Strata Repairs and Maintenance
Appendix: Repair terms
A plain-English glossary of the terms in this course.
The building
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Body corporate / owners corporation | The legal entity made up of all the owners in a strata scheme (the name depends on the state) |
| Common property | Everything in a strata scheme that isn’t a lot: corridors, stairwells, the structure, the outside |
| Lot | The part an owner owns, usually an apartment |
| Committee | Owners elected to make day-to-day decisions; sets your spending limit |
| Strata manager | The professional who runs administration, insurance claims and cost recovery |
| Work order | A written record of a job: what, where, who approved it, what was done |
| Asbestos register | A list of known or assumed asbestos in a building, required for workplaces built before 2004 |
| Fair wear and tear | Deterioration from normal use over time |
| Value limit | The job value (labour and materials) above which building work needs a licence |
Walls and ceilings
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Plasterboard | Gypsum core between paper faces, screwed or glued to a frame. Also gyprock (a brand), drywall, sheetrock |
| Stud / joist | Vertical frame member in a wall / horizontal one in a ceiling or floor |
| Backer | Timber or board fixed behind a hole so a patch has something to screw to |
| Base coat (setting compound) | Powder compound that sets hard chemically; for first coats and taping |
| Topping compound | Smooth, easy-to-sand compound for final coats |
| Lightweight filler | Ready-mixed filler for small holes and dents |
| Mesh patch | Self-adhesive fibreglass mesh used to bridge a small hole |
| Corner bead | Metal or plastic angle that forms and protects an external corner |
| Cornice | The moulding where the wall meets the ceiling |
| Feathering | Spreading each coat thinner and wider so the edge disappears |
| Nail pop | A bump or crack where a fixing has pushed through the surface |
| Solid plaster | Plaster applied wet directly on brick or masonry |
| Render | A cement-based coating on external masonry walls |
| Drummy | Sounds hollow when tapped: plaster, render or tiles that have come away |
Water and mould
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Condensation | Water from moist air forming on a cold surface |
| Rising damp | Ground moisture moving up through masonry |
| Moisture meter | Instrument that compares moisture in building materials |
| Membrane | The waterproof layer under tiles in a shower or balcony |
| Weep holes | Small drainage holes at the bottom of window frames and brickwork |
| Box gutter | A gutter set inside the roof, behind a parapet; overflows inside when blocked |
| Remediator | A specialist in removing mould safely from buildings |
| P2 mask | A disposable respirator that filters fine particles, including mould spores |
| HEPA | High-efficiency particulate air filter, used in vacuums for mould, lead and asbestos dust |
Paint
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sheen | How shiny a paint dries: flat, low sheen, semi-gloss, gloss |
| Sealer / undercoat | First coat that evens out absorption on bare plaster or compound |
| Stain-blocking primer | Primer that stops water stains, smoke and tannins bleeding through |
| Flashing | A patch showing as a dull or shiny spot because it absorbed paint differently |
| Cutting in | Brushing a band of paint along edges before rolling |
| Wet edge | Keeping the edge of the area you’re painting wet so laps don’t show |
| Painting to a break | Finishing at a corner, edge or frame so the join doesn’t show |
| Sugar soap | Alkaline cleaner for washing walls before painting |
Doors and windows
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lever set | The pair of levers, roses or plates and spindle on a door |
| Rose / plate | The round / rectangular plate a lever is mounted on |
| Tubular latch | A latch in a round barrel fitted through a bored hole |
| Mortice lock | A lock in a rectangular box set into a slot in the door edge |
| Backset | Distance from the door edge to the centre of the handle (usually 60 or 70 mm) |
| Strike plate | The metal plate on the frame the latch clicks into |
| Passage / privacy / entrance function | No lock / inside snib with emergency release / key outside |
| Master key system | A lock system where one key opens many doors and each resident’s key opens only theirs |
| Grub screw | A small headless screw that holds a lever on its spindle |
| Door closer | Spring and oil-filled device that closes a door at a controlled speed |
| Sweep / latch speed / backcheck | The three closer adjustments: main swing, last few degrees, and cushioning when opened |
| Fire door | A tested and certified door that holds back fire and smoke; self-closing and self-latching |
| Compliance tag | The metal tag on a fire door’s edge recording its rating and standard |
| Door stop | A buffer on the skirting or floor that stops a door hitting the wall |
| Kick plate | A metal plate across the bottom of a door to protect it |
| Awning / casement / sliding window | Hinged at the top / hinged at the side / slides sideways |
| Chain winder | The crank mechanism that opens an awning window |
| Window safety device (restrictor) | A device stopping a window opening more than 125 mm |
Sealants
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Neutral cure silicone | Silicone that doesn’t release acid as it cures; safe on most metals and stone |
| Sanitary silicone | Silicone with a mould inhibitor for wet areas |
| Acrylic gap filler (caulk) | Flexible, paintable filler for gaps along trims |
| Backing rod | Foam rod pushed into a deep gap before sealing |
General education, not trade or legal advice. Licence limits, asbestos rules and window safety laws differ by state and change, so check your regulator before you quote or start. If a job involves electricity, plumbing, gas, waterproofing, fire doors or anything you think may contain asbestos, stop and get the right licensed trade.