Real Estate Glossary
Our glossary is the largest dictionary of real estate and construction terms on the Internet with almost 10,000 definitions.
- Roadbed
- The base over which a road's paving is installed. The roadbed is usually topped with graded crushed stone.
- Rock Drainfield
- A field containing 3/4 inch crushed stone used to drain leach lines from a septic system.
- Rock Wool
- A type of insulation, vaguely resembling wool, that is blown into the space to be insulated. The material is commonly used to insulate attics.
- Rocker Switch
- Electrical switch, which is operated by touching the top or bottom of the control plate.
- Rockwell Hardness Test
- A test used to measure the hardness of a substance. A steel ball or cone is impacted on the material and the impression is measured.
- Rod
- Linear unit of measurement equal to 16.5 feet.
- Rod Saw Blade
- A slender blade coated with diamond dust or a similar material and used to cut extremely hard materials.
- Roll Roofing
- Asphalt roofing material available in 3-foot wide rolls.
- Roll Welding
- Form of welding using a heat source and rollers to join two surfaces.
- Rollback
- The reduction of prices to a previous level by government control or a limitation on annual value increases, usually associated with property tax.
- Roller
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- A cylindrical device used for applying paint to walls.
- A cylinder used as a wheel for moving a load or item.
- A heavy cylinder used to compress a material, such as on a steamroller.
- Roller Catch
- A type of cabinet door latch. A projection on the door is inserted between to rollers when closed, thus securing the door shut.
- Rolling Mill
- A plant producing plate or sheet products through the use of large rollers.
- Rollover Gasket
- A type of gasket that is fitted around the spigot end of a length of pipe. Often used in bell and spigot joints.
- Rollover Loan
- Long-term loan with a guaranteed interest rate for a shorter period with interest renegotiated periodically, at current rates or the extension of a mature loan at current rates. Alternately, delay allowed for repayment of principal, by a bank to a debtor with financial difficulties.
- Rollover Mortgage
- Mortgage with a constant rate of interest but the loan is renegotiated or rolled over after a certain period of time.
- Roman Brick
- A brick measuring 3 5/8 x 1 5/8 x 11 5/8.
- Romex
- A trade name for a type of sheathed electrical cable.
- Roof
- Outside top covering of a building.
- Roof Deck
- Plywood sheathing applied to the rafters, on which the shingles or other roofing material is attached. see also Roof Sheathing.
- Roof Drain
- A drain installed at the low spot of a roof that channels water into a drainpipe to prevent water from standing or pooling.
- Roof Drain Strainer
- A wire mesh strainer used to prevent leaves, twigs, and other debris from entering and clogging a drainpipe.
- Roof Jack
- A special piece of flashing designed for installation over a vent protruding through the roof.
- Roof Pitch
- The angle or steepness of a roof. Typically expressed as a certain rise over each 12 inches of run - for example, a 6 on 12 roof rises six inches for every twelve inches of run. Also called Roof Slope.
- Roof Rise
- The vertical rise of a roof over a certain horizontal distance (run).
- Roof Run
- The horizontal distance from the top plate of the wall to the midpoint of the roof.
- Roof Sheathing
- Flat boards which are nailed to the rafters on the top of a house, to which tar paper and then shingles are attached. see also Roof Deck.
- Roof Slope
- The angle or steepness of a roof. Typically expressed as a certain rise over each 12 inches of run - for example, a 6 on 12 roof rises six inches for every twelve inches of run. Also called Roof Pitch.
- Roof Tile
- Roofing material, usually made of clay or cement. Used primarily in the south and west.
- Roof Truss
- A triangular structure used to support a roof. Multiple trusses are used to assemble the framework for a roof.
- Roofer
- Professional who installs or repairs roofs.
- Roofer's Knife
- A blade with a hook shaped blade, used for cutting asphalt shingles.
- Roofing Nail
- A nail with a large head, used to fasten asphalt shingles.
- Roofing Tape
- Special tape used in patching or flashing on an asphalt roof.
- Rope
- A braided length of material, usually plant fibers, used to tie or support objects.
- Ropey
- A defective paint finish where the dried surfaces shows ridges, brush marks, or similar imperfections.
