Building inspectors can uncover problems that should be addressed in remodeling and also monitor compliance with building codes during construction.
Remodeling Glossary
Having trouble relating to some of the construction or remodeling jargon that you're not used to? Don't worry, you're not alone. Use the handy locator below to search the glossary for terms you'd like to understand better. It is alphabetized, and easy to use.
| Sanitary Sewer | A sewer system designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains. It is usually not designed to handle storm water. |
| Sash | A single assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass. |
| Sash cord | In double-hung windows, the rope or chain attaching the sash to the counter balance. |
| Sash lift | A protruding handle screwed to the inside bottom rail of the lower sash on a double-hung window. |
| Sash weights | The concealed cast-iron weights used to counterbalance the sash in older double-hung windows. |
| Satin brass | Brass finish that is not shiny, also called US4 by the door industry. |
| Satin-chrome | Chrome finish that is not shiny, also called US26D by the door industry. |
| Scotia | A concave molding. |
| Scupper | The drain in a downspout or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout. |
| Seepage Pit | A sewage disposal system composed of a septic tank and a connected cesspool. |
| Septic System | An on-site wastewater treatment system, consisting of a septic tank that promotes the biological digestion of the waste and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground. |
| Septic Tank | A sewage settling tank in which part of the sewage is converted into gas and sludge before the remaining waste is discharged by gravity into a leaching bed underground. |
| Setback Thermostat | A thermostat with a clock that can be programmed to different temperatures at different times of the day and week. Usually used as the heating or cooling system thermostat. |
| Sewage Ejector | A pump used to lift wastewater to a gravity sanitary sewer line. Usually used in basements and other locations that are situated below the level of the side sewer. |
| Shake | A wood roofing product, usually composed of cedar, which is produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. Modern shakes are sometimes machine sawed on one side. |
| Sheathing | The plywood, board, OSB or other material used as the base for the roofing. |
| Shed Roof | A roof that pitches up further on one side than the other. Shed roofs are also used over some porches. |
| Sheet rock | A wall finish consisting of a manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. The panels are nailed or screwed onto the framing and the joints are taped and covered with a 'joint compound'. |
| Shim | Thin tapered piece of wood used for leveling or tightening a stair or other building element. |
| Shingle | A thin oblong piece of material, such as wood or slate, that is laid in overlapping rows to cover the roof or sides of a house or other building. |
| Sidelights | Narrow fixed units mulled or joined to door units to give a more open appearance. |
| Siding | Slightly wedge-shaped boards used as horizontal siding in a lapped pattern over the exterior sheathing. Varies in butt thickness from and width. |
| Sill | The main horizontal member forming the bottom of the frame of a window or door. |
| Single glazing | Use of single panes of glass in a window. Not as energy-efficient as double glazing. |
| Single-hung | A double-hung type of window in which the top sash is fixed or inoperable. |
| Slab on Grade | A type of foundation with a concrete floor placed directly on the soil. The edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls. |
| Sleeper | Strip of wood laid over concrete floor to which the finished wood floor is nailed or glued. |
| Soffit | The underside of the roof overhang or porch ceiling that covers the rafter bottoms. This horizontal surface usually has vents to allow air into the attic. |
| Specifications or Specs. | A list of materials, methods, model numbers, colors, allowances, and other details which supplement blue print. |
| Splash Block | A pad placed under the lower end of a downspout and diverts the water from the downspout away from the house. Usually made out of concrete or fiberglass. |
| Square Footage, Living | The square footage in a home that is heated and/or cooled. The space occupied by two-story rooms and stairwells is counted once in the lower floor's square footage. Living square footage usually does not include garages, bonus rooms, or porches unless otherwise. |
| Stachybotrys | A toxic black colored mold sometimes found in wet or flooded homes. |
| Stapling Flange | A protruding edge on faced insulation used to staple the insulation to the framing. |
| Stick-Built Home | A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building. |
| Stile | The main vertical members of the framework of a sash. |
| Stool | An interior trim piece on a window extending the sill and acts as a narrow shelf. |
| Stop | A molding used to hold, position or separate window parts. A molding used for a door to close against. |
| Storm Sewer | A sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system. |
| Strike plate | Plate attached to door jamb, which receives the latch to hold the door in a closed position. |
| Stringer | A long, horizontal member which connects uprights in a frame or supports a floor or the like. One of the enclosed sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers. |
| Stud | An upright piece of lumber or steel in a wall, to which panels, siding, drywall, or other coverings are attached. |
| Subfloor | The structural material that spans across floor joists. It serves as a working platform during construction and provides a base for the finish floor. |
| Sump | A pit in the basement in which water collects to be pumped out with a sump pump. |
