In a hundred-year-old house, a single water problem can involve a sewer contractor talking about laterals and bellies, a mason talking about repointing, an inspector mentioning efflorescence, and a restorer quoting grains per pound. Knowing the words helps you follow the conversation, ask better questions and read estimates. The terms are grouped by where you will hear them.

Pipes and drains

Lateral (sewer service line)
The private pipe carrying wastewater from the house to the public sewer main, usually under the yard and sometimes the street.
Cleanout
A capped opening on the drain line that lets a plumber get a cable or camera into the pipe without pulling a toilet.
Belly
A sagging section of pipe where water and solids collect instead of flowing.
Offset
A joint where two pipe sections have shifted out of line, leaving a lip that catches debris.
Vitrified clay pipe
Fired clay sewer pipe common in older Denver homes; durable, but its joints admit roots.
Backwater valve
A device in the drain line that closes if water flows back from the main.
Ejector pump
A pump in a sealed pit that lifts waste from below-grade fixtures up to the main drain.
Angle stop
The small shutoff valve under a sink or behind a toilet.

Foundations and walls

Parging
A thin coat of mortar or cement applied over masonry, often on the outside of old foundations.
Efflorescence
A white mineral crust left on masonry when water passes through and evaporates.
Repointing
Removing deteriorated mortar from brick joints and replacing it with compatible new mortar.
Furring strip
A narrow board fastened to masonry to hold wall finishes.
Balloon framing
An older framing style with wall studs running continuously from foundation to roof, which lets water and air travel far inside walls.
Lath and plaster
Plaster applied over wood strips; common in early twentieth-century homes and slower to dry than drywall.

Drying and restoration

Category 1, 2, 3 water
Industry classes for water contamination: clean, significantly contaminated, and grossly contaminated (such as sewage).
Class of water loss
A rating of how much water and how much evaporation load a space has, which guides equipment needs.
Dry standard
The moisture reading of an unaffected similar material, used as the target for drying.
Grains per pound (GPP)
A measure of how much water vapor is in the air, used to track whether dehumidifiers are working.
Flood cut
Removing a strip of drywall or paneling above the water line so the wall can dry.
Containment
Plastic barriers and air control that keep dust or contamination from spreading during removal.

General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.