Sarking felt:

A layer of felt or similar material located immediately below a tiled or slated roof covering.

Secondary glazing:

An independent system of glazing, normally fitted to the inside of an existing window to improve insulation.

Settlement:

The downward movement of a building or structure, often referred to as differential settlement when affecting different parts of a building to differing degrees.

Shake:

A longitudinal split in a structural timber section often appearing once the timber is placed under stress.

Shingles:

Thin 'tiles' of hardwood used as an external cladding on a roof or walls.

Single ply roof covering:

A modern covering for a flat roof comprising a single layer of durable, rubberised material with welded joints.

Sleeper wall:

A dwarf wall below floor level supporting the floor joists.

Sliding sash:

A traditional opening window which slides up and down (or occasionally horizontally), involving pulleys and sash cords concealed within the frame.

Soakers:

Strips of metal dressed into a roof or wall, usually concealed by flashings or by a cement fillet.

Soffit vent:

A ventilated opening within the soffit board, providing a means of ventilating the roof space.

Soffit:

The underside of the projecting section at the edge of a roof.

Soil pipe (or soil stack):

A drainage pipe conducting soil waste from a w.c.

Solid floor:

A floor, usually of concrete construction, built up directly from the ground, with no void below.

Solid wall:

A wall of solid masonry, not incorporating any cavity.

Spalling:

A type of weathering where the outer surface of stones or bricks flake away, usually as a result of frost damage.

Stair string:

The long, sloping section of timber alongside a staircase into which the stair treads are fixed.

Stile:

The vertical section at the edge of a traditional panelled door.

Stop tap (or stop cock):

A tap which isolates the water supply, usually located close to the point of entry of the supply pipe into the building.

Stud:

The vertical member of a framed structure, for example in a timber “stud” partition.

Sub-floor void:

The space below a suspended ground floor structure.

Sub-soil:

The soil located below the foundations of a building.

Subsidence:

Ground movement causing a building or other structure to drop or subside.

Suspended floor:

A floor comprising a series of supported beams or joists raised up from the ground, or at an upper floor level.