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Building Reports Glossary
Ant Capping	Shaped metal of aluminium, zincalume, steel strips, which are placed over pier, below bearers and or other supporting timber members to delay and or expose any movement of termites.
Asbestos Cement	This is cement mixed with asbestos fibres. Asbestos products are typically sheeting used in walls, roofs and eaves. This is a hazardous material and is no longer used but it was in common use up to the early 1980's.
Astragals	A strap or hook used for securing downpipes to masonry walls.
Barge Board	Typically timber fixed to the visible sloping edge of the roof. This is also known as a fascia board.
Certificate of Title	A document identifying the ownership of the land including dimensions, encumbrances etc
Collar Tie	Timber or steel in tension, holding a pair of rafters together across the pitch of the roof, usually midway between the wall plate and ridge. Collar ties help prevent the roof spreading.
Common Property	Areas of a strata property that do not belong to any unit owner.
Crazing	Fine random cracks and or hairline cracks in concrete, tiles and cement render and or plaster surfaces. This is usually due to shrinkage.
Damp Proof Course	A layer of impervious material used in a masonry wall to prevent the movement (upwards or downwards) of moisture.
Defects Liability Period	The period after construction when the contractor is responsible to rectify problems.
Delignification	Delignification / defibration of timber results from chemical action on wood. Wood cells adhere to each other by organic glue called lignin. Wood exposed to salt air, combustion gasses, pollution etc might have some of the lignin destroyed and may cause the fibres to separate. The surface of the wood becomes 'hairy' in appearance. The degenerative process is very slow and no treatment is available.
Drummy	Defective plaster, cement rendered or tiled work, which has not bonded properly to a masonry or concrete form. Normally this is due to inadequate surface preparation, surface contamination, or an unsuitable mix.
Efflorescence	A powdery white crystalline deposit of soluble salts on a surface such as brickwork. These are normally salts that have leached out of the masonry with moisture.
Fascia	Typically timber fixed to the visible sloping edge of the roof. This is also known as a bargeboard.
Fittings	Items that can be removed from the property without causing damage. Curtains, blinds, pot plants etc
Fixtures	Items attached to the property and form part of the sale i.e. oven, ceiling fans etc..
Flashing	Waterproof material (such as galvanised iron, copper or lead) covering a joint to stop the entry of water.
Fungal Decay	Certain fungi can cause fungal wood decay, which destroys the wood structure, often leading to collapse. Moisture allows the fungi to develop and feed on the cells of timber. This often occurs in high moisture content areas i.e. laundries, bathrooms, kitchens and sometimes damaged or faulty guttering.
Gable	A vertical panel or wall, in the shape of a triangle, formed under the roof.
Lintel	A horizontal structural member spanning an opening.
Masonry	A structure laid in mortar i.e. brick, stone, terracotta, concrete block.
Re-Grouting	The mixture provided between the wall or floor tiles, which may require replacement due to cracking caused by settlement and/or movement in the walls and floors.
Re-Pointing	This is the replacement or repair of mortar normally provided to the mortar joints between brickwork or to the underside of roofing tiles and capping.
Rising Damp	The penetration of ground moisture. A common cause is a lack of a damp-proof course in the original construction, deterioration and failure of an existing damp-proof course and bridging of an existing damp-proof course.
Sarking	A layer of foil insulation, covering the rafters underneath roofing tiles or slates of a pitched roof, to provide a moisture and thermal barrier.
Semi Detached	Two buildings attached together by a common wall or walls.
Soffit	The under surface of the eaves.
Soffit Lining	The sheeting, lining the underneath surface of the eaves.
Spalling	The detachment of material fragments from a larger mass by thermal expansion and/or contraction, other stresses, pressure or impact. Typically concrete spalling is caused by the expansion of steel reinforcing when it rusts.
Subfloor Ventilation	The provision of natural air movement to the sub-floor area. Ventilation assists in protecting structures against timber decay and pests.
Terrazzo	A material consisting of irregular marble or stone fragments set in concrete, which is then polished to produce a smooth hard surface.
Terrace	One building in a row of buildings attached by common or party walls.
Tongue & Groove	A strong jointing system for timber boards where one side is grooved to allow the insertion of a tongue from an adjacent board.
Townhouse	A two storey attached building, often strata or community title.
Truss	A frame, which is designed to carry a load over, the full span without intermediate support. Typically a roofing frame.
Villa	A single storey attached dwelling.
Warp	A distortion in timber due to change in moisture content.
Water Hammer	Water pipes vibrating and typically followed by a shuddering noise as the taps are opened and closed. Typically caused by insufficient fixings and/or fast closing valves on washing machines.
Weathering	Gradual deterioration of timber and or other materials exposed to the natural elements.
Zoning	A description of the allowable uses of a property as set out by planning authorities and local councils.

Building Reports Glossary