Saddle – See “Chimney Saddle”.

Sapwood – The outer layers of the tree containing living cells. The sapwood is generally lighter in colour than the heartwood.

Sash – The framework which holds the glass in a window.

Sash Balance – In double-hung windows, a device, usually operated with a spring, designed to counterbalance the window sash without the use of weights, pulleys, and cord.

Sash Frame – The outer frame with sill in which the sliding sashes or casements are suspended.

Sash Types –

            Awning – A partially movable sash hinged at the top, and opening either outwards or inwards.
            Casement – A window sash hung by hinges fastened to the jamb of the window frame.

            Double Hung – Consists of a pair of vertical sliding sash, either sash opening      independently of the other. Older type double hung sash operate through a system of weights, cords, and pulleys. NHD

            Fixed – A single sash fastened permanently in a frame so that it cannot be raised,          lowered or swung open.

            Hopper – A partially movable sash hinged at the bottom and opening inwards.

            Pivoted – A sash that swings open or shut by revolving on pivots at either side of the sash or at top and bottom.

            Single Hung – A window frame containing a pair of vertical sliding sashes in which only one sash is movable, usually the lower in contrast to a double hung sash.

            Sliding – A sash which moves horizontally on a tongue or track.

            Storm – A full length sash, either fixed or movable, fitted to the outside of a window frame to afford protection during cold or stormy weather. See “Storm Window”.

Scaffold, Scaffolding – A temporary erection of timber or steelwork, used in the construction, alteration or demolition of a building to support workmen, their tools and materials.

Scant – A term used to imply dimensions in sawn lumber slightly under the standard dressed dimensions.

Scanting – A piece of timber of small size, usually about 2 by 4 inches in cross-section; in certain markets a piece of square-edged timber 2 to 4 inches by 2 to 4 ½ inches wide. Also refers to the dimensions of a piece of timber in breadth and thickness; also, studding for a partition when under 5 inches square.

Scarf Joint – Where the end of members are chamfered or shaped to correspond and are attached by bolting, gluing, etc.

Scratch Coat – The first coat of plaster or stucco which is scratched to form a bond for the second coat.

Scribing – Fitting woodwork to an irregular surface.

Sealer – A liquid applied directly over uncoated wood for the purpose of sealing the surface.

Seasoning – The act of drying lumber, either naturally or artificially in a kiln; the removal of moisture from wood to improve its serviceability.

Selects – A word used in the lumber industry to imply upper grades; for certain species, particularly hardwoods, it refers to a specific grade.

Septic Tank – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Setback – The horizontal distance between the faces of the exterior wall of one storey and the exterior wall next above it, where a lower storey extends beyond a higher storey. The horizontal distance between the wall of a building and the adjacent street line.

Sewage – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Shake – A shingle split (not sawn) from a block of wood and used for roofing and siding.

Shakes – Defects originating in the living tree due to frost, wind or other causes, or occurring through injury in felling, driving, etc. which later show in the manufactured lumber, most commonly as partial or complete separation between the growth rings.

Shear – The stress that resists the tendency of two equal parallel forces acting in opposite directions to cause two adjoining planes of a body to slide on on the other.

Sheathing – Lumber (usually matched) or other material used to cover the framework of buildings on the exterior.

Sheathing Paper – A breather-type tar or asphalt used under exterior wall cladding as protection against the passage of water or air.

Shed Roof – Defined under “Roof Types”.

Shingle – A relatively thin and small unit of roofing partially laid in overlapping layers as a roof covering or as cladding on the sides of buildings.

Shiplap – A form of matching lumber. A section one-half the thickness of the board is cut from the upper side of one edge, and a similar section from the lower side of the opposite edge. The term also designates lumber which has been shiplapped.

Shoe Mould – For interior finish, a moulding strip placed against the baseboard at the floor; also called base shoe or carpet strip.

Shoring – The method of temporarily supporting, by props of timber or other material, buildings and the sides of excavations.

Short Circuit – In electricity, an accidental connection of low resistance joining two sides of a circuit through which nearly all the current will flow. Also called short.

Siding – In wood-frame construction, the material other than masonry or stucco used as an exterior wall covering.

Sill – The horizontal member forming the bottom of an opening such as a door or window.

Sill Plate – A structural member forming the bottom of an opening such as a door or window.

Skylight – Any cover or enclosure placed above a roof opening to provide for the admission of natural light.

Slab Construction – A form of construction without excavation, with a concrete slab as the floor usually supporting the superstructure.

Slaking – The process of combining quick lime with water.

Smoke Control Zone – A compartment within a floor area which is separated from the remainder of the floor area in such a way as to be smoke tight for a predicted period of time.

Smoke Pipe – A pipe conveying products of combustion from a solid or liquid fuel-fired appliance to a chimney flue.

Snap Header, or False Header – A half length of brick sometimes used in brick facing placed end on.

Soffit – The underside of elements of a building, such as staircases, roof overhangs, beams, etc.

Softwood – The timber of trees belonging to the botanical group gymnosperms, i.e. conifers or evergreens.

Soil –

            Coarse Grained –

            (a) Cobbles and Boulders – Larger than 3 inches diameter, cobbles 3 to 8 inches,             boulders greater than 8 inches.

            (b) Gravel – Smaller than 3 inches but larger than No. 4 sieve (approximately ¼  inch).

            (c) Sand – Smaller than No.4 Sieve but larger than No. 200 sieve. Particles smaller than No. 200 sieve are not visible to the naked eye.

            Fine Grained –

            (a) Silt – A loose sedimentary material. Powders easily when dry, only slight dry             strength. Gritty to the teeth, and dries rapidly. No shine imparted when moist and stroked with a knife blade.

            (b) Clay – A very fine grained material possessing appreciable dry strength. When moist, sticks to fingers and does not wash off readily. Not gritty to the teeth. When moist a shiny surface is imparted when stroked with a knife blade.     

            Organic –

            (a) Partly Organic – Organic clay, organic silt, etc.: Depending on amount of             organic material, these soils usually have some of the characteristics of their inorganic counterparts: usually highly compressible (spongy); usually have characteristic odor.

            (b) Organic Material – Fibrous structure – usually brown or black when moist.   Is spongy and usually has characteristic odor. Descriptive terms: Organic terrain including muskeg, peat and peat moss.

Soil Pipe – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Soil Stack – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Sole Plate – Bottom plate in timber framing.

Space Heating – Defined under “Heating”.

Spalling – The breaking off of the surface layer of concrete or brick work, usually caused by frost action.

Span – The horizontal distance between supports for beams, joists, rafters, etc.

Special Purpose Outlet – Defined under “Electrical Terms”.

Splash Block – A small masonry block laid with the top close to the ground surface to receive roof drainage and divert it away from the building.

Spline – A rectangular strip of wood which is substituted for the tongue fitted into the grooves of two adjoining members.

Springing line – The point from which an arch, coved ceiling or similar construction departs from vertical plane.

Stack Vent – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Staggered Joints – Defined under “Breaking Joint”.

Staircase – A flight of steps leading from one floor or storey to another above. The term includes landings, newel posts, handrails and balustrades.

Stair Landing – A platform between flights of stairs.

Stairway Types –

            Enclosed – A stairway enclosed by and separated from hallways and living units by means of walls or partitions and made accessible to such hallways or living units by means of a door or doors.

            Interior – A stairway within the exterior walls of a building.

            Open – A stairway which is not separated by walls and partitions from other areas             in the building including hallways.

Steam Heating – Defined under “Heating”.

Step Flashing – Overlapping rectangular or square pieces of flashing used at the junction of shingled roofs and walls. Also called shingle flashing.

Step Joint – Defined under “Breaking Joint”.

Stile – A vertical piece of sash, door, or piece of framing or paneling to which the ends of the rails are attached.

Stonework , Kinds of – The most common kind of stonework for walls is called rubblework, consisting of broken field stone.

            Ashlar – Masonry of sawn, dressed, tooled or quarry-faced stone with proper bond.

            Broken Ashlar – Ashlar in which stones of different heights are used.

            Coursed Ashlar – Ashlar with stones laid to form courses around the building, all             of the stones in any course being the same height.

            Coursed Rubble – So called if the rubble is built in courses.

            Hammer-Dressed Ashlar – Designates work where the stones are roughly             squared with a hammer.

Stool – The flat, narrow shelf forming the top member of the interior trim at the bottom of a window.

Stoop – A low platform with or without steps, outside the entrance door of a house.

Storey, First – The storey with its floor closest to grade and having its ceiling more than 6 feet above grade.

Storm Door – An extra outside door for protection against inclement weather.

Storm Window – A window arranged with double sash enclosing air, which acts as a sound and heat insulator.

Strapping – A general term for battens fixed to the faces of walls as a support for lath and plaster or other cladding. See “Furring”.

Street Furniture – Fittings and fixtures installed in streets, such as lamp posts, fire hydrants, street signs, and similar municipal structures at or above grade level.

Stress – An internal force that resists a change in shape or size caused by external forces.

            Working Unit Stress – The ultimate stress divided by the factor of safety.

Stretcher – A whole brick which has been laid so that its length is in line with the face of the wall.

Stretching Bond – The form of bond, in which every brick is laid as a stretcher, each vertical joint lying at the centers of the stretchers above and below.

Stretching Course – An external or visible course of bricks which is made up entirely of stretchers.

Strike Plate – The part of a door lock set which is fastened to the jamb.

Stringer – A long, heavy, horizontal timber which connects upright posts in a structure and supports a floor; also the inclined member which supports the treads and risers of a stair.

Structural Timber – Timber to be used in construction to bear loads, and therefore graded on the basis of the suitability of the entire piece for that purpose.

Strut – A structural member which is designed to resist longitudinal compressive stress such as members supporting a ridge beam or rafters; a short column.

Stucco – Any cement-like material used as an exterior covering for walls and the like, put on wet and drying hard and durable.

Stud – One of a series of wood structural members (usually 2 inch nominal thickness) used as supporting elements in walls and partitions (Plural: Studs or studding).

Subfloor – Boards of sheet material laid on joists to support the finish floor.

Subsoil Drainage Pipe – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Sump – Defined under “Plumbing Terms”.

Sump Pump – A pump usually electrically operated to remove water which collects in a sump.

Switch – Defined under “Electrical Terms”.