Copy of `Rook Home Inspections LLC - Glossary of domestic engineering`
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Rook Home Inspections LLC - Glossary of domestic engineering
Category: Architecture and Buildings > Home inspection
Date & country: 16/01/2008, UK
Words: 1346
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Sky Dome A type of skylight exhibiting a characteristic translucent plastic domed top.
Skylight A structure on a roof that is designed to admit light and is somewhat above the plane of the roof surface.
Slab on Grade A type of construction in which footings are needed but little or no foundation wall is poured.
Slab, Concrete Concrete pavement, i.e. driveways, garages, and basement floors.
Slab, Door A rectangular door without hinges or frame.
Slag A by-product of smelting ore such as iron, lead or copper. Also overburden/dropping from welding which may burn, melt, or discolor adjacent surfaces.
Slate A dark gray stratified stone cut relatively thin and installed on pitched roofs in a shingle like fashion.
Sleeper Usually, a wood member embedded in concrete, as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten subfloor or flooring.
Sleeve(s) Pipe installed under the concrete driveway or sidewalk, and that will be used later to run sprinkler pipe or low voltage wire.
Slope Incline or pitch of roof surface.
Sloped Glazing Any installation of glass that is at a slope of 15 degrees or more from vertical.
Sludge Term for the waste material found in sump pump pits, septic systems and gutters.
Slump The 'wetness' of concrete. A 3 inch slump is dryer and stiffer than a 5 inch slump.
Slump-Test Measures the consistency of a concrete mix or its stiffness. If the tests results are high, one likely cause would be too much water. Low slump test results mean not enough water. The test is measured in inches.
Smooth-Surfaced Roofing Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules.
Soffit The underside of an overhanging cornice of a building extending out from the plane of the building walls.
Softening Point The temperature at which a substance changes from a hard material to a softer and more viscous material.
Soil Cover (Ground Cover) A light covering of plastic film, roll roofing, or similar material used over the soil in crawl spaces of buildings to minimize moisture permeation of the area.
Soil Stack A general term for the vertical main of a system of soil, waste, or vent piping.
Sole Plate Bottom horizontal member of a frame wall.
Solid Bridging A solid member placed between adjacent floor joists near the center of the span to prevent joists from twisting.
Sonotube Round, large cardboard tubes designed to hold wet concrete in place until it hardens.
Sound Attenuation Sound proofing a wall or subfloor, generally with fiberglass insulation.
Space Heat Heat supplied to the living space, for example, to a room or the living area of a building.
Spacers (Shims) Small blocks of neoprene, EPDM, silicone or other suitable material placed on each side of the glass product to provide glass centering, maintain uniform width of sealant bead and prevent excessive sealant distortion.
Spalling The chipping or flaking of concrete, bricks, or other masonry where improper drainage or venting and freeze/thaw cycling exists.
Span The horizontal distance between structural supports such as walls, columns, piers, beams, girders, and trusses.
Spandrel The panels of a wall located between vision areas of windows, which conceal structural columns, floors, and shear walls.
Spec Home A house built before it is sold. The builder speculates that he can sell it at a profit.
Specialty Eaves Flashing Membrane A self-adhering waterproofing shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due to ice damage or wind-driven rain.
Specification Detailed written instructions which, when clear and concise, explain each phase of work to be done.
Splash Block A small masonry block laid with the top close to the ground surface to receive roof drainage from downspouts and to carry it away from the building.
Splitting The formation of long cracks completely through a membrane. Splits are frequently associated with lack of allowance for expansion stresses. They can also be a result of deck deflection or change in deck direction.
Spud The removal of gravel or heavy accumulations of bitumen from roof membranes by means of chipping or scraping.
Square A unit of measure, e.g. 100 square feet, usually applied to roofing material. Sidewall coverings are sometimes packed to cover 100 square feet and are sold on that basis.
Square Foot Coverage measured by multiplying width by length. An area 5 foot long and 7 foot wide is equal to 35 square foot.
Squeegie Fine pea gravel used to grade a floor (normally before concrete is placed).
Stack The vertical pipe of a system of soil, waste or vent piping.
Stack Vent Also called a waste vent or soil vent, it is the extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain connected to the stack.
Stain A form of oil paint, very thin in consistency, intended for coloring wood with rough surfaces, such as shingles, without forming a coating of significant thickness or gloss.
Stair Carriage Supporting member for stair treads. Usually a 2-inch plank notched to receive the treads; sometimes called a 'rough horse.'
Standard Practices of the Trade(s) One of the more common basic and minimum construction standards. This is another way of saying that the work should be done in the way it is normally done by the average professional in the field.
Standing Seam A type of joint often used on metal roofs.
Static Load The total amount of permanent non-moving weight that is applied to given surface areas.
Static Vent A vent that does not include a fan.
STC (Sound Transmission Class) A single number rating derived from individual transmission losses at specified test frequencies. It is used for interior walls, ceilings and floors.
Steel Inspection A municipal and/or engineer's inspection of the concrete foundation wall, conducted before concrete is poured into the foundation panels. Done to insure that the rebar (reinforcing bar), rebar nets, void material, beam pocket plates, and basement window bucks are installed and wrapped with rebar and complies with the foundation plan.
Steel Trowel Tool used for non-porous smooth finishes of concrete. It is a flat steel tool used to spread and smooth plaster, mortar or concrete. Pointing trowels are small enough to be used in places where larger trowels will not fit. The pointing trowel has a point. The common trowel has a rectangular blade attached to a handle. For smooth finish, use a trow …
Stem A small shaft or rod that projects through the faucet valve and to which the handle is installed.
Stem Assembly The moving part of a valve that controls the amount and temperture of water released by moving up and down against the seat to open and close the valve.
Step Croack Hairline, 'staircase'-type steps near the corners of the foundation, usually due to normal soil settlement. Larger such cracks may indicate ongoing movement or sinking of the foundation and are much more grave.
Step Flashing Individual small pieces of metal flashing material used to flash around chimneys, dormers, and such projections along the slope of a roof. The individual pieces are overlapped and stepped up the vertical surface.
Stick Built A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building.
Stile An upright framing member in a panel door.
STL (Sound Transmission Loss) The reduction of the amount of sound energy passing through a wall, floor, roof, etc. It is related to the specific frequency at which it is measured and it is expressed in decibels. Also called 'Transmission Loss.'
Stool A flat molding fitted over the window sill between jambs and contacting the bottom rail of the lower sash.
Stop See shutoff valve.
Stop Box Normally a cast iron pipe with a lid (5' in diameter) that is placed vertically into the ground, situated near the water tap in the yard, and where a water cut-off valve to the home is located (underground). A long pole with a special end is inserted into the curb stop to turn off/on the water.
Stop Order A formal, written notification to a contractor to discontinue some or all work on a project for reasons such as safety violations, defective materials or workmanship, or cancellation of the contract.
Storm Door A panel or sash door placed on the outside of an existing door to provide additional protection from the elements.
Storm Sash or Storm Window An extra window usually placed outside of an existing one, as additional protection against cold weather.
Storm Sewer A sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system.
Storm Window A glazed panel or sash placed on the inside or outside of an existing sash or window as additional protection against the elements.
Story That part of a building between any floor and the floor or roof next above.
Straight Stop A shutoff valve that is installed on a supply line between the floor and the faucet or toilet. Unlike an angle stop, a straight stop does not change the direction of water flow.
Strain The percentage of elongation or compression of a material or portion of a material caused by an applied force.
Striking Off The operation of smoothing off excess compound or sealant at sight line when applying same around lites or panels.
String (or Stringer) A timber or other support for cross members in floors or ceilings. In stairs, the support on which the stair treads rest; also Stringboard.
String Line A nylon line usually strung tightly between supports to indicate both direction and elevation, used in checking grades or deviations in slopes or rises. Used in landscaping to level the ground.
Strip Flooring Wood flooring consisting of narrow, matched strips.
Structural Floor A framed lumber floor that is installed as a basement floor instead of concrete. This is done on very expansive soils.
Structural Silicone Glazing The use of a silicone sealant for the structural transfer of loads from the glass to its perimeter support system and retention of the glass in the opening.
Stub See Rough-In.
Stucco A type of exterior finish. Most commonly refers to an outside plaster made with Portland cement as its base.
Stud One of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
Stud Framing A building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of relatively lightweight studs. Contrasts with Post-and-Beam.
Stud Shoe A metal, structural bracket that reinforces a vertical stud. Used on an outside bearing wall where holes are drilled to accommodate a plumbing waste line.
Sub-Rough That part of a building`s plumbing system that is done before the cement is poured.
Subcontractor A contractor who specializes in a particular trade such as waterproofing.
Subfloor Boards or plywood laid on joists over which a finish floor is to be laid.
Substrate A part or substance which lies below and supports another.
Sump Pit or large plastic bucket/barrel inside the home designed to collect ground water from a perimeter drain system.
Sump Pump A submersible pump in a sump pit that pumps any excess ground water to the outside of the home.
Suspended Ceiling A ceiling system supported by hanging it from the overhead structural framing.
Sway Brace Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over 'domino' fashion.
Switch A device that completes or disconnects an electrical circuit.
Tab The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.
Tail Beam A relatively short beam or joist supported in a wall on one end and by a header at the other.
Tailpiece The tubular part of a lavatory drain that runs from the drain flange to the trap.
Take Off The material necessary to complete a job.
Taping Applying joint tape over embedding compound in the process of joint treatment of drywall.
Tear-Off In roofing, a term used to describe the complete removal of the built up roof membrane and insulation down to and exposing the roof deck.
Teco Metal straps that are nailed to secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate. Sometimes called a Hurricane Clip.
Tee A T-shaped fitting with three openings.
Tempered Strengthened. Tempered glass will not shatter nor create shards, but will 'pelletize' like an automobile window. Required in tub and shower enclosures, entry door glass, sidelight glass and in windows where the window sill is less than 16' to the floor.
Termite Shield A shield, usually of non-corrodible metal, placed in or on a foundation wall or other mass of masonry or around pipes to prevent passage of termites.
Termites Insects that superficially resemble ants in size, general appearance, and habit of living in colonies; hence, they are frequently called 'white ants.' Subterranean termites establish themselves in buildings not by being carried in with lumber, but by entering from ground nests after the building has been constructed. If unmolested, they eat the wo …
Terneplate Sheet iron or steel coated with an alloy of lead and tin.
Terracotta A ceramic material molded into masonry units.
Texture Paint Paint which may be manipulated by brush, trowel or other to give various patterns.
