- Back Draft
- The reverse flow of chimney gases (blowing back down the chimney) because of poor chimney design or weather conditions.
- Back-up Sump Pump
- A battery operated sump pump that operates if the main sump pump fails because of a malfunction or a power outage.
- Band Board
- board attached to the ends of the floor joists around the outside of the structure.
- Base Flashing
- A portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck, to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.
- Beam
- Any structural member can be wood or steel.
- Back Fill
- Soil that is used to fill in between the foundation wall and the side of the trench that was dug to lay the foundation.
- Balloon Framing
- Method of wood frame construction used in older homes in which the studs extend as one-piece from the foundation to the roof.
- Baseboard
- A decorative molded board placed against the wall at floor level to cover the joint between the floor and the wall.
- Baseboard Heater
- A radiator mounted along the baseboard with openings at the top and bottom through which the air circulates. May be electric, or heated by hot water.
- Base Course
- The first row of bricks or blocks laid.
- Basement
- Lower store of a building below or party below ground.
- Batten
- Narrow strip of wood used to cover joints between boards or paneling.
- Bay Window
- A window that extends outside the main line or frame of the building.
- Beam
- Wood, steel or concrete member used to support a great weight.
- Bearing Wall
- Wall that supports the area above it. This type of wall cannot be removed without restructuring the areas above it.
- Bevel Siding
- Boards where one edge is tapered, slots under the board above it. Used for exterior siding.
- Blind Nailing
- Method of nailing so than nail heads are not visible on the face of the work.
- Blisters
- Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing after installation.
- Board
- Any finished lumber less than two inches thick and wider than four inches.
- Brace
- A diagonal framing member used in framing to stiffen the structure.
- Branch Circuit
- Is a circuit that comes off the main circuit.
- Brands
- Marks on a roof from airborne burning embers released from a fire.
- Brick Molding
- Wood trim piece used to cover the gap between window frames and the masonry.
- Brick Veneer
- Brick facing used as a covering, not load bearing. Attaches decoratively to the load bearing structure.
- Bundle
- A package of shingles. There are three, four or five bundles per square.
- Building Paper
- A felt or similar material usually used over the roof decking and under the shingles.
- Built-up Roof
- Roof covering composed of 3 or more layers of roofing felt and asphalt. Used on flat or low-pitched roofs.
- Butt Edge
- Lower edge of the tabs, on a shingle.
- Butt-joint
- Joint fastening two members together without any overlapping.
- BX Wiring
- Also called armored cable, the wiring is enclosed in flexible metal conduit type sheathing.
Dayton, Ohio Home Inspectors
Gas Line Dirt Legs
Gas and particularly natural gas piping may have traces of sediment or particulates in it, especially if work has been done to the underground piping under the street. To trap any contaminates before they flow into the appliance, blocking the burner and creating problems for the home owner a series of dirt legs are installed. […]Read More about Gas Line Dirt Legs
Thermostat Placement Is Crucial
A badly placed thermostat plays havoc with the heating and cooling of a house. In this case the wall light creates a warm zone beside the thermostat causing it to register hotter than the rest of the house. This means that it reaches what it registers as the set temperature shutting the furnace down before […]Read More about Thermostat Placement Is Crucial
Bath Overflow Loose
All too often the overflow on the bathtub is loose or worse yet loose and the gasket damaged. If the bath is filled up to the overflow and it is loose the water will go down behind the tub which if it’s on the second floor could damage the ceiling. The water can also create […]Read More about Bath Overflow Loose
Bonding Gas Piping
A bonding wire is often mistaken for a ground wire, it does not go to ground but back to the electric panel. When it is connected to black iron *(steel)* piping the paint under the clamp must be removed with a rasp or sandpaper to make a good contact, paint reduces the contact rendering the […]Read More about Bonding Gas Piping
High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic
High efficiency furnaces recognisable by the white PVC flue pipe, installed in an unheated attic is not your best choice of location, it may be the only place to put it which does not change the fact that it is not ideal. Yes, many builders and furnace installers are installing them in the attic without […]Read More about High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 707
Xenia, OH 45385
Address (No walk-ins)
120 West Second Street
Dayton, OH 45402
