Glossary

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the budgeting, contract, and construction terms that come up during a Vermont kitchen or bathroom remodel, from your first estimate to the final walkthrough.

Planning, Budgeting & the Process

What to understand before you sign a contract and while a project is underway.

Scope of work: The written description of exactly what a contractor will and won't do on a project. A clear, detailed scope of work is what makes bids from different contractors comparable, and it's the reference point for deciding whether something later is included or a change order.
Design-build vs. design-bid-build: Design-build means one company handles both the design and the construction under a single contract, with pricing and scope developed together. Design-bid-build means a homeowner hires a designer or architect first, finalizes plans, then bids the completed design out to separate contractors. Design-build tends to be faster and more collaborative on pricing; design-bid-build can produce more competitive bids on a fixed design.
Allowance: A budgeted dollar amount set aside in an estimate for a category of materials, like tile or fixtures, before the homeowner has made a final selection. If the actual selection costs more or less than the allowance, the contract price adjusts accordingly.
Selections: The specific products a homeowner chooses for a project, tile, countertop slab, faucet, cabinet color, and so on. Finalizing selections early keeps a project on schedule, since ordering and lead times often can't start until a selection is confirmed.
Lead time: The time between ordering a product and having it in hand, ready to install. Cabinets, custom tile, and certain fixtures often have lead times of several weeks to a few months, which is why finalizing selections early matters for keeping a project on schedule.
Contingency budget: Money set aside above the contracted price to cover hidden conditions or unexpected costs discovered once walls or floors are opened. A common recommendation for older homes is budgeting an additional 15-25% as contingency, not because problems are guaranteed, but because they're common enough to plan for.
Change order: A formal, written adjustment to a project's scope, cost, or timeline after the original contract is signed, usually triggered by a hidden condition discovered during demolition or a homeowner's request to add or change something. A good change order documents exactly what changed and why before the added work begins.
Draw schedule: The payment schedule tied to project milestones (contract signing, rough-in complete, substantial completion, etc.) rather than a single lump-sum payment. A reasonable draw schedule protects both sides: the homeowner isn't paying far ahead of completed work, and the contractor isn't financing the whole project out of pocket.
Certificate of insurance: A document from a contractor's insurance provider confirming their general liability and workers' compensation coverage is active. Worth requesting and verifying directly with the insurer before work begins, not just taking a contractor's word for it.
Lien waiver: A document a contractor or subcontractor signs confirming they've been paid for completed work and waiving their right to place a lien against the property for that amount. Common on larger projects as each payment is made.
Mechanic's lien: A legal claim a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier can place against a property if they aren't paid for work or materials. It can complicate a home sale or refinance until resolved, which is part of why lien waivers exist for larger projects.
Swing space: A temporary substitute for the room being remodeled, most often a temporary kitchen setup (microwave, mini fridge, folding table) used while the real kitchen is under construction. Planning swing space in advance makes a multi-week kitchen remodel meaningfully easier to live through.
Site protection: Temporary measures, floor coverings, plastic sheeting, dust barriers, used to protect the parts of a home not under construction from dust and damage during a project.
Substantial completion: The point at which a project is finished enough for its intended use, even if small punch list items remain. Often the trigger for a final payment draw, distinct from the very last punch list item being resolved.
Punch list: A list of small remaining items to finish or correct near the end of a project, like touch-up paint, hardware adjustments, or caulk lines. Working through the punch list is typically the last step before a project is considered complete.
Subcontractor: A specialized tradesperson, an electrician or plumber, for example, hired by the general contractor rather than employed directly by them. Vermont individually licenses electricians and plumbers through the state, so it's worth confirming that any subcontractor working on your project holds a current license, not just that the general contractor is reputable.
Down payment: The upfront payment made before work begins, typically covering initial material orders and mobilization. A modest down payment tied to a written draw schedule is normal; a request for full or most of the payment upfront, before any work has started, is a common warning sign worth questioning.
Retainage: A portion of the total contract amount held back until a project (or a specific phase of it) is fully complete, giving the homeowner leverage to make sure punch list items and final details actually get addressed before the last payment is released.
Workmanship warranty: A contractor's guarantee covering the labor and installation quality of their own work, separate from the manufacturer's warranty covering defects in the materials or products themselves. Worth asking what's covered and for how long before signing a contract.

Construction Basics

Terms that come up in almost any remodel, kitchen or bathroom.

Load-bearing wall: A wall that supports weight from the structure above it, such as floor joists or roof framing, in addition to its own weight. Removing or altering a load-bearing wall requires a structural evaluation and, typically, a permanent beam or other support to carry the load it was holding.
Subfloor deflection: The amount a floor structure flexes under load. Tile installation has strict deflection limits (commonly no more than L/360, meaning the floor can't flex more than 1/360th of its span) because excessive flex cracks grout and tile over time. Older Vermont homes with undersized joists or thin subfloors often need reinforcement before tile can be installed.
R-value: A measure of a material's resistance to heat flow. Higher R-values mean better insulation. Relevant in Vermont renovations whenever exterior walls, additions, or attic space are opened up, since it's often required (and worthwhile) to bring insulation up to current standards.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter): An electrical outlet or breaker that shuts off power when it detects a current imbalance, protecting against shock near water. Required by code for outlets in bathrooms, kitchens (near sinks), and other wet locations. A common upgrade item when remodeling an older home that still has ungrounded or non-GFCI outlets in these areas.
Knob-and-tube wiring: An early wiring method used in homes built roughly before the 1940s, using ceramic knobs and tubes to route individual wires through framing. It lacks a ground wire and has no protective sheathing, so most electricians and insurers recommend replacing it, especially in areas being opened up during a remodel.
Rough-in: The stage of construction where plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines are installed inside open walls and floors, before drywall or finishes go in. Inspections typically happen at rough-in, before anything is covered up.
Galvanized plumbing: Steel supply pipe with a zinc coating, common in Vermont homes built before the 1960s. The zinc coating breaks down over decades, causing internal corrosion that reduces water pressure and eventually leads to leaks. Often replaced during a remodel when walls are already open.

Bathroom-Specific Terms

Waterproofing, fixtures, and layout terms specific to bathroom remodels.

Schluter system: A brand of bonded waterproofing membrane used under tile in showers and wet areas, applied directly to the substrate rather than relying on a traditional mortar bed and liner. See our full comparison of Schluter and traditional waterproofing methods.
Uncoupling membrane (DITRA): A thin membrane installed between a subfloor and tile that allows the two layers to move independently, reducing the chance that normal subfloor movement cracks the tile above it. Often used on older or marginal subfloors as an alternative to full subfloor replacement.
Wet wall: The wall inside a shower or tub enclosure that contains the plumbing supply and drain lines. It requires waterproofing methods (a membrane system, cement board, or equivalent) rated for constant water exposure, unlike the other walls in a bathroom.
Niche: A recessed shelf built into a shower wall, typically for shampoo and soap, framed and waterproofed as part of the wall assembly before tile is installed.
Linear drain: A narrow, trough-style shower drain that runs along one edge of the shower floor, often used with curbless (zero-threshold) shower designs. Costs more than a standard center drain due to the sloped floor framing it requires.
Bath fan CFM: Cubic feet per minute, the measure of how much air a bathroom exhaust fan moves. Vermont's code generally requires enough CFM to exchange the room's air a set number of times per hour; undersized or missing ventilation is a common issue found in older bathrooms during a remodel.

Kitchen-Specific Terms

Cabinetry, countertops, and layout terms specific to kitchen remodels.

Cabinet refacing: Replacing a cabinet's doors, drawer fronts, and exposed surfaces with new materials while keeping the existing cabinet boxes in place. See our full comparison of cabinet refacing vs. replacement.
Face frame vs. frameless cabinets: Two cabinet construction styles. Face-frame cabinets have a solid wood frame across the front of the box, a traditional American style. Frameless (also called European-style) cabinets have no front frame, offering slightly more interior storage access and a more modern look.
Soft-close hardware: Hinges and drawer slides with a built-in damper that slows a door or drawer as it closes, preventing slamming. Standard on most new cabinetry and a common upgrade when refacing existing cabinets.
Base cabinet vs. wall cabinet: Base cabinets sit on the floor and support the countertop; wall cabinets mount above the countertop at a standard height. Layout changes often involve reworking the mix and placement of each.
Backsplash: The wall surface between the countertop and the underside of the wall cabinets, typically tile, protecting the wall from splashes and adding a finished look.
Toe kick: The recessed space at the base of cabinets that allows room for a person's feet while standing close to the counter. A standard dimension in cabinet design, occasionally used for integrated lighting or a slide-out step in custom kitchens.
Countertop overhang: The distance a countertop extends past the cabinet below it, most relevant at an island or peninsula used for seating. Overhangs beyond a certain length need additional support, like corbels or steel brackets, to prevent the slab from cracking.

Vermont-Specific Terms

State agencies and regulations Vermont homeowners run into during a remodel.

Vermont Division of Fire Safety: The state agency that licenses electricians and plumbers in Vermont and administers state-level electrical and plumbing rules, separate from whatever building permit process a local municipality requires. See our full guide to permits for kitchen and bathroom remodels in Vermont.
Act 250: Vermont's land use and development law, which requires state-level review for larger developments and certain thresholds of new construction. It rarely applies to a typical single-family kitchen or bathroom remodel, but can come into play for larger additions or subdivided property. Worth a quick check with your municipality if your project is unusually large.

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