| The definitions below were put together by us with some help from various editions of Funk & Wagnell's and Merriam-Webster's dictionary --just the ones that were on hand. However, these definitions as seem to best represent good definitions of components & systems.
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| -- Rodney Harkness |
French Drain
Home Inspections
Building Science
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FRENCH DRAIN:
The "French" in the name may be a perversion of "Trench" since this construction technique was used by the Romans and others. For now, it's nomenclature.
"French Drain" means a buried drain system used to collect and channel water in a controlled manner. Not unlike a storm sewer or underground pipe, but different in that it also may collect water along its entire length and usually is utilized for subtle, slow moving, or small-but-steady amounts of water such that a drying affect is produced in a given area.
A French Drain is constructed by digging a trench or ditch a given depth and length, filling the trench up with a fairly solid but permeable material such as river gravel or crushed stone; usually with a perforated pipe laid at the bottom of the trench and traveling its entire length. If outside, the bottom of the trench is usually below the frost line, but sometimes below the lowest point of a structure it is intended to protect by directing the unwanted water away from the structure). The bottom of an exterior French Drain ditch is usually sloped downward if it is not cut into a hill or natural slope. When these drains are used to collect surface water they are often left open at the top; when the gravel or stone does not travel all the way to the top of the surface, or to daylight, they may not work well, or at all. When placed at the base of a foundation wall either inside or outside, they are usually "flat" drains which have limited usefulness, and a usually a limited life. Many variations of this concept exist.
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HOME INSPECTIONS:
Inspections of single family dwelling units (in clusters of no more than four in a single building) that are intended to identify existing major defects. The intention of which is to aid a buyer or occupant in obtaining a safe, sound and sanitary living unit. As an additional benefit, the inspectors client normally gains a better understanding of the property condition, function and needed maintenance. All of the above is based on information gained by the inspector as a result of observations on the day and at the time of the inspection.
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BUILDING SCIENCE:
The study of artificial structures, dwellings, buildings, the way people and the environment impinge upon them, and how the building components are affected, interact and change over time. One of the most well known manifestations of this field is Home Inspections/Commercial-Professional Building Inspections. Others are Moisture Control Consulting, Structure Fire Study, Energy Management Science, etc.
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