Glossary of terms: Exterior
Click on the numbers on the diagram below for descriptions and any associated problems.
CLICK HERE for interior glossary
CLICK HERE for a complete list of exterior glossary items
- 1. SHRUBS
Common problems: Overgrown shrubs/creepers keeping wall damp. - 2. MULLION
Structural member between two windows. - 3. LINTEL
A structural member over a window or door opening which supports the masonry above this area. - 4. ROUGHCAST WALLS
Common problems: Render broken away - water penetration of brickwork. - 5. WINDOW CILLS
Slab of wood or stone at base of window. The window rests on the cill and it serves to shed water away.
Common problems: Cracked sill - water penetration into wall below - decay in skirting and window board. - 6. GABLE WALLS
Triangular part of wall at end of ridged roof.
Common problems: Water penetration of porous render or brickwork on gable, wet rot in ends of purlins. - 7. ROOF VERGE
Open edge of a roof where it meets a gable wall. Generally where a verge occurs, the roof projects beyond the wall. - 8. CHIMNEY
The visible termination of the flue from a fireplace. The chimney is usually a masonry structure projecting above the roof level. On top of the chimney is usually a cope and a terminal or can.
Common problems: Blocked off chimney - water penetration, also condensation in flues causing dampness on chimney breasts below. Sulphate attack in brickwork caused by slow burning boiler and unlined flue and resulting in distortion of stack. - 9. RAINWATER PIPES
The method by which rainwater collected in gutters are conducted to a system of underground drainage or to discharge at ground level. - 10. SECRET GUTTERS
Common problems: Broken gutter or gutter inadequate to take flow from upper pipe - dry rot in timbers adjacent to damp wall. - 11. LEAD VALLEY GUTTERS
Formed at an intersection between either two roof slopes or a roof slope and an adjacent piece of masonry. This is a method of sealing an intersection and conducting away rainwater from that point. - 12. NORTH FACING ROOFS
Common problems: Lichen on north slope of roof - lead in valley below deteriorated. - 13. LEAD FLASHINGS
An element of waterproofing between two elements, commonly found around chimneys where they meet roofs or when a roof meets a wall or other element. - 14. FLAT ROOF
Common problems: Inadequate rainwater outlet from flat roof - roof floods - decay in adjacent timbers. Flat roof not draining - water seepage causing wet rot in timbers. Flat roof not ventilated - condensation on timbers causing wet rot. - 15. ROOF TILES AND SLATES
Common problems: Broken slate - damage to valley below causing wet rot in gutter timbers. Slipped slates. - 16. ROOF WINDOWS AND FLASHING
Common problems: Split lead to roof hatch - decay in timber surround. - 17. SKEW POINTING
The skews are the edges of the roof where a gable wall meets the roof. Generally the gable wall projects above the roof and there is some form of waterproofing between the two elements. - 18. RIDGE TILES
Tiles covering the highest part of the roof and generally the intersection between two or more roof slopes. - 19. FASCIA BOARDS
Timber placed at the eaves of a roof generally to support a gutter or act in a decorative manner. - 20. FRESH AIR INLET
Built into the outer wall to allow air to pass into a void commonly under the ground floor structure. Sometimes used to ventilate a cupboard. In some instances the roof void is vented by this method.
Common problems: Choked airbricks - inadequate sub-floor ventilation - wet rot in floor timbers. - 21. GULLY TRAPS
Common problems: No gully - outflow from rainwater pipe soaks under house - decay in adjacent floor timbers. - 22. PARAPET WALLS
Walls which project above the surrounding roof level. - 23. DOORS
Common problems: Wet rot in door - poor quality timber not pre-treated - poor maintenance of paintwork and putty. - 24. THRESHOLDS AND STEPS
The lower member of a door-frame which usually seals the gap between the bottom of the door and the top step. - 25. HIGH GROUND LEVELS
Where the surrounding ground level is above the damp proof course or floor level internally.
Common problems: Water penetration from high ground level - decay in floor timbers. - 26. CEMENT FILLET
Common problems: Cement fillet cracked away - water seepage causing decay in adjacent timbers. - 27. SOFFIT
Any underside generally where one element projects above the other - the most common instance is where the roof projects beyond the outer wall and there is a soffit on the underside. - 28. POINTING
The mortar or other cementitious material between masonry units. - 29. REVEAL / INGOE
The side of a window opening through the structural or outer wall before the window frame is encountered. - 30. WALLHEAD
Top of the wall where it meets the roof and is sometimes concealed by the gutter. In some older properties, the wallhead supports the gutter and in traditional stone built properties sometimes the gutter sits on top of the wallhead.
