and void insurance — always confirm permits are pulled.
Source: Wikipedia — Building Permit
A licensed tradesperson who installs and repairs water supply, drain-waste-vent, and gas piping to code. Relocating fixtures or running new lines is licensed, inspected work.
Moving the sink, dishwasher, or adding an island/bar sink to new locations. One of the largest cost levers in a kitchen — commonly $2,000–$8,000 per fixture moved.
Source: Wikipedia — Plumbing
An engineered panel of thin wood veneers glued in cross-grain layers for strength and stability. Preferred over OSB for cabinet boxes and where moisture exposure is a concern.
Source: Wikipedia — Plywood
A large-format fired-clay slab counter — thin, light, heat- and scratch-resistant. Increasingly used for counters and waterfall edges; edge fabrication is specialized.
A wall-mounted folding faucet over the cooktop for filling pots in place. A convenience feature that requires running a dedicated water line to the range wall.
Source: Wikipedia — Tap (Valve)
A preparatory coating that seals the surface and helps the finish coat adhere and cover evenly. Skipping primer over new drywall or stains causes finish failures.
Source: Wikipedia — Primer (Paint)
A commercial-look residential range with high-BTU burners and heavy build. A premium appliance whose output usually drives a larger hood, make-up air, and gas/electrical upgrades.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Stove
An invoice issued while a project is under way for the work completed in that period, as opposed to a single bill at the end. Progress invoicing is typically weekly on a remodel; on larger or lender-financed jobs the contract may set a milestone draw schedule instead.
Source: FAR 52.232-5 — Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts
The person who plans, coordinates, and oversees the project day to day — schedule, budget, subs, and communication with the owner. On smaller jobs the GC and PM may be the same person.
A faucet with a spray head that extends on a hose. Pull-down (tall arc) and pull-out (lower, compact) are the dominant modern kitchen faucet types.
Source: Wikipedia — Tap (Valve)
The final list of incomplete or deficient items the contractor must correct before the job is considered done and final payment is released. Walk the project and build this list together.
Source: Wikipedia — Punch List
An engineered surface of ~90% ground quartz bound in resin. Non-porous, consistent, low-maintenance — the most popular mid-to-high counter material; doesn't need sealing.
Source: Wikipedia — Engineered Stone
A natural metamorphic stone (not the same as engineered quartz) that resembles marble but is harder and more durable. Premium-priced; still porous and needs sealing.
Source: Wikipedia — Quartzite
A door whose center panel is contoured and raised toward the frame face. A traditional, more ornate (and typically costlier) profile than Shaker or slab.
Source: Wikipedia — Frame and Panel
The ventilation appliance over the cooking surface that captures smoke, grease, and moisture. Sizing (coverage and CFM) should match the cooktop, not be an afterthought.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Hood
Ceiling-flush fixtures providing general illumination on a planned grid. A lighting layout (not just a fixture) decision that affects ceiling and electrical work.
Source: Wikipedia — Recessed Light
Changing the structure, layout or function of an existing space — moving walls, relocating a kitchen, adding a bath — rather than simply refreshing finishes. More involved than a cosmetic renovation because it usually touches framing, plumbing and electrical behind the walls.
Source: Wikipedia — Renovation
A percentage of each payment (often 5–10%) the owner withholds until the project is satisfactorily completed, providing leverage to ensure the job is finished and punch-listed.
Source: Investopedia — Retainage
A formal written question from the builder to the designer or owner to clarify drawings or specs before proceeding. RFIs create a paper trail that prevents costly assumptions.
A separate small tap supplying filtered or reverse-osmosis drinking water from an under-sink system. Adds a deck hole and under-cabinet equipment.
Source: Wikipedia — Reverse Osmosis
The framed gap left in a wall to receive a window, door, or unit, sized slightly larger than the product to allow shimming and squaring during installation.
The stage where plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines are run inside open walls and floors before insulation and drywall. Rough-in must pass inspection before walls are closed.
Ready-to-assemble cabinets shipped flat and built on site or by the installer. Lowers cost and shipping but shifts labor and quality risk to assembly.
A temporary elevated work platform system. Proper scaffolding is a regulated safety item on multi-story exterior and high-ceiling interior work.
Source: U.S. OSHA — Scaffolding
The detailed written description of exactly what the contractor will and will not do on the project. The single most important document for preventing misunderstandings and 'I thought that was included' arguments.
A thin flexible trim used to close the gap between cabinetry and an out-of-plumb wall or ceiling for a clean fit. The mark of careful installation.
Source: Wikipedia — Molding (Decorative)
A material applied to a surface or joint to block the passage of water, air, or stains. Stone counters, grout, and exterior penetrations are commonly sealed.
Source: Wikipedia — Sealant
A drawing showing the structure as if sliced vertically, revealing how floors, walls, and roof assemble and stack — used to communicate construction detail.
Work a general contractor does with its own crew rather than through a subcontractor — on a kitchen or bath, typically demolition, framing, drywall, tile, cabinets, trim and fixture swaps. A self-performing contractor keeps small projects affordable because each trade is not carrying a separate subcontractor's overhead; licensed plumbing, electrical and HVAC are still subcontracted when the layout or mechanicals change.
Source: FAR 52.236-1 — Performance of Work by the Contractor
Stock door styles and finishes with added modification options (sizes, depths, accessories). The mid tier most renovations choose, balancing cost, lead time, and fit.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
The minimum required distance between a structure and the property line, street, or other features. Setbacks constrain where additions, decks, and detached structures can be placed.
Source: Wikipedia — Setback (Land Use)
A five-piece door with a recessed flat center panel and clean square frame. The most popular kitchen door style for its versatility across traditional and modern kitchens.
Source: Wikipedia — Shaker Furniture
The structural panel layer (plywood or OSB) attached to studs or rafters that braces the frame and provides a base for siding, roofing, or finishes.
Source: Wikipedia — Sheathing
All cabinets, counters, and appliances along one wall. Space-efficient for small homes and open plans; the work triangle collapses to a line, so layout order matters.
The opening fabricated in the counter for the sink. Undermount cutouts are polished; the sink/cutout style must be decided before templating.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
An ultra-compact surface made by fusing mineral particles under heat and pressure. Extremely hard, heat- and UV-stable; a newer premium option also used for waterfall and outdoor.
Source: Wikipedia — Sintering
A poured concrete floor or foundation surface. Moving plumbing in a slab-on-grade home means saw-cutting and patching concrete — a significant cost driver.
Source: Wikipedia — Concrete Slab
A flat, frameless single-panel door with no detailing. Defines the minimalist/European look; finish quality and edge banding are what separate good slab doors from cheap ones.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Choosing the actual physical slab(s) at the fabricator's yard. Because natural stone varies piece to piece, hand-selecting affects the final look and is standard for premium stone.
Source: Wikipedia — Dimension Stone
A range designed to sit flush between cabinets with controls on the front and no back panel, giving a built-in look and an unbroken backsplash. Costlier than freestanding.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Stove
NEC requires at least two dedicated 20-amp circuits serving kitchen counter receptacles for plug-in appliances. A core reason kitchen electrical costs exceed other rooms.
A soft natural stone with a warm matte feel, non-porous and heat-resistant, that darkens and patinas over time. A distinctive traditional choice.
Source: Wikipedia — Soapstone
Damped hardware that decelerates doors and drawers so they close silently without slamming. Now an expected feature in mid and high tiers.
Source: Wikipedia — Hinge
A man-made acrylic/polyester counter (e.g., Corian) that is seamless, repairable by sanding, and integrates sinks — mid-tier, less heat-tolerant than stone.
Source: Wikipedia — Solid Surface
Engineered inserts — trash/recycling pull-outs, spice racks, tray dividers, roll-out shelves — that turn standard cabinets into organized, high-function storage. Per-unit upgrades.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
The conventional sizing kitchens are built on: base 34.5 in. high / 24 in. deep, finished counter 36 in., wall cabinets 12–15 in. deep with 18 in. between counter and uppers.
Pre-manufactured cabinets in fixed sizes and limited finishes, available off the shelf. The lowest-cost, fastest-lead-time tier; sizing gaps are filled with fillers.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A single large piece of natural or engineered stone, typically ~5x10 ft, from which counters are cut. Slab size and count drive both material cost and seam placement.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
An official order halting construction, usually for working without a permit or a code/safety violation. Work cannot resume until the issue is resolved and the order is lifted.
Source: Wikipedia — Building Inspection
A vertical framing member in a wall (typically 2x4 or 2x6) spaced 16 or 24 inches on center, forming the structure to which sheathing and drywall attach.
Source: Wikipedia — Wall Stud
A specialized trade (electrician, plumber, tile setter) hired by the general contractor to perform a portion of the work. You contract with the GC, not the subs.
Source: Wikipedia — Subcontractor
The structural sheet material (plywood or OSB) fastened over floor joists that everything else — underlayment and finish flooring — is built on. Squeaks and unevenness usually start here.
Source: Wikipedia — Subfloor
Product data, samples, or shop drawings the contractor submits for approval before ordering or installing, confirming what will actually be used matches the specification.
The on-site supervisor who runs the field operation — directing crews, sequencing trades, and enforcing safety and quality at the job site.
The process of measuring quantities of materials and labor from the drawings to build an estimate. Accurate takeoffs are the foundation of an accurate bid.
Source: Wikipedia — Cost Estimate
A full-height cabinet (typically 84–96 in.) for pantry storage, ovens, or utilities. A high-value storage unit but a large single line item.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
Creating an exact pattern of the installed cabinets (often by laser) before fabrication so the counter fits the real, not-quite-square room. Done after cabinets are set.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
A billing arrangement where the customer pays the crew's actual hours at a stated hourly rate plus the materials and equipment used, invoiced as the work is completed rather than as a fixed price. iSpec bills its own crew's work this way, with nothing added on top of the hourly rate; subcontracted trades are billed cost-plus.
The recessed notch at the base of a cabinet that lets you stand close to the counter. Standard ~3.5 in. high and deep; can house toe-kick drawers or lighting.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
A shallow drawer built into the toe-kick space to reclaim otherwise dead storage for flat items like trays and linens.
Source: Wikipedia — Drawer (Furniture)
A motion- or touch-activated faucet that runs hands-free. Improves hygiene and reduces mess; requires power (battery or adapter) under the sink.
Source: Wikipedia — Tap (Valve)
Cabinetry on three connected walls, maximizing counter and storage and enclosing the cook. Needs adequate width (about 8 ft minimum between legs) to avoid feeling cramped.
Task lighting mounted beneath wall cabinets to illuminate the counter without shadowing. A high-value, expected upgrade in mid and high tiers.
Source: Wikipedia — Task Lighting
Mounting styles: under-cabinet tucks beneath a wall cabinet; chimney/wall-mount is exposed where no cabinet is above; island hoods drop from the ceiling. Style drives ducting path.
Source: Wikipedia — Kitchen Hood
A sink mounted below the counter so the counter edge forms the rim, allowing crumbs to be wiped straight in. Standard with stone/solid counters; not used with laminate.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
Reviewing the design to find lower-cost ways to achieve the same function and quality — substituting materials or methods to bring a project back within budget without gutting its goals.
Source: Wikipedia — Value Engineering
A material that limits moisture diffusion through an assembly to control condensation. Correct placement is climate-dependent — wrong-side vapor barriers trap moisture and cause rot.
Source: Wikipedia — Vapor Barrier
Official permission to deviate from a zoning requirement (e.g., to build closer to a property line than the setback allows). Requires application and usually a hearing.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Variance
A thin layer of a finish material bonded to a cheaper substrate — wood veneer on cabinet panels, stone or brick veneer on walls — delivering the look without the solid-material cost.
Source: Wikipedia — Wood Veneer
Gases emitted by some paints, finishes, and adhesives that affect indoor air quality. Low- and zero-VOC products are widely available and recommended for occupied remodels.
A small dedicated room for food and small-appliance storage. High on homeowner wish lists; carving one out can require relocating a wall or borrowing adjacent space.
Source: Wikipedia — Pantry
An upper cabinet mounted to the wall above counters (typically 12–15 in. deep). Height and the gap above the counter are governed by NKBA clearances.
Source: Wikipedia — Cabinetry
An oven built into cabinetry or a tall unit at a chosen height, separate from the cooktop. Ergonomic and design-forward; consumes a tall cabinet and a dedicated circuit.
Source: Wikipedia — Oven
A low-heat drawer that holds finished food at serving temperature. An entertaining-focused premium add that consumes a drawer location and a circuit.
Source: Wikipedia — Major Appliance
Counter material that continues vertically down the side of an island to the floor. A high-impact contemporary feature that consumes extra slab and fabrication.
Source: Wikipedia — Countertop
A wall built to house supply and drain-waste-vent plumbing. Keeping the sink on the existing wet wall avoids costly new drain and vent runs.
The clear floor distance in a work aisle. NKBA recommends 42 in. for a one-cook kitchen and 48 in. where two cooks pass — the dimension that most affects how a kitchen 'feels.'
The classic kitchen-design relationship between the three primary work centers — sink, cooktop, and refrigerator. NKBA guidelines keep each leg 4–9 feet and the total of all three under 26 feet so cooking flows without crossing traffic.
A sink with an integrated ledge for sliding accessories — cutting board, colander, drying rack — turning the sink into a prep zone. A popular premium feature.
Source: Wikipedia — Sink
A house stuck between owners: the occupant left — often after a foreclosure filing — but the foreclosure stalled or the taxes went unpaid, so nobody maintained it. In Columbus they reach the market through sheriff's auctions, the Franklin County land bank and as-is sales, usually without an inspection before purchase. The rehab is a whole-home gut remodel with every system assumed dead until proven otherwise.
Source: Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (Franklin County Land Bank) — About
Local laws governing how land may be used and what can be built where, including size, height, and setback limits. Additions and footprint changes often require zoning review.
Source: Cornell Law LII — Zoning
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