CC & R's (Covenants, Conditions, and
Restrictions) a term used in some areas to describe the
restrictive limitations which may be placed on property--in some areas, simply called
restrictions
cap sheet: the final top covering of a built-up roof
(almost always covered with aggregate of some sort)
caulk, caulking:
(verb) to make watertight with a desired,
suitable choice of products
cantilever: a structural support that extends beyond its
last point of support and bears its load through its
strength and rigidity
carport: a roof supported by pillars or cantilevered
which shelters a car; can be attached to another structure or solely
supported
cellar: a storage room or group of rooms usually
under the building which are used for storage
cement: mineral powder that chemically and physically
changes, when mixed with water, that dries hard to form floors, foundations,
walls, walks and various structures in construction as well as an adhesive for
aggregate
cesspool: a pit or pool that allows sewage water to
leach out into the soil
chimney: a passage in which smoke from a fire can pass
cinder block: block composed of cinder (ashes) and cement;
it does not have the strength or weight of cement block (often standard concrete block
is referred to as cinder block)
circle head window: semicircular window, often located above a
door
circuit breaker: an electrical device which has taken the
place of the fuse in most buildings-the circuit is broken when
there is an overload, thus the breaker can be reset rather than replaced
like the fuse
cistern: tank that is used for storing rain water
usually for use in areas where there is no water brought to the property by
plumbing; holding area for water
clapboard: narrow boards used as siding for frame
houses; one edge will be noted to be thinner than the other so they can overlap at
the edge
clearance: the clear or open space between an object and
that which it is passing
clerestory wall: a wall or a portion of a wall that attaches
at a higher level of a shed roof than the other walls or
portions of walls of a building
clerestory window: window in a clerestory wall
client: the person(s) actually paying for a service regardless who
ordered the service. Realtors in a transaction
are NOT our client unless they are the ones
buying the home
CO: carbon monoxide; colorless, odorless and
highly toxic gas
code: see building code
colonnade: columns, regularly spaced, which support a
roof structure
column: large vertical support member of a structure
(usually a pillar and most often cylindrical
column footings: support bases for load bearing columns
(usually reinforced concrete)
combination door: outer door using interchangeable panels of
glass and screen, depending on the weather
composition: a mixture of fine gravel and stone aggregate
embedded in a heavy tar roof shingle, and called a
"composition" roof
concrete: mixture containing sand, gravel and cement or
asphalt and possibly other additives to enhance certain desired
properties of the mix
concrete tilt-up: a method of constructing walls by pouring
cement (concrete) into forms and allowing to harden; then
raised to form a wall
condensation: forming of water on a barrier from warm air
or surfaces meeting cooler air or surfaces; as in air
conditioning units
condensation duct: a duct which carries away the water given off
by condensation from an air conditioning unit
(usually a small pipe) often called a condensate line
condominium: a structure of two or more units, the
interior space of which is individually owned; the balance of
the property (both land and building) is owned in common by the owners of
the individual units
conductor: material used to transmit electrical current
or heat
conduit, electrical: a pipe, whether rigid or flexible, whether
metallic or plastic, through which electrical wiring is
installed
continuity: a continuous state or quality; an unbroken
coherent whole
continuously: going on without interruption, unbroken
contraction: an action of reduction in size
contrary: does not necessarily agree, opposite, quite
different
contrast: compare as to point out a difference
convection: the transfer of heat by the circulation of
heated air or liquid
convenient: easy to do, use, or get to; handy
coping: the top or cap of a wall or counter top;
usually convex to permit the runoff of water; the top decorative pieces around a
swimming pool's sides (usually just above the tile)
corner bead: a reinforcement (usually metal) placed on
outside corners of a wall before plastering or covering with
drywall joint compound
corner braces: braces nailed diagonally to the studs as a
reinforcement at corners
cornice: the "crowning" member of a wall;
the top molding or facade, decorative or aesthetic
corrode: to eat into or wear away gradually, as a
chemical action (often describes rust on pipes, etc.)
corrosion: the action of corrode corrosive:
describing the chemical or method
(electrolysis) leading to corroding
cosmetic: in appearance only (however, in the context
of a home inspection, failure to correct could devalue or further damage the
property)
could: an auxiliary generally equivalent to can;
possible, may be, perhaps
counter flashing: a flashing that covers another flashing
(allows expansion-contraction movement of dissimilar
materials in that one flashing is attached to one material and the
counter flashing is attached to the dissimilar material)
cove moulding: a small, concave faced moulding, used to
cover a narrow gap or angle at an inside corner
crawl space: a space between the ground and the first
floor of a structure--also called the sub-area
cricket: a small, convex roof, placed on a larger roof
or surface, to promote drainage in areas of the surface which have barriers
to said drainage
cross-bridging: strengthening a structure by installing cross
members between the joists, thereby spreading the
weight over a larger area
Home Inspection terms & Home Inspection Glossary
provided by TWI Systems Copyright 1995-2005 1-800-553-5660
