Glossary Of Terms
Explore definitions of essential home inspection terms to better understand your property assessment and its components.
Access Panel:
An opening providing access to heating/plumbing/electrical systems for servicing.
Accessible: Can be safely reached by the inspector without difficulty or danger.
AMP: A unit measure of electricity.
Appliance: A household device operated by electricity or gas.
Asbestos: Hazardous mineral fiber found in older homes’ insulation and siding.
Asphalt: Black material for roads; may also be found in walkways.
Attic: Space under the roof, above the top story.
Backsplash: Tile area between countertop and cabinets protecting wall from water.
Baluster: Small pillars between stairs and handrails, spaced under 4 inches.
Baseboard Heat: Heating system located along the wall perimeter, electric or hot water.
Beam: A supporting member of wood or steel.
Bearing Wall: Wall supports vertical loads in addition to its own weight.
Breaker: Metal box with circuit breakers controlling home electrical current.
BTU: British Thermal Unit, measures heating/cooling system capacity.
Buckling: Bending of building material due to wear, water contact.
BX Cable: Armored electrical cable with galvanized steel covering.
Casement Window: Side-hinged window opening on hinges attached to frame.
Caulking: Material sealing cracks and joints in various fixtures.
Central Air Conditioning: System using ducts to distribute cooled air to multiple rooms.
Chimney: Masonry or wood-framed enclosure extending above the roofline.
Chimney Cap: Protective cover sealing the chimney shaft from water, animals.
Chimney Flues: Channels in a chimney carrying off smoke, combustion gasses.
Cinder Block: Block of cinder and cement, less strong than cement block.
Circuit Breaker: Protective device automatically opening an overloaded electrical circuit.
CO: Certificate of Occupancy issued by the town.
Carbon Monoxide: Colorless, odorless, highly toxic gas.
Code: Local/state regulations for building design, construction, and safety.
Collar Beam/Tie: Horizontal support for rafters, usually in the upper third.
Condensation: Water forming on walls, ceilings, pipes, controlled by ventilation.
Condensing Unit: Outdoor cooling system component with compressor, condensing coil.
Condominium: Structure with individually owned units and common property areas.
Conduit: Hollow pipe casing for electric lines.
Corrode: Gradual wear of materials, often describing rust on pipes.
Crawl Space: Shallow area between building floor and ground, enclosed by foundation.
Cricket: Small convex roof on larger roof promoting drainage.
Cross Bridging: Strengthening structure with cross members between joists.
Damper: Air valve regulating flow in furnace or fireplace flue.
Deck: Elevated platform, also used for parking garage floors.
Double Hung Window: Window with sashes sliding vertically, opens from top/bottom.
Downspout: Pipe carrying water from gutter down.
Drywall: Gypsum board material for walls or ceilings.
Ductwork: Channels distributing heated/cooled air from the central system.
Easement: Contract allowing property use for specific purposes, e.g., sewer line.
Eave: Roof part extends beyond the side wall.
Efflorescence: White powder on walls from evaporating water.
Egress: Means of exiting home, required window in every bedroom/basement.
Evaluate: Assess systems, structures, components of a dwelling.
Exhaust Fan: Extracts air or heat from home interior.
Exterior Siding: Finish protecting the house shell from elements.
Fascia: Flat board on rafter ends, supports gutters, prevents rotation.
Faucet: Valve or spigot for water control.
Final Walkthrough: Last property review before possession at closing.
Fire Wall: Wall prevents the spread of fire.
Firebox: Cavity in the fireplace maintains fire, leading to flu.
Fireplace Cleanout Door: Access door to ash pit beneath fireplace.
Fireplace Hearth: Inner or outer fireplace floor, usually brick, tile, stone.
Fitting: Refers to faucets, shower valves, or piping parts.
Flashing: Prevents water entry at heavy runoff areas.
Floor Joists: Framing members supporting floor span.
Flue: Pipe for exhausting smoke, gas, air.
Footing: Underground support for foundation or post.
Forced Hot Air: Unit transferring heat through house ducts.
Foundation: Base structure supporting all construction.
Foundation Wall: Concrete or block wall supporting structure, partly underground.
Function: Action for which an item/system is used.
Functional: Able to perform a function.
Fuse Box: Box containing fuses regulating home electric current.
Galvanized Pipe: Iron pipe with zinc coating, used for water lines.
Garage Door: Door for vehicle passage into garage.
GFI: Ground Fault Interrupter, circuit breaker for areas with water.
Girder: Main supporting beam of the house.
Grade: Ground level.
Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI): Device interrupting electricity surges in appliances/components.
Gutter: Through collecting rain from the roof, it directs away from the house.
Accessible: Can be safely reached by the inspector without difficulty or danger.
AMP: A unit measure of electricity.
Appliance: A household device operated by electricity or gas.
Asbestos: Hazardous mineral fiber found in older homes’ insulation and siding.
Asphalt: Black material for roads; may also be found in walkways.
Attic: Space under the roof, above the top story.
Backsplash: Tile area between countertop and cabinets protecting wall from water.
Baluster: Small pillars between stairs and handrails, spaced under 4 inches.
Baseboard Heat: Heating system located along the wall perimeter, electric or hot water.
Beam: A supporting member of wood or steel.
Bearing Wall: Wall supports vertical loads in addition to its own weight.
Breaker: Metal box with circuit breakers controlling home electrical current.
BTU: British Thermal Unit, measures heating/cooling system capacity.
Buckling: Bending of building material due to wear, water contact.
BX Cable: Armored electrical cable with galvanized steel covering.
Casement Window: Side-hinged window opening on hinges attached to frame.
Caulking: Material sealing cracks and joints in various fixtures.
Central Air Conditioning: System using ducts to distribute cooled air to multiple rooms.
Chimney: Masonry or wood-framed enclosure extending above the roofline.
Chimney Cap: Protective cover sealing the chimney shaft from water, animals.
Chimney Flues: Channels in a chimney carrying off smoke, combustion gasses.
Cinder Block: Block of cinder and cement, less strong than cement block.
Circuit Breaker: Protective device automatically opening an overloaded electrical circuit.
CO: Certificate of Occupancy issued by the town.
Carbon Monoxide: Colorless, odorless, highly toxic gas.
Code: Local/state regulations for building design, construction, and safety.
Collar Beam/Tie: Horizontal support for rafters, usually in the upper third.
Condensation: Water forming on walls, ceilings, pipes, controlled by ventilation.
Condensing Unit: Outdoor cooling system component with compressor, condensing coil.
Condominium: Structure with individually owned units and common property areas.
Conduit: Hollow pipe casing for electric lines.
Corrode: Gradual wear of materials, often describing rust on pipes.
Crawl Space: Shallow area between building floor and ground, enclosed by foundation.
Cricket: Small convex roof on larger roof promoting drainage.
Cross Bridging: Strengthening structure with cross members between joists.
Damper: Air valve regulating flow in furnace or fireplace flue.
Deck: Elevated platform, also used for parking garage floors.
Double Hung Window: Window with sashes sliding vertically, opens from top/bottom.
Downspout: Pipe carrying water from gutter down.
Drywall: Gypsum board material for walls or ceilings.
Ductwork: Channels distributing heated/cooled air from the central system.
Easement: Contract allowing property use for specific purposes, e.g., sewer line.
Eave: Roof part extends beyond the side wall.
Efflorescence: White powder on walls from evaporating water.
Egress: Means of exiting home, required window in every bedroom/basement.
Evaluate: Assess systems, structures, components of a dwelling.
Exhaust Fan: Extracts air or heat from home interior.
Exterior Siding: Finish protecting the house shell from elements.
Fascia: Flat board on rafter ends, supports gutters, prevents rotation.
Faucet: Valve or spigot for water control.
Final Walkthrough: Last property review before possession at closing.
Fire Wall: Wall prevents the spread of fire.
Firebox: Cavity in the fireplace maintains fire, leading to flu.
Fireplace Cleanout Door: Access door to ash pit beneath fireplace.
Fireplace Hearth: Inner or outer fireplace floor, usually brick, tile, stone.
Fitting: Refers to faucets, shower valves, or piping parts.
Flashing: Prevents water entry at heavy runoff areas.
Floor Joists: Framing members supporting floor span.
Flue: Pipe for exhausting smoke, gas, air.
Footing: Underground support for foundation or post.
Forced Hot Air: Unit transferring heat through house ducts.
Foundation: Base structure supporting all construction.
Foundation Wall: Concrete or block wall supporting structure, partly underground.
Function: Action for which an item/system is used.
Functional: Able to perform a function.
Fuse Box: Box containing fuses regulating home electric current.
Galvanized Pipe: Iron pipe with zinc coating, used for water lines.
Garage Door: Door for vehicle passage into garage.
GFI: Ground Fault Interrupter, circuit breaker for areas with water.
Girder: Main supporting beam of the house.
Grade: Ground level.
Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI): Device interrupting electricity surges in appliances/components.
Gutter: Through collecting rain from the roof, it directs away from the house.
Header:
Wood member above door or window opening.
Hearth: Bottom of a fireplace.
Heat Exchanger: Device transferring heat in a furnace.
Heat Pump: Refrigeration unit heating and cooling.
Home Inspection: Visual evaluation of home systems, components, using standards.
HomeOwners Association: Association for condominium or planned development duties.
Hot Water Heater: System heating water circulates through pipes.
Household Appliances: Kitchen, laundry appliances, room air conditioners.
Humidifier: Unit adding moisture to air, part of the heating system.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning system.
Installed: Attached requiring tools for removal.
Insulation: Material resisting heat loss keeps the house warm or cool.
Joists: Horizontal beams supporting floor or ceiling boards.
Junction Box: Box containing electrical connections.
Kick Plate: Protective plate at door base.
Knob and Tube: Old form of wiring.
Lally Column: Steel cylinder filled with concrete supporting beams.
Lead: Hazardous material in pipes, paint of older homes.
Moisture/Vapor Barrier: Non-porous material prevents water vapor movement.
Mortar: Bonding material for brick/stone structures.
Open Grounds: Electrical outlets without proper grounding.
Operate: Cause systems to function or turn on.
Parging: Cement coat over block foundation walls.
Point Up (Repointing): Filling joints between bricks.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Plastic pipe type.
Radiant Heat: Electrical system distributing heat through cables.
Radon: Colorless, odorless gas from soil, rocks, water.
Rafter: Sloping beam supporting roof.
Receptacle: Electrical outlet for plug.
Register: Opening for air distribution from ducts.
Representative Number: Typical example of inspected items.
Reserve Polarity: Electrical wiring issue needing correction.
Retaining Wall: Vertical structure restricting soil or water movement.
Romex: Brand name for electric wire in one sheath.
Roof Pitch: Degree of roof slope.
Roof Rafters: Inclined beams supporting the roof.
Roof Sheathing: Material covering roof framing, supports roofing material.
Roofing: Finished roof surface withstanding elements.
Row House: Construction of individual houses with common walls/roofs.
Sash: Framework holding glass in a window or door.
Satisfactory: Performing its expected purpose, despite any flaws.
Septic Tank: Underground tank for sewage treatment via bacterial action.
Serviceable: A condition that remains satisfactory with proper maintenance.
Settling: Lowering of a house’s elevation due to weight or shrinkage.
Sheathing: Covering on roofs or walls beneath exterior surfaces.
Sheetrock: Also known as plasterboard or drywall.
Shingles: Waterproof sheets covering roofs of homes and buildings.
Sidewalk: Walkway providing direct, all-weather entry access.
Siding: Exterior wall finish materials like wood, vinyl, or aluminum.
Sill: Lowest piece where a window or door rests, slanted for runoff.
Sill Plate: Horizontal wood member anchored to foundation masonry.
Slab: Concrete foundation or floor, often with no basement.
Soffit: Underside of a roof extending beyond outside walls.
Stair Rail: Handhold and barrier around stair perimeter for safety.
Stair Riser: Vertical boards closing spaces between stair treads.
Stair Stringer: Supporting members cut to accept treads and risers.
Storm Window: Extra window for added cold weather protection.
Structural Component: Supports non-variable (dead loads) and variable (live loads) forces.
Structure: Framing, supporting, and bracing members of a building.
Stucco: Exterior plaster wall surface.
Stud: Vertical framing member in a wall or partition.
Subfloor: Boards or plywood over joists supporting the finish floor.
Sump Pit: Basement hole draining water, pumped out by sump pump.
Sump Pump: Electric pump removing water from a basement pit.
Terracotta: Hard baked ceramic material used architecturally.
Thermostat: Controls home temperatures.
Townhouse: Construction method of individual houses with common walls.
Trap: Water pipe bend prevents gas escape.
Tudor: Architectural style with varied materials and decorative elements.
Unsafe: Significant injury risk during normal use due to various faults.
Utility Room: Room for laundry, heating equipment, or janitorial purposes.
Vapor Barrier: Insulation prevents moisture buildup in buildings.
Vent Pipe: Pipe allowing gas escape from plumbing stacks.
Voltage: Pressure behind electricity flow, measured in volts.
Weather-Stripping: Material preventing rain, wind, and cold entry.
Weep Holes: Drain holes allowing moisture escape.
Window Sash: Framework holding glass in doors or windows.
Window Well: Excavation around basement windows prevents soil collapse.
Hearth: Bottom of a fireplace.
Heat Exchanger: Device transferring heat in a furnace.
Heat Pump: Refrigeration unit heating and cooling.
Home Inspection: Visual evaluation of home systems, components, using standards.
HomeOwners Association: Association for condominium or planned development duties.
Hot Water Heater: System heating water circulates through pipes.
Household Appliances: Kitchen, laundry appliances, room air conditioners.
Humidifier: Unit adding moisture to air, part of the heating system.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning system.
Installed: Attached requiring tools for removal.
Insulation: Material resisting heat loss keeps the house warm or cool.
Joists: Horizontal beams supporting floor or ceiling boards.
Junction Box: Box containing electrical connections.
Kick Plate: Protective plate at door base.
Knob and Tube: Old form of wiring.
Lally Column: Steel cylinder filled with concrete supporting beams.
Lead: Hazardous material in pipes, paint of older homes.
Moisture/Vapor Barrier: Non-porous material prevents water vapor movement.
Mortar: Bonding material for brick/stone structures.
Open Grounds: Electrical outlets without proper grounding.
Operate: Cause systems to function or turn on.
Parging: Cement coat over block foundation walls.
Point Up (Repointing): Filling joints between bricks.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Plastic pipe type.
Radiant Heat: Electrical system distributing heat through cables.
Radon: Colorless, odorless gas from soil, rocks, water.
Rafter: Sloping beam supporting roof.
Receptacle: Electrical outlet for plug.
Register: Opening for air distribution from ducts.
Representative Number: Typical example of inspected items.
Reserve Polarity: Electrical wiring issue needing correction.
Retaining Wall: Vertical structure restricting soil or water movement.
Romex: Brand name for electric wire in one sheath.
Roof Pitch: Degree of roof slope.
Roof Rafters: Inclined beams supporting the roof.
Roof Sheathing: Material covering roof framing, supports roofing material.
Roofing: Finished roof surface withstanding elements.
Row House: Construction of individual houses with common walls/roofs.
Sash: Framework holding glass in a window or door.
Satisfactory: Performing its expected purpose, despite any flaws.
Septic Tank: Underground tank for sewage treatment via bacterial action.
Serviceable: A condition that remains satisfactory with proper maintenance.
Settling: Lowering of a house’s elevation due to weight or shrinkage.
Sheathing: Covering on roofs or walls beneath exterior surfaces.
Sheetrock: Also known as plasterboard or drywall.
Shingles: Waterproof sheets covering roofs of homes and buildings.
Sidewalk: Walkway providing direct, all-weather entry access.
Siding: Exterior wall finish materials like wood, vinyl, or aluminum.
Sill: Lowest piece where a window or door rests, slanted for runoff.
Sill Plate: Horizontal wood member anchored to foundation masonry.
Slab: Concrete foundation or floor, often with no basement.
Soffit: Underside of a roof extending beyond outside walls.
Stair Rail: Handhold and barrier around stair perimeter for safety.
Stair Riser: Vertical boards closing spaces between stair treads.
Stair Stringer: Supporting members cut to accept treads and risers.
Storm Window: Extra window for added cold weather protection.
Structural Component: Supports non-variable (dead loads) and variable (live loads) forces.
Structure: Framing, supporting, and bracing members of a building.
Stucco: Exterior plaster wall surface.
Stud: Vertical framing member in a wall or partition.
Subfloor: Boards or plywood over joists supporting the finish floor.
Sump Pit: Basement hole draining water, pumped out by sump pump.
Sump Pump: Electric pump removing water from a basement pit.
Terracotta: Hard baked ceramic material used architecturally.
Thermostat: Controls home temperatures.
Townhouse: Construction method of individual houses with common walls.
Trap: Water pipe bend prevents gas escape.
Tudor: Architectural style with varied materials and decorative elements.
Unsafe: Significant injury risk during normal use due to various faults.
Utility Room: Room for laundry, heating equipment, or janitorial purposes.
Vapor Barrier: Insulation prevents moisture buildup in buildings.
Vent Pipe: Pipe allowing gas escape from plumbing stacks.
Voltage: Pressure behind electricity flow, measured in volts.
Weather-Stripping: Material preventing rain, wind, and cold entry.
Weep Holes: Drain holes allowing moisture escape.
Window Sash: Framework holding glass in doors or windows.
Window Well: Excavation around basement windows prevents soil collapse.