Inspection Terminology
Aggregates Gravel, crushed stone, slag or mineral granules either embedded in a conventional built-up membranes bituminous flood coat or applied to a loose-laid roof system as a protective ballast. Aggregates are divided into two sizes fine and course.
Alligatoring Deep shrinkage cracks, progressing down from the surface in smooth surface membrane coatings and sometimes in bare spots of aggregate surfaced membranes. It is a consequence of hardening from the sun and air.
Amperage The rate of flow of electricity through wire.
Anti-oxidant compound A compound applied to aluminum wiring at the connections to promote a firm connection.
Appurtenance Any architectural structure, whether decorative or functional, which protrudes from the exterior of a building.
Apron A paved area such as a junction of a driveway with the street or with a garage entrance.
Asphalt Dark brown to black, high viscous, bitumen produced from petroleum. Used as the waterproofing agent on built-up roofs.
Automatic flue damper A device in the flue of the heating unit, which closes the flue when the unit is not in operation in order to prevent unnecessary heat loss up the chimney.
Backup That part of the masonry wall behind the exterior facing and consisting of one or more widths of thickness of brick or other masonry material.
Ballast Aggregate, concrete pavers or other material designed to prevent the wind from lifting a loose-laid roof system.
Ballcock assembly The mechanism inside the toilet tank which governs the flushing of a toilet.
Berm A built-up lip of asphalt or concrete which prevents run-off water from entering a garage or driveway.
Bitumin Generic term for a amorphous, semi-solid mixture of complex hydrocarbons derived from petroleum or coal. Asphalt and coal tar pitch are the two basic bitumins of the roofing industry.
Bleedout A condition which occurs when the effluent from a septic system rises to the surface instead of draining into the soil.
Blister Spongy, humped portion of a roof membrane, formed by trapping air vapor under pressure, with the blister chamber located either between felt plies or at the membrane substrata interface.
Bracing A technique used to stiffen the building. Its use has diminished with the advent of plywood sheathing.
Brick (common) Any brick made primarily for building purposes and not especially treated for texture or color, but including clinker and over-burnt brick.
Brick (facing) A brick made especially for facing purposes, usually treated to produce surface texture or made of select clay or otherwise treated for texture or color.
Built-up roof A type of flat roof which is composed of several layers of roof felt and bituminous coating, often topped with gravel.
Built-up-roof-membrane (BUR) Continuous, semiflexible roof covering of laminations or piles of saturated or coated felts alternated with layers of bitumin, surfaced with mineral aggregate or asphaltic materials.
BX-wiring Electrical wiring wrapped in rubber with a flexible steel outer covering.
Cap sheet Mineral-surfaced coated felt used as the top ply of a built-up roof membrane.
Casement window A window that opens, usually outwards, on hinges at the vertical edge.
Caulking The operation or method of rendering a joint tight against water.
Ceiling Joist One of a series of parallel beams used to support ceiling loads.
Chimney cap Concrete capping around the top of the chimney brick to protect the masonry work from the elements.
Chimney flashing A shield used at junction of chimney and roof to prevent leaks.
Circulator pump The pump on a hot water boiler which moves the water through the heating pipes and radiators.
Coal tar pitch Dark brown to black solid bitumin obtained from coal tar, used as the waterproofing agent of a deadlevel or low-slope built-up roof.
Coated felt (or base sheet) A felt that has been saturated with asphalt and later coated with a harder, more viscous asphalt which increases its resistance to moisture.
Cold-process roofing Bituminous membrane comprising layers of coated felts bonded with cold-applied asphalt roof cement and surfaced with a cutback or emulsified asphalt roof coating.
Collar beam A horizontal beam fastened between rafters which are opposite each other to add rigidity to the roof framing.
Compressor The main element in a central air conditioning system. It compresses the gaseous refrigerant.
Condensate line The line which removes dehumidified water from the air conditioning systems evaporator coil area.
Coping A capping or covering to a wall, either flat or sloping to throw off water. The material or member used to form a capping or finish on top of a wall to protect the masonry structure.
Cornice Any projecting ornamental molding along the top of a building.
Course One of the continuous horizontal layers or rows of masonry units which, bonded together, form a masonry structure.
Creosote A black, gummy, combustible substance which is formed when wood burns. Since it tends to cling to the inner lining of the chimney, it should be removed periodically as a precaution.
Delamination Separation of felt plies in a built-up membrane; separation of insulation boards into horizontal strata.
Door Jamb An upright surface that lines an opening for a door.
Drain Tile An underground drainage system used to carry off excess water at foundation footings.
Eave The extension of a roof beyond the house walls.
Economic life The average expected useful life span, based on industry standards.
Efflorescence White powder that forms on the surface of masonry when moisture is present.
Effluent Treated sewage from a septic tank, usually over 99% liquid.
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) Thermosetting, synthetic rubber used in single-ply elastomeric sheet roof membranes.
Expansion joint A bituminous fiber strip used to separate blocks or units of concrete to allow free movement and prevent cracking due to expansion from temperature changes.
Fascia A flat, horizontal member of cornice placed in a vertical position.
Felt Flexible sheet used in a roofing system produced by interlocking fibers with a binder or through a combination of mechanical work, moisture and heat.
Fiberboard A flexible board-like material made from pressed fibers of wood.
Fishmouth Membrane defect consisting of an opening in the edge lap of a felt in a built-up membrane; a consequence of an edge wrinkle.
Flagstone (flagging, flags) Flat stones from 1 to 4 inches thick, used for walks, steps and floors.
Flashing Connective devices that seal membranes at walls and other roof interruptions. Base flashings form the upturned edges of the watertight membranes; cap flashings shield exposed edges and joints of the base flashing.
Floor joist One of a series of framing members which rests on outer foundation walls and interior girders.
Flooring The interior horizontal surface of the house. May only be plywood if carpeting is used.
Footing A concrete horizontal base on which the house foundation rests.
Foundation Construction below or partly below grade which provides support for the house.
Flue A passageway in a chimney for conveying smoke, gases or fumes to the outside air.
Gargoyle Water spout or decoration in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure which projects from a wall or water table of a building.
Glaze coat Thin protective coating of bitumin applied to the lower piles or top ply of a built-up membrane when application of additional felts or the flood coat and aggregate surfacing is delayed.
Gravel Coarse granular aggregate from crushed rock, used as a protective surfacing or ballast on a roof system.
Gravel stop Flanged device, usually metallic, projecting above the roof level, designed to prevent loose aggregate, leaves or other waste from rolling or washing off the roof and providing a finished edge detail for the roof.
Ground fault interrupter (GFI) A sensitive safety device used on circuits where there is a high risk of electrical shock due to the presence of water.
Grout A mixture of cementitious material, cement or lime for example, and sufficient water to make a consistency that will flow without separation of ingredients.
Gutter An open channel installed along the eave of a roof to take away rain water.
Header (1) A brick laid lengthwise along a wall and serving as a bond. A masonry unit laid flat with its largest dimension perpendicular to the face of the wall. It is generally used to tie two wythes of masonry together. (2) A framing member across the top of an opening to distribute the load.
Heat Exchanger The chamber in a furnace or boiler which separates the heated household air or water from the burned flue gases.
Hollow wall A wall built of solid masonry units laid in and so constructed as to provide an air space within the wall.
Ice dam A building up of ice at the lower section of the roof caused by melting snow which refreezes at the cold overhang.
Internal gutters Gutters which are built into the roofs of older homes.
Junction box A covered box in which electrical wires are connected to each other.
Kneewall A support wall in the attic which runs from the floor joists to the rafters in order to give strength to the roof framing.
Knob and tube wiring This is an old wiring technique in which the wiring is fastened to the framework of the building with a porcelain knob. Porcelain tubes act as bushings to insulate the holes where the wires pass through the framework.
Lally column A steel tube filled with concrete used to support girders or other floor beams.
Lintel A horizontal structural member that supports a load over an opening such as a door or a window.
Loose-laid roof system Design concept in which insulation boards and membrane are not anchored on the deck, but ballasted by loose aggregate or concrete pavers.
Low water cut off A safety device on a steam boiler which automatically shuts the unit off if the water level becomes low.
Main girder The main support that usually runs between foundation walls to carry the weight of a floor.
Masonry Stone, brick, concrete, hollow tile, concrete-block, gypsum-block or other similar building units or materials bonded together with mortar to form a wall, pier, buttress or similar mass.
Membrane- Flexible or semiflexible roof covering the waterproofing component of the roof system.
Mineral-surfaced sheet Asphalt, saturated felt, coated on one or both sides and surfaced on the weather exposed side with mineral granules.
Mortar A mixture of cementitious materials and aggregate, with or without the addition of plasticizers or other admixtures, reduced to a plastic state by the addition of water and suitable for use to bind masonry units together.
Neoprene Synthetic rubber used in fluid-or-sheet applied elastomeric single-ply membranes or flashings.
Parapet A low wall, placed to protect any spot where there is a sudden drop as in along the roof.
Parapet wall A dwarf, barrier or section of wall extending above the roof.
Parge Coat A coating of a foundation wall to retard the passage of water.
Pilaster A projection of the foundation wall used to support a floor girder or stiffen the wall.
Pitch pocket Flanged, open-bottomed metal container placed around a column or other roof penetrating element and filled with bitumin or plastic cement to seal the joint.
Plot plan A diagram showing the underground components of a septic system.
Ply Layer of felt in a built-up roof membrane.
Pointing Mortar or the process of pushing mortar into a joint after a brick is laid.
Pointing up The filling in of the joints in masonry work with mortar in order to improve its strength.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Thermoplastic polymer, formulated with a plasticizer, used as a single-sheet membrane or liquid coating.
Ponding A water pool created by improper drainage or a depression in, the roofing surface, which is lower than the drain.
Potability test A test done on water to determine if it is suitable for drinking.
Private water system A water supply system other than a municipal system. It could be a well, cistern, pond or other water source system.
Protected membrane roof (PMR) Roof assembly with insulation on top of the membrane instead of vice versa, as in the conventional roof assembly.
Radiant heat Coils of electricity, hot water or steam pipes embedded in floors, ceilings or walls to heat a room.
Rafter One of a series of structural members designed to support roof loads.
Rake Trim which is inclined; that is neither vertical nor horizontal.
Reglet Horizontal groove in a wall or other vertical surface adjoining a roof surface for anchoring flashing.
Reverse polarity A condition within an electrical receptacle where the hot and neutral lines are reversed and the current flows in the opposite direction than in other receptacles.
Ridge board The horizontal member at the top of the roof where the rafters meet.
Ridging Membrane defect characterized by upward displacement of the membrane, usually over insulation-board joints.
Reinforced brick masonry (RBM) Brick masonry in which metal is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resisting forces.
Reveal That portion of a jamb or recess that is visible from the face of the wall back to the frame placed between jambs.
Roll roofing Coated felts, generally mineral-surfaced, supplied in rolls and designed for use without field-applied surfacing.
Romex wiring Modern wiring which is encased in plastic.
Roof Covering The outer surface of the roof designed to withstand the elements.
Roof Sheathing These are flat boards that are nailed to the rafters to which is fastened the covering.
Sash lines The cord or chain that attaches the counter balance weights to each double hung window sash.
Screwjack column An adjustable metal support post generally used under beams.
Scupper Channel through parapet, designed for peripheral drainage of the roof, usually as safety overflow system to limit accumulation of ponded rainwater caused by clogged drains.
Septic tank The first part of a septic system in which sewage settles to the bottom and liquid components are siphoned off the top to the drainage field.
Shingling Pattern formed by laying parallel felt rolls with lapped joints so that one longitudinal edge overlaps the longitudinal edge of one adjacent felt; whereas, the other longitudinal underlaps the other adjacent felt. Shingling is the informal method of applying felts in a built-up roofing membrane.
Shower pan The metal receptacle below tiled shower floors.
Siding The exposed surface of exterior walls of frame buildings.
Sill plate One of a series of horizontal framing members resting on top of the foundation walls.
Slab Concrete floor placed directly on earth or gravel base and supported on the footings.
Slag Porous aggregate used as built-up bituminous membrane surfacing, comprising silicates and alumino-silicates of calcium and other bases, developed with iron in a blast furnace.
Smoke chamber A large void over the fireplace damper that prevents the smoke from backing up into the room and also prevents rainwater from entering the firebox.
Smooth-surfaced roof Built-up roofing membrane surfaced with a layer of hot mopped asphalt or cold-applied asphalt-clay emulsion or asphalt cutback, or something with unmopped inorganic felt.
Soffit The visible horizontal underside of the eave or overhang of a house. The underside of an arch, floor, lintel, stair or other similar construction.
Soil stack Vertical plumbing pipes for waste water.
Soldier A brick laid on its edge so that its longest dimension is parallel to the vertical axis of the face of the wall.
Solid wall A wall built of solid masonry units, laid contiguously, with the spaces between the units filled completely with mortar. Also, walls built of solid concrete.
Spall A small fragment removed from the face of the stone, brick or other masonry material by a blow or by the action of the elements.
Spalling The flaking of the top Ό or ½ of the face of the stone, common with brick and soft stone.
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.
Stack (or chimney) Any structure or part of a structure partly or wholly exposed to the atmosphere which contains a flue or flues for the discharge of gasses.
Steam vent A vent on a steam radiator which allows the air in the radiator to escape as steam begins to fill the radiator and automatically closes when the radiator is full of steam.
Stucco Most commonly refers to an outside plaster made with Portland cement as its base.
Stud One of a series of vertical members of the house framing to which horizontal sheets are nailed.
Sub-flooring A wood or fibrous material that is nailed to the floor joists and then receives the finished flooring.
Sump A pit in the basement or crawl space floor which collects water so it can be pumped out.
Swale A wide, shallow depression in the ground to form a channel for storm water drainage.
Tearoff Removing a failed roof system down to the skeletal deck.
Thermal shock Stress produced phenomenon resulting from sudden temperature change in a roof membrane when, for example, a rain shower follows brilliant, hot sunshine.
Through-wall flashing Water-resistant membrane or material assembly extending through a walls horizontal cross-section and designed to direct water flow through the wall to the exterior.
Toilet seal A seal, usually wax, which joins the toilet base to the drain pipe.
Tread The horizontal part of a stair step.
Veneer A facing masonry material attached, but not bonded, to the backing.
Vent Opening designed to convey water vapor or other gas from inside building or building component to the atmosphere.
Vent pipe A pipe which allows gas to escape from the plumbing system.
Voltage The pressure behind the flow of electricity.
Wall board An interior wall surface of plasterboard or material other than plaster.
Wall sheathing A sub-surface material nailed to exterior studs to back the siding.
Wall tie Strip of metal used for tying a facing veneer to the body of a wall.
Water table (1) The level below which the ground is saturated with water. (2) A slight projection of masonry or mid-wall cornice, designed as an architectural decoration or, when slightly above the ground, as a protection against water.
Weep hole A small hole in a wall or storm window which permits water to drain off.
Well log A chart indicating well data such as depth, size of equipment, etc.
Window Casing The framing members containing and supporting the windows of the house.
Window well A metal or masonry frame outside of a basement window which keeps the earth away from the window yet allows light to enter.
Withe or Wythe A single thickness of brick laid up to form a wall.
Wood Preservative A liquid compound (with or without stain) which helps to preserve wood.
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