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S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
The
Accell Advisor
Bollards Usually large metalpipes, filled with concrete and installed
to prevent cars from bumping into
things like gas meters, posts or other
structures.
Bondo A polyester resin that when
mixed with a hardener becomes a
forming putty which when hardened can
be sanded to any shape. It is most
commonly used to patch minor holes in
wood.
CB Strap This is also known as Column
Base Strap. This is a metal strap which
goes into a footing (a concrete base
which is usually 2 in depth and 12 in
width depending on the size of post it is
supporting.
Glossary of Building ComponentsBy Bill Butler & Joshua Schultz, PrimeCo Painting and Consruction
Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet or so
says Bill Shakespeare. The fact is, words are very important, particularly
when trying to explain various building components to a person who has
limited or no construction experience. For that reason, we have taken the
time to compile a list and define some of the common elements of a typical
building structure. That way, when your contractor says soffit, you will
know that hes talking about that hangy part of the building that is found
frequently over patios or entries.
Address This is a very helpful bit of information to give to your contractor.
Balcony Joists Horizontal supporting members that run from wall to wall,
wall to beam, or beam to beam to support a ceiling, roof or floor. Typically,
a beam is bigger than a joist.
Beam A beam is a thicker piece of wood that is used to span longer
distances using less supports. Beams are also known as headers, because
you can use a beam in a wall to create an opening such as a door or window.
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SPRING 2012THE ACCELL ADVISOR
Glossary of Common Building Componentshorizontal surface, which spans across the tops of
columns or across the top of a wall. It is used to cap the
ends of rafters outside a building and can be used to
attach a rain gutter.
Flashing Generally refers to a metal strip that is used at
transitions between different surfaces or at gaps in the
building envelope to keep water from entering buildings
or to direct it away from buildings.
Galvanized Is a process of dipping metal fasteners and
hardware in melted zinc, giving the items stronger
defenses against the weather such as rust and corrosion.
Garage Trim Stud This is the stud next to the jamb on
the garage. This stud supports the header beam, which
spans the opening of the garage.
Hand Rails Rails that run alongside stairs for people to
hold onto for support when going up or down the
stairs. They are commonly metal or wood.
Hardie Board Hardie is actually a brand name of a
cementitious siding make to look like lap siding, shingle
siding and other common exteriors. The advantage isthat it is not susceptible to termites and dry rot.
Jamb The vertical portion of the doorframe onto which
a door is secured, including entry, garage and utility
doors.
Joist Wood member that spans over a void and usually
has a covering on top or underneath. Floor joists have
both flooring on the top of them and drywall on the
(Continued from page 1)
Ceiling Refers to the interior top of a room. It is also
commonly referred to as a lid.
Column Bases Metal strap that wraps the side of a post
giving lateral support. Also see CB Strap.
Column Also can be referred to as a post. Usually
supports a structure above the ground of which it stands.
Columns are structural supports, which support beams
or headers, which may bear load to other beams or joists.
Decking Usually refers to an elevated or suspended
walking surface of a building. Most decking is attacheddirectly to the building surface, which requires a very
waterproof transition. There are multiple-layer deck
systems and some are simply coated with a good paint
product.
Dry Rot Is a fungus that grows in wood and is caused by
constant water and negligence in paint maintenance. Can
make wood brittle to touch and make wood look as if it is
wrinkled. Can spread to other pieces of wood, just like a
fungus would. Can also have mushrooms in wood, found
where standing water is constant.
Eaves The end of the roofline, which extends outward
over the building structures. Most commonly, eaves are
extended two feet beyond the exterior walls. For allpractical purposes, eaves are just the underside of the
roof.
Fascia Board A term that generally describes any
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SPRING 2012THE ACCELL ADVISOR
appear to be framed. They are often referred to by the
number of raised panels, such as a 6-panel raised door.
Riser the vertical face of a stair step.
Roof Jacks/vents The pipes that are normally found on
the roofs of buildings. They are most commonly vents
for the plumbing or water heaters. Normally, theyrepainted to match the color of the roof.
Soffit Refers to the material forming a ceiling from the
top of an exterior wall to the outer edge of the roof, i.e.,
bridging the gap between the wall and the roof
line. Mostoften, soffits are flat horizontal sections over
entrances, patios, etc.
Splice Where two boards are cut and nailed together to
continue a run. Usually a splice consists of opposing 22.5
degree miter cuts which can be glued together and when
done right can only be slightly noticed when looking at a
run.
Stair Stringers the sides of the stairway that the treads
are attached to.
Stair Treads the actual part of a stair that is walked on.
Studs Vertical supports in walls, which extend from the sill plate to the top plate. Most generally studs are 2x4
S4S material andgenerally come in lengths of92-1/4.
T-111 is a common style of manufactured siding used
on many residential buildings. It is available in different
lumber types, some of ,which, outperform others.
Threshold The bottom-most part of a doorway that one
crosses over to enter a building. Sometimes also called a
sill.
Trex Is a brand name for a composite that is designed
to look like wood. It is often used for decks and railings,
but is not available in all wood sizes. Because it is acomposite, it
is softer than wood and requires additional support for
spans.
Trim - A very general term to indicate architectural
features around windows, doors or other elements of
building surfaces. Trim is usually wood but foam,
covered in a cement material is also a common trim.
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(Continued from page 2)
bottom in second story buildings.
Joist Hangers Metal hardware which is used to fasten
wood joist members to a ledger board or a header beam.
The hanger fits underneath the joist giving it support
under the joist, giving it load bearing capabilities.
Ledger Board Board, which is most commonly 2x in
dimension and is usually the same width as the joist
members that are to be attached to it.
Lites Refers to the window panes in doors. Doors are
sometimes referred to by the number of panes in them,
such as a single-light door; usually a single door frame
with a large glass panel.
Mansard Roof Also called a French Roof is an angled
roof at the tops of the exterior walls on four sides but
does not connect at the peak.
Miter Joints This is the butt joint, which adjoins two
separate pieces of wood. When pieces butt together in a
corner forming a 90-degree angle a 45 degree angle is cut
on each piece of wood to form the 90.
Parapet Walls A wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof,
terrace, balcony or other structure. It may simply be the
portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line
of the roof surface.
Pop-outs Can be a small section of a building that
extend beyond other parts of the building or simply
architectural stucco features, like trim around
windows. Frequently pop-outs arepainted in a differentcolor than the main body to make them stand out.
Posts Wood members, which are used to support loads
above them. Posts are generally 4x4, 6x6, or 8x8. Posts
are fastened to a footing by a CB Strap or column base.
Posts can be set directly into a concrete footing like a
fence.
Railing a broad term to indicate a fence-like
structure. It is often used to describe balcony railing,
pool fencing, railing on stairs, etc.
Raised Panel Doors Doors that have raised sections that
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Stuck Irrigation ValvesBy Vista Del Verde Landscape, Inc.
What is a stuck valve? I am sure you have all managed properties that have had
stuck valves, but do you know why they were stuck on in the first place? When a
valve gets stuck, it is unable to shutoff automatically and continues to water after
the controller has given the signal to close. When valves fail in this fashion they
waste water and create safety hazards. Here are three things you need to know
about stuck valves and what makes them stick on.
1. Does the solenoid work? Your first question may be, what is a solenoid?
The solenoid is an electrically powered plunger that allows water to pass
through to open and close the valve diaphragm. If the solenoid is not
operating properly, you may only have to replace it instead of the whole
valve. This translates into a much less expensive repair. Ask your
landscaper if the solenoid is operating correctly before you approve acomplete valve change.
2. If the solenoid is operating correctly what else could have gone wrong? The next area that causes valves to stick on
would be issues with the valve diaphragm. The diaphragm is a rubber gasket that allows water to pass through the
valve and out to the sprinklers. This diaphragm can tear, get worn out, or just get a small piece of debris stuck in it
Some valve manufacturers make replacement valve diaphragms, however the cost for replacing diaphragm is
generally similar to replacing the entire valve. If the diaphragm is bad, then the valve should be replaced.
3. The last thing you should ask yourself is what is the age and condition of the valves on your project. If you have an
older project with original, or very old irrigation valves, you should start to budget for the upcoming replacement or
repair of those valves. Regular irrigation inspections are also vital to any irrigation system, new or old. These
inspections should note any areas of concern so that they can be addressed before they turn into bigger problems
Be proactive and address all irrigation valve issues in a timely fashion to help control repair and water costs.
By asking these simple questions you can determine if you need to replace the whole valve or just make a minor repair.
THE ACCELL ADVISOR SPRING 2012
(Continued from page 3)
Utility Door any door, of any size and material that is
used to conceal electrical utilities and gas meters.
Weather Stipping The process of sealing openings in
buildings such as doors and windows, or the materials
used to carry out the sealing process. The goal to prevent
water from entering buildings and to provide a barrier to
keep interior (heated or cooled) air in.
Weep Screed The metal vent that runs along the bottom
of stucco walls that permits water that permeates the
stucco to drip out the vent. It is usually about six inches
above the foundation and must be kept free of landscape
material ordirt.
Wrought Iron Is actually an iron alloy with a very low
carbon content. It is easily welded and frequently used for
fencing or railings. It is very susceptible to rusting and must
be coated well to keep water from getting to the metal
surface. The term wrought iron is often usedsynonymously for any metal fencing.
Z*##@&%! The term most frequently used when a
carpenter hits his thumb with a hammer.
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