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. Also called a cricket.

Salt Box Roof
A side gable with one side long and extending down to the first floor and the other side short covering the second floor.

Sanding
Rubbing sandpaper or similar abrasive over a surface before applying a finish.

Sandstone
A fine to coarse-grained sedimentary rock that splits easily; often used in the construction of garden walls and paths.

Sanitary Fitting
Any of several connectors linking drain-waste-vent lines and designed to direct wastes downward.

Sap
Most of the fluids in a tree. Certain secretions and excretions, such as oleoresin, are excepted.

Sapwood
The living wood, usually of a pale color, near the outside of the tree. Generally, the sapwood is more susceptible to decay than the heartwood.

Sash
The frame holding the glass in a window.

Saturated Felt
Paperlike felt which has been treated with asphalt to make it water resistant.

Scab
A short piece of wood or plywood fastened to two abutting timbers to splice them together.

Scaffold
A temporary structure or platform for workers to sit or stand on when working at a height above the floor or ground.

Scarfing
A joint between two pieces of wood which allows them to be spliced lengthwise.

Schedule 40 Pipe
This is a rating for the thickness and strength of a pipe; it is the standard weight of plastic pipe used for residential drainage and vent plumbing systems.

Scotia
A hollow molding used as a part of a cornice, and often under the nosing of a stair tread.

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

Screed
A straight board used to level concrete immediately after it is placed.

Screeding
Dragging a straight 2 x 4 across wet concrete to strike off excess concrete.

Scribing
Cutting and marking wood or other materials so its edge matches the surface it butts up to, as the edge of a cabinet or paneling against a wall.

Sealer
A finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usually applied directly over uncoated wood. It prevents subsequent coats of paint or varnish from seeping into the wood.

Seasoning
Removing moisture from green wood in order to improve its serviceability.

Seat Cut (plate cut)
The cut at the bottom end of a rafter to allow it to fit on the top plate.

Second Growth
New timber that has grown after the removal, whether by cutting, fire, or other agent, of all or a large part of the previous stand.

Section
A drawing that shows the "cut-through" view of a building or object.

Section View
A drawing showing what would be seen by cutting through a building or part.

Sedimentary Rock
Rock composed from the consolidated debris of igneous, metamorphic, and other sedimentary rock; because they split easily, sedimentary stones such as limestone and sandstone are used extensively in garden constructions.

Selvaged Edge
A fabric edge that is finished to prevent unraveling.

Septic Tank
A settling tank in which the sludge in the household sewage settles and the effluent discharges into an absorption field or seepage pit.

Setback
The distance from a street or front property line to the front of a building.

Shakes
Hand-split cedar shingles with a rough surface.

Sheathing
The wooden covering on the exterior of walls and the roof. Typically made of 1/2 inch construction-grade plywood; older homes may have shiplap boards or planks.

Sheathing Paper
A building material, generally paper or felt, used in wall and roof construction to retard the passage of air and sometimes moisture.

SheetRock
A brand name for drywall.

Shim
A thin, tapered piece of wood used for leveling purposes.

Shingles
A covering applied in overlapping layers, for the roof or sides of a building. Shingles can be made of wood, asphalt, asbestos, tile, or slate, among other materials. Standard 3 Tab Shingle is a term used for common asphalt or fiberglass shingles vs Architectural shingles which vary in their laying pattern.

Shiplap
Boards which are rabbeted to fit into each other.

Shutters
Lightweight, louvered or flush, wood or nonwood covers located at each side of a window. Some are made to close over windows to shut out light or give protection from the weather. Others are fastened to the wall and used as decoration.

Siding
The finish covering of the outside wall of a frame building. It may be made of horizontal weatherboards, vertical boards and battens, shingles, or other material.

Sill
The framing member in contact with a masonry or concrete foundation.

Sill Sealer
Compressible material used under the sill to seal any gaps.

Sistering
The process of reinforcing a framing member by joining another piece of lumber alongside it.

Site Conditions
A term used when describing the conditions of a construction site. Examples would be: level, sloping, rocky, wet.

Site Constructed
Built on the job.

Site Plan
The drawing that shows the boundaries of the building, its location, site utilities.

Site Work
Normally includes excavation, but always refers to the preparation of a site for construction.

Sizing
(1) Working material to the desired size. (2) A coating of glue, shellac, or other material applied to a surface to prepare it for paint or other finish.

Skylight
An opening in the roof covered with thick glass the function of which is to light the area below.

Slab
A concrete floor placed directly on earth or on a gravel base; usually about 4 inches thick.

Slate
A fine-grained metamorphic stone that is highly weather-resistant; sometimes used as flagstone in constructing garden paths and terraces.

Sleeper
A strip of wood laid over a concrete floor to which the finished floor is nailed or glued.

Sliding Window
A window with two or more sash that slide horizontally past one another.

Slope
The incline of a roof, expressed as inches of rise per foot of run.

Soffit
The underside of the roof overhang.

Soft Costs
Expenses incurred in a project that are not directly related to construction or remodeling in the strictest sense. Examples are: loan, fees, surveys, legal fees, and professional fees.

Softwood
One of the botanical groups of trees that, in most cases, have needlelike or scalelike growths rather than broad leaves. (These trees are known as conifers.) The term softwood also applies to the wood produced by such trees.

Soil
The loose upper layer of earth. The bearing soil is the layer of soil on which the footings are poured.

Soil Stack
Vertical plumbing pipe for waste water.

Soldier
Brick position in which the bricks are stood on end.

Solid Bridging
A solid member placed between adjacent floor joists near the center of the span to prevent joists from twisting.

Soluble
Capable of being dissolved.

Solvent
A liquid in which things can be dissolved.

Sound Deadening
Construction intended to prevent the passage of sound.

Span
The horizontal dimension between vertical supports- The span of a beam is the distance between the posts that support it.

Spar Varnish
A varnish consisting mainly of drying oil and the harder types of resin. It is waterproof and strongly resistant to the damaging effects of moisture and sunlight.

Specific Gravity
A measure of the relative density of a substance. For woods it is expressed as the ratio of the weight of a body to the weight of an equal volume of water at 4oC or other specified temperature.

Specifications
Detailed, precise engineering instructions that include the kinds of materials to be used and the method of construction.

Speed Square
A triangular-shaped metal tool used as a guide for cutting lumber at right angles with an electric saw.

Splash Block
A small masonry block laid with the top close to the ground surface to receive drainage from downspouts and to carry it away from the building.

Spline
A thin strip of wood used to reinforce joists. Also known as a "feather" or "tongue".

Square
The amount of siding or roofing materials required to cover 100 square feet.

Square Yards
This term is a unit of measure most commonly used in floor coverings. To obtain square yardage you must take the square footage of an area and divide it by nine.

Stack Effect
Buoyancy of warm gases within a chimney

Stain
A die used for finishing wood surfaces.

Stair Carriage
The supporting framework under a stair.

Stakes
Pieces of wood inserted in the ground at the corners and along the boundary lines of a piece of property to precisely define its boundaries.

Staking
Marking the corners and boundary lines of a property and the corners and building lines of a house by means of stakes.

Steam Bending
The process of forming curved wood members by steaming or boiling the wood and bending it to the desired shape

Stick-Build
A trade term meaning to build a structure on-site with conventional construction methods.

Stiffness
The resistance of a piece of wood to bending.

Stile
The vertical members in a sash, door, or other panel construction.

Stool
The flat, narrow shelf which forms the top member of the interior trim at the bottom of a window (windowsill).

Stop (molding)
Thin molding for stopping doors on closure or holding window sash in place.

Storm Sash (storm window)
An extra window usually placed on the outside of an existing window as additional protection against cold weather.

Story
That part of a building which is between any floor and the floor or roof next above.

Strata
Horizontal layers of rock.

Stress-Grade Lumber
Structural lumber that has been graded and stamped with information to indicate the specific load it will support.

Stringer
Diagonal boards that support stair treads, usually one on each side and one in the middle of a staircase.

Strip Flooring
Wood flooring consisting of narrow, matched strips.

Structural Lumber
Lumber that is 2" or more thick and 4" or more wide; intended for use where strength is required. The grading of structural lumber is based on the strength of the piece and its use.

Structural Sandwich Construction
A construction in which layers of relatively high-strength facing materials are tightly bonded to, and act integrally with, a low-density core material.

Structural Timbers
Pieces of wood of relatively large size (with a cross section greater than 4" x 6"), the strength of which is the controlling element in their selection and use. Framing for buildings, and crossarms for posts are examples of structural timbers.

Stucco
Most commonly refers to an outside plaster made with portland cement as it's base.

Stud
Vertical member of a frame wall, placed at both ends and most often every 16" on center.

Stud Finder
Electronic or magnetic tool that locates studs within a finished wall.

Subcontractor
A contractor working for a general contractor. Examples could be: plumbers, electricians, or hvac contractors. Called "subs" for short.

Subdivision
Land that is divided or designated to be divided into two or more lots.

Subfloor
Boards or sheet material laid on joists, and over which a finish floor is to be laid.

Subfloor
The first layer of rough flooring applied to the floor joists.

Subflooring
Plywood or boards nailed directly to the floor joists to form a base for the finish flooring.

Subsurface Water
Water below ground that is caused by heavy rainfall.

Sump
A square, rectangular, or circular pit used to collect water, usually from a wet basement. The collected water is subsequently discharged by a pump.

Sump Pump
A device that draws water beneath the slab and pumps it away from the house.

Support Columns
Vertical columns used for structural support. An example could be the columns found in basements or garages, supporting the main girder.

Survey
A drawing made to scale showing the lengths and directions of the boundary lines of the lot; the surrounding lots and streets; the position of the house and all exterior improvements such as walkways, driveways, decks and porticos within the lot; and any existing encroachments.

Suspended Ceiling
A ceiling system supported by hanging it from the overhead structural framing.

Swale
A broad, shallow ditch or depression in the ground, either occurring naturally, or excavated for the purpose of directing water runoff.

T & G
Tongued and grooved.

Tack Rag
A piece of cheesecloth or cotton rag moistened with thinned varnish. It is used to pick up small particles of dust.

Tail Beam
A relatively short beam or joist supported in a wall on one end and by a header on the other.

Tailpiece
Short drainpipe between a fixture drain and a trap; also, the inlet tubes on a faucet that connect it to water supply lines.

Take-Off
A trade term meaning an estimate of the materials and labor required to do a job. Take-offs are generally associated more with materials than with labor.

Tambour Door
A door, made of narrow slats, that opens by rolling up rather than opening out. It has no hinges.

Taper
A gradual and uniform decrease in size, as of a round or rectangular piece or hole.

Taping
The process of covering the drywall joints with paper tapes and glossing over them with several coats of joint compound to produce a continuous smooth surface.

Temperature-Controlled Foundation Vents
Modern foundation vents able to sense temperature and open or close automatically. These vents allow for better foundation ventilation throughout the year.

Tempered Glass
Glass that has been cooled rapidly to produce surface tension. The result is a stronger-than-normal glass that shatters into relatively harmless cubical fragments when broken.

Template
A full-sized pattern from which structural layouts are made. Templates may be of paper, cardboard, plywood, or metal.

Termite Shield
Sheet-metal shield installed at the top of a foundation to prevent termites from entering the wood superstructure.

Termites
Insects that resemble ants in size, general appearance, and habit of living in colonies. Hence they are frequently called "white ants." About 56 species of termites are known in the United States. The two major species, classified from the manner in which they attack wood, are (1) ground-inhabiting or subterranean termites, the most common, and (2) drywood termites, found in the United States chiefly along the extreme southern border and the Gulf of Mexico.

Thermal-Break Window
Window with a metal frame that has the interior and exterior separated by a material with a higher R-value.

Thermostat
An electrical switch that is activated by changes in temperature.

Thinner
A volatile liquid added to finishing material to make it flow more easily and smoothly.

Threshold
A strip of wood or metal beveled on each edge and used above the finished floor under outside doors.

Tie Beam
A beam so situated that it holds the principal rafters of a roof together and prevents them from thrusting the plate out of line.

Tie Stones
Long stones laid across the width of the wall to add lateral stability.

Tint
A color produced by adding white pigment or paint, with the amount of white greater than the amount of colored pigment.

Title
The right of ownership to real property.

Title Insurance Policy visit a Title Company Directory
A policy issued by a title insurance company after it searches the public record. It insures against losses resulting from undiscovered defects such as forged document, incompetent grantor, incorrect marital status, or improperly recorded deed.

Toe Kick
Indentation at the bottom of a floor-based cabinet.

Toenail
To drive a nail through a surface at an angle.

Toilet - 12 inch rough
A standard toilet with the center of the drain pipe located 12 inches from the finished wall behind the toilet. Other sizes are available.

Tongue
A projecting edge, as on a board, that fits into a groove on another piece.

Tongue & Groove
Boards in which the tongue of one board fits into the groove of another.

Top Chord
The top horizontal member of a truss.

Top Plate
Piece of lumber laid horizontally on top of the studs to tie them together and form a base for the framing above which may be a floor or a roof.

Topography
A drawing that indicates the configuration of the earth's surface and the locations of the natural or man-made monuments.

Total Run
The overall horizontal measurement of a stair.

Tract Housing
A trade term describing production or subdivision housing. The term refers to houses built on a tract of land.

Transom
A transverse structural member, such as a lintel, or the horizontal crossbar in a window.

Trap
A bend in drainpipe that creates a water seal to prevent sewer gases from escaping through fixtures.

Tread
The horizontal board in a stairway; the part on which the person walks.

Trellis
A panel of open latticework fastened to a supporting framework and used for privacy and supporting climbing plants.

Trim
Finish materials, such as moldings, applied around openings (window trim, door trim)

Trim
Unmolded strips of wood used alone or in combination with molding.

Trimmers
The double framing members at the sides of an opening.

Troweling
Giving concrete a smooth final finish with a steel trowel. This step is for interior applications, as it creates an extremely smooth and possibly slippery surface.

Truss
A manufactured assembly used to support a load over a long span.

Tung Oil
A yellow drying oil obtained from the seed pods of tung trees and widely used in water-resistant varnishes, lacquers, and high-gloss paints.

Turnkey
Projects that include materials and labor, as well as necessary permits, drawings, inspections, etc. . A builder that gives you a turnkey job does everything from initial drawings to handing you the keys to move in.

Turpentine
A volatile oil used as a thinner in paints and as a solvent in varnishes.

Type "L" Copper Tubing
The type of copper refers to the thickness of the wall of the tubing. Type "L" copper is marked with a blue stripe and is approved for use underground and has a thicker sidewall than type "M" copper.

Ultraviolet Light (UV)
Invisible rays at the extreme violet end of the sun's light spectrum, which causes color fading and deterioration of certain materials, such as plastics. Most pond liners have chemical additives to inhibit the effects of UV rays.

Undercoat
A coating applied prior to the final or top coat of a paint job.

Underlayment
Any material installed over the subfloor to provide a smooth surface over which floor covering will be installed.

Utility Knife
A razorlike blade, generally retractable into a handle, for slicing thin materials.

Valance
A short curtain forming a border between a window and the ceiling or a short trim board connecting the top of kitchen cabinets to the ceiling.

Valley
The inside corner formed by intersecting roofs.

Valley Rafter
A rafter which runs from a wall plate to the ridge, along the valley of a roof. It is usually made of doubled 2" thick members.

Vanity
A trade term describing a base cabinet for a bathroom lavatory or sink.

Vapor Barrier
Sheet material used to prevent water vapor from passing through a building surface.

Varnish
A thickened preparation of drying oil or drying oil and resin. When applied to a surface, it leaves a hard, glossy, transparent coating. It may also be mixed with pigments to make enamels. Clear varnish is a slightly yellow, semitransparent liquid.

Vehicle
The liquid portion of a finishing material. It consists of the binder (nonvolatile) and thinners (volatile).

Veneer
A thin layer of sheets of wood; usually one that has beauty or value and is intended to be overlaid on an inferior surface.

Veneer
A course of stone added to the surface of a wall as decoration.

Vent Pipe
A pipe that allows gas to escape from plumbing systems.

Vergeboard
Decorative gable trim.

Vermiculite
A mineral closely related to mica. When heated, it expands to form lightweight material with insulation quality.

Vinyl Siding
A type of exterior siding made of plastic requiring little to no maintenance with a life expectancy of twenty-years. The color is a part of the molded vinyl and will not fade or wear off under normal conditions.

Virgin Growth
The original growth of trees on a piece of land. (to be distinguished from Second growth.)

Vise-Grip Pliers
Adjustable locking pliers.

Volt
A unit that measures electrical pressure. Common voltages used in houses are 120 and 240.

Volume Ceiling
A ceiling that is higher than the standard 8 feet. It can be angled or arched or simply horizontal.

Wainscoting
Matched boarding or panel work covering the lower portion of a wall.

Wall Sheathing
Sheets of plywood, gypsum board, or other material nailed to the outside face of studs as a base for exterior siding.

Wallboard
Large, rigid sheets of wood pulp, gypsum, or similar materials that may be fastened to the frame of a building, usually to form the interior walls.

Wall-Hung Lavatory
A bathroom lavatory designed to hang on the wall with no other support.

Wane
A defect in lumber in which there is bark or lack of wood at a corner or edge.

Warp
A variation from a true or plane surface, as in a piece lumber. Warp includes bow, crook, cup, twist, and any combination thereof.

Warranty Deed visit titleagency-listings.com
Warrants that the grantor (seller) has a good title free and clear of all liens and encumbrances; defends the grantee (buyer) against all claims.

Washer Outlet Box
A metal or plastic box designed to be recessed in an interior wall, allowing the connection of washing machine water hoses and providing an indirect waste for the washing machine discharge hose.

Water Based Paint
A paint in which the vehicle is a water emulsion.

Water Closet
A plumbing fixture commonly called toilet.

Water Hammer
Sound made by supply pipes when water is suddenly stopped by the quick closing of a valve.

Water Repellant
A liquid designed to penetrate into wood to make it resist water.

Water Saver Toilet
A toilet using three gallons of water or less each time the toilet is flushed.

Water Stain
A colored dye that is soluble in water.

Water Table
The top level of the natural underground water resulting from a nearby stream, drain, or shallow rock formation.

Watercourse
An artificial channel for a stream; constructed most often in formal gardens.

Watt
Unit of electrical power. Watts equal volts across the circuit times amps flowing through it.

Wattage
The measure of the rate at which electricity works. To determine watts, multiply volts by amperes.

Wax
A fatty material obtained from the honeycombs of bees or from similar plant, animal, or mineral substances.

Weather Stripping
Metal, wood, plastic, or other strips installed around door and window openings to prevent air infiltration.

Weep Holes
Through-wall drainage holes used to prevent water from backing up behind retaining walls and brick veneers on framed houses.

Western Framing
A method of framing in which each level is framed separately- The subfloor is laid for each floor before the walls above it are formed.

Wet Wall
A wall framed to enclose a building's main drain/vent stack, water lines, and drain-waste-vent lines. Sometimes referred to as a plumbing wall.

Whalers
The lumber used to stiffen concrete forms, either vertical or horizontal.

Whirlpool
A trade term describing a bathing tub with whirlpool jets.

Wood Preservative
A clear or semitransparent coating used on wood to show the grain.

Workability
The ease with which wood can be smoothly cut and shaped with hand or machine tools.

Wythes
Vertical stacks of stones in a wall that are one stone wide.

Zoning Ordinances
Local regulations affecting property uses and type of construction. They set forth the minimum lot sizes; number of family units in each dwelling; the maximum height of a building; and the minimum setbacks and sideyards.

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