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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 90 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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