Glossary of construction slang and other terms - Revision history

Editor at 11:49, 13 May 2025

2025-05-13T11:49:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:49, 13 May 2025
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	See also: Unusual construction terms.		See also: Unusual construction terms.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* BIM glossary of terms.		* BIM glossary of terms.

188.141.72.136 at 11:26, 23 April 2021

2021-04-23T11:26:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:26, 23 April 2021
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	* Dyker – a builder of dry-stone walls, usually a mason.		* Dyker – a builder of dry-stone walls, usually a mason.
	* Fixer – someone who builds with stone provided by a banker (see above). The term can also apply to any site operative who fixes a component into position e.g skirting boards. OR sometimes short for "Steel fixer" see below		* Fixer – someone who builds with stone provided by a banker (see above). The term can also apply to any site operative who fixes a component into position e.g skirting boards. OR sometimes short for "Steel fixer" see below
		+	* Football - a 9"x9"x9" hollow concrete block
	* Ganger – a foreman who supervises a gang of workers or general operatives; usually works under a general foreman.		* Ganger – a foreman who supervises a gang of workers or general operatives; usually works under a general foreman.
	* Jobbing builder – someone who undertakes small jobs for various people, usually to do with maintenance or repair.		* Jobbing builder – someone who undertakes small jobs for various people, usually to do with maintenance or repair.

Designing Buildings at 07:10, 13 November 2020

2020-11-13T07:10:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:10, 13 November 2020
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−	The following terms, some slang, some general or outdated are frequently used or understood by those working on ~~most~~ UK building sites. If you know others, click the 'Edit this article' button and add them to the list.	+	The following terms, some slang, some general or outdated are frequently used or understood by those working on UK building sites. If you know others, click the 'Edit this article' button and add them to the list.

	* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.		* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.
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	* Notation and units on drawings and documents.		* Notation and units on drawings and documents.
	* Symbols on architectural drawings.		* Symbols on architectural drawings.
		+	* Unusual construction terms.
	* Writing technique.		* Writing technique.

	[[Category:DCN_Collection]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]		[[Category:DCN_Collection]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]

Designing Buildings at 07:10, 13 November 2020

2020-11-13T07:10:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:10, 13 November 2020
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−	The following terms, some slang, some general or outdated are frequently used or understood by those working on most UK building sites:	+	The following terms, some slang, some general or outdated are frequently used or understood by those working on most UK building sites. If you know others, click the 'Edit this article' button and add them to the list.

	* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.		* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.
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	* Waster – someone who does no or little work.		* Waster – someone who does no or little work.
	* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.		* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.
		+
		+	See also: Unusual construction terms.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
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	* Writing technique.		* Writing technique.

−	~~[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]~~ [[Category:DCN_Collection]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Collection]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]

Designing Buildings at 08:26, 3 November 2020

2020-11-03T08:26:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 3 November 2020
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	* Writing technique.		* Writing technique.

−	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:~~Definitions~~]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Site_Information]]	+	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:DCN_Collection]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]

Editor at 18:05, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T18:05:19Z

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	* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.		* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.
	* Butcher – often applied to a carpenter with limited skills and abilities.		* Butcher – often applied to a carpenter with limited skills and abilities.
		+	* Brunnel - bridge-tunnel.
	* Chancer – a person who does work that would normally be undertaken by a skilled craftsman. They are typically not properly qualified, or have not completed the required training or apprenticeship for the work they are doing and so are taking a chance on their ability to do the work to the required standard.		* Chancer – a person who does work that would normally be undertaken by a skilled craftsman. They are typically not properly qualified, or have not completed the required training or apprenticeship for the work they are doing and so are taking a chance on their ability to do the work to the required standard.
	* Chippy – a popular site term for a carpenter (i.e one who 'chips' wood).		* Chippy – a popular site term for a carpenter (i.e one who 'chips' wood).
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	* Writing technique.		* Writing technique.

−	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]	+	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Site_Information]]

Editor at 16:27, 9 January 2020

2020-01-09T16:27:28Z

165.225.196.137 at 08:41, 3 January 2020

2020-01-03T08:41:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:41, 3 January 2020
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	* Dirty money – given as additional payments to workers who undertake tasks that are of an unpleasant nature, e.g having to descend into a sewer to clear a blockage.		* Dirty money – given as additional payments to workers who undertake tasks that are of an unpleasant nature, e.g having to descend into a sewer to clear a blockage.
	* Dyker – a builder of dry-stone walls, usually a mason.		* Dyker – a builder of dry-stone walls, usually a mason.
−	* Fixer – someone who builds with stone provided by a banker (see above). The term can also apply to any site operative who fixes a component into position e.g skirting boards.	+	* Fixer – someone who builds with stone provided by a banker (see above). The term can also apply to any site operative who fixes a component into position e.g skirting boards. OR sometimes short for "Steel fixer" see below
	* Ganger – a foreman who supervises a gang of workers or general operatives; usually works under a general foreman.		* Ganger – a foreman who supervises a gang of workers or general operatives; usually works under a general foreman.
	* Jobbing builder – someone who undertakes small jobs for various people, usually to do with maintenance or repair.		* Jobbing builder – someone who undertakes small jobs for various people, usually to do with maintenance or repair.
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	* Spark /sparky – an electrician, usually a skilled operative who is fully qualified to undertake the work.		* Spark /sparky – an electrician, usually a skilled operative who is fully qualified to undertake the work.
	* Spread – a plasterer.		* Spread – a plasterer.
		+	* Steel fixer - someone who erects steel reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures
	* Tupper – a worker who carries the hod for a bricklayer.		* Tupper – a worker who carries the hod for a bricklayer.
	* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.		* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.

165.225.196.137 at 08:38, 3 January 2020

2020-01-03T08:38:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:38, 3 January 2020
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	* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.		* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.
		+	* Banksman - a person qualified to direct vehicle movements
		+	* Bagging - slang term for heavy duty hose (normally with bauer couplings) for temporary pumping
	* Brickie – a bricklayer.		* Brickie – a bricklayer.
	* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.		* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.
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	* Making good – see 'snagging'.		* Making good – see 'snagging'.
	* Mate – an unqualified or part-qualified assistant to a skilled operative such as a roofer or painter.		* Mate – an unqualified or part-qualified assistant to a skilled operative such as a roofer or painter.
		+	* Nappy - portable bund to contain spills
	* Navvy – usually applied to manual labourers, especially those who dig trenches or excavations, and especially on civil engineering projects. The term derives from the ‘navigators’ who dug canals (navigations).		* Navvy – usually applied to manual labourers, especially those who dig trenches or excavations, and especially on civil engineering projects. The term derives from the ‘navigators’ who dug canals (navigations).
		+	* Rubber duck - slang for a wheeled excavator (as opposed to a tracked excavator)
	* Saw doctor – one who sharpens and repairs saws and cutting tools. Also applied to those performing the same task in a saw mill.		* Saw doctor – one who sharpens and repairs saws and cutting tools. Also applied to those performing the same task in a saw mill.
	* Shoddy – work that is of dubious or low quality.		* Shoddy – work that is of dubious or low quality.

Designing Buildings at 06:30, 31 December 2019

2019-12-31T06:30:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:30, 31 December 2019
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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

−	* ~~Certificate~~ of ~~making good defects~~.	+	* BIM glossary of terms.
−	* ~~Defects~~.	+	* Common spelling mistakes in the construction industry.
−	* ~~Defects liability period~~.	+	* Construction industry acronyms.
−	* ~~Employer's agent~~.	+	* Financial management glossary.
−	* ~~Practical completion~~.	+	* Glossary of electrical terms.
−	* ~~Retention~~.	+	* Glossary of paving terms.
−	* ~~Snagging~~.	+	* Glossary of property law terms.
−	* ~~Surety~~.	+	* Notation and units on drawings and documents.
−	* ~~Work-to-complete list~~.	+	* Symbols on architectural drawings.
		+	* Writing technique.

	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]		[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Site_Information]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 9 January 2020
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	* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.		* Banker – a mason, typically involved in cutting and smoothing building stone.
−	* Banksman - a person qualified to direct vehicle movements	+	* Banksman – a person qualified to direct vehicle movements
−	* Bagging - slang term for heavy duty hose (normally with bauer couplings) for temporary pumping	+	* Bagging – slang term for heavy duty hose (normally with bauer couplings) for temporary pumping.
	* Brickie – a bricklayer.		* Brickie – a bricklayer.
	* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.		* Brush hand – a young or untrained assistant to a professional painter, often with limited experience.
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	* Making good – see 'snagging'.		* Making good – see 'snagging'.
	* Mate – an unqualified or part-qualified assistant to a skilled operative such as a roofer or painter.		* Mate – an unqualified or part-qualified assistant to a skilled operative such as a roofer or painter.
−	* Nappy - portable bund to contain spills	+	* Nappy – portable bund to contain spills
	* Navvy – usually applied to manual labourers, especially those who dig trenches or excavations, and especially on civil engineering projects. The term derives from the ‘navigators’ who dug canals (navigations).		* Navvy – usually applied to manual labourers, especially those who dig trenches or excavations, and especially on civil engineering projects. The term derives from the ‘navigators’ who dug canals (navigations).
−	* Rubber duck - slang for a wheeled excavator (as opposed to a tracked excavator)	+	* Rubber duck – slang for a wheeled excavator (as opposed to a tracked excavator)
	* Saw doctor – one who sharpens and repairs saws and cutting tools. Also applied to those performing the same task in a saw mill.		* Saw doctor – one who sharpens and repairs saws and cutting tools. Also applied to those performing the same task in a saw mill.
	* Shoddy – work that is of dubious or low quality.		* Shoddy – work that is of dubious or low quality.
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	* Spark /sparky – an electrician, usually a skilled operative who is fully qualified to undertake the work.		* Spark /sparky – an electrician, usually a skilled operative who is fully qualified to undertake the work.
	* Spread – a plasterer.		* Spread – a plasterer.
−	* Steel fixer - someone who erects steel reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures	+	* Steel fixer – someone who erects steel reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures.
	* Tupper – a worker who carries the hod for a bricklayer.		* Tupper – a worker who carries the hod for a bricklayer.
		+	* Waster – someone who does no or little work.
	* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.		* Working on the lump – receiving wages ‘gross’, without any deductions for tax and national insurance. In other words, the money is received as a lump sum.