Construction & Materials
Cornice
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Cornice: Decorative moulding where the wall meets the ceiling. While typically aesthetic, electricians may need to work around cornices when installing wall lights or ceiling-mounted features.
Skirting Board
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Skirting Board: A decorative timber or MDF board covering the joint between the wall and floor. Sparkies sometimes run surface conduit or data cabling behind or along skirting in retrofits.
Expansion Joint
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Expansion Joint: A gap in concrete or wall construction that allows movement due to temperature changes or settling. Electricians must bridge these gaps carefully when running conduit or cable trays.
Wall Channel
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Wall Channel: A metal or PVC raceway used to surface-mount wiring along walls. Often used when chasing is not possible or in commercial retrofits. Provides cable protection and tidy routing for power and data.
Wall Tie
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Wall Tie: Metal ties that anchor brick veneer to internal framing. Sparkies must avoid damaging or displacing them when drilling into external walls to run conduit or mount outdoor fittings.
External Cladding
Last Updated: April 25, 2025External Cladding: The outermost material layer of a building, such as weatherboard, metal, or composite panels. Electricians must penetrate cladding carefully for outdoor GPOs or lighting, maintaining waterproofing integrity.
Soffit
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Soffit: The underside of an eave or balcony. Electricians mount outdoor lighting or speakers in soffits and must ensure fittings are IP-rated and accessible for maintenance.
Eave
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Eave: The roof section that overhangs beyond the external wall. Sparkies often install eave lights, sensors, or cameras here. Requires IP-rated fittings and proper access through soffit boards.
Facade
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Facade: The external face or design feature of a building. Often includes lighting or signage requiring concealed wiring, which must be planned with the builder to avoid breaching waterproofing or structural elements.
Roofing Iron
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Roofing Iron: Corrugated or flat sheet metal used for roofing. Electricians working in roof spaces must watch for sharp edges, rusted fasteners, and earthing considerations when installing roof-mounted lights or conduits.
Sarking
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Sarking: A reflective foil or moisture barrier installed under roofing or cladding. Electricians must avoid tearing it when routing cables in wall or ceiling cavities, especially for outdoor lighting or external power points.
Insulation Batts
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Insulation Batts: Thermal or acoustic batts installed between studs and ceiling joists. Sparkies must avoid compressing or displacing insulation when running cables, and ensure clearance around downlights to prevent overheating.
Plasterboard
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Plasterboard: Internal wall sheeting applied over studs. Electricians must complete all wiring before plaster goes up. Afterward, cutting access holes for fittings requires precision to avoid damaging finishes.
Timber Frame
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Timber Frame: Traditional wall and ceiling framing in most Australian homes. Allows for easy drilling and notching to run electrical cables during rough-in. Must comply with spacing and load-bearing considerations.
Metal Frame
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Metal Frame: Lightweight steel framing used instead of timber for walls and ceilings. Requires grommets for cabling through steel studs to prevent cable damage. Often used in commercial and high-density residential construction.
Ceiling Batten
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Ceiling Batten: Thin horizontal framing members used to fix plasterboard ceilings. Sparkies often attach cables, junction boxes, or lights above or between battens, being careful not to overload them or obstruct ceiling fixings.
Concrete Slab
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Concrete Slab: A structural base in homes and buildings. Electricians install slab conduits for island benches or floor outlets prior to pouring. Post-pour work often requires core drilling and precise location checks.
Hebel
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Hebel: An aerated concrete panel used for external and internal walls. Requires masonry drills for chasing, and sparkies often pre-plan conduit positions before installation due to its brittle texture.
Brick Veneer
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Brick Veneer: A construction method where a single layer of bricks is fixed to a structural timber or steel frame. Sparkies must run cabling through the internal frame, avoiding thermal bridging or compromising wall ties.
Stud Wall
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Stud Wall: A framed internal wall structure, usually timber or steel, used to support plasterboard. Electricians run wiring within the cavities of stud walls during the rough-in stage. Requires knowledge of nogging spacing, cavity depth, and load-bearing status.