Reference
Singapore Home Upgrade Glossary
Plain-English definitions for every term used across our buying guides: drive systems, membranes, motors, rail types, plant rooms, permits. One canonical source, alphabetised.
A
- A&A
Additions and alterations; the planning classification depends on the actual proposal, not merely the project name.
Defined in: A&A Works in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide
- Appliance schedule
A coordinated list of exact models, installation documents, service needs and approval status.
Defined in: Landed Kitchen Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
B
- Backwash
A filter-cleaning discharge used by some filter systems; its route must be designed appropriately.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Balustrade
The barrier along an open stair or landing edge.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Brief
A record of household needs, constraints, priorities and the outcomes the design must support.
Defined in: Landed Interior Design in Singapore: Buying Guide
C
- Calibre
A manufacturer’s size grouping or identifier where supplied; retain relevant carton information for matching and repair.
Defined in: Flooring in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide
- Call control
A control used to bring the chair to a landing, subject to the model’s instructions.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: A Practical Buying Guide
- Carcass
The cabinet body that supports its fronts, shelves and fittings.
Defined in: Carpentry and Built-Ins in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Circulation
Movement of water through the pool and its treatment system.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Combination table
Manufacturer information describing supported indoor/outdoor combinations and relevant performance.
Defined in: Aircon for Singapore Landed Homes: A Buying Guide
- Commissioning
Checks and setup needed to establish correct operation of the installed system.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide · Aircon for Singapore Landed Homes: A Buying Guide
- Condensate
Water produced as moisture is removed from indoor air during cooling.
Defined in: Aircon for Singapore Landed Homes: A Buying Guide
- Conditional allowance
An amount or scope assumption that needs a clearly agreed basis for adjustment when information becomes available.
Defined in: A&A Works in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide
- Coping
The finished edge around a pool.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Crest level
A level associated with protection of an opening or route against surface-water entry; the QP establishes the applicable requirement.
Defined in: Basement Construction in Singapore: A Buying Guide
D
- Driver
An electrical component supplying an LED system according to its design; selection and replacement require appropriate technical handling.
Defined in: Ceiling and Lighting in Singapore: Buying Guide
E
- ERSS
Earth Retaining and Stabilising Structures: professionally designed works used to address ground support and stability in relevant excavation projects.
Defined in: Basement Construction in Singapore: A Buying Guide
F
- Facade interface
A connection between the wall system and an opening, roof edge, service penetration or adjoining material.
Defined in: Facade and Exterior Works in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Finished-level schedule
A coordinated record of the final heights of floors, landings and steps.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Flashing
A detail that manages water at a junction, edge or penetration; its form depends on the roof system and adjoining materials.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Floating floor
A floor installed to function without being fixed to the base in the manner of a bonded system, with product-specific movement requirements.
Defined in: Flooring in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide
G
- Going
The horizontal distance used to describe stair-step geometry.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
H
- Hardware schedule
A list connecting each fitting model to the door, drawer or mechanism it serves.
Defined in: Carpentry and Built-Ins in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Hold point
An agreed stage at which work is reviewed and recorded before it is covered or the next stage proceeds.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide · Landed Bathroom Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
I
- Interface
The junction or shared responsibility where new work connects to retained structure, finishes or services.
Defined in: A&A Works in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide
- Issue set
The current coordinated drawings and schedules released for a stated purpose.
Defined in: Landed Interior Design in Singapore: Buying Guide
L
- Landing interface
The connection between the lift entrance and the building, including approach, threshold, doors and finishes.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
M
- Major alteration or replacement
A regulatory classification that must be assessed for the proposed work; it can require a new PTO.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Making good
Restoring affected finishes after installation or alteration, to an agreed scope.
Defined in: Landed Kitchen Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Manual release
A model-specific means of disengaging the powered drive, used according to the instructions.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Movement envelope
The space occupied by every part of the gate while opening and closing.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Multi-split
An arrangement in which one outdoor unit serves multiple indoor units.
Defined in: Aircon for Singapore Landed Homes: A Buying Guide
N
- Nosing
The leading edge of a tread.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
O
- Overlay or recovering
Installing a new specified assembly while retaining some existing roof layers, subject to assessment of their suitability.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
P
- Parking position
A specified resting location that must also respect the model’s charging requirements.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: A Practical Buying Guide
- Photocell
A sensing device with a defined detection arrangement; it does not protect every gate hazard.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Ponding
Accumulation of water on a roof. Its cause and significance require assessment of drainage, geometry, system limits and structure.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- PTO
Permit to Operate for a regulated fixed installation.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
Q
- QP
Qualified Person: the appropriately registered and practising professional engaged for the relevant building responsibilities.
Defined in: Landed Interior Design in Singapore: Buying Guide
R
- Rail envelope
The space occupied by the rail and moving or parked chair.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: A Practical Buying Guide
- Recirculation
A hood arrangement that filters air and returns it to the room, subject to the selected product’s requirements.
Defined in: Landed Kitchen Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Reflected ceiling plan
A drawing coordinating elements seen at the ceiling, ideally linked to the services and supports above it.
Defined in: Ceiling and Lighting in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Render
A surface layer applied to a wall, distinct from the final paint coating.
Defined in: Facade and Exterior Works in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Riser
The vertical distance or face between adjacent steps.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Roof assembly
The connected layers and details that make up the roof, including its support, waterproofing and any finishes or protection.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Room load
The cooling demand assessed for a room under stated conditions.
Defined in: Aircon for Singapore Landed Homes: A Buying Guide
- Rough-in
The relevant service-connection geometry used to match a fitting to the installation.
Defined in: Landed Bathroom Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Run-back
The area into which a sliding gate moves when opening.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
S
- Scribing
Fitting an edge or trim to the actual adjoining surface; scope and finish should be agreed.
Defined in: Carpentry and Built-Ins in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Scupper
An outlet through a parapet or edge that allows roof water to leave; its size, level and connection need coordinated design.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Section
A vertical cut through the building showing the relationship between levels, roof shape and the finished space.
Defined in: Attic Conversion in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Service clearance
Space needed to inspect, maintain and replace equipment, beyond its static footprint.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Service opening
An intentional route for inspection or component access; its suitability depends on the actual maintenance task.
Defined in: Landed Bathroom Renovation in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Solar heat gain
Heat from sunlight entering through glazing; it is one part of a room’s comfort and cooling design.
Defined in: Attic Conversion in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Substrate
The base supporting the flooring assembly; its condition affects installation suitability.
Defined in: Flooring in Singapore: A Landed-Home Buying Guide · Facade and Exterior Works in Singapore: A Buying Guide
T
- Transfer
Moving between standing, a wheelchair or another seat and the stairlift seat.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: A Practical Buying Guide
- Tread
The horizontal surface of a step.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: A Buying Guide
U
- Upturn
A continuation of waterproofing up an adjoining vertical surface; dimensions and termination are design-specific.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: A Buying Guide
- Usable cabin or platform space
Space available to the user after allowing for the actual doors, controls and internal construction.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: A Landed Home Buying Guide
- Usable zone
The part of a room that supports a particular activity after construction layers and furniture are included.
Defined in: Attic Conversion in Singapore: A Buying Guide
V
- Variation
An agreed change to the contracted work, with its scope and commercial consequences recorded.
Defined in: Landed Interior Design in Singapore: Buying Guide
W
- Wallwashing
Lighting intended to illuminate a vertical surface relatively uniformly, distinct from grazing light that emphasises texture.
Defined in: Ceiling and Lighting in Singapore: Buying Guide
- Waterstop
A component used in a designed joint-waterproofing arrangement; its selection and detailing depend on the joint and system.
Defined in: Basement Construction in Singapore: A Buying Guide
Want the long version?
Read the buying guides
Every term above comes from one of our long-form buying guides: real cost ranges, BCA compliance walkthroughs, and the disqualifiers nobody else writes.