Glossary
‘Trade Jargon Demystified’
Most industries develop their own terminology and very often this ‘techno babble’ is used when communicating with clients. As a consequence some clients struggle to understand what is being talked about or perhaps even worse, they might not know what they will be getting for their money. It has also been noticed that for some strange reason contractors deliberately use this ‘techno babble’ in the belief that it will impress a client – perhaps is does - who knows?
To help decipher some of the commonly used words in the building restoration industry we have explained their meaning when used with regard to building restoration matters. It is fully appreciated that several of the words have other meanings as well. Should you know a ‘techno babble’ word that you feel should be in our list please submit it to us so that it may be included.
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| Riser (1) |
A vertical water pipe from the water mains. |
| Riser (2) |
Part of a flight of stairs being the vertical section connecting each stair tread. (See Tread) |
| Rising Damp (in buildings) |
The vertical flow of moisture up through a permeable masonry structure where the water source originates from ground water. The water rises through pores by a process loosely termed capillarity. |
| Roof Truss |
Quite common until the 1920’s the function of a roof truss is to support the purlins. Sometimes found in very large buildings where big rooms resulted in few load bearing walls. More recently a roof truss means a prefabricated structural timber framework delivered to site to form part of a roof. |
| Roof Void |
The space beneath the roof structure and above the ceiling joists of the uppermost room(s) in a building. Also called an attic. |
| Rubble Fill |
Term used to describe material that has been deliberately deposited between an inner and outer skin of a stone wall. |
| Rubble Filled Wall |
Wall consisting of inner and outer layer of stone, block or brick with rubble fill between. |
| Salt Band |
The area of a wall that is at the maximum height
to which rising damp has occurred where hygroscopic salts are present at their
highest concentration. |
| Salt Profile |
The analysis of masonry samples that have been
removed at regular intervals vertically from a wall to establish the
distribution of salts. Often used in conjunction with moisture profiles to
determine the effectiveness of a damp proof course. (See Moisture Profile) |
| Sarking Felt |
Waterproof material, supplied on a roll. Fixed
beneath the roof tile battens when laying a new roof or recovering and existing
roof. |
| Sash |
Framework that contains glass. A sash may be fixed or opening. |
| Saturation |
Maximum stable amount of one material which may be contained in another e.g. active ingredient in a solution, water vapour in the atmosphere etc. |
| Screed |
Layer of concrete used to provide a smooth surface to a solid floor so it is ready to receive the floor’s decorative covering. |
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