When you are talking to somebody, whether it be a contractor, estate agent, or surveyor, about a building’s structural repair it is likely that they will start to use words that you are not familiar with.

The aim of this guide is to prevent you from getting confused and switching off when something important, and more often that not, very simple, is being explained to you.

The majority of the terms used when referring to a building’s structure are simple, but specific, words for something that you know about, and fully understand the function of, already.

A quick read of this guide before a visit from a contractor should help you understand exactly what you are being told and also help you come across as if you know what you are talking about, which is always beneficial when trying to avoid being ripped off by an ‘opportunistic’ contractor.

Chimney Stack

This is simply how somebody might refer to the part of the chimney that is generally built in brick.

Flashing

Flashing is something that you will have seen countless times and may have even referred to, as lead.

That is because it is lead, generally anyway, and its function, as you can probably guess is to waterproof any adjoining areas on your roof. It is most commonly seen at the edges of chimney stacks, and basically any angles that are not naturally watertight due to the formation of the tiling.

Ridge

When someone refers to the ridge they just mean the highest part of the roof where the pitches (the angles of the roof slopes) meet.

Ridge tiles (sometimes lead flashing is used) are the special tiles that join the pitches.

Hip Tiles

Similar to the ridge tiles, these tiles are the ones used to join the slopes. But, along the sloping edges, from the ridge (top) to the eves (bottom), as opposed to the horizontal ridge tiles.

Rafters

The rafters are the sloping timbers that run from the ridge (top) of the roof to the eves (bottom).

Purlin

Not a word that you come across everyday, however, it is, very simply. A purlin is a main horizontal beam in a roof that supports the rafters.

Battens

These are just the thin strips of wood on the roof that you fix the felt and then tiles, or slates, too.

Strut

This is a brace consisting of a bar or rod to resist longitudinal compression.

Felt

This is the material that covers the battens on a sloping roof, and it is also the stuff that you see on flat roofs, covered with a layer of stone chippings.

Guttering and rainwater pipe

This is a system that simply catches the rain water as it drips from the roof and directs it into the drain.

Insulation

This is a word that you hear a lot these days with the recent emphasis on efficient heating of your home. Insulation is anything that is installed to prevent the loss of heat and keep your home warm; it is generally wadding laid over the beams (joists) in the ceiling.

Soil and vent pipe

This is the 4 inch pipe that takes the waste from the toilet to the main drain or the septic tank.

Timber stud wall

This type of wall is constructed from a wooden framework covered in plasterboard. They are easy to erect and also relatively easy to remove without too much disruption.

Floor joists

These are simply the horizontal wooden beams that support the floorboards.

Cement rendering

This is the sand and cement that is applied to cover the brickwork.

Cavity brick (or block) wall

This type of wall is constructed of two separate leaves with a cavity (space) between them.

Lintel

This is a beam spanning an opening of a doorway, a window, or a fireplace. They are installed to support the building where it has been weakened by an opening.

Bond

This is the pattern of laying bricks in walling. English bond consists of alternate courses (rows) of headers (bricks laid at right angles to the wall line) and stretchers (bricks laid along the wall line).

Flemish Bonding consists of alternate headers and stretchers in the same row. Stretcher bonding simply consists of row after row of stretchers.

Damp-proof course (DPC)

Damp proof coursing involves the laying of a waterproof material or membrane in (or on the outside of) a wall to prevent moisture or damp from penetrating it.

Air brick

This is a brick that has got holes in it to provide airflow.

Wall ties

These are used to hold two section of masonry together when they are not bonded.

Solid wall

These walls are often load-bearing and they are built of natural stone, brick, or concrete block and mortar.

Manhole

A manhole is simply a hole, usually enclosed with a flush iron cover, which a person can use to access an underground structure.