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A
- AMPERE
(AMP):
- A unit
measure of electricity.
- APERATURE:
- The opening
in pipes.
- ASBESTOS:
- A naturally
occurring mineral fiber sometimes found in older homes.
It is hazardous to health when a possibility exists of
exposure to inhalable fibers. Homeowners should be alert
for friable asbestos and always seek professional advice
in dealing with it.
- AWNING
WINDOWS
- A window
with hinges at the top allowing it to open out and up.
B
- BASEBOARD:
- Usually
wood or vinyl installed around the perimeter of a room
to cover the space where the wall and floor meet.
- BASEBOARD
HEAT:
- A heating
system with the heating unit located along the perimeter
of the wall where the baseboard would be. It can be either
an electric or hot water system.
- BREAKER
BOX:
- A metal
box that contains circuit breakers or fuses that control
the electrical current in the home.
- BUILDING
CODE:
- Minimum
local or state regulations established to protect public
health and safety. They apply to building design, construction,
rehabilitation, repair, materials, occupancy and use.
- BUCKLING:
- The bending
of a building material as a result of wear and tear or
contact with a substance such as water.
C
- CASEMENT
WINDOWS:
- A sidehinged
window that opens on hinges secured to the side of the
window frame.
- CAULKING:
- Material
used to fill joints that may exist between floors and
fixtures; around windows and doors, shower stalls and
bathtubs, etc.
- CIRCUIT
BREAKER:
- The safety
valves for electrical systems. It interrupts an electric
circuit when an unusual condition arises such as lightning
and malfunctioning appliances. Unlike a fuse, it can be
reset.
- CLASS
B DOOR:
- A fire
resistant rating applied by the Underwriters Laboratories
Classification for a door having a 1 to 1 1/2hour rating.
- CPVC:
- Plastic
water piping.
- CRAWL
SPACE:
- Shallow
space between the underside of the first floor of a house
and the ground.
- CUTOFF
VALVES:
- Valves
used to shut water off, generally located under sinks
or behind bathtub and shower access panels. They cutoff
hot and/or cold water at the source without cutting all
water off throughout the house.
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D
- DAMPER:
- An air
valve that regulates the flow of air inside the flue of
a furnace or fireplace.
- DISPOSER:
- A device
that grinds food sufficiently to enter drains for disposal
without clogging.
- DORMER:
- A converted
attic with windows projecting through a sloping roof.
- DOUBLEHUNG
WINDOW:
- A window
with sashes that slide vertically and allow opening from
the top and bottom.
- DRYWALL:
- A gypsum
board material used for walls or ceilings.
- DUCTWORK:
- A system
of distribution channels used to transmit heated or cooled
air from a central system (HVAC) throughout a home.
E
- EAVES:
- The section
of the roof that overhangs the walls of a house.
- EXHAUST
FAN:
- Extracts
air or excess heat from the interior of a home.
F
- FLASHING:
- Sheet
metal used at wall and roof junctions and around chimneys
to prevent water entry.
- FLUE:
- An enclosed
chamber in a fireplace that directs flames, smoke and
other gases to the outside air.
- FOOTINGS:
- Concrete
set in the soil (foundation bed) that support the foundation
of the house.
- FORCEDAIR
FURNACE:
- A unit
that transfers heat from fuel and circulates heat throughout
the ducts of a house.
- FOUNDATION:
- The part
of the structure upon which all other construction is
built.
- FUSE BOX:
- A metal
box that contains the fuses that regulate electric current
in a house.
G
- GROUNDFAULT
INTERRUPTER (GFI):
- A safety
device that interrupts surges of electricity in appliances
and other electrical components found in a home.
- GUTTER/DOWNSPOUT:
- Channel
of various materials including plastic and copper supported
at the eaves to direct water away from the foundation
of a home through downspouts.
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H
- HEARTH:
- The fireproof
surface of a fireplace, usually 18 inches wide.
- HEAT EXCHANGER:
- A device
used to transfer heat in a furnace.
- HEAT PUMP:
- A reverse
cycle refrigeration unit that both heats and cools.
- HOT WATER
HEATING SYSTEM:
- This system
heats water to boiling in a water heater, and a circulator
pumps it through a system of pipes.
- HVAC:
- Heating,
ventilating and air conditioning system.
I
- INSULATION:
- Material
used to resist the loss of heat energy. Materials such
as fiber glass, mineral wool, cellulose and foam are placed
in the walls, ceilings, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation
may be blown or installed in batt sections.
J
- JOISTS:
- Horizontal
timbers, beams or bars supporting a floor.
L
- LATHING:
- Strips
of wood or other material used as a base for the installation
of plaster.
- LEAD:
- A material
used in pipes and paint of many older homes. We now know
that lead is hazardous to health. The local environmental
protection agency should be consulted for guidelines on
handling, removal and applicable laws.
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M
- MASONRY:
- Construction
using materials such as tile, brick, cement, stone or
similar materials.
- MEMBER:
- Wood or
steel elements that make up the framing and foundation
of a structure such as 2 X 4 strips of lumber cut to various
lengths.
- MORTAR:
- A bonding
material used in the construction of brick or stone structures.
- MOULDING:
- Strips
of wood or the material used to cover joints between floors
and walls, and walls and ceilings.
P
- PARAPET
WALL:
- A low
wall or railing along the edge of a roof, balcony, bridge
or terrace constructed for protection, to control water
resulting from rain or artificial flooding or to insulate
against the sun's rays.
- PARQUET
FLOORS:
- A floor
that is laid in rectangular or square patterns often made
of prefinished wood or wood veneer squares.
- POINTING
UP:
- The removal
of deteriorated mortar between bricks and replacement
with new mortar.
- POLYBUTYLENE:
- Water
piping used for interior piping and the main waterline
to the street. Problems with this pipe have curtailed
its use.
- PROFESSIONAL
INSPECTION:
- An inspection
performed by a specially trained inspector to provide
a comprehensive report on the condition of a house. This
report is usually written and is often used in home sale
negotiations.
R
- RVALUE:
- A measurement
of the ability of insulation to slow the transfer of heat
or cold. The higher the Rvalue, the greater the insulation
power.
- RADIANT
HEATING SYSTEM:
- An electrical
heating system that distributes heat through cables installed
usually in baseboard panels.
- RADON:
- A colorless,
odorless gas that is emitted from soils, rocks and water
as a result of radioactive decay in certain areas of the
country. Radon is known to cause cancer. Homes should
be tested for radon. The local environmental agency should
be consulted on its handling, removal and any applicable
laws.
- RAFTER:
- The structural
member or beam that supports the roof. It spans from the
exterior wall to the ridge board of the peak of the roof.
- REGISTERS:
- Help to
regulate the flow of air.
- RETAINING
WALL:
- A vertical
structure used to restrict the movement of soil or water.
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S
- SASH:
- Framework
that holds the glass in a window or a door.
- SETTLING:
- The lowering
of elevation of a house or pavement due to weight or shrinkage.
- SHINGLE:
- Sheets
of waterproof material used to cover the roofs of homes
and other surfaces.
- SIDING:
- Finish
material such as wood, vinyl and aluminum used on outside
walls.
- SILL:
- The lowest
piece upon which a window or exterior door rests, usually
slanted downward slightly to provide for rain water runoff.
- SLAB:
- A concrete
foundation or floor of a home. Houses built on slab usually
do not have basements.
- SOFFIT:
- The underside
part of a roof that extends beyond the outside walls of
a structure.
- SOLAR
HEAT:
- Heat created
from the gathering of solar energy from the sun. It can
be passive or active. A positive system takes advantage
of winter sunlight through windows on the south side of
a home. An active system heats through the collection
of solar energy through solar collectors.
- SUMP PUMP:
- An electric
pump, usually installed in the basement to prevent water
from entering the basement area. It empties water from
a "well or pit" where it is collected and pumps it to
the outside of a home.
T
- THERMOSTAT:
- Helps
to control temperatures within the home. Thermostats automatically
turn heating or air conditioning on or off as necessary
to maintain a desired temperature.
- THRESHOLD:
- A strip
of metal, wood, marble or other material placed at the
base of a door.
U
- UREA FORMALDEHYDE
FOAM INSULATION:
- A type
of foamedin-place insulation that releases formaldehyde
gas. It was banned by the Consumer Public Safety Commission
in 1982 from use in residences and schools. Holding that
the risks had not been proven, a Federal Court lifted
the ban in 1983. The local consumer and/or environmental
protection agency should be consulted for additional information
on this type of insulation.
W
- WEATHER
-STRIPPING:
- Made of
various materials used to reduce the escape of heat or
air conditioning from a home. It is usually installed
around windows and doors.
- WINDOW
WELL:
- The open
subsurface space that provides light through a basement
window.
Z
- ZONE:
- A system
that allows different temperatures in various parts of
a structure.
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