Barbara Rosen
WEICHERT, REALTORS
121 N. PITT STREET
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314

Phone: 703-407-6481
Cellular: 703-407-6481
Fax: 703-842-8986
Email: bxrosen@aol.com


Real Estate Glossary
Our glossary is the largest dictionary of real estate and construction terms on the Internet with almost 10,000 definitions.


 
Ga - Gap - Ge - Gi - Gl - Gr - Gre - Gu
Grease
Any thick, oily substance or lubricant.
Grease Interceptor or Trap
Trapping device, which keeps the grease in waste water from entering a sewer or septic system.
Greek Revival Style
Style whose most prominent feature is a pillar-anchored pediment forming a portico in front of the house.
Green
Wood that is unseasoned and uncured.
Green Brick
Formed brick, which has not yet been fired to make it hard.
Green Concrete
Concrete not yet set.
Green Lumber
Lumber, which contains a high water content because it has not had adequate drying, time and is not properly seasoned. It may actually appear green and is difficult to work with, along with having the possibility of warping.
Green Mortar
Mortar not yet set.
Green Wire
The wire that is used as the ground wire in electrical installations.
Green Wood
Wood, which contains a high water content because it has not had adequate drying, time and is not properly seasoned. It may actually appear green and is difficult to work with, along with having the possibility of warping.
Greenbelt
Park, open space or other natural setting in a community.
Greenboard
Dry wall panels, also known as water-resistant panels or moisture-resistant panels, which have water-resistant compounds added to the gypsum core and covered with water resistant paper so they are usable in areas such a bathrooms, where moisture is present. Fiberglass mesh tape is just on the joints and then they are sealed with water-resistant joint compound.
Greenfield Conduit
Also called flexible metal conduit, this flexible, protective tubing is made from spiral-wound metal.
Greenhouse
Structure used for growing plants. Natural sunlight comes in through glass or plastic panels and the temperature and humidity is controlled to provide ideal growing conditions.
Greensward
Green, grassy ground or turf.
Grid
A pattern of lines laid out at right angles to each other. Alternately, a series of intersecting lines dividing a map or chart into equal sections. Also, the intersecting bars, wires, or supports as in a grating or supports in a dropped ceiling.
Grid System
Division of a large area into grid or squares to it more manageable.
Grillage
Grid of steel rebar in a concrete foundation to spread the load over a wider area.
Grille
Lattice-like covering of an open space.
Grinder
Abrasive wheeled tool that is used to sharpen tools or to grind off material.
Grinding Wheel
An abrasive wheel that is used to sharpen tools or to grind off material.
Grip Length
Length of the nail or other fastener that penetrates the material on which it is used.
Grit
Rough, hard, abrasive particles of sand or stone.
Grit Number
Scale to grade coarseness of abrasives; the finer the grit, the higher the number.
Groin
  1. The sharp, curved edge, which is formed at the junction of two intersecting vaults in a structure.
  2. The rib of wood or stone, which covers the edge.
Grommet
  1. An eyelet that protects and reinforces an opening in a fabric or metal.
  2. Insulation needed to protect electrical wiring when it passes through a hole in a metal plate.
Groove
  1. A long, narrow furrow cut into a surface.
  2. Any channel or rut cut or worn into a surface.
Groove Angle
Total combined angle made by the sides of weld preparation bevels on pieces adjoining each other.
Grooved Joint
Joint, between a fence post and rail, in which a mitered end rail is fit into a cut groove in the fence post.
Groover
  1. Hand tool used to set sheet metal seams.
  2. Hand tool, also called a jointer, which is used to form an indentation or groove, in wet concrete.
Groove Weld
Between two parts, the shaped edges form a groove for the deposit of weld metal.
Gross Area
The total floor area of a structure, in square feet, measured from the outside.
Gross Income
Total income of a household before expenses and taxes are subtracted.
Gross Income Multiplier
Also known as gross rent multiplier. Method used to compute the price of an income-producing property by dividing the asking or market price of the property by the current gross rental income. If the current gross rental income is $30,000 and the asking price is $300,000, the gross income multiplier is 10.
Gross Leasable Area (GLA)
Building's total floor area, in square feet, designed for tenant leasing.
Gross Lease
Rental in which the lessor pays all operating costs such as taxes, utilities, insurance and maintenance, in addition to the rent.
Gross Margin
Percentage produced when gross profits are divided by total income.
Gross Profit
Profit remaining after the deduction of direct costs but before the deduction of expenses.
Gross Rent Multiplier
Also known as gross income multiplier. Method used to compute the price of an income-producing property by dividing the asking or market price of the property by the current gross rental income. If the current gross rental income is $30,000 and the asking price is $300,000, the gross rent multiplier is 10.
Ground
The surface of the earth, particularly the solid surface.
Ground Coat
The first coat of paint. Ground Conditions Soil stability in a particular area.
Ground Cover
Any of the various low, dense growing plants, such as myrtle or ivy, which are used in landscaping where it is difficult to grow grass, or for erosion control.
Ground, Electrical
Conductive connection through which electrical current passes from the electrical component into the ground.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
A ground fault circuit interrupter is a safety device to protect against electrical shock by cutting off the flow of electricity when there is even a slight stray of current leakage.
Ground Floor
The floor of a building closest to the building grade.
Ground Glass
Glass that has been shaped and polished.
Ground Joint Union
Pipe union that has a brass grounding section between the two halves.
Ground Lease
Lease of land only.
Ground Plan
View of a plot showing the structures located upon it. Ground Rent Portion of property income earned by the leasing value of the land.
Ground Wire
Also called a grounding conductor, it connects an electrical device to the electrical ground.
Grounding
Method that connects all electrical facilities to the ground.
Grounding Clamp
Clamp, able to grip tightly onto a metal pipe, with a slot and holding screw to fasten an electrical grinding wire to the clamp.
Grounding Conductor
Also called a ground wire, it connects an electrical device to the electrical ground.
Grounding Electrode System
Grounding of the electrical system in a building by bonding together the underground water pipe of metal and the metal building frame with a grounding ring, 20 feet in circumference, and an electrode set into the concrete foundation of the building, 2 ½ feet or deeper.
Grounding Plug Adaptor
Electrical device, used as a grounding connection, has two prongs and a wire or metal loops, into which a three-prong (two conductor with ground) plug can be inserted. This plug can adapt a three-prong plug to a two-slot receptacle.
Grounding Rod
Copper-plated metal rod, which is used to provide an electrical ground when it is driven several feet into the earth.
Grounds
Used as plaster stops or for attaching wood trim, these strips of wood, equal in thickness to the lath and plaster being applied, are attached to the walls around the doors and windows.
Groundwater
Water that seeps into an excavation due to the high water table in the area.
Group Home
Single-family residence used to house unrelated people needing special care or supervision.
Grout
Thin, fluid mortar, made of a mixture of portland cement, fine aggregate, lime and water, used to fill areas between tile, stone or marble.
Grouted Masonry
Masonry wall, which has several vertical units with grout filling in the opening between the vertical rows.
Growing-Equity Mortgage
Fixed-rate mortgage where payment increase over a specific period of time with the extra funds being applied to the principal.
Growth Ring
Tree trunk rings which are used to judge age & growth.
Grubbing
Clearing property of all low growth.

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Real Estate Glossary