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S
Saber Saw:
A saw that cuts on the upstroke, good side of
wood faces down.
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.
Saddle:
Two sloping surfaces meeting in a horizontal ridge,
used between the back side of a chimney, or other vertical
surface,
and a sloping roof.
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 mixed with sand, resulting in a textured
finish.
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.
Sanitary
T: Used on the waste side of plumbing to keep
effluent flowing the correct direction.
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. In most species, it is lighter colored
than the heartwood. In all species, it is lacking in decay
resistance.
Sash:
A single light frame containing one or more lights of glass.
Sash Balance:
A device, usually operated by a spring or tensioned
weatherstripping designed to counterbalance double-hung
window sash.
Saturant:
Asphalt used to impregnate a felt-base material.
Saturated
Felt: A felt which is impregnated with tar or
asphalt.
SBS-Modified:
Asphalt that has been combined with SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene)
polymers to increase its elasticity.
Scale:
The relationship between actual measurements on
a page of plans or blue prints and the actual measurements
of the
building represented
by the plans or blue prints.
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 the second coat.
Screed
or Screeding: The wood or metal straightedge used
to strike off or level newly placed concrete when doing
cement work.
Screeds can be
the leveling device used or the form work used to level
or establish the level of the concrete. Screeds can be hand
used or mechanical.
Scribing:
Fitting woodwork to an irregular surface. In moldings,
cutting the end of one piece to fit the molded face of the
other at an
interior angle
to replace a miter joint.
Scrim:
A woven or mat-type fabric that is used as a membrane
sandwich between other material to provide reinforcement
and
stretch resistance.
Scupper:
An outlet in the wall of a building or a parapet
wall for drainage of water from a flat roof.
Scutch:
A bricklayer’s cutting tool used for dressing
and trimming brick to a special shape. It resembles a small
pick.
Sealant:
An elastomeric material with adhesive qualities
applied between components of a similar or dissimilar nature
to provide
an effective barrier
against the passage of the elements.
Sealer:
A finishing material, either clear or pigmented,
that is usually applied directly over uncoated wood for
the purpose of
sealing the surface.
Seasoning:
Removing moisture from green wood in order to
improve its serviceability.
Seat:
The fixed part of a valve. The stem assembly will move up
and down against the seat to open and close the valve.
Self Rimming:
A style of bathroom lavatory or kitchen sink with
a finished lip or rim that installs on top of a counter
without
requiring a metal
sink rim.
Self-Healing:
A term used to describe to a material which melts
with the heat from the sun's rays, and seals over cracks
that were
earlier formed
from other causes. Some waterproof membranes are self-healing.
Self-Leveling:
A term used to describe a viscous material that
is applied by pouring. In its uncured state, it spreads
out evenly.
Selvage:
The unsurfaced strip along a sheet of roll roofing
which forms the under portion at the lap in the application
of the roof
covering.
Semigloss
(Paint or Enamel): A paint or enamel made with
a slight insufficiency of nonvolatile vehicle so that its
coating, when
dry, has some luster
but is not very glossy.
Separation:
In concrete application, when concrete is dropped
directly with a flat chute causing the concrete to separate,
usually
occurring at a
1:2 slope.
Service
Conductor: In electrical contracting, the supply
conductors that extend from the street main or from the
transformer to the
service equipment.
Service
Drop: In electrical contracting, the overhead
service conductors from the last pole or other aerial support
to and including
the splices, if
any, connecting to the service entrance conductors at the
building.
Setback
Thermostat: A thermostat with a clock which can
be programmed to various temperatures at different times
of the
day/week. Usually
used as the heating or cooling system thermostat.
Setting
Blocks: Generally rectangular cured extrusions
of neoprene, EPDM, silicone, rubber or other suitable material
on which
the glass product
bottom edge is placed to effectively support the weight
of the glass.
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. Usually 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. Sometimes called side sewer.
Sewer Stub:
The junction at the municipal sewer system where
the home's sewer line is connected.
Sewer Tap:
The physical connection point where the home's
sewer line connects to the main municipal sewer line.
Shading:
Slight differences in shingle color that may occur
as a result of normal manufacturing operations.
Shading
Coefficient: The ratio of the solar heat gain
through a specific glass product to the solar heat gain
through a lite of 1/8"
(3mm) clear glass.
Shake:
A thick handsplit shingle, resawed to form two
shakes; usually edge-grained.
Sheathing:
The structural covering, usually wood boards,
plywood, gypsum or wood fiber, used over studs or rafters
of framed
buildings as the
first layer of outer wall covering nailed to the studs or
rafters.
Sheathing
Paper: A building material, generally paper or
felt, used in wall and roof construction as a protection
against the
passage of air
and sometimes moisture.
Shed Roof:
A roof having only one slope or pitch, with only
one set of rafters which fall from a higher to a lower wall.
Sheet Metal
Duct Work: The heating system. Usually round or
rectangular metal pipes and sheet metal (for return Aar)
and
installed for distributing
warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home.
Sheet Metal
Work: All components of a house employing sheet
metal, such as flashing, gutters, and downspouts.
Sheetrock:
Panels made primarily from gypsum installed over
the framing to form the interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock
is
often called gypsum
board.
Shelf-Life:
Used in the glazing and sealant business to refer
to the length of time a product may be stored before beginning
to
lose its effectiveness.
Manufacturers usually state the shelf life and the necessary
storage conditions on the package.
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.
Shingles:
Roof covering of asphalt, wood, tile, slate, or
other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thicknesses,
which are laid
in a series of
overlapping rows as a roof covering on pitched roofs.
Shiplap
Lumber: Lumber that is edge-dressed to make a
close rabbeted or lapped joint.
Shore "A"
Hardness: Measure of firmness of a compound by
means of a Durometer Hardness Gauge. A hardness range of
20-
25 is about the
firmness of an art gum eraser. A hardness of about 90 is
about the firmness of a rubber heel.
Shoring:
A temporary support erected in a trench or other
excavation to support the walls from caving in.
Short Circuit:
A situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires
come in contact with each other. Fuses and circuit breakers
protect against
fire that could result from a short.
Shutoff
Valve: The valve that allows water supply to be
cut off to one fixture without affecting the water supply
to the entire house or
building. Common
for use with clawfoot tubs, sinks, and toilets.
Shutter:
Usually lightweight louvered or flush wood or
nonwood frames in the form of doors located at each side
of a window.
Some are made to
close over the window for protection; others are fastened
to the wall as a decorative device.
Side Sewer:
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. Sometimes called sewer lateral.
Siding:
The finish covering of the outside wall of a frame
building, whether made of horizontal weatherboards, vertical
boards with
battens, shingles,
or other material.
Sight Line:
The line along the perimeter of glazing infills
corresponding to the top edge of stationary and removable
stops. The
line to which sealants
contacting the glazing infill are sometimes finished off.
Silicone
Sealant: A sealant having as its chemical compound
a backbone consisting of alternating silicon-oxygen atoms.
Sill:
The lowest member of the frame of a structure, resting on
the foundation and supporting the floor joists or the uprights
of the
wall. The member
forming the lower side of an opening, as in a door sill,
window sill, etc.
Sill Cock:
An exterior water faucet (hose bib).
Sill Plate:
The framing member anchored to the foundation
wall upon which studs and other framing members will be
attached. It
is the bottom plate
of exterior walls.
Sill Seal:
Fiberglass or foam insulation installed between
the foundation wall and sill (wood) plate. Designed to seal
any cracks
or gaps.
Sill Sealer:
A material placed between the top of the foundation
wall and the sill plate. Usually a foam strip, the sill
sealer helps
make a better fit
and eliminate water problems.
Sill Step:
The first step coming directly off a building
at the door openings.
Single
Coverage: Asphalt roofing that provides one layer
of roofing material over the deck.
Single
Family Dwelling (SFD): A house built for the purpose
of a single family as opposed to multi families such as
a duplex or
apartment complex.
Single
Ply: A descriptive term signifying a roof membrane
composed of only one layer of material such as EPDM, Hypalon
or PVC.
Single
Tee: The name given to a type of precast concrete
deck which has one stiffening rib integrally cast into slab.
Skip Sheathing:
The normal base for shake, shingle and some tile
roofs. 1"x4" or similar sized boards are nailed
at 90 degree
angles to the rafters
leaving a space of about 4" between each row and allowing
for better ventilation.
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 trowel when the concrete
begins to stiffen.
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.
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