When repairs start on an older house, the vocabulary shifts. An estimate might mention three-coat plaster, a plasterer may talk about keys, and a window restorer may ask about sash cords. Knowing what these mean helps you follow the scope and spot where a generic estimate does not describe what is actually in your house.
These definitions are simplified for homeowners. Ask whoever is using a term to explain how it applies to your specific house.
Structure and walls
- Balloon framing
- An older framing method with studs running continuously through more than one story, leaving open channels inside walls.
- Platform framing
- The later method of building one floor at a time, with each floor capping the walls below.
- Fire blocking
- Pieces of wood or other material placed in wall and floor cavities to slow fire and smoke spread.
- Lath
- Thin strips of wood, or later metal mesh, nailed to framing as a base for plaster.
- Keys
- The bits of plaster pushed between lath strips that harden and hold the plaster to the wall.
- Three-coat plaster
- A plaster system of scratch, brown and finish coats, common in older homes.
- Calcimine
- A chalky, water-based finish used on older ceilings that does not hold new paint well.
- Skip sheathing
- Roof boards laid with gaps between them, common under older wood shingle roofs.
- Sistering
- Fastening a new framing member beside a damaged one to restore strength.
Windows, wood and finishes
- Sash
- The movable frame that holds the glass in a window.
- Sash weights and cords
- Counterweights in a pocket beside older double-hung windows that let the sash slide and stay open.
- Came
- The H-shaped lead or zinc strips that hold pieces of leaded or stained glass.
- Shellac
- A traditional clear finish made from a natural resin dissolved in alcohol.
- Quartersawn oak
- Oak cut to show a distinctive ray-fleck grain, common in older trim and built-ins.
- Profile
- The cross-section shape of a trim piece, which must be matched when milling replacements.
Claim and permit terms
- Like kind and quality
- Common policy language about replacement materials being comparable to what was damaged.
- Ordinance or law coverage
- Insurance that may pay for code-required upgrades during repair.
- Overhaul
- The firefighting phase where crews open walls and ceilings to find hidden fire.
- Landmark designation
- Official recognition of a property or district by the city, which can require review of exterior changes.
General information for Park Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.