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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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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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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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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


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.

Documents

Acc Spring 2012