Although our Building Reports are written in a laymans easy to read format we may sometimes use words of a technical nature.
This Glossary is provided to help our Clients understand those terms.
Term | Main definition |
---|---|
Fixtures | anything permanently attached to a house and regarded as part of the real property, such as cabinets and cupboards. |
Flashing | waterproof material that prevents moisture from penetrating a house through the walls or roof. |
Flue | a smoke duct or chimney |
Footing | a rectangular masonry section which is usually made wider than the bottom of the foundation wall or pier it supports. |
Foundation | the soil or strata which supports the lowest part of a building- i.e. the footing. |
Full brick | a building where both the inside and outside walls are brick |
Gable | the triangular wall that sits between the sloping ends of a gable roof |
Gable roof: | a roof having two slopes only with a gable at each end. |
Grout | mortar used to fill the joints and cavities found between pieces of masonry or ceramics. |
Hip | the external angle formed on a roof where two inclined surfaces meet. |
Hipped roof | a roof with its ends inclined as well as its side. |
Jamb | a vertical member that forms the side of a window or door frame. |
Joist | timbers that provide the main structural support for a ceiling or floor |
Lintel | a horizontal structural member that supports the load over a door, window or other opening. |
Load bearing wall | a wall that supports weight from a floor or ceiling above it. |
Major Defect | A defect of significant magnitude where rectification has to be carried out in order to avoid unsafe conditions, loss of utility or further deterioration of the property. |
Parapet | A low wall rising from the bottom of a roof slope. |
Physical Tests | Means the following physical actions undertaken by the consultant: opening and shutting of doors, windows and draws; operation of taps; water testing of shower recesses; and the tapping of tiles and wall plaster. |
Pier | A vertical projection on a wall or the brick support for an arch or bearer. |
Plasterboard | a wall board made of plaster and covered both sides with a stiff paper. |
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