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Glossary terms for letter 's'

Safety Glass Glass, which upon breaking produces fragments as opposed to long sharp slivers as with normal glass. Glass Fitters & Glaziers

Sanding The smoothing down of timber surfaces using sandpaper. Floor Covering Layers

Sanitary Fixture Such as a basin, bath or WC, used for the discharge of wastewater. Plumbers & Gasfitters

Sarking A water-resistant membrane placed beneath roof tiles to collect and discharge water. Also can be used in walls. Roof Construction & Restoration

Sash (Window) A light framed unit of a window, which carries the glass. Glass Fitters & Glaziers, Window Installation

Scaffold A temporary structure used for the support and/or protection of building workers.

Screeding The spreading and finishing off of mortar concrete or plaster.

Sealant A compound applied in a plastic form to fill gaps and waterproof joints.

Secret Nailing The driving nails into the tongue of tongue and groove timber flooring where the nails are concealed.

Sedimentation Tank A tank through which sewer or wastewater is passed to allow suspended matter to settle to the bottom for subsequent removal.

Set Back A statutory requirement which prohibits construction of a building beyond a specified distance. Building Surveyors

Setting The hardening process of mortar, concrete, plaster etc. Concreters

Setting Out The positioning of a building layout or profile on a site. Building Surveyors

Settlement The vertical displacement of a foundation, due to the load from the structure it supports.

Shingle Tile A flat rectangular, overlapping roofing tile. Roof Construction & Restoration

Shoe A metal bracket secured to the base of a column and transfers load to a footing.

Shower Rose A shower head with a perforated plate. Bathroom Renovation, Plumbers & Gasfitters

Shower Tray A pre-fabricated floor tray used for waterproofing purposes in the shower base area.

Side Light A fixed glass panel at one side or both sides of a door. Glass Fitters & Glaziers, Window Installation

Sill The external protection below window or door openings to provide a run-off for rain water.

Sill Flashing A flashing placed underneath a window sill to prevent moisture penetration.

Site Land on which a building is to be constructed.

Skirting A moulded trim which is fixed at the base of an internal wall.

Skylight A glazed fixture of an opening in a roof line to allow natural light and ventilation into a building. Roof Construction & Restoration, Glass Fitters & Glaziers

Sleeper A strong rectangular timber member place on the ground to retain soil. Usually used in landscaping. Carpenters & Joiners

Soffit The surface of a ceiling exposed. Carpenters & Joiners

Soldier Course A course of brickwork with each brick laid on its end.

Solid Core Door A door made with a core of solid material.

Span The horizontal distance between two supports.

Specification A written document detailing technical, quality and quantity information required for a particular project.

Spoil Surplus excavated material. Excavating & Earth Moving Contractors

Spreader A perforated pipe connected to the base of a downpipe to spread rainwater to a lower roof. Plumbers & Gasfitters

Square When two surfaces are right angles.

Stack A sanitary pipe, which extends more than one storey in height. Plumbers & Gasfitters

Steel Trowel Finish A smooth and level finish to concrete surface by a produced by a steel trowel. Concreters

Stirrup Used in reinforced concrete beams, steel shaped loop rods to hold reinforcement in beams.

Stop End A shaped piece fixed to the end of a gutter to seal it. Plumbers & Gasfitters

Stormwater Drain The drainage system for the discharge of stormwater from a property.

Stretcher Bond A commonly used masonry laying pattern with half brick over lapse.

Striker Plate A plate shaped and fixed to a door jamb, into which the bolt of a lock or latch engages. Hardware Outlets

String Line A length of string stretched between two points.

Strip Footing A footing of rectangular cross section positioned under a length of wall. Concreters

Stripping (Formwork) The removal formwork after the concrete has been hardened. Concreters

Stripping (Walls) The removal of old paint, wallpaper and other surfaces.

Structural Design The design for the structural integrity of building elements. Building Consultants

Structural Timber Any timber used as load bearing framework. Carpenters & Joiners

Strutting Beam A structural beam spanning between low bearing walls. Carpenters & Joiners

Stud A vertical structural member in a framed wall. Carpenters & Joiners

Sub-Contractor A contractor who carries out work for the head contractor usually for specialised trades.

Sub-Soil Drain The installation of pipes that are underground for the collection and removal of groundwater.

Subdivision Division of a parcel of land into separate lots. Building Surveyors

Sump A sub-surface water collection pit connected to a stormwater system.

Surveying The locating of points, lines and angles on the ground surface. Building Surveyors

Suspended Ceiling A ceiling which is supported by a structural members and forms a void between it and the structure above. Carpenters & Joiners

Suspended Slab A reinforced concrete slab sitting on and between supporting walls or columns.