873
Glossary
sash: Part of a window that slides up and down
in grooves formed in the window frame; holds
one or more panes of glass.
scratch coat: The fi rst stucco layer in the three-
coat stucco system, which covers the lath and
provides support for the second coat; also
called the foundation coat.
screed: A long straightedge, usually a board,
that is worked back and forth across the
surface of newly poured concrete to bring
excess water to the surface and settle the
aggregate.
screed board: A board attached to the inside of
the foundation wall to serve as an elevation
guide for the basement fl oor slab.
secondary stack: A soil stack in a residential
water and waste removal system that does
not drain toilets.
section lines: A pattern of lines used to show
that a feature has been sectioned.
section view: A view that shows an object or
structure as if part of it had been cut away to
expose the features inside.
seismic area: An area that is known to be prone
to earthquakes. Also called an earthquake zone.
semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs):
Chemicals that contain carbon compounds
that vaporize slowly at room temperature,
so they are released over a longer period
than VOCs.
septic system: A private sewage disposal
system used at rural or isolated home sites
that cannot be connected to public sewers.
septic tank: The tank in a septic system that
receives sewage from the house sewer, removes
solids, and discharges liquid sewage into the
disposal fi eld.
service area: The part of the house where food
is prepared, clothes are laundered, goods are
stored, the car is parked, and equipment for
upkeep of the house is stored.
service drop: The overhead service conductors
between the last utility pole and the fi rst point
of attachment to a house.
service entrance: The fi ttings and conductors
that bring electricity into a building.
service entry: An entry that is usually connected
to the kitchen; it is designed to be convenient,
rather than beautiful.
service stairs: A set of stairs intended for heavy
and frequent use.
rise: The distance from the top surface of one
stair tread to the same position on the next
tread. Also, the vertical distance measured
from the top of the wall plate to the underside
of the rafters.
riser: A vertical face that runs from one tread
to the next in a stairway. Not all stairways
have risers.
Romanticism: A social movement in the early
1800s that focused on nature, antiquity,
emotion, individuality, democracy, and art.
roof framing plan: A drawing that shows the
exterior roof lines and the size and location
of all roof framing members; included to
clarify construction information associated
with the roof.
roof pitch: The slant of the roof; also called the
roof slope.
roof plan: A separate plan that may be needed
in a set of working drawings if the roof of the
structure is intricate and not clearly shown
by the standard drawings.
roof sheathing: Material such as plywood or
boards placed over the rafters to support the
roofi ng material.
roof slope: The slant of the roof; also called the
roof pitch.
roof truss: An assembly of members that form
a rigid framework of triangular shapes to
support a roof.
round: A smoothly fi tted external arc of a
specifi ed radius between two lines, arcs, or
circles.
rubble stonework: Stonework made up of
undressed stones of irregular shapes.
run: One-half the distance of the clear span.
Also, the distance from the face of one riser
in a stairway to the face of the next riser.
R-value: A unit of measure that indicates the
effectiveness of an insulating material used
in a building.
S
saddle: A built-up area on the high side of a
roof next to the chimney to shed water and
prevent it from seeping under the shingles.
Also called a cricket.
safe room: A room within a house that is
constructed to withstand tornado-force winds.