BUILDING CONTRACTOR HAARLEM / EXTENSIONS & RENOVATION
Building terms explained
Understand the Dutch building terms you may encounter in drawings, quotations and project conversations, with practical questions to ask.
Discuss your project40 results · 40 available
A
Airtightness
Airtightness limits unintended airflow through joints and connections in the building envelope. It depends on coordinated layers and details rather than visible sealant alone. Planned ventilation remains a separate design requirement for the occupied building.
Allowance
An allowance is a provisional amount included for an element that has not yet been fully determined. Its description should explain what the amount covers and how the final selection or execution will be accounted for.
B
Balanced ventilation
Balanced ventilation coordinates mechanical supply and extraction. The arrangement includes more than a central unit: ducts, room connections, controls and maintenance access form part of the complete system serving the dwelling.
Building drawing
A building drawing records a building or proposal graphically, for example through a plan, section or elevation. Its purpose and revision determine how it can be used: an initial sketch is not automatically a document suitable for construction.
C
Cavity wall
A cavity wall has separate inner and outer leaves with a space between them. The assembly may include insulation and connecting components. A cavity’s presence alone does not establish the insulation level or condition of the wall.
Cone penetration test (sondering)
A cone penetration test, called sondering in Dutch, records resistance as an instrumented probe enters the ground. The results help assess subsurface conditions. The test provides evidence for design; it is not itself a foundation design.
Construction thermal resistance (Rc)
Rc describes the thermal resistance of a building construction. It is different from the property of one insulation material considered alone. A comparison needs to identify the assembly and assumptions associated with the stated figure.
Crawl space
A crawl space is an area beneath the ground floor that may form part of the house’s construction. Access, clearance, ground conditions and services vary. The term does not establish that the space is dry, safe or practically accessible.
D
E
F
H
L
Lintel
A lintel is a supporting component above an opening such as a window or door. It carries the relevant construction above towards the sides of the opening. Its material and arrangement need to suit the particular building situation.
Load-bearing wall
A load-bearing wall supports other building components and forms part of the structural system. Its role cannot be reliably inferred from decorative finishes or wall thickness alone. Removing it changes how loads travel through the building.
Local environment plan
The local environment plan, called the omgevingsplan in Dutch, contains municipal rules for the physical environment. Location-specific provisions can be relevant to a building proposal. Consulting it is part of preparation rather than a substitute for every other assessment or permission.
M
Moisture barrier
A moisture barrier is a layer intended to limit moisture passage at a particular position within a building element. Its suitability depends on the moisture source, substrate and junctions; the name alone does not describe a complete protective system.
Movement joint (dilatatie)
A movement joint is an intentional separation that accommodates movement between building components. Its function and construction depend on materials, structural behaviour and adjoining elements. A visible line does not automatically represent a fully developed movement detail.
O
P
Plasterwork
Plasterwork is an applied finishing layer on surfaces such as walls and ceilings. It can level a substrate or create a particular surface. Preparation, build-up and the intended subsequent decoration form part of the specification.
Prefabrication
Prefabrication means manufacturing building components away from their final construction location. It may involve individual elements or larger assemblies. The term describes production rather than automatically defining materials, completion level or the entire project duration.
R
Rainwater drainage
Rainwater drainage carries rainfall from roofs or other surfaces towards a subsequent destination. Outlets, downpipes and downstream connections belong to that route. One visible pipe does not therefore constitute a fully assessed drainage arrangement.
Reference level
A reference level expresses height relative to an agreed datum. It allows different building components to be set out consistently. Without a clearly identified reference, separate measurements may describe different intended heights despite appearing precise.
Roof lantern or glazed roof strip
The Dutch term lichtstraat describes an elongated or assembled glazed roof opening. It can refer to different product forms, including lantern-like arrangements. Ask for the exact configuration, dimensions and glazing divisions rather than relying on the category name.
Roof upstand
A roof upstand is a raised element at an edge, opening or junction. It forms part of the connection between the roof surface and adjacent components. Dimensions and finishes follow the selected roof assembly and the purpose of the detail.
Rooflight
A rooflight is a glazed or otherwise light-transmitting roof opening that admits daylight. Products vary in form and operation. Selection depends on position and connection details as well as opening size.
S
Screed
Screed is a floor layer that can provide a suitable base for subsequent finishes. Its role and composition depend on the selected flooring system. It is not automatically the same layer as the load-carrying structural floor.
Services layout
A services layout records intended routes and connection points for building services. Depending on the project, it may cover several installations. The drawing should correspond to the current room arrangement and actual selected equipment.
Shell
Shell describes a stage of completion in which a building or room is not fully finished. The included structure, services and finishes depend on the agreement. The word therefore cannot replace a specific schedule of included and excluded work.
Sliding garden doors
Sliding garden doors contain one or more panels that move sideways. The proportion of fixed and moving panels determines the clear opening. Overall frame width is therefore different from the access available in everyday use.
Steel beam
A steel beam carries loads across an opening or distance towards supports. Its section belongs to a designed structural arrangement, including connections and the components that receive the transferred forces. The visible beam is only part of that system.
Structural calculation
A structural calculation explains how a proposed load-carrying arrangement responds to loads. It relates to particular assumptions, dimensions and materials. Without the associated design information, the calculation does not fully describe what is intended to be built.
T
Thermal bridge
A thermal bridge is a location where heat passes through a building assembly more readily than through surrounding areas. Material changes, geometry and junctions can contribute. Its implications need assessment within the complete construction rather than as an isolated surface feature.
Thermal transmittance (U-value)
A U-value describes heat transfer through a component under a temperature difference. In a like-for-like comparison, a lower value means less heat transfer. Establish whether the value relates to glazing, frame material or the complete assembled unit.
Timber-frame construction
Timber-frame construction uses a timber framework as part of the load-carrying assembly. Sheathing, insulation and other layers contribute the component’s remaining properties. Elements may be manufactured beforehand or assembled on site.
U
V
Vapour control layer
A vapour control layer limits water-vapour movement through a building assembly. Its required characteristics and position depend on the complete construction and conditions. The term does not simply mean any sheet that appears waterproof.
Variations
Variations are changes to an agreed scope of work, including additional work requested after the original agreement. Whether an item is genuinely additional depends on the initial scope and the specific change being proposed, rather than its label alone.
Ventilation grille
A ventilation grille provides an intended air route, for example through a wall or frame. Its role belongs within the ventilation system. A visible grille alone does not establish how much air moves or the direction and purpose of that movement.
W
Window or door frame
A window or door frame forms the surround supporting glazing and opening components. The complete assembly includes more than frame material. Panel divisions, moving parts and the connection to the building influence its final arrangement.
Work specification
A work specification describes the proposed work, materials and execution requirements in writing. It clarifies the intended result alongside drawings. Its content varies by project; calling a document a specification does not establish that every necessary detail is included.
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