Exterior Component Terms

The house exterior has many terms that a home inspector should know and be able to use. Here are some of the most common terms that a home inspector should know. Some of these definitions have been altered to conform to usage in residential construction.

• Balcony: an outdoor platform that is located at the second story or above. A balcony may be supported by posts, or it may be cantilevered.

• Bed molding: a thin decorative molding that covers the seam between the soffit and the frieze and between interior walls and ceilings; also used for shadow boxes and for other decorative purposes.

• Bulkhead door: a horizontal or inclined door that provides access to an area under the house or to a storage area such as a cellar; sometimes referred to by the brand name Bilco.

• Cantilever: a structural member (such as a floor joist) that extends horizontally beyond the vertical support (usually a wall) and has no other posts or supports.

• Cornice: the usually decorative exterior trim where the rafters and wall meet. Cornice usually encloses the eaves. Cornice often consists of the fascia, soffit, and bed molding.

• Cornice return: the continuation of the cornice in a different direction, such as at a gable end.

• Crown molding: a decorative molding that covers the seam between the soffit and the frieze and between interior walls and ceilings; usually wider and more ornate than bed molding.

• Deck: an outdoor recreational area that is usually, but not always, attached to the house. A deck is supported by posts. A deck is usually not covered. See Balcony and Patio.

• Eaves: the extension of the rafters beyond the exterior wall of the building. See Cornice. EGC: see Grounding conductor, equipment (EGC).

• EIFS: an acronym for Exterior Insulation and Finish System, a type of wall covering that looks like stucco. EIFS is not stucco and should not be described as such.

• Fascia (eaves): vertical trim at the end of the eaves, usually part of the cornice.

• Frieze: vertical trim that connects or covers the top course of wall covering with the bottom of the cornice. A frieze board usually hides the termination of wall covering such as brick or stone.

• Lintel (angle iron): a horizontal structural component that carries the load from above. Lintels are used in masonry construction over openings such as windows and doors. Lintels are usually made from L-shaped steel, but may be made from steel reinforced concrete or wood.

• Porch: an outdoor area that is attached to the house. Porches are usually covered, which is a way to distinguish a porch from a deck.

• Soffit (eaves): the horizontal trim that covers the rafters, usually part of the cornice.

• Stoop: a small platform that serves as a landing on the exterior side of a door.

• Veneer: a decorative surface applied over the exterior walls of a house. The term is usually applied to wall coverings such as brick and natural stone.

• Wall covering (cladding): a non-load-bearing material or assembly that is applied over the exterior walls of a house.

• Water (weather)-resistive barrier (WRB): a material that resists penetration of liquid water; usually describes materials such as asphalt-impregnated building paper (e. g., #15 felt) and house wraps.

• Wythe (withe): (1) a course of masonry (usually brick) that separates flues in a masonry chimney; (2) a vertical masonry wall that is one masonry unit thick. A typical brick veneer wall is one wythe thick.