H Clip: Small metal clips formed like an "H" that fits at the joints of two plywood (or wafer board) sheets to stiffen the joint. Normally used on the roof sheeting.

Habitable Space: Space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas and utility spaces are not considered habitable spaces.

Hardware: Metal accessories such as door knobs, towel bars, toilet paper holders, etc.

Hatch: An opening in a deck, floor or roof. The usual purpose is to provide access from inside the building.

Haunch: An extension, knee-like protrusion of the foundation wall that a concrete porch or patio will rest upon for support.

Hawk: A flat wood or metal tool 10 inches to 14 inches square with a handle used by plasterers to carry plaster mortar or mud.

Hazard Insurance: Insurance for a building while it is under construction.

Header: Framing members over windows, doors, or other openings. A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for chimney, stairway, or other opening. Also, a wood lintel.

Hearth: The inner or outer floor of a fireplace, usually made of brick, tile, or stone.

Hearth Extension: Noncombustible material in front of and at the sides of a fireplace opening.

Heartwood: The wood extending from the pith to the sapwood, the cells of which no longer participate in the life processes of the tree.

Heat Meter: An electrical municipal inspection of the electric meter breaker panel box.

Heat Pump: A device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a house.

Heat Rough: Work performed by the heating contractor after the stairs and interior walls are built. This includes installing all duct work and flue pipes. Sometimes the furnace and fireplaces are installed at this stage of construction.

Heat Strengthened Glass: Flat or bent glass that has been heat-treated to a specific surface and/or edge compression range to meet the requirements of ASTM C 1048, kind HS. Heat-strengthened glass is approximately two times as strong as annealed glass of the same thickness when exposed to uniform static pressure loads. Heat-strengthened glass is not considered safety glass and will not completely dice in the manner fully tempered glass will.

Heat Trim: Work done by the heating contractor to get the home ready for the municipal final heat Inspection. This includes venting the hot water heater, installing all vent grills, registers, air conditioning services, turning on the furnace, installing thermostats, venting ranges and hoods, and all other heat related work.

Heated Slab: Slab-on-grade construction in which the heating elements are placed within or under the slab.

Heating Load: The amount of heating required to keep a building at a specified temperature during the winter, usually 65° Fahrenheit, regardless of outside temperature.

Heel Bead: Sealant applied at the base of a channel, after setting the light or panel and before the removable stop is installed, one of its purposes being to prevent leakage past the stop.

Heel Cut: A notch cut in the end of a rafter to permit it to fit flat on a wall and on the top, doubled, exterior wall plate.

Hermetic Seal: Vacuum seal between panes of a double-paned window, i.e. insulated glass unit or IGU. Failure of a hermetic seal causes permanent fogging between the panels of the IGU.

High-Early Cement: A portland cement sold as Type III which sets up to its full strength faster than other types.

Highlights: A light spot, area, or streak on a painted surface.

Hinge: A jointed or flexible device that allows the turning or pivoting of a part, such as a door or lid, on a stationary frame.

Hip: The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.

Hip Rafter: A rafter that forms the intersection of an external roof angle.

Hip Roof: A roof that rises by inclined planes from all four sides of a building.

Hip Shingles: Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Hoistway: A shaftway for the travel of one or more elevators.

Home Run (Electrical): The electrical cable that carries power from the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical box, plug, or switch in the circuit.

Honeycomb: Areas in a foundation wall where the aggregate (gravel) is visible. Honeycombs can be usually be remedied by applying a thin layer of grout or other cement product over the affected area. Also, a method by which concrete is poured and not puddled or vibrated, allowing the edges to have voids or holes after the forms are removed.

Hood: A device that directs and captures grease-laden vapors and gases from a cooking appliance.

Horizontal: Parallel to or in the plane of the horizon.

Hose Bib: An outdoor faucet with hose threads on the spout. Also commonly used to supply washing machines and wash basins.

Hot Wire: The wire that carries electrical energy to a receptacle or other device—in contrast to a neutral, which carries electricity away again. Normally the black wire. Also see Ground.

Hub: In plumbing, the enlarged end of a pipe which is made to provide a connection into which the end of the joining pipe will fit.

Humidifier: A device designed to increase the humidity within a room or a house by means of the discharge of water vapor. They may consist of individual room size units or larger units attached to the heating plant to condition the entire house.

Humidistat: A device used to automatically control relative humidity.

Hurricane Clip: Metal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. Sometimes called a Teco Clip.

Hurricane Ties: Metal fasteners used to secure rafters in structures subject to hurricane winds.

HVAC: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Hydro-Electric Elevator: An elevator where liquid is pumped under pressure directly into the cylinder by a pump driven by an electric motor without an accumulator between the pump and cylinder.