Unit 5 - Property Development and Government Control
I. Introduction and Structural Components
Building a home begins with the plans and specifications (the detailed blueprints) and obtaining a building permit from the local municipality. Once construction is complete, a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is issued, certifying the building is safe to inhabit.
Structural Terminology:
Footings: Concrete bases set below the frost line to support the foundation and prevent settling.
Foundation Walls: Typically made of poured concrete or cinder blocks; they rest on the footings.
Sill Plate: The first wooden member of the structure; it is bolted directly to the foundation.
Studs: Vertical wooden members used to create the walls (usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart).
Joists: Horizontal beams used to support floors and ceilings.
Rafters: Slanted beams that form the slope of the roof.
Ridge Beam: The highest horizontal beam where the rafters meet at the peak.
Headers & Lintels: Horizontal supports placed over door and window openings to carry the load.
Lally Columns: Steel pipes filled with concrete used in basements to support the main girder.
II. Major Systems: Heating & Air Conditioning
Heating systems are sized by BTU (British Thermal Unit), which is the amount of heat required to raise 1 lb of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
Common Heating Systems:
Hot Water (Hydronic): Water is heated in a boiler and circulated through baseboards or radiators.
Forced Warm Air: Air is heated in a furnace and distributed via ducts. This system allows for the easy addition of Central Air Conditioning.
Steam Heat: Common in older buildings; water is boiled to create steam that rises to radiators.
Heat Pump: A dual-purpose system that moves heat into the house in winter and pulls it out in summer.
Oil Tanks & DEC Regulations:
UST (Underground) vs. AST (Above Ground): Underground tanks pose a higher environmental risk.
DEC Registration: In NY, petroleum bulk storage tanks with a capacity of 1,100 gallons or more must be registered with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Abandoned Tanks: Must be properly "decommissioned" (emptied and filled with sand or removed) following DEC guidelines.
III. Major Systems: Plumbing & Electrical
Plumbing Materials:
Cast Iron: Durable but heavy; used mostly for waste/drainage lines.
Copper: The "Gold Standard" for water supply lines; it is corrosion-resistant but expensive.
PVC/CPVC: Plastic piping. PVC is used for cold water/waste; CPVC can handle high temperatures.
PEX: Highly flexible plastic tubing; it's easier to install and more resistant to freeze-bursting.
Electrical Fundamentals:
Voltage: The "pressure" of electricity. Most residential outlets are 110V, while heavy appliances (stoves/dryers) use 220V.
Amperage: The "flow" of electricity. Modern homes typically require at least 200-amp service.
Fuses vs. Circuit Breakers: Both are safety devices that "trip" or blow to prevent fires. Breakers are modern and resettable; fuses must be replaced.
Aluminum Wiring: Found in homes built in the 60s/70s; it's a potential fire hazard because it expands/contracts more than copper.
IV. Energy Efficiency and Site Requirements
R-Value: The measure of thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. In NY, the State Energy Code mandates specific R-values based on the climate zone.
Well and Septic: Properties without municipal services require an on-site well and a Septic System.
Distance Rule: A septic tank/leaching field must typically be at least 100 feet away from a well to prevent contamination.
Percolation (Perc) Test: A test performed to see how quickly the soil absorbs water, determining if the land can support a septic system.
V. Mandated Warranties (General Business Law 36-B)
New York provides an implied warranty for new home construction that builders cannot fully waive:
1 Year: Workmanship and materials (the "fit and finish").
2 Years: Plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
6 Years: Material defects in the structural components (foundation, load-bearing walls).
⚠️ EXAM ALERT: QUICK FACTS
BTU Definition: Remember that BTU is the unit for both heating and cooling capacity.
The 1,100 Gallon Rule: This is the magic number for DEC registration of residential heating oil tanks.
Voltage Identification: If an appliance has a large 3-prong or 4-prong plug and a heavy-duty cord, it's likely 220 Volts.
Housing Merchant Implied Warranty: Remember the 1-2-6 year timeline for new home warranties. This is a very common exam question.
Sill Plate: It is the "weakest link" for rot and termites because it is the wooden member closest to the ground.
KEY TERMS
Amperage: A measure of the amount of electric current flowing through a wire, similar to the volume of water flowing through a pipe.
Basement: The portion of a building that is partly or completely below ground level, providing a foundation for the structure and often used for mechanical equipment or living space.
Beam: A primary horizontal structural member, typically made of wood or steel, used to support heavy loads such as floors or a roof.
Bearing Walls: Structural walls that support the weight of the floors, roof, and upper stories of a building.
Blueprint: A detailed technical drawing or photographic print of a proposed architectural design or mechanical engineering project.
BTU (British Thermal Unit): A measure of heat energy; specifically, the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Building Envelope: The physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building, including the walls, roof, and foundation.
Circuit Breaker: A reusable safety device that automatically shuts off the flow of electricity in a circuit if it becomes overloaded or short-circuited.
Crawl Space: A shallow, unfinished space beneath the first floor of a house, typically providing access to plumbing and electrical systems.
Eave: The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the exterior walls of a building.
Fascia: A flat, vertical board that covers the ends of the roof rafters and is often where gutters are attached.
Flashing: Thin pieces of waterproof material, typically metal, installed at roof intersections and around chimneys to prevent water seepage.
Footing: The widest part of a foundation, usually made of concrete, that distributes the weight of the structure to the ground.
Foundation Walls: The walls, usually made of concrete or masonry, that sit on the footings and support the entire weight of the building.
Fuse: A safety device containing a strip of metal that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level; unlike a circuit breaker, it must be replaced.
Girder: A large horizontal beam that acts as the primary support for smaller beams (joists) in a structure.
Headers: Horizontal structural members used over door and window openings to support the weight of the wall above.
Joists: Parallel horizontal beams used to support the floor or ceiling of a building. Lally Columns: Steel pipes filled with concrete used to provide vertical support for beams and girders, typically found in basements.
Percolation Rate: The speed at which water filters through soil, which determines the suitability of land for a septic system.
Pitch: The slope or angle of a roof, usually expressed as the ratio of its vertical rise to its horizontal span.
Plasterboard/Wallboard: Often called drywall or sheetrock, these are large panels made of a gypsum core sandwiched between paper, used to finish interior walls.
Platform Construction: The most common framing method for residential houses where each floor is built as its own platform and the walls of the next story sit on that platform.
Post and Beam Construction: An older framing method where heavy vertical posts and horizontal beams support the building's weight, allowing for large open interior spaces.
R-Value: A measure of a material's resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the better the material acts as an insulator.
Rafter: One of a series of sloped structural beams used to support the roof of a building.
Septic System: A private sewage disposal system used in areas not served by public sewers, consisting of a tank and a drainage field.
Sheathing: The initial covering, typically plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), applied to the exterior of the studs or rafters to provide structural strength and a base for siding or roofing.
Siding: The outer material used to cover and protect the exterior walls of a building.
Sill Plates: The first wooden member of a house structure that rests directly on the foundation wall, providing a nailing surface for the floor joists.
Slab-on-Grade Construction: A foundation method where a concrete slab is poured directly on the ground, serving as both the foundation and the floor of the building.
Soffit: The finished underside of a roof overhang (eave).
Specifications: A detailed written description of the materials, workmanship, and construction standards required for a building project.
Studs: Vertical wooden or metal framing members used to build the walls of a structure.
Voltage: A measure of electric pressure or force that pushes current through a wire.
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