Terminology

STRUCTURAL TERMINOLOGY

Anchor Bolts - Bolts that secure the sill plate of the house to the foundation walls.

Beam - Any structural member, can be wood or steel.

Backfill - Soil that is used to fill in between the foundation wall and the trench that was dug to lay or pour the foundation.

Chimney Cap - Device attached to the top the chimney to stop rain or animals entering. (Some people call the chimney crown a chimney cap).

Cinder Block - A type of concrete block usually used for foundation walls or retaining walls.

Code - Rules, regulations and standards for construction practices. Regulated by state or county officials.

Crawl Space - Space in a home that does not have sufficient height for a person to stand. Can be in a basement (most common in this area) or attic. Most commonly it is space under a house.

Chimney Crown - The finish or cap on top of the chimney; seals and protects it from the weather.

Chimney Flashing - Seal installed to provide a watertight joint between the chimney and the roof.

Decking - Wood covering the roof under the shingles. Usually OSB board.

Deferred Maintenance - Maintenance that has not been carried out when it was needed.

Deflection - Bending or sagging that occurs when structures are subjected to heavy weights, furnishings, people, etc. Some sagging is acceptable.

Deterioration - Damage occurring over a period of time due to a lack of maintenance.

Downspout - Pipe between the gutter and the drain.

Facia Board - Board located under the edge of the roof (behind the gutters).

Finish Flooring - Carpet, tile, hardwood, etc.

Finished Grade Line - The ground level around the foundation.

Firebrick - High-temperature brick used in fireplaces, interior of furnaces and stoves.

Firewall - Wall erected to stop or slowdown the spread of a fire.

Flashing - Seal between the roofing material and anything it comes in contact with; chimney, vent pipes etc. Can be aluminum, copper, sheet metal, tar or lead.

Floor Jack - Pole or post used to raise and / or support a sagging floor.

Flue Liner - The interior of the chimney that takes the smoke up and out. Usually made of clay or stainless steel.

Footings - The base of or lowest portion of the foundation walls.

Foundation Wall - The wall that supports the structure of the building. Can be poured concrete, block, stone or break.

Framing - Structural skeleton of the building, the wood walls that sheetrock and siding are attached to.

Gable - Triangular area on an end wall of the building that has sloping roofs.

Gable End - The end that has a gable.

Header - The heavy beam that is installed over an opening such as a door or window may be wood, steel or concrete.

Joist - A beam that typically supports the floor. Typically a 2"x10".

Knee Wall - Wall that is not high in comparison to the other walls in the structure.

Latent Defect - Defect that is not readily apparent but may become apparent at a later date.

Lintel - Structural member typically installed over a window or door opening in a masonry wall or above a fireplace. Usually concrete or steel.

Load Bearing Wall - Wall that supports the weight of the structure above it. These walls cannot be removed without providing an alternative source of support.

Modular Home - A home constructed in a factory and delivered to the site in sections. Assembled on foundation walls constructed on-site.

OSB - Oriented Strand Board, a compressed wood fiberboard. Used for decking, sheathing and sub flooring. Comes in 4’x8’ sheets. Does not warp like plywood.

Partition Wall - Dividing wall that has no load bearing function. Could be removed without affecting the structural integrity of the building.

Rafter - Structural member that supports a roof. Trusses, to a great extent, have taken over the job rafters used to do.

Retaining Wall - Wall that supports or holds back landscaping or earthworks on a hill. Wall can be made of poured concrete, interlocking block or railroad ties etc.

Ridge - The line or top of the roof, the peak, where the roof is divided, one side from the other.

Roof Deck - See decking.

Settling - Movement as a building settles after construction. Problematic when settling is uneven and cracks occur in the foundation walls.

Sheathing - The exterior finish between the structural skeleton and the exterior siding or roofing.

Sill Plate - The first component of the framing, bolted to the foundation walls, supports the building while anchoring it to the foundation.

Slab-on-Grade - Concrete slab foundation built on ground level. No crawl space or basement.

Smoke Chamber - Large area in the chimney above the fireplace. Funnels smoke into the chimney liners / flue.

Stair Tread - The "flat step" on a stairs.

Stair Riser - Back of the step, between two steps.

Step Flashing - Flashing most commonly found at the joint between the roof and a brick wall or chimney. As the roof goes up the flashing is cut into the next highest brick, giving it a stair step appearance.

Structural Integrity - The ability of the structure to function as designed / required.

Stud - Typically the vertical structural components of a wall. Usually 2"x4" wooden members.

Sub-contractor - Contractors or trades people working for a general contractor.

Sub Floor - The concrete flooring, or wood flooring installed over joists to provide a solid surface for carpet, tiles, etc. Can be plywood, OSB, T&G 

Sump Pump - Pump in the basement or crawl space connected to a drainage system under the house. Works automatically, keeping area from flooding.

T&G / Tongue and Groove - The ridge on one side and slot on the other side of interlocking planks used in flooring.

Termite shield - Metal shield between the foundation and the sill plate.

Truss - Prefabricated component used for roof rafters or floor joists.

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