Essential Vocabulary for Adults | Home Renovation, Contractors, Permits, Quotations & Defects

A renovation can go wrong before the first tile is laid—when the words in the quotation are too vague. “Included”, “provisional”, “variation”, “approval”, “rectification” and “warranty” are not decorative terms. They decide scope, cost, responsibility and what happens when the finished work does not match the promise.

This article is educational, not legal or technical advice. HDB, BCA, Town Council and other requirements vary by property and work type; current rules should be checked before work begins.

1–10 · Planning and Scope

1. scope of work — the defined work the contractor agrees to perform.
2. specification — technical description of materials, dimensions or standards.
3. brief — summary of the owner’s needs and intended outcome.
4. layout — arrangement of rooms, fixtures and fittings.
5. floor plan — drawing showing the arrangement and dimensions of a property.
6. measurement — quantified size used for pricing or installation.
7. site condition — physical state of the property before work begins.
8. existing condition — documented state of surfaces, fixtures or systems before alteration.
9. exclusion — work or material specifically not included.
10. assumption — condition accepted for planning or pricing until verified.

11–20 · Quotations and Pricing

11. quotation — proposed price and scope offered before acceptance.
12. estimate — approximate expected cost, not always a fixed commitment.
13. lump sum — one total price for a defined scope.
14. unit rate — price per measured unit.
15. itemised quotation — quotation separating work into individual priced items.
16. provisional sum — allowance for work or cost not yet fully defined.
17. allowance — budgeted amount set aside for a category of item.
18. markup — amount added to underlying cost.
19. deposit — advance payment made before completion.
20. progress payment — payment tied to agreed stages of work.

21–30 · Contracts and Changes

21. contract — legally enforceable agreement when legal requirements are met.
22. term — condition governing the agreement.
23. clause — specific provision in a contract.
24. variation — agreed change to original scope, price or time.
25. variation order — formal document recording a change.
26. change request — request to alter agreed work.
27. approval — formal acceptance required before specified work proceeds.
28. authorisation — permission to act on another person’s behalf.
29. breach — failure to meet a contractual obligation.
30. termination — ending the contract under applicable terms or law.

31–40 · Contractors and Roles

31. renovation contractor — business engaged to carry out renovation work.
32. main contractor — contractor managing the overall project.
33. subcontractor — specialist engaged by another contractor for part of the work.
34. designer — person developing design proposals and drawings.
35. interior designer — person or firm providing interior design services; exact professional scope varies.
36. Qualified Person — registered professional required for certain building submissions or supervision.
37. Professional Engineer — engineer registered to practise within regulated scope.
38. Licensed Electrical Worker — EMA-licensed person authorised for specified electrical work.
39. site supervisor — person overseeing work on site.
40. owner — person legally responsible for the property and often for regulatory compliance.

41–50 · HDB and Approval Language

41. renovation permit — HDB permission required for specified renovation works.
42. prior written approval — approval that must be obtained before work starts.
43. Directory of Renovation Contractors — HDB directory from which flat owners must engage contractors for HDB renovation work.
44. demolition — removal of building elements.
45. hacking — breaking or removing walls, floors or finishes.
46. structural member — load-bearing component such as certain columns, beams, slabs or walls.
47. unauthorised work — work carried out without required permission or contrary to rules.
48. Notice of Renovation — notice displayed or given to inform affected neighbours of works.
49. permitted hours — time windows during which specified work may be carried out.
50. compliance — following applicable permit conditions and guidelines.

51–60 · Materials and Installation

51. finish — final visible surface or treatment.
52. substrate — underlying surface supporting a finish.
53. waterproofing — system intended to prevent water penetration.
54. screed — layer used to level or prepare a floor.
55. tile adhesive — material bonding tiles to a surface.
56. grout — material filling joints between tiles.
57. sealant — flexible material used to seal joints or gaps.
58. carpentry — built-in or fitted timber-based work.
59. laminate — decorative surface layer bonded to a base material.
60. hardware — fittings such as hinges, runners, handles and fasteners.

61–70 · Electrical, Plumbing and Services

61. electrical circuit — path carrying electrical current.
62. distribution board — panel distributing electricity to circuits in the property.
63. rewiring — replacement or major alteration of electrical wiring.
64. power point — electrical socket outlet.
65. load — amount of electrical demand on a circuit or system.
66. plumbing — piping and fittings for water supply and drainage.
67. sanitary fitting — fixture such as a basin, WC or sink.
68. floor trap — drainage fitting in a floor.
69. air-conditioning system — equipment used to cool and dehumidify indoor air.
70. commissioning — testing and putting installed systems into service.

71–80 · Schedule and Site Control

71. commencement date — agreed date work begins.
72. completion date — agreed target date for finishing work.
73. programme — planned sequence and timing of project activities.
74. milestone — defined stage used to track progress.
75. delay — work finishing later than planned.
76. extension of time — formally approved additional time.
77. lead time — time between ordering and receiving an item or service.
78. site access — permission and arrangements for entering the work area.
79. protection works — temporary measures protecting lifts, floors, furniture or common areas.
80. debris removal — organised disposal of renovation waste.

81–90 · Defects and Quality

81. defect — work or material that does not meet agreed standard or function.
82. snag — minor defect or incomplete item identified near completion.
83. defects list — recorded list of problems requiring correction.
84. rectification — work done to correct a defect.
85. workmanship — quality of how work is executed.
86. tolerance — acceptable permitted variation from a measurement or standard.
87. leakage — unintended escape of water, air or another substance.
88. crack — fracture line in a surface or element; significance depends on cause and location.
89. delamination — separation of bonded layers.
90. hollow tile — tile area sounding hollow because of incomplete bonding or voids; significance depends on context.

91–100 · Warranty, Handover and Disputes

91. warranty — promise covering specified defects or performance for stated conditions and period.
92. defects liability period — contractual period during which specified defects may have to be corrected; exact effect depends on contract.
93. handover — transfer of completed work or possession back to the owner.
94. completion certificate — document confirming specified completion status where applicable.
95. retention sum — portion of payment withheld until agreed conditions are met.
96. final account — agreed final project cost after variations and adjustments.
97. dispute — disagreement about scope, price, delay, defects or responsibility.
98. mediation — neutral assisted process seeking settlement.
99. Small Claims Tribunals — Singapore tribunal handling eligible consumer and other small claims within current jurisdictional rules.
100. evidence trail — quotations, messages, photos, invoices and approvals showing what was agreed and what occurred.

Diagnosis Before Prescription

“The quote says everything is included.” Diagnosis: scope is too vague. Repair: identify quantities, brands, models, exclusions and provisional sums.

“The contractor said the change was small.” Diagnosis: verbal variation is not tied to cost and time. Repair: record the change, revised price and revised completion impact before proceeding.

“HDB approved the renovation, so HDB guarantees the contractor.” Diagnosis: regulatory approval has been confused with a private contractual guarantee. HDB states it is not a party to the private agreement between owner and contractor.

“The defect is obvious, so evidence is unnecessary.” Diagnosis: memory has replaced documentation. Repair: keep dated photographs, correspondence and the relevant quotation or specification.

Singapore Relevance

HDB requires flat owners to engage contractors listed in its Directory of Renovation Contractors and requires prior written approval for specified works such as wall demolition or hacking. Noisy work is restricted to defined hours. BCA separately regulates building works and licensing in relevant contexts. Consumer disputes may fall within CASE or the Small Claims Tribunals depending on facts and jurisdiction.

Connections eduKateAI Can Learn

Scope ↔ price: vague scope creates unstable cost.

Variation ↔ schedule: changing work can change both price and completion time.

Permit ↔ private contract: regulatory permission does not replace contractual responsibility.

Defect ↔ evidence: rectification depends on what standard was promised and what condition was documented.

Role ↔ authority: contractor, QP, LEW, HDB and BCA perform different jobs.

Research & Reference Basis

• HDB — Important Information on Renovations
• HDB — Renovation Permit
• BCA — Builders Licensing Scheme
• Singapore Judiciary — Small Claims
• Consumers Association of Singapore

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