As a home inspector and former builder, there are many technical terms that I may use that are unfamiliar to the average home owner. While I always try to break things down to layman’s terms while conducting the home inspection, I thought it might be useful to have a home inspection glossary to refer buyers to. This is the seventh installment of these posts to build the glossary. I’ve tried to keep it simple and these are not intended to be exhaustive definitions.
- king stud: A framing member (stud) that runs vertically next to a window or door opening and supports the header above the opening.
- landing: An area of floor suspended between two runs of stairs, used to change direction or the area at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs.
- lap: the Area of overlap between two pieces of material such as flashing, usually used to prevent water intrusion between adjacent layers..
- lateral: An underground connection for utilities such as electric, water, gas ect.
- lath: Material used to support plaster or other finish materials, may be thin strips of wood, metal screen or gypsum board.
- lath and plaster: Interior finish common before gypsum board (drywall). Consisting of thin strips of wood nailed to studs and covered with multiple coats of lime plaster.
- lattice: Open framework consisting of thin strips of metal or wood. Can be used as a decorative finish or a s substrate for another finish such as stucco.
- lavatory: Small sink located in a bathroom.
- leach field: Allows runoff of liquid portion of sewage from a septic system to filter through soil.
- lead: Heavy, soft metal used for flashings and solder. Today’s solder is largely lead free, though lead solder may be found in older homes, as well as lead water service.
