- Sash
- Frame that holds the glass in a window
- Sash Balance
- The mechanism usually a spring designed to hold the window sash any desired level.
- Self-sealing Strip
- Factory applied adhesive that bonds shingle courses together when exposed to the heat of the sun after application.
- Service Drop
- The overhead service connection from the utility pole to the house.
- Service Panel
- The fuse board or breaker panel that distributes the incoming electrical power to the various circuits in the home.
- Settling
- Movement as a building settles after construction. Problematic when settling is uneven and cracks occur in the foundation walls.
- Shading
- Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.
- Shake
- Usually refers to Cedar, a shingles that is split from a block of wood, used for roofing or siding.
- Sheathing
- The exterior finish between the framing and the exterior siding, or the trusses and the roofing.
- Shingles
- Any asphalt, asbestos, wood or slate roof covering bed is made to standard lengths and widths.
- Short Circuit
- Result of the hot and neutral wires being crossed, improper wiring, a wet appliance etc. Not good!
- Side Light
- A narrow fixed glass window to the right or left of the door.
- Siding
- The exterior covering on the outside of the frame building, vinyl, wood, shingles, plywood sheets.
- Sill Plate
- The first component of the framing, bolted to the foundation walls, supports the building while anchoring it to the foundation.
- Slab-on-Grade
- Concrete slab foundation, built on ground level, no crawl space or basement.
- Smoke Chamber
- Large area in the chimney above the fireplace. Funnels smoke into the chimney liners / flue.
- Soffit
- Area under the roofs overhang, situated between the wall and the gutter.
- Soil Stack
- A pipe that vents the sewer or waste water plumbing, usually vents through the roof.
- Span
- The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
- Splash Block
- Concrete or plastic form, placed on the ground under a downspout to disburse water away from the house.
- Square
- Unit of roof measurement covering 100 square feet. 10′ x 10′.
- Square Tab Shingles
- Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.
- Stair Tread
- The “flat step” on a stairs.
- Stair Riser
- Back of the step, between two steps.
- Starter Strip
- Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection by filling in the spaces under the cutout’s and joints of the first course of shingles.
- Step Flashing
- Flashing most commonly seen at the joint between the roof and a brick chimney. As the roof goes up the flashing is cut into the next highest brick, giving it a stair step appearance.
- Stile
- Vertical edge member of the window sash.
- Studs
- Vertical framing members usually 2″ x 4″.
- Stucco
- Exterior plaster tight finish made with Portland cement.
- Structural Integrity
- The ability of the structure to function as required.
- Stud
- Typically the vertical structural components of a wall. Usually 2″ x 4″ wooden members.
- Sub-contractor
- Contractors or trades people working for a general contractor.
- Sub Floor
- Concrete floor, or the flooring installed over joists to provide a solid surface for carpet, tiles, etc. Can be OSB, plywood or T&G.
- Sump Pump
- Pump in the basement or crawl space connected to a drainage system under the house. Works automatically, keeping area from flooding.
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
