Metal anchors, for masonry veneer walls, which bolt into the structural wall, on each floor, behind the veneer to provide a ledge on which the next horizontal course of masonry can rest.
Shelf life
The length of time between the manufacture of a material and when the material is no longer suitable for use.
Shell
The skeletal frame of a house when only the framing, sheathing and decking have been constructed.
Shell and tube evaporator
System of cooling evaporation with refrigerant expanded into tubes that are surrounded by water that is held in an outer shell. When the refrigerant expands, it absorbs the heat and cools the surrounding water. The chilled water is used to cool air when it is pumped into heat exchangers.
Shellac
Refined version of lac, a resin produced in thin flaky layers or shells, which is dissolved in alcohol and used to make shellac.
Sheriff's deed
Title to property given under a court order due to failure, by the original owner, to pay the mortgage and/or property taxes. This deed is associated with foreclosure.
Sheriff's sale
Foreclosed property is sold via a sheriff's sale and the amount received is used to pay the balance of obligations against the real estate or owner.
Shield
Shoring to protect workers in an unstable excavation, consisting of two large sheets of metal that are stiffened by a frame work. The shield is lowered into the excavation.
Shim
A tapered piece of wood used to level and secure a structure.
Shim or shimmy
Using a tapered wood strip, called a shim, to fill gaps so that structures are level and plumb by placing it between two members to fill in uneven areas.
