Every industry has created unique terminology to describe itself and its accomplishments. Commercial Construction is certainly no different. The language employed to describe the actions and projects is so extensive, we need two articles to cover it all. Part 1 appeared in January and Part 2 continues below.

Common Terms Continued

Preliminary Design (PD Phase) – Further developed plans showing physical spaces and attributes such as doors, windows, and walls.

Punch List – A document that itemizes incomplete or unsatisfactory work at the end of a construction project.

Purchase Orders (PO) – A PO is an offer to purchase issued by a buyer to a seller. The PO details types, quantities, and agreed prices for each product or service.

Rebrand – A rebrand project is a refresh of a storefront, corporate office, or commercial building.

Request for Information (RFI) – a process for procuring information in construction decision-making to respond with a quote.

Renovation – The total or partial upgrading of a facility to higher standards of quality or efficiency.

Roll Out: a project where multiple buildings, storefronts, or offices are built with the same construction elements for brand consistency. This is common in both franchising, and branch locations.

Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) – an estimate of costs and time when requirements aren’t specified in the early stages of the project.

Section Drawings – depicts different views of a building as if it were sliced on a vertical plane.

Specifications – A detailed statement prescribing materials and methods; and quality of work for a specific project. The most common practice for specifications substantially parallels the CSI (Construction Specification Institute) format.

Submittal – a variety of construction documentation, provided to architects and engineers to be assured the correct elements are being implemented in the construction project.

Subcontract – an agreement between the primary contractor and a subcontractor to execute specific construction deliverables.

Subcontractors – perform commercial construction duties managed by the general contractor and are typically chosen by their expertise in specific trades such as drywall, mechanical, concrete, or electrical.

Tenant Improvements – these are the commercial construction elements executed to make a building move-in ready for the tenant. The elements include wall finishes/painting, carpet, lights, and fixtures.

Time and Materials – this is a method to charge clients based exclusively on the costs of labor time and materials.

White Box – is a building that is stripped down to its core and provided the basics, including white walls, electrical, plumbing, concrete floors, restrooms, and emergency evacuation routes prior to the tenant improvement phase.

For more information on how LA Creed is having a positive impact on your community visit https://creedla.com.