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Glossary of Home Building Terms



SBS-modified. Asphalt that has been combined with SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymers to increase its elasticity

STC (Sound Transmission Class). The measure of sound stopping of ordinary noise

saddle. A small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimney to divert water around the chimney; the plate at the bottom of some usually exterior door openings; a.k.a. threshold

sack mix. The amount of Portland cement in a cubic yard of concrete mix; generally, 5 or 6 sack is required in a foundation wall

sales contract . A contract between a buyer and seller which should explain: (1) what the purchase includes, (2) what guarantees there are, (3) when the buyer can move in, (4) what the closing costs are, and (5) what recourse the parties have if the contract is not fulfilled or if the buyer cannot get a mortgage commitment at the agreed upon time

sand float finish. Lime that is mixed with sand, resulting in a textured finish on a wall

sanitary sewer. A sewer system designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains, and is usually not designed to handle storm water

sapwood. The outer zone of wood, next to the bark; in the living tree, it contains some living cells (the heartwood contains none), as well as dead and dying cells; usually lighter in color than the heartwood; generally lacking in decay resistance

sash. A single light frame containing one or more lights of glass; or, the frame that holds the glass in a window, often the movable part of the window

sash balance. A device, usually operated by a spring and designed to hold a single hung window vent up and in place

saturant. Asphalt used to impregnate a felt-base material

saturated felt. A felt which is impregnated with tar or asphalt

schedule (window, door, mirror). A table on the blueprints that list the sizes, quantities and locations of the windows, doors and mirrors

scrap out. The removal of all drywall material and debris after the home is "hung out" (installed) with drywall

scratch coat. The first coat of plaster, which is scratched to form a bond for a second coat

screed, concrete. To level off concrete to the correct elevation during a concrete pour

screed, plaster. A small strip of wood, usually the thickness of the plaster coat, used as a guide for plastering

scribing. Cutting and fitting woodwork to an irregular surface

scupper. (1) An opening for drainage in a wall, curb or parapet; (2) the drain in a downspout or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.

sealer. A finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usually applied directly over raw wood for the purpose of sealing the wood surface

seasoning. Drying and removing moisture from green wood in order to improve its usability

self-sealing shingles. Shingles containing factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive

semigloss paint or enamel. A paint or enamel made so that its coating, when dry, has some luster but is not very glossy. Bathrooms and kitchens are normally painted semi-gloss

septic system. An on site waste water treatment system; generally has a septic tank which promotes the biological digestion of the waste, and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground; usually sized by the number of bedrooms in a house

service entrance panel. Main power cabinet where electricity enters a home wiring system

service equipment. Main control gear at the service entrance, such as circuit breakers, switches, and fuses

service lateral. Underground power supply line

setback Thermostat. A thermostat with a clock which can be programmed to turn on or go off at various temperatures and at different times of the day/week; generally used as the heating or cooling system thermostat

settlement. Shifts in a structure, usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles underground

sewage ejector. A pump used to 'lift' waste water to a gravity sanitary sewer line; often used in basements and other locations which are situated bellow the level of the side sewer

sewer lateral. The portion of the sanitary sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines; the side sewer is usually buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line; it is usually 'owned' by the sewer utility, must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved contractors; a.k.a side sewer

sewer stub, sewer tap. The junction at the municipal sewer system where the home's sewer line is connected

shake. A wood roofing material, normally cedar or redwood; Produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line; modernp shakes are sometimes machine sawn on one side

shear block. Plywood that is face nailed to short (2 X 4's or 2 X 6's) wall studs (above a door or window, for example) to prevent the wall from sliding and collapsing

sheathing, sheeting. The structural wood panel covering, usually OSB or plywood, used over studs, floor joists or rafters/trusses of a structure

shed roof. A roof containing only one sloping plane

sheet metal work. All components of a house employing sheet metal, such as flashing, gutters, and downspouts

sheet metal duct work. The heating system; generally round or rectangular metal pipes and sheet metal (for return air) and installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home

sheet rock. A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard; usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size; green board-type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other wet areas; a.k.a. drywall board, gypsum

shellac. A transparent coating made by dissolving lac, a resinous secretion of the lac bug (a scale insect that thrives in tropical countries, especially India), in alcohol

shim. A small piece of scrap lumber or shingle, usually wedge shaped, which when forced behind a furring strip or framing member forces it into position; also used when installing doors and placed between the door jamb legs and 2 X 4 door trimmers; metal shims are wafer  1 1/2" X 2" sheet metal of various thickness' used to fill gaps in wood framing members, especially at bearing point locations

shingles. Roof covering of asphalt. asbestos, wood, tile, slate, or other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thicknesses

shingles, siding. Various kinds of shingles, used over sheathing for exterior wall covering of a structure

short circuit. A situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires come in contact with each other; uses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from a short

shutter. Usually lightweight louvered decorative frames in the form of doors located on the sides of a window; sometimes made to close over the window for protection

side sewer. The portion of the sanitary sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines; usually buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line; usually owned by the sewer utility, must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved contractors; a.k.a. sewer lateral

siding. The finished exterior covering of the outside walls of a frame building

siding, bevel or lap. Wedge-shaped boards used as horizontal siding in a lapped pattern; varies in butt thickness from ½ to ¾ inch and in widths up to 12 inches; commonly used over some type of sheathing

siding, Dolly Varden. Beveled wood siding which is rabbeted on the bottom edge

siding, drop. Usually ¾ inch thick and 6 and 8 inches wide with tongued-and-grooved or shiplap edges; often used as siding without sheathing in secondary buildings

sill. (1) The 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 wood plate framing member that lays flat against and bolted to the foundation wall (with anchor bolts) and upon which the floor joists are installed; normally, the sill plate is treated lumber; (2) The member forming the lower side of an opening, as a door sill or window sill

sill cock. An exterior water faucet (hose bib)

sill plate (mudsill). Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill; also sole plate, bottom member of an interior wall frame

sill seal. Fiberglass or foam insulation installed between the foundation wall and sill (wood) plate; designed to seal any cracks or gaps

single hung window. A window with one vertically sliding sash or window vent

skip sheathing. The normal base for shake, shingle and some tile roofs; 1" x 4" or similar sized boards are nailed at 90š to the rafters leaving a space of about 4" between each row and allowing for better ventilation

skylight. A more or less horizontal window located on the roof of a building

slab, concrete. Concrete pavement, i.e. driveways, garages, and basement floors

slab, door. A rectangular door without hinges or frame

slab on grade. A type of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directly on the soil; the edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls

slag. Concrete cement that sometimes covers the vertical face of the foundation void material

sleeper. Usually, a wood member embedded in concrete, as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten the 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. The incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise (in inches) to the run (in feet)

slump. The wetness of concrete; a three-inch slump is dryer and stiffer than a five-inch slump

smooth-surfaced roofing. Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules

soffit. The area below the eaves and overhangs; the underside where the roof overhangs the walls; usually the underside of an overhanging cornice

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 pipe. A large pipe that carries liquid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank

soil stack. A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof

sole plate. The bottom, horizontal framing member of a wall that's attached to the floor sheeting and vertical wall studs

solid bridging. A solid member placed between adjacent floor joists near the center of the span to prevent joists or rafters 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

spacing. The distance between individual members or shingles in building construction

span. The clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports. The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves

spec home. A house built before it is sold; the builder speculates that he can sell it at a profit

specifications, or specs. A narrative list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details which supplement the information contained in the blue prints; written elaboration in specific detail about construction materials and methods; written to supplement working drawings

splash block. Portable concrete (or vinyl) channel generally placed beneath an exterior sill cock (water faucet) or downspout in order to receive roof drainage from downspouts and to divert it away from the building

square. A unit of measure-100 square feet-usually applied to roofing and siding material. Also, a situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other. Also a tool for checking this.

square-tab shingles. Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure

squeegie. Fine pea gravel used to grade a floor (normally before concrete is placed)

stack (trusses). To position trusses on the walls in their correct location

standard practices of the trade(s). One of the more common basic and minimum construction standards; another way of saying that the work should be done in the way it is normally done by the average professional in the field

starter strip. Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the first course of shingles

stair carriage, or stringer. Supporting member for stair treads; usually a 2 X 12 inch plank notched to receive the treads; sometimes called a rough horse

stair landing. A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs; often used when stairs change direction; normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square

stair rise. The vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread (and not to exceed 7 ½")

static vent. A vent that does not include a fan

steel inspection. A municipal and/or engineers 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

steep-slope application. Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot

step flashing. Flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. 6" X 6" galvanized metal bent at a 90 degree angle, and installed beneath siding and over the top of shingles. Each piece overlaps the one beneath it the entire length of the sloping roof (step by step)

stick built. A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building

stile. An upright framing member in a panel door

stool. The flat molding fitted over the window sill between jambs and contacting the bottom rail of the lower sash; also, another name for toilet

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

stops. Moldings along the inner edges of a door or window frame; also, valves used to shut off water to a fixture

stop valve. A device installed in a water supply line, usually near a fixture, that permits an individual to shut off the water supply to one fixture without interrupting service to the rest of the system

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

story. That part of a building between any floor or between the floor and roof

strike. The plate on a door frame that engages a latch or dead bolt

string, stringer. A timber or other support for cross members in floors or ceilings; in stairs, the supporting member for stair treads. Usually a 2 X 12 inch plank notched to receive the treads

strip flooring. Wood flooring consisting of narrow, matched strips

structural floor. A framed lumber floor that is installed as a basement floor rather than concrete; done on very expansive soils

stub, stubbed. To push through

stucco. Refers to an outside plaster finish made with Portland cement as its base

stud. A vertical wood framing member, also referred to as a wall stud, attached to the horizontal sole plate below and the top plate above; normally 2 X 4's or 2 X 6's, 8' long (sometimes 92 5/8"); 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

subfloor. The framing components of a floor to include the sill plate, floor joists, and deck sheeting over which a finish floor is to be laid

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

 


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