Hiatus
Gap between two parcels of land, which is not included in the legal description of either parcel.

Hickey
Tool which grips the outside diameter of the pipe or conduit and also has an integral curved shoes shaping the inside radius of the bend that is being made to a pipe or conduit.

Hidden Clauses
Ambiguous contractual language that may result in an unsuspecting buyer of real estate incurring obligations or risks, not clearly evident.

Hidden Lines
Appearing on a construction drawing as dashes, they depict a feature that is invisible because it is in a piece that is out of the visibility of the viewer.

Hide Glue
Non-waterproof glue, which comes in flake form to be heated or in liquid form for other uses. Made from animal hides, it is very strong even when used with joints that are not well fitted.

Hiding Power
Coverage quality of paint or other wall covering.

High Chair
Metal support, which stops the concrete that is being poured and cured from pushing the horizontal reinforcing steel to the bottom.

High Density
The concentration of housing units on a specific property or in a specific area.

High Early Cement
Quick setting portland cement, which is used when immediate strength of concrete is needed.

High Frequency Resistance Welding (HFRW)
Use of force to join pieces together after using resistance heating with high frequency AC (10 to 500 kHz). Electrical resistant heating occurs when an electrical current passes through a conductor with high resistance to the flow of current, which converts the electrical energy into heat.

High Joint
Flaw made during installation of wallboard where the joint is raised higher than the rest of the surface.

High Lift Grouting Method
Masonry wall installed to the top of one story with the grouting being pumped in to fill any voids in one continuous process to the height of the full story.

High-Rise
A building usually taller than six stories, serviced by elevators. The designation as to high-rise is determine by local codes.

High Strength Bolts
Bolts constructed of a high tensile strength steel alloy. High Tension High voltage electricity.

High Water Mark
The highest recorded level of water in any body of water.

High Victorian Italianate
Nineteenth century style house with three different kinds of window arches, the primary distinguishing characteristic of this style. The arches are straight-sided, flat-topped and rectangular.

Highest and Best Use
Appraisal term meaning the legally and physically possible use that will produce the greatest current value.

Highway
A main road or thoroughfare.

Highway Easement
The construction of a highway right of way over a privately held parcel of land. Property owners are compensated for the value of the property usurped by a highway easement.

Hinge
General term for a pivoting fastener, which attaches a door to a frame or molding, providing support and allowing it to be opened and closed. Several types of hinges are thrust pivot, full and half mortise and full and half surface. A line up of major hinge types would be the butt, butterfly, double acting, Euro, H & H, Pivot, Self-closing and Soss.

Hinge, Butt
Pivoting fastened with two rectangular leaves with screw holes joined by a pin or rod, to alternating barrel sections.

Hinge, Butterfly
Cabinet door hinge, often in brass, that resembles the wings of a butterfly and are used on flush doors. A variation does exist to be used on lipped doors.

Hinge, Concealed
Pivoting fastener, which is invisible when the door it supports, is closed.

Hinge, Double Acting
Hinge that has two leaves and knuckles and, because it is able to turn both ways and fold flat for storage, it is often used on shutters and screens.

Hinge, Euro
This heavy hook-like hinge is easily installed with a special bit and jig.

Hinge, Pivot
Designed to be used with overlay or flush doors and to be completely hidden when installed, this cabinet door hinge has bent over leaves pinned together at the top.

Hinge, Self-closing
Useful on all cabinet doors, it has two straight rectangular leaves with a nylon insert and comes in various platings.

Hinge, Soss
Used on flush cabinet doors that are at least 4" thick, this strong hinge that is completely hidden when closed is usually brass-plated and available in five or six sizes.

Hip
The external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides of a roof.

Hip Rafter
Hip roof rafters that extend diagonally from the corner of the plate to the ridge.

Hip Rafter, Backing
Beveling of the top edge of a hip rafter to the slopes of an adjoining section of roof, with the top of the hip rafter being cut at an angle along its length and sloping down from a centerline on its top edge. Angled slopes match the slopes of the adjoining sections of roof.

Hip Roof
Style of roof that slopes on the ends as well as the sides, so that the eave line formed is constant on all walls.

Historic District
Area designated by government to have historical importance. Various incentives, including tax breaks to rehabilitate and preserve the area are provided.

Historic Structure
Home or building which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and certified as historic by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Building that is officially recognized for its historic significance has special status under the 1997 Tax Reform Act, which encourages rehabilitation and discourages demolition or substantial alteration of the structure.

Historic Preservation
A movement begun in the 1960's in the United States to protect landmarks and to unify neighborhoods. To physically rehabilitate a historic building.