Kitchen Remodeling Glossary

Estimates, drawings and permit documents assume you already know the vocabulary. This glossary defines the terms you are most likely to meet, in plain language, in alphabetical order. Where a term has a code meaning, the definition follows the codes in force in Washington as of October 2026 and names the section. Where a figure is a design guideline and not a legal requirement, it says so. For the subjects behind the terms, go to the Vancouver, WA Kitchen Remodeling Guide home page.

A

AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter). A breaker or receptacle that shuts off a circuit when it detects dangerous arcing in the wiring. The 2023 National Electrical Code requires AFCI protection for 15-amp and 20-amp, 120-volt branch circuits supplying outlets or devices in kitchens (NEC 210.12).

AHERA building inspector. A person accredited to inspect for asbestos. Under the Southwest Clean Air Agency's rule, only an AHERA accredited building inspector may determine by inspection that a suspect material does not contain asbestos.

Air gap. A fitting, usually mounted on the sink deck or countertop, that keeps dirty sink water from siphoning back into a dishwasher. The Uniform Plumbing Code requires an approved air gap fitting on the discharge side of a domestic dishwasher (UPC 807.3).

Allowance. A placeholder amount in an estimate for an item not yet selected, such as tile or light fixtures. If your selection costs more than the allowance, you pay the difference.

B

Backdraft damper. A flap in an exhaust duct that lets air out and stops outdoor air from flowing back in. Washington's residential code requires one on a range hood duct (IRC M1503.3).

Bond (contractor registration bond). A surety bond every registered Washington contractor must keep on file: $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor (RCW 18.27.040). It is shared across all of the contractor's work and is not reserved for your project.

C

CFM (cubic feet per minute). The measure of how much air a fan moves. Range hoods and other exhaust fans are sized and rated in cfm.

Change order. A written amendment to the contract that changes the scope, price or schedule. It should be priced and signed by both parties before the changed work is done.

Code edition. The version of a model code a state has adopted. As of October 2026 Washington is on the 2021 residential, mechanical, plumbing and energy codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.

Contingency. Money set aside for conditions that cannot be known until walls and floors are opened. It may appear as a line in the estimate or be held separately by the homeowner.

Countertop receptacle spacing. The electrical code rule that no point along a wall countertop may be more than 24 inches, measured horizontally, from a receptacle, with receptacles placed no more than 20 inches above the counter (NEC 210.52(C)).

D

Dedicated circuit. A circuit that serves a single appliance, called an individual branch circuit in the code. A cord-and-plug range hood, or an over-the-range microwave listed as a hood, must have one; for other appliances, ask your electrician what the manufacturer's instructions call for.

Design-build. A way of running a remodel in which one company both designs and builds the project under a single line of responsibility.

Disclosure statement (Notice to Customer). A form Washington contractors must give a residential customer before starting work when the price is $1,000 or more (RCW 18.27.114). It states the contractor's registration number and bond amount and warns that your property may be liened.

E

Engineered design. Structural design prepared to accepted engineering practice, required where an element falls outside the residential code's prescriptive tables, such as an opening wider than the header tables cover or a beam carrying a concentrated load (IRC R301.1.3).

Exclusions. The list of work and items an estimate does not include. Permit fees, appliances, painting and repairs to hidden damage are common examples.

F

Filler. A strip of finished material matching the cabinets, used to close a gap between a cabinet and a wall or appliance and to give doors room to open.

Final inspection. The inspection made after all work authorized by the permit is complete. A permit is not closed until it passes.

Fixed-price contract. A contract that sets one price for a defined scope of work. The price changes only through written change orders.

Framed and frameless cabinets. Framed cabinets have a face frame on the front of the box to which the doors attach. Frameless cabinets have no face frame, and the doors mount directly to the sides of the box.

Full overlay and inset. Two door styles. Full overlay doors cover nearly all of the cabinet front. Inset doors sit inside the face frame, flush with it.

G

General contractor. Under RCW 18.27.010, a contractor whose work requires more than one building trade on a single job or under a single building permit. A kitchen remodel is general contractor work.

GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). A device that cuts power when it senses current leaking to ground, protecting against shock. The 2023 National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for receptacles in dwelling kitchens and for the outlets supplying dishwashers, electric ranges, wall ovens, cooktops and microwaves (NEC 210.8).

H

Header. The horizontal framing member that carries the load over a door, window or wall opening. In a bearing wall it is sized from the residential code's header tables (IRC R602.7) or by an engineer.

High-efficacy lighting. Light sources that meet the energy code's efficiency standard. The Washington State Energy Code requires new permanently installed fixtures in an alteration to contain only high-efficacy sources (WSEC-R R404.1 and R503.1.4).

I

Island loop vent. The plumbing code's method of venting an island sink, where no wall is available for a vent pipe. The vent rises as high as possible under the counter, loops back down and reconnects to the sink drain, with a further vent taken off below the floor to the nearest wall (UPC 909.1).

Island receptacle. An outlet serving an island or peninsula countertop. In Washington it is optional as of October 2026, and no provision for a future one is required (WAC 296-46B-210). If one is installed, it must be on or above the countertop or be a listed in-counter assembly, not on the cabinet side below.

L

Landing area. Countertop space next to an appliance or sink for setting things down. It is an NKBA planning guideline, not a code requirement; for example, the guideline suggests 12 inches on one side of a cooking surface and 15 inches on the other.

Lead-safe certified firm. A company certified by the Washington Department of Commerce to renovate pre-1978 homes. State rules require paid renovations in those homes to be performed by certified firms using certified renovators.

Lead time. The time between ordering a product and receiving it. Cabinet lead time usually sets the start date of a kitchen remodel.

Lien (construction lien). A claim against your property by someone who supplied labor, materials or equipment for the project and was not paid. Under Washington law it can arise even if you paid your contractor.

Lien release. A signed document in which a contractor or supplier gives up lien rights for work that has been paid for. L&I advises requesting one from each contractor and material supplier before final payment.

Load-bearing wall. A wall that carries weight from the floor, ceiling or roof structure above it. Removing or opening one requires a building permit and a properly sized header or beam.

LVP (luxury vinyl plank). A resilient flooring made in plank form with a printed wood-look layer under a clear wear layer.

M

Makeup air. Outdoor air brought in to replace the air an exhaust fan removes. The residential code requires it for an exhaust system over 400 cfm when the home has a fuel-burning appliance that is neither direct-vent nor mechanically drafted (IRC M1503.6).

MPE trade permit. The City of Vancouver's stand-alone mechanical, plumbing or electrical permit for small jobs not tied to a building permit. The city describes these as jobs that can be inspected in two visits.

N

NKBA guidelines. The National Kitchen and Bath Association's Kitchen Planning Guidelines, a set of recommended dimensions for layout, clearances and storage. They are design recommendations and are not enforced by inspectors.

P

P-trap. The curved section of drain pipe under a sink that holds water to block sewer gas. The plumbing code requires each fixture to be separately trapped and prohibits S-traps (UPC 1001.2 and 1004.1).

Permit of record. In the City of Vancouver, the electrical permit an electrician takes out when the electrical work is covered by a residential building permit.

Plan review. The permit office's check of your drawings against the codes before a permit is issued.

Punch list. The list of small items to be finished or corrected, written during the final walkthrough.

Q

Quartz. An engineered countertop material made from ground stone bound with resin. It is not the same as quartzite, which is a natural stone cut from slabs.

R

R-value. A measure of insulation's resistance to heat flow; higher is better. When a remodel exposes exterior wall cavities, the Washington energy code requires them to be filled, to at least R-15 in 2x4 walls and R-21 in 2x6 walls (WSEC-R R503.1.1).

Range hood. The exhaust appliance over a cooking surface. Washington's residential code sets a minimum of 160 cfm or 65% capture efficiency over an electric range and 250 cfm or 80% capture efficiency over a gas range (Table M1505.4.4.3), ducted to the outdoors.

Recirculating hood. A ductless hood that filters air and returns it to the room. Washington allows one only where it is listed and the kitchen is enclosed with continuous local exhaust, so it is not a compliant choice for an open-plan kitchen (IRC M1503.3).

Registration. Washington's legal requirement for construction contractors under chapter 18.27 RCW. It involves a bond and insurance and does not involve a skills test, which is why "registered" is the statutory term for contractors, while electricians and plumbers are licensed or certified.

RES permit. The City of Vancouver's residential building permit, required for remodels and for adding or removing walls. Plumbing, mechanical and electrical work that is part of the remodel is included in it.

Retainage. A percentage of the contract price held back until the work is complete. Washington's disclosure statement tells homeowners they may withhold a contractually defined percentage for greater protection.

Rough-in. The stage when pipes, wires, boxes and ducts are installed in open walls and ceilings before drywall. It must be inspected and approved before it is covered.

S

Safety glazing. Glass made to reduce injury if it breaks, required by the residential code in hazardous locations such as glass in doors and glass close beside a door (IRC R308).

Scope of work. The written description of everything the contractor will do and supply. It is the basis of the price.

Scribe. To trim the edge of a cabinet panel, filler or countertop so it follows the exact contour of an uneven wall or floor. Also the name for the strip of material that is trimmed.

Selections. The specific products you choose: cabinet door and finish, countertop, tile, fixtures, hardware, paint. Prices and orders cannot be final until selections are.

Small-appliance circuit. One of the two or more 20-amp, 120-volt circuits the electrical code requires for kitchen countertop and wall receptacles and the refrigerator. These circuits may not also supply lighting (NEC 210.52(B)).

Soffit. A boxed-in section between the top of the wall cabinets and the ceiling. It may be empty or may hide ducts, pipes or wiring, which matters if you plan to remove it.

Sone. A unit of loudness used to rate exhaust fans. Washington's residential code limits an intermittent kitchen exhaust fan to a maximum rating of 3 sones (IRC M1505.4.4.2).

Specialty contractor. Under RCW 18.27.010, a contractor whose work falls within a single trade or craft, such as tile or cabinet installation. A specialty contractor may subcontract only work incidental to its own.

Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets. Three grades of cabinetry. Stock cabinets come in fixed sizes and finishes, semi-custom cabinets allow some size and finish modifications, and custom cabinets are built to the dimensions of your room.

Substantial completion. The point at which an improvement, in the words of RCW 4.16.310, "may be used or occupied for its intended use". Several legal time limits run from this date.

T

Template. The exact pattern of your countertops, taken by the fabricator after the base cabinets are installed. The stone is cut from it, so cabinets cannot move afterward.

Toe kick. The recessed space at the bottom of a base cabinet that lets you stand close to the counter.

U

U-factor. A measure of how readily a window loses heat; lower is better. A replacement window in Vancouver's climate zone must have a U-factor of 0.30 or lower (WSEC-R Table R402.1.3).

Under-cabinet lighting. Fixtures mounted beneath wall cabinets to light the countertop. It is the usual way to provide task lighting at work surfaces.

Undermount sink. A sink attached to the underside of the countertop, leaving no rim on the counter surface.

W

Work aisle and walkway. NKBA guideline terms. A work aisle, the space in front of counters and appliances, should be at least 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for more than one. A walkway, a path that is not a work area, should be at least 36 inches. Neither is a code requirement.

Work triangle. The NKBA guideline for the distances between sink, cooking surface and refrigerator: no more than 26 feet in total, with each leg between 4 and 9 feet. It is a recommendation, not code.

Workmanship warranty. The contractor's own written promise to correct defects in its labor for a stated period. It is separate from the manufacturers' warranties on products.

Where to go next

Most of these terms are explained at length elsewhere in the guide. For the electrical terms, see the kitchen electrical code page; for hoods, ducts and makeup air, range hoods and ventilation; for traps, vents and air gaps, sinks, faucets and plumbing. Cabinet terms are covered in kitchen cabinets and the planning guidelines in kitchen layouts. The contract and money terms are put to work in how to compare estimates, contracts, deposits and change orders and Washington construction liens.

If a term on your own estimate or plans is not here, ask the company that wrote it. JDI Construction is glad to walk homeowners through any document we produce, and you can read about our kitchen remodeling service in Vancouver when you are ready for the next step.