Glossary

A perforated brick used for ventilation, usually under timber floors and in roof spaces.

A potential serious health hazard. If you suspect your insulation may use this fibrous mineral, seek specialist advice immediately.

Used on floors and flat roofs, this black, tar like substance is waterproof and very sticky.

A pipe or tube fitted to a gas appliance that lets the fumes escape.

A building block made from concrete and cement.

A full inspection of a property and a report on its condition, highlighting any problems and work that will be needed. Most suitable for older or poorly maintained properties, or a property you intend to alter or extend.

An external wall which has been constructed with a gap of about 50mm (2 inches) between the two leaves of brick or block work.

Insulating material used to fill the cavity wall - usually polystyrene beads, foam or rockwool.

A strengthening piece of metal fixed between the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall.

A type of boiler than gives you heating and hot water on demand, without using hot and cold water tanks.

A layer of waterproof material incorporated into a wall to prevent dampness rising or encroaching around doors and windows.

A fungus that can cause serious damage to a property by attacking structural timbers. Flourishes in moist, damp, poorly ventilated areas.

A section of material (normally metal or cement) used to prevent water from penetrating a roof joint.

A pipe or duct attached to an appliance to allow fumes to escape.

An underground structure that supports a building or wall.

The swelling of clay subsoil which has absorbed water. This can cause foundations to move upwards.

An opening into a drain, normally at ground level, which receives water from downpipes and wastepipes.

A homebuyer's survey includes more detail than a mortgage valuation. The report will tell you about any major problems with the building, the general condition of the parts of the building that are reasonably accessible, anything that could be expensive to fix in the future and any suspected problems like timber infestation or damp that might need specialist advice.

Movement of earth, clay etc downwards, because of heavy rain or a lack of soil stability.

A horizontal structure beam found over a window or door opening.

The ground level access point to a drain, with a removable cover. Also known as an inspection chamber.

A layer of concrete below a timber ground floor above the external ground level.

A layer of plaster sandwiched between heavy paper. Widely used for walls and ceilings.

The horizontal beam supporting the rafters in a roof space.

One of the sloping roof beams that form the shell of the roof.

The covering of cement or plaster on a wall.

Moisture in a wall that rises from below ground level. This can then lead to decay in the fabric of the wall.

The final smooth finish of a floor, usually laid in cement or concrete.

Movement of a building or structure, often as a result of age. This is acceptable within certain limits.

A lightweight wall that has a timber frame and is lined with plasterboard.

What happens when the ground moves downwards.

Placing a stronger foundation underneath the weaker original one.

When timber decays because of damp conditions.

General term for insects attacking timber within a property.