Jargon Busting Glossary

The apex (top) of the roof.

The diagonal join between abutting roof slopes.

A tall triangular outer wall.

The expose wall to the side of a structure.

The diagonal gutter between abutting roof slopes.

The board which the gutters are attached too.

The board which closes the void between the fascia board, and the structure.

The long horizontal support beams to support the roof structure.

The diagonal timber support to the purlin within the roof structure.

An inner and outer skin of brick/blockwork, separated by an air void (cavity). These walls can also have insulation placed in the void.

The support beam over a window or door opening.

Since 1875 there is a legal requirement for properties to have a physical water barrier to stop ground water entering the structure.

This is usually a thick black impermeable membrane between two courses of bricks, just above ground level, running around the whole building. This single item keeps rising damp from occurring.

This provides space heating (central heating to, commonly, radiators) as well as instant hot water to the tap outlets, therefore the system is “combined”.

'Combi' boliers remove the need to have an insulated hot water cylinder.

This system heats water which is pumped around the property via pipework and radiator system to provide space heating only.

A cylinder which stores water within and is heated, ready to come through the water outlets when taps are opened.

The hot water is either heated through an electric immersion heater or via a hot-water spur, with a three-way valve, from the central heating boiler.

A three-way valve is used to allow a, normally, gas boiler to heat both the hot water and the central heating. The three positions are:

1. Hot water only (useful in the summer)
2. Central Heating only
3. Heating and hot water