Mixture of different elements. An alloy of mercury with other metal or metals. The amount of mercury it contains determines the hardness of the alloy. Containing enough mercury, the amalgam may be liquid at room temperature.

To combine into a single body. To combine in an amalgam.

Surrounding on all sides.

Air temperature in a particular location.

Desirable items offered by builders as enticements to potential purchasers.

Pattern of brick laying with five layers of stretcher and one course of alternating headers. Alternately referred to as common bond.

A professional society of architects founded in 1857 an located in Washington, D.C. with 301 local groups in all 50 states and over 54,000 members, it promotes excellence and professionalism in the field.

Appraisal group, which merged with Appraisal Institute (AI) in 1991.

Organization located in Washington, D.C. with over 2,400 members in 40 states was founded in 1906 and fosters uniformity and quality in title abstract ad insurance policies. Its publications are the monthly Capital Comment, the bi-monthly Title News, and the annual Directory of Members.

Non-profit group that tests building materials.

Founded in 1978 to encourage the best techniques and decisions for the planned development of communities and regions. Located in Washington, D.C., it has 26,000 members with 45 regional groups in the U.S.

The grading standards for plywood are set by this association of plywood manufacturers.

ARES has 950 members who are interested in real estate finance, investment, valuation, marketing, development, etc. Founded in 1985, it is located at Cleveland State University in the College of Business, Cleveland, Ohio.

This society is primarily concerned with the advancement of the appraisal profession including teaching, certifying and testing. Located in Washington, D.C., it was founded in 1952 and has 6,000 members.

Professional association of independent home inspectors. These members must meet the group's education and performance requirements. For a list of ASHI-certified inspectors, call (800) 743-2744.

Real Estate professionals who provide counseling on real estate purchases and investment decisions through a negotiated fee rather than a commission. Founded in 1953 with 850 members, it is located in Chicago, Illinois.

American Society for Testing Materials is a non-profit organization of a variety of qualified professionals who decide the level of quality that must be used in building materials for a particular job. A standard is proposed and these professionals either approve it or suggest changes. There is a vote to decide on approval and then it is published and manufacturers are expected to comply. If they do not, they are not given an ASTM number and cannot be used for jobs that require ASTM approved products.

American Society for Testing Materials Standards Index is the list, by subject and number, of published standards that have been approved by the Society.

Computer code used to represent letters, symbols, and use instructions.

Identification of the diameters of electrical wire made in the U.S. is made by this series of numbers. Gauge designations range from 46 to 4/0 (0000), 46 smallest and 4/0 largest. Larger sized wires (4 though 4/0), are stranded to be flexible. Larger sizes than 4/0 are marked by cross-sectional area in circular mils. 250MCM, then 300MCM are the sizes following 4/0, with the larger sized designated by larger numbers as the sizes increase since the numbers now equal the cross sectional area of the wire.

A law that makes it illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability in housing, public accommodations, transportation, employment, government services and telecommunications. Amide Agent used for curing epoxy resin.

The current flow in an electrical circuit is measured by this electrical meter. It is connected in series with power going into the circuit so that the electricity flows through the meter. An indicating needle deflects an amount proportion to the current that flows through. The amount of electrical current flowing through the circuit in amperes, or amps is shown by the needle's position on a graduated scale.

An ammeter that can read current flow through a conductor though measurement of the strength of the magnetic field around the conductor. The current flow through a conductor creates the magnetic field. This conductor is placed between the jaws of the meter; the magnetic field produced by the current is translated by the meter into amperage that can be red on the dial on the meter. Because it does not need to be connected to the circuit in order to measure the current flow, it is convenient to use.

A colorless, pungent chemical compound (NH3), which is used in cleaning solutions, manufacturing of chemicals. The gaseous form is used as a refrigerant in refrigeration systems, much the same as Freon. Freon is preferred because it is more stable and less corrosive.

Without defined form. Shapeless.

Regular payment of both principal and interest on a loan. Early in the loan, most of the payment is applied toward interest with increasing amounts paid toward principal and the loan moves toward maturity.

The schedule, which shows the breakdown of each loan payment that consists partly of principal and partly of interest.

Mathematical tables used to calculate a monthly payment on a loan.

Gradual elimination of a financial obligation through periodic payments.

Mortgage where the interest and principal have been fully repaid by the mortgagee.

Capacity for current-carrying of an electrical conductor.

Ampere. The basic unit used to measure electric current.

The strength of an electrical current measured in amperes.

The basic unit used to measure electric current. Rate of flow, though a wire, of charge in a conductor or conducting medium of one coulomb per second. This push is referred to as voltage. If too much amperage is pushed through the wire, loss of power can result. If the wire heats up it can damage the insulation or cause a fire.

Standard unit for measuring the quantity of electricity; equal to the flow of a current of one ampere for on hour or to an elapsed current drain of 3,600 coulombs.

Amount of magnetomotive force produced by an electric current of one ampere flowing around one turn of a wire coil.

Round or oval building with open space surrounded by rising rows of seats, which is often used for shows, lectures and other activities performed for an audience.

Direct-current generator which using a small amount of direct current (DC) power applied to its field windings to control the generator's output.

Device with electron tubes or semiconductors, which is used to increase the strength of an electrical signal.

To increase in power or amplitude. To increase the strength of an electrical signal by means of an amplifier.

Maximum value of an alternating current (AC).

Able to live and grow without air or free oxygen, such as bacteria, some types of which break down the waste in a septic tank.

Examination of parts to investigate the nature of something. Analyses can be made by chemical and mathematical means as well as in other ways.

Any device that holds something secure. A sturdy attachment point.

Wooden blocks secured to masonry structures to provide a nailing surface for the attachment of wood structural members to the masonry wall.

Large steel bolt attached to a building and then anchored in concrete. This is done to prevent the structure from moving.

A post anchor is preformed of galvanized sheet metal with vertical sections, which are bent up to fit around the bottom of the post being anchored, slightly above the foundation so that it won't rot by coming into contact with ground moisture. Fasteners hold the post in place.

Metal strap with holes, which is embedded in a concrete pour allowing the framing to be fastened securely to the concrete.

Major tenant in a shopping center that helps the center attract shoppers that benefit the other tenants as well; often a supermarket.

Point where something is held secure by anchoring.

Subsidiary building in a structural complex.

Out-of-state or out of jurisdiction administrator who is appointed to probate a decedent's property when there is no executor/executrix.

Bracketlike projection that supports a cornice. Curved support between a cornice and a wall.

Metal supports with ornamented front uprights, used to support logs in a fireplace at an elevated position, which permits air to flow freely around the logs.

Device used for measurement of airflow velocity.

Measuring of the resistance change of a heated wire; resistance changes with temperature and the temperature changes with air flow velocity by use of this device.

Propeller-type, lightweight vane that is rotated by airflow with its rotational speed being proportional to the air velocity.

Spring-loaded, light weight metal van which is held in a housing that is deflected by air flow to move a pointer on a scale which then indicates the amount of flow.

Shape made by two straight lines meeting in a point; the space between those lines and surfaces; the amount of difference in direction between them measured in degrees. Two straight lines that diverge from the same point.

Windows, consisting of many parts, which projects from the wall in the shape of a multi-sided polygon.

Metal or wooden strip which is installed in a corner and then plastered, to protect the corner against damage or to serve as a guide to plaster placement.

Metal ties which re used to hold masonry corners together.

Support brace, which spans the angle formed by two other members.

Right-angle-shaped piece of metal used to reinforce jointed boards.

Piece of earth moving equipment used to scrape soil off of an excavation site, to move dirt, or smoothing and leveling a building site. An angle dozer blade is mounted at an angle to the direction of travel so that the earth is moved at an angle to the vehicle and does not pile up in front of the blade which delays forward movement.

The movement of earth with a blade set at an angle that allows the earth to be moved forward and off to one side.

Metal strip of structural iron or steel bent to form a right angle. Used to join and reinforce joints and used to support masonry over openings.

The acute angle between the chord of an airfoil and the line of relative airflow.

Angle that a light ray or electromagnetic wave striking a surface makes with a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

The maximum angle of slope at which a given soil type will remain in place without sliding.

The angle subtended by two lines drawn from the corners of the objective to the center of a lens.

Plastering tool which is implemented to finish a corner once the plaster has been floated.

Multi-bladed scraping tool used to remove high spots on plaster before a finish coat is applied.

Globe valve with the inlet and outlet at right angles to each other.

Two angles which share a common side and have a common intersection point.

Having or forming an angle, composed of angles.

Without water content.

Nitrobenzine, a derivative of coal tar, is used to make this blue dye for fabrics.

The negatively charged atom or radical in an ionic compound; an atom or ion with a negative charge.