ContractingTrust Project Definitions |
Service |
BTO Definition |
Examples of Projects |
| Additions |
project involving new room/level/garage, should involve a minimum of 100 sq ft. and must modify the existing architecture and/or structure of the home |
includes framing- often adding on a room, 2nd story, garage |
| Aggregate |
installation of concrete with small stones or rocks mixed in with it |
driveways, patios, walkways, RV pads |
| Architecture/Drafting Design |
drawing plans/blueprints for a proposed building, addition, or structure. Modifies the existing architecture and/or structure |
drawing up plans for a room addition, garage, deck, 2nd level, structure, etc. |
| Asphalt/Black Top |
an alternative to concrete or aggregate for making a smooth, flat hard surface |
driveways, walkways, basketball courts, paving |
| Basement Remodeling |
changing or updating the majority of the basement’s appearance (often times involves finishing an unfinished basement) |
turning basements into bedrooms/living areas; ‘finishing” basements may include the following framing & sheetrocking, flooring carpeting, building kitchenettes, installing bathrooms, wet bars, dens/working areas |
| Bath Remodeling |
changing or updating the majority of the bathrooms appearance and fixtures (3 or more specific items listed at right) |
includes 3 or more of the following only: sinks, bathtubs, toilets, flooring, cabinets, countertops, vanities, bidets, fixtures |
| Bathtub & Sink Refinishing |
refinishing and/or repairing the surface of a bathtub or sink (includes prep work) |
repair chips in the surface; refinish an entire bathtub, sink, toilet |
| Brick Work |
construction and/or repair of a new or existing structure using brick as the primary material |
fireplaces, walkways, driveways, chimneys, pillars, mailbox posts, brick face (against siding), outdoor barbecues & firepots |
| Cabinet Install |
Installation of CUSTOM made cabinets solely made for that particular homeowner. Does not include pre manufactured cabinets. Building & Installation of CUSTOM made cabinets solely made for that particular homeowner. Does not include pre manufactured cabinets. |
kitchen cabinets, bath cabinets, cupboards, pantries, laundry room cabinets, garage cabinets |
| Cabinet Refacing |
removing and/or replacing the doors and fixtures of a cabinet, leaving the main structure of the cabinet boxes to be resurfaced, refaced, or refinished |
wants to update cabinets without replacing the entire cabinet structure (on door fronts & drawer fronts). Finishes include: veneer, lacquer, linseed oil, varathane, paint, stain, glass panes |
| Carpentry - Interior Woodwork |
design, construct, install, and/or finish interior woodwork |
moldings, mantles, shelvirig, bookcases, staircases, steps, wainscoting, trim work, railings, baseboards, crown moldings, banisters, entertainment centers |
| Carpet - Installation |
installation of interior carpeting (does not include astroturf or turf related materials) |
at a minimum: stairs, hallways, entire rooms |
| Carpet — Repair |
removal and/or repair work to existing carpeting |
restretching carpet, repairing holes in carpet, small patchwork, stomp pads, entry ways |
| Carpet Cleaning |
cleansing carpet (some cleaners involve hot water & chemical treatments, others use carbonated cleaning chemicals that are dry), must be at least one room or hallways to clean. |
clean a room, clean several rooms, clean a hallway |
| Chimney Cleaning/Repair |
cleaning and/or repairing the operating parts of the chimney (may include minor brick work) |
chimney sweeps; cleaning flues; repair and/or replace: missing or broken bricks, hoods, dampers, chimney liners |
| Concrete - Flatwork |
installation of horizontal concrete (may include prior removal) |
driveways, walkways, sidewalks, basketball courts, patios, dog runs, RV pads, hot tub pads, steps, basement floors |
| Concrete-Foundation/Wall |
installation of vertical concrete (also includes foundation repair) |
foundations for houses, repair cracked or damaged foundation, concrete walls, tennis walls |
| Concrete - Removal |
only demolition and removal of existing concrete |
removing concrete: patios, driveways, sidewalks, pads, etc. Also concrete cutting |
| Concrete - Repair |
repair of cracks in concrete, not foundation repair |
fixing cracks in concrete, "mud-jacking" |
| Concrete - Stamped/Color |
installation of decorative concrete with coloring or patterns |
colored, patterned, or impressioned concrete: floors, walkways, simulated flagstone |
| Counter Tops - Install |
installation of new countertops (does not include tile, marble, or granite countertops) |
installing replacing countertops on: kitchen island, kitchen counters, bathroom counters, washroom counters, etc. (formica, CORIAN, laminate) not: tile, marble, or granite |
| Counter Tops - Repair |
repairing existing counter-tops (does not include tile or marble countertops) |
repair: cuts, scratches, gouges, water leaks, etc. in countertops |
| Debris Hauling |
removal of rubbish and debris from the yard or home and hauling away |
tree branches, grass clippings, yard debris, large appliances & furniture, junk, etc. |
| Deck - New |
construction of a new deck only (may include prior demolition and removal of old deck before constructing new deck) |
building a new deck, replacing an existing deck with a new deck |
| Deck - Repair/Modification |
repairing, modifying and/or adding on to an existing deck |
replace broken/rotted boards, repair loose/unstable boards, modify or add minor sections to an existing deck (approx. less than 75 sq. feet), such as: deck benches, deck railings, planter boxes, footings |
| Deck Cleaning/Treatment |
using water (sometimes a mixture of water and chemicals) pressurized and applied by machine to clean decks, followed by treating the deck with special coatings |
clean and treat a deck, waterproof or waterseal a deck, clean dirt/moss/mildew off of a deck, stain a deck, refinish a deck |
| Doors - Garage |
replacement and/or installation of garage doors, manual or automatic (electric)--includes repair |
replace and/or install: garage doors, garage door openers; repair garage doors |
| Doors - Install |
Replacement and/or installation of interior or exterior doors(Includes all types of doors) |
front entry door, rear and side doors, bedroom doors, sliding glass storm doors, etc. |
| Doors - Repair |
repair and/or replacement of existing doors and/or accessories (does not include screen doors or re-hanging doors |
doorjams/frames, holes in doors, any door accessory (i.e. hardware) |
| Drainage |
Interior - repair and/or installation of sump-pumps (to pumpout standing water) and/or drainage systems
Exterior - repair and/or installation of exterior water drainage systems, not including gutters |
Interior - unclog basement drains, flooded basement w/ need of sump-pump, any type of repair and/or install
Exterior - french drains, underground drainage, ABS systems (underground piping) |
| Dryrot Repair - Structural |
repair and/or replacement of rotting or pest-damaged wood in conjunction with structural flaming |
sub floors, interior walls, beams, eves, Joyces, framing, etc. |
| Dryrot Repair - Non-Structural |
repair to surface dryrot (non—structural) |
floor surfaces, ceilings, walls, window sills, etc. |
| Drywall/Sheetrock - Install |
installation of drywall/sheetrock on at least one surface (i.e. wall, ceiling) |
drywall/sheetrock install on an entire surface, wall, and/or ceiling; mud work w/ installation of drywall/sheetrock |
| Drywall/Sheetrock - Repair |
repair to existing drywall/sheetrock (may include minor painting) |
patch holes in walls, repair drywall from water damage, repair cracked seams,warping walls, re-taping and texturing on less than one 4’ x 8’ sheet |
| Drywall/Sheetrock - Tape& Texture |
applying drywall tape and then texturing the drywall surface on more than one 4’ x 8' sheet |
tape seams, tape corners, spray texture on drywall surface (broccade, popcorn, orange peel, etc.) |
| Electrical - Install |
installation of electrical wiring typically includes larger and more extensive electrical projects, NOT a service call or change out of fixtures |
extensive rewiring of house, rewiring of outlets, ceiling fans, circuit breakers, switches, 220 watt outlets (dryers & hot tubs), lighting, generators, recessed lighting |
| Electrical - Servicing |
the servicing of all electrical wiring and Fixtures |
service calls, changing out outlets, wire a fan or light using existing wiring, installation of any appliance to an existing power source |
| Excavation |
either a cavity or flat surface formed into the earth by digging, cutting, or scooping land (typically requires heavy-duty machinery--i.e. bobcats & backhoes), also includes leveling |
excavate land in preparation for: additions, driveways, basements, foundations; also leveling land |
| Fences |
replacement andor installation on any type of fence |
includes chain link, vinyl, wood for perimeter fencing |
| Fence - Repair |
repair and or replacement of a section of any existing type of fence |
replacement/repair of posts, boards, fence footings, gates, arbor trellis,etc. |
| Flooring – Hardwood Install |
replacement and/or installation of hardwood flooring (may include removal of previous floor), or adding to an existing hardwood floor |
hardwood (including parkay floors) in: kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, entry ways, hallways, foyers, etc. |
| Flooring – Hardwood Refinishing |
refacing an existing floor, including sanding, prepping and recoating (also includes repairs) to remove scratches, gouges, & stains to make the floor look new |
refinish a hardwood floor to bring back the shine; repairs to hardwood flooring |
| Flooring - Laminate |
replacement and/or installation of floors or floor coverings made of laminated (glued together) materials |
floor coverings, synthetic wood, PERGO, TRAX |
| Flooring - Sub Floors |
repair and/or replacement of plywood or particle board under the visible flooring ( not the framing or structure of the floor) |
symptoms can include: warped floors, unlevel floors, soft/soggy floors (sometimes includes dryrot) |
| Flooring –VinyLinoleum |
replacement and/or installation of vinyl or linoleum flooring |
linoleum (synthetic, flexible, plastic-like materfal), vinyl |
| Framing |
the skeleton of a house - replacement and/or installation of the wood beams and supports that structure and shape a house on concrete foundation (can include repairs) |
framing: a house, walls, garage, barn, floors (sub floors), changing the pitch (slope) of a roof |
| Gazebos |
replacement and/or installation of a gazebo (an outdoor structure that is typically open-air and often has lattice, used mainly for harboring benches/chairs in gardens and providing privacy for hot tubs |
gazebos in a: garden, yard, on a deck, around a hot tub, etc. |
| Gutter Cleaning |
removing debris and foliage from gutters (may include downspouts and installing gutter screens to keep debris out) |
clean gutters, install gutter screens |
| Gutters - Install |
complete replacement and/or installation of any type of gutters (must be an entire gutter system—-see ‘Gutters -Repair” for sections of gutters) |
metal gutters, continuous gutters, plastic gutters |
| Gutters - Repair |
repair: gutters, gutters afixed to soffits, downspouts, and replacement of a section of gutters |
repair/replace a leaking gutter, replace a downspout, renail a hanging gutter |
| Handyman |
this type of work can he classified as fix, repair, replacement, and/or small installations or projects that do not fit into any other specific categories |
assembly of pre-fabricated: sheds, cabinets, furniture, playgrounds, barbeques; install lattice, basketball hoops, dog doors, garage door openers, screen doors, astroturf wrought iron railings, garbage disposals, smoke detectors; repair: light fixtures, flooring (excluding hardwood), screens, wallpaper (re-gluing); put up X-mas lights; hang curtain rods; change lightbulbs; minor caulking; light carpentry; planing or hanging a door; mounting hooks; build a treehouse; “odd jobs” |
| HVAC Install |
installation ofheating, venting, or air control systems, (not including window mounted AC units) |
install: oil, gas, & electric furnaces; gas fireplaces, gas lines, pellet stoves, free standing wood stoves, baseboard heaters, thermostats, air conditioners, swamp coolers |
| HVAC - Servicing |
repairs or maintenance to HVAC systems |
repair furnace, air conditioning, cleaning ducts. |
| Insulation - Walls/Attic |
installing insulation in walls, ceilings, basements, or attics to prevent the passage of heat and/or sound (not including weather stripping or caulking) |
installing fiberglass, foam, sawdust, or other insulation products. |
| Kitchen Remodeling |
changing or updating the majority of the kitchen’s appearance and fixtures (3 or more specific items listed at right). |
includes 3 or more of the following ONLY: sinks, flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, tile, islands, pantries, breakfast nooks, bay windows, appliance installation |
| Landscaping - Design/Install |
designing and/or installing new landscapes, or modifying an existing landscape ( may include minor excavation prep work and/or one-time maintenance in addition to the main design/install project) |
laying sod, planting trees, planting shrubs, planting flower beds, fine grating, cement curbing |
| Landscaping - Maintenance |
maintaining existing landscapes |
regular yard maintenance including mowing, edging, rototilling, lawn aeration, weeding, leveling lawns, thatching, Spring and Fall clean ups, bark dusting,tree pruning, minor chipping |
| Masonry/Stone Work |
projects involving stone work, not including: concrete, cement, tile, granite, marble, or brick, |
stone: walkways, walls, fireplaces (mantles & hearths), firepits, entry ways, flagstone, stone chimneys (not brick) |
| Painting - Exterior |
applying coatings (paint/stains) to the exterior of structures, may include pressure washing, stripping, sanding, and prepping the surfaces to be painted |
exterior coatings (paint/stain) applied to: walls, siding, soffits, trim, sheds, gazebos, fences, and/or the entire exterior of a building structure(s) (see Painting - Other for smaller projects) |
| Painting - Interior |
applying paint to the interior of home (must be more than two rooms -see “Painting - Other’ for two rooms or less), may include stripping, sanding, and prepping the surfaces to be painted (including wallpaper removal) |
interior paint applied in more than two rooms to: walls/sheetrock, texture, ceilings; more than 3: doors, window frames, railings, woodwork, cabinets, pillars, stairs, etc. |
| Painting - Other |
applying paint to two rooms or less, smaller exterior or interior painting projects, and/or any project that cannot he classified into another painting category |
paint: a deck, railings, gutters, cement, garage doors, garage floors, less than 3: doors, window frames, railings, woodwork, cabinets, pillars, stairs, etc.- interior or exterior |
| Painting - Refinishing |
involves stripping, sanding, and prepping existing finished/painted woodwork and re-finishing/re-painting the surface(s) |
refinishing: doors, tables, chairs, furniture, etc., using wood-Finishing products such as: paint, lacquer, varnish, stains, linseed oil, enamels, etc. |
| Painting - Specialty Finishes |
finishes applied to metals, plastics, wood, drywall, etc. that require special materials or design |
faux (pronounced “foe’), marblizing, murals, sponge painting, artistic designs |
| Plumbing - Install |
replacement or installation of pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus of natural gas, water, and sewage systems |
install: sinks, toilets, bathtubs, sewage pipes, water lines, washer machine hook-up, exterior and interior faucets, refrigerators & ice-makers, water filtration systems |
| Plumbing - Servicing |
repair and/or maintenance of pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus of natural gas, water, and sewage systems |
unclogging drains, rootering, fixing leaks, burst or cracked pipes, removal of standing water |
| Power Washing |
using water pressurized and applied by a machine to wash exterior surfaces |
entire buildings/structures, siding, patios, fences, gutters, driveways, sidewalks, etc. |
| Remodeling - Ceilings |
changing or modifying the existing structure of a ceiling |
turning a flat ceiling into a vaulted ceiling, raising the elevation of an existing ceiling, installing suspended ceilings (also dropped ceilings) |
| Remodeling - Other |
any combination of remodeling projects that modify the existing architecture and/or structure of a home, or any remodeling project that cannot be classified under a specific category |
odd or multiple remodeling projects; examples include (but are not limited to):remodeling a closet, bedroom, foyer, nooks; enclosing a porch; turning a garage into a bedroom; complete home renovation |
| Remodeling - Walls |
changing or modifying the existing structure of walls |
removing walls, adding walls, moving walls to new locations |
| Restoration - Fire/Water/Smoke |
restoring and/or remodeling homes or buildings damaged by fire, water, and/or smoke |
homes, buildings, sheds, garages |
| Retaining Walls |
exterior walls made typically of brick, stone, railroad ties, or concrete used to hold landscapes in tact and provides support due to the difference in the ground elevation |
retaining walls around gardens, lawns, yards, perimeters of property; supporting hills; terracing |
| Roof Cleaning/Treatment |
using a mixture of water and chemicals pressurized and applied by machine to clean roofs, followed by treating the roof with special coatings (requires special insurance by the contractor) |
clean & treat wood shingle/shake roofs, clean mossy roofs, weather treatment/waterproaflng, pressure washing roofs |
| Roofing - Cedar Shake |
replacement and/or installation of cedar shake (or shingle) roofing |
cedar shakes, cedar shingles |
| Roofing Composite |
replacement and/or installation of composite roofing (asphalt roofing - resembles sandy, gritty texture) |
asphalt roofing, ‘comp’ roofing |
| Roofing - Metal |
replacement and/or installation of metal roofing |
“snap-lock”, galvanized metal |
| Roof Replacement - Other |
replacement and/or installation of any combination of roofing projects, OR if the homeowner isn’t sure what they need or want (does not include repairs) |
replace and/or install vents, homeowner doesn’t know what type of roof they want |
| Roofing - Repair |
repair and/or replace sections of a roof, stop or prevent roof leaks (does not include tile roofs) |
leaking skylight, flashing, weather stripping, broken shakes, broken shingles |
| Roofing - Inspection |
inspection of a roof to determine quality and condition by a certified roofing inspector (this typically involves a fee to the homeowner and is not considered a free estimate) |
inspect and give a report on the status and condition of a roof |
| Roof - Tar/Torchdown |
involves using a blow torch to heat tar, and then applying the heated tar to a flat roof to seal from water; includes tar & torch-down repairs; (requires special insurance by The contractor) |
tar & torch-down a flat roof, repair a tarred roof, commercial tar roofs, garage tar roofs |
| Roofing - Tile |
replacement and/or installation of tile roofing (includes tile repair/replacement) |
ceramic tile, repair/replace ceramic tiles, concrete tiles, slate |
| Septic/Sewer |
service and/or installation and/or removal of septic and sewer systems |
repair sewer lines, pumping septic tanks, pumping motor homes, installing septic tanks, removing septic tanks, installing fields |
| Sheds |
construction of an exterior shed (not a garage), usually includes siding & roofing (does not include pre-fabricated sheds--see Handyman) |
tool shed, storage sheds, firewood sheds |
| Siding - Aluminum |
replacement and/or installation of one or more sides of a home with aluminum siding (does not include partial sections of a side of a home--see siding repair) |
replace or install aluminum siding on one side of home, all sides of home, pillars, soffits, trim work, sheds, garages |
| Siding - Composite/Wood |
replacement and/or installation of one or more sides of a home with wood or composite siding (does not include partial sections of a side of a home--see siding repair) |
cedar lap siding, clear-cut cedar, cedar shakes, T-111, Masonite, hardiplank (cement composite), LP (Louisiana Pacific laminated composite), asbestos |
| Siding Replacement - Other |
replacement and/or installation of any combination of siding projects, OR if the homeowner isn’t sure what they need or want (does not include repairs) |
cedar on the front of the home and vinyl on the sides, the homeowner isn’t if they want vinyl siding or cedar siding |
| Siding - Repair |
all phases of siding repair and/or replacement of partial sections of a home (may include only a few boards) |
re-nailing the siding/boards, caulking joints/gaps where siding meets, replacing/repairing a section of siding, sanding sections of siding, replacing rotting/warped boards |
| Siding - Vinyl |
replacement and/or installation of one or more sides of a home with vinyl siding (does not include partial sections of a side of a home--see siding repair) |
replace or install vinyl siding on one side of home, all sides of home, pillars, soffits, trim work, sheds, garages |
| Skylights - Install |
replacement and/or installation of a skylight on the roof (includes cutting a hole in the roof and ceiling for new skylights) |
install a new skylight, replace an existing skylight (that is old, cracked or broken, non-functional), not leaking skylights (see roof repair), sun tunnels, solo tubes |
| Snow Plowing |
removal of snow from flat surfaces by plowing with an equipped vehicle (resembling a bulldozer) |
removal of snow from driveways, private drives, sidewalks, roofs |
| Sprinkler - Install |
installing yard sprinkler systems including the construction of new sprinkler systems and rearrangement of current sprinkler systems (also includes adding new equipment) |
install a new sprinkler system, digging trenches for new sprinkler pipes/lines, moving and rearranging current sprinkler systems (involves digging new trenches and reconfiguration), water pumps for sprinkler systems |
| Sprinkler - Repair |
repairing and/or replacing of yard sprinkler heads, PVC & ABS pipes, poly pipes, and PVC & ABS fittings (does not include fire sprinklers) |
fix a sprinkler leak, adjust the sprinkler water pressure, replace a sprinkler head, replacing fittings/joints/valves, seasonal blowouts, backflow, filters, adding timer control boxes |
| Stucco/Texture - Exterior |
applying a cement-based plaster to the exterior of a home (another form of siding) |
stucco siding, chimneys, pillars, etc. |
| Stucco/Texture - Interior |
applying a cement-based plaster to the interior of a home |
stucco walls, ceilings, fireplace surrounds, etc. |
| Stump Grinding |
removal and possible disposal of a tree stump and its debris |
removing and/or: chipping a stump, mowing a stump, mulching a stump,grinding a stump (may include removal of the stump from the ground prior to grinding) |
| Swimming Pool - Install |
construction and installation of residential swimming pools (includes solar panels) |
construction and installation of above and in-ground pools, including excavation, plumbing, and electrical work (does not include cleaning and maintenance), solar panel installation |
| Swimming Pool & Hot Tub Maintenance |
maintenance of swimming pools and hot tubs |
filtration, winterizing, cleaning & treatment, chemical treatment & general maintenance |
| Tile - Exterior |
exterior installation of ceramic or decorative tile (includes repairs) |
installation of tile around swimming pools, hot tubs, walkways, patios, pillars, etc |
| Tile - Interior |
interior installation or ceramic, stone tile, or decorative tile |
installation of ceramic, stone tile (different from stone work), or decorative tile in kitchens, bathrooms, floors, countertops, showers, backsplashes, etc. |
| Tree Services |
complete tree services including trimming, topping, removing, and rooting; requires special insurance and licensing by the contractor |
remove: tree, stump, roots, take the tree out; trim, de-limb, major pruning; topping a tree (not just trimming, but removing the top or large sections--may involve canopy work) |
| Wallpaper- Install |
installing wallpaper (may include prior removal of existing wallpaper) |
wallpaper: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. |
| Wallpaper - Removal |
removal of existing wallpaper (may include drywall repair in some cases) but does not include reapplication of paint or wallpaper |
remove/strip existing wallpaper (may require drywall repair) |
| Waterproofing |
basement - may include excavation around foundation to seal concretedriveway/flat surface - cleaning and sealing flatwork |
waterproof and/or seal: concrete, basements, foundations, driveways, walkways |
| Window Cleaning |
interior or exterior window cleaning (not pressure washing) |
interior or exterior window washing/cleaning |
| Windows - Installation |
new or existing window unit installation/replacement (may involve cutting out a hole in a wall and siding) |
install a window unit (not a pane of glass), cutting a hole in a wall and siding, new storm windows |
| Windows - Repair |
anything pertaining to a damaged pane of glass, window frame, sill, or seal |
cracked pane of glass, leaking window, caulking around a window, seal a window, moisture in between panes, replacing glass panes, replacing window |
