Bugholes
Bugholes turns up in 2 fields: concrete, waterproofing. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Bugholes in concrete
Small surface pits on vertical formed concrete left by air bubbles trapped against the form face.
Bubbles of entrapped air and water cling to the form during placement and leave round or irregular voids, usually 1/16 in to about 1 in across, once the forms are stripped. They get worse with sticky, high-fines mixes, impermeable form faces, heavy form release and weak vibration near the face. Architectural specs grade them against reference panels, and the standard repair is a sack rub or skim coat.
"Long wall stripped clean, but the stair core's got bugholes everywhere, get the sack rub crew on it."
Bugholes in waterproofing
Small surface voids in formed concrete left by trapped air bubbles against the formwork.
Bugholes range from pinhead size to about an inch across on vertical concrete faces. Fluid-applied membranes bridge them poorly: air trapped in the holes expands and blows pinholes through the curing membrane. Waterproofers fill them with a parge coat or repair mortar first. Concrete surface specs sometimes limit their size and number.
"Wall's full of bugholes, parge it out before we spray or the membrane will be pinholed everywhere."