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Damper:
Flat plate that opens and closes to control amount of air flowing through a heating duct, exhaust vent, flue, or chimney.
Dampproofing:
To coat a surface to prevent the passage of moisture.
Dangerous or Adverse Situations:
Situations which pose a threat of injury to the inspector, and those situations which require the use of special protective clothing or safety equipment.
Dead Load:
The weight of permanent, stationary construction included in a building.
Dead Men:
Home Inspectors who have fallen off a roof.
Deck:
The surface installed over the supporting framing members, to which the roofing is applied. Also, an uncovered porch type structure normally constructed with unpainted lumber with a gap between the flooring material.
Deck Roof:
A nearly flat roof constructed without a fire wall.
Deficiency:
An inadequacy in the structure or one of its components.
Deficient:
In functionally deficient condition, needs immediate repair or replacement.
Dehumidifier:
A refrigeration device designed to remove water vapor from the air.
Delta-T:
A difference in degrees Fahrenheit or the high and low temperature of a system such as an air conditioner or heat pump.
Den:
The same configuration as a bedroom without a closet.
Deterioration:
Impairment of condition.
Diagonal Brace:
A support placed at a 45 degree angle which had the purpose of bracing a part of a structure against lateral loads.
Diameter:
The width or thickness of a circular, or somewhat circular, object.
Dimension Lumber:
Lumber which is two to five (2"-5") thick and up to twelve inches (12") wide.
Discontinuous Member:
A member which has one or more break points and is not considered a whole unit unless tied or fastened together.
Dismantle:
To take apart or remove any component, device or piece of equipment that is bolted, screwed or fastened by other means and that would not be dismantled by a homeowner in the course of normal household maintenance.
Distribution Box:
A fuse box; a metal box containing fuses and circuit breakers that permits access to connecting branch circuits. An underground box that receives waste from a septic tank and distributes it to the laterals of a disposal field.
Distribution Panel:
An insulated board from which electrical connections are made between the main feed circuit and branch distribution circuits.
Diving Board:
A board permanently and securely fastened above a swimming pool from which a person may project himself/herself into the water head first.
Division Wall:
An interior load-bearing wall dividing a structure into rooms.
Dock:
A structure extending from the shore into the water that permits the mooring of vessels.
Dome:
A hemispherical roof or ceiling constructed to exert equal, oblique thrust in all directions.
Door Stop:
A trim piece place around the inside face of side and top door jambs to prevent damage from the door swinging too far.
Dormer:
A framed window unit projecting through the sloping plane of a roof.
Double Coverage:
Application of asphalt roofing such that the lapped portion is at least 2 inches wider than the exposed portion. Results in two layers of roofing material over the deck.
Double Floor:
Wood construction using a sub-floor and a finished floor.
Double Framing:
A building technique using double joists, trimmers and other structural members where reinforcement is needed.
Double-Gabled Roof:
See butterfly roof.
Double-Glazing:
A double-glass pane hermetically sealed with an air space between the two panes to provide insulation.
Double-Hung Window:
A window with two movable sashes that slide vertically.
Double-Pitch Roof:
A roof that slopes in two directions.
Double Tap:
Two electrical conductors fastened to a single safety device.
Dovetail:
An interlocking joint commonly used in carpentry.
Dowel:
Cylindrical wood peg fitted into a hove drilled through two pieces of wood.
Downdraft:
A downward current of air in a chimney, often carrying smoke with it.
Downspout:
A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a leader.
Drag Strut:
A member designed to transfer axial loads between shear-walls. Bond beams and top plates are members that can be used as a drag strut.
Drainage:
A system of drains, e.g., tiles, pipes, conduits, designed to remove surface or subsurface water or waste water and sewage.
Drain Field:
An area containing a system of underground lateral pipes for the purpose of draining septic systems.
Drain Tile:
Tubing used in the construction of a building to assist in carrying water away from the structure.
Drip Edge:
A non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the eaves and rakes to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying construction.
Dry Rot:
A decay of seasoned wood caused by fungus.
Drywall:
Any finish material applied to an interior wall in a dry state, as distinguished from plaster, e.g., gypsum wallboard, plywood, fiberwood.
Drywall Construction:
A type of interior wall construction using wood paneling, plywood, plasterboard, or any other type of wallboard instead of plaster as the finish material.
Dry Well:
A covered pit, either with open-jointed lining or filled with coarse aggregate, through which drainage from downspouts of foundation footing drains may seep into the surrounding soil.
Duct:
Large channel through which air passes in a heating, cooling or exhaust system.
Duplex:
A house containing two separate dwelling units, side by side or above the other; also describes apartments that occupy two levels or a portion of two floors.
Dutch Door:
A door divided horizontally in the middle so that the bottom half can remain closed while the top is open.
Dutch Lap Method:
Application of giant individual shingles with the long dimension parallel to the eaves. Shingles are applied to overlay adjacent shingles in each course as well as the course below.
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