Electricians are a key home professional that every homeowner wants on their team. They handle everything from where electricity enters your house (called the box or panel), to the wiring that must be designed and installed according to building codes.
Electricians are licensed by the state(s) where they work, following extensive education, training under a master electrician and testing. While homeowners and handymen may replace switches and light fixtures, you want to have a licensed electrician handle all work at the box and anything buried inside your walls.
Earnest Money Deposit – A portion of the purchase price paid to demonstrate the buyer’s good faith (i.e. intent to go through with the purchase). Payment is usually accompanied by an agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the sale.
Easement Rights – The right of an individual to use another individual’s property for a particular purpose (e.g. access to their own property). The seller should make the buyer aware of any easement rights that affect the property for sale.
Eave Vents – Vent openings located in the soffit under the eaves of a house to allow the passage of air through the attic and out the roof vents.
Eaves – The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof.
Eco-Assessment – An evaluation of your home or workplace that aims to cut down your energy and water usage.
Edge Curl – An upward-curled sidelap or endlap.
Edge Detail – A term that describes the way hardwood and laminate board edges and ends are cut. Edges and ends are typically described as square, eased, microbeveled and beveled.
Edge Venting – The practice of providing regularly spaced protected openings at a roof perimeter to relieve water vapor pressure in the insulation.
Elasticity – The measure of a sealant's ability to return to its original shape and size after being compressed or elongated. As with elongation, elasticity is measured as a percentage of its original length.
Embossed in Register – A manufacturing process that intensifies the depth, texture and realistic look of the floor by aligning the embossing with the printed design.
Encumbrance – Any claim against the title to a property, such as a lien or mortgage.
Energy Efficiency – Methods and technology that can reduce the amount of electricity or fuel used to do the same work, such as keeping a house warm using less energy.
Engineered – A term describing hardwood construction. Engineered hardwood boards are manufactured from multiple layers, or plies, of solid wood assembled in a cross-ply construction. The top layer is the species and color you see when the boards are installed.
Envelope A continuous membrane edge seal formed at the perimeter and at penetrations by folding the base sheet or ply over the plies above and securing it to the top of the membrane. The envelope prevents bitumen seepage from the edge of the membrane.
Equilibrium Moisture Content – (1) the moisture content of a material stabilized at a given temperature and relative humidity, expressed as percent moisture by weight; (2) the typical moisture content of a material in any given geographical area.
Equity – The amount or value of a person’s interest in a property in excess of any lien against the property. For example, if a person makes a down payment of $30,000 on a property with a market value of $120,000 and takes out a mortgage for $90,000, at the time of purchase the buyer would have a $30,000, or 25% equity in the property.
Escrow – A deed, contract, or something of value placed in the custody of a third party to be transferred upon fulfillment of a stipulated condition.
Expansion Joint – A joint designed to accommodate movement in the structure or components of the system due to thermal or stress-load variation.
Exposure – That portion of the roofing exposed to the weather after installation.
Exposure 1 Grade Plywood – Type of plywood approved by the American Plywood Association for exterior use.
