DIY Glossary : Help : DIYsupermarket.com

Help with those DIY terms

We are compiling a list of regularly used DIY terms. Please note that this page will be updated regularly.

A

Aggregate

Material such as sand or gravel used with cement and water to make concrete, mortar, plaster or tarmac repair.

Amp

Ampere, the unit for the measurement of electric current.

Asphalt

Tar-like substance used as a binder for aggregates such as gravel or sand and commonly used for roads, paving and flat roofs.

B

BBA

British Board of Agrément. The BBA are in charge of the Agrément Certificate product approval work.

Beading

A sealant product or moulding used to decorate or conceal joints.

Bitumen

Black, sticky substance, a bit similar to asphalt, used in mineral felts, sealants and damp-proof courses.

Butyl rubber

A flexible material available in sheets used for flat roof coverings and pond liners.

C

Caulk

A flexible compound used to seal cracks and fill holes on a variety of surfaces.

Cavity wall insulation

Filling of wall cavities by one of various forms of insulation material, such as polystyrene beads, foam or fibreglass.

Cement

Dry powder adhesive used to bind ingredients together when making concrete.

Cobblestone

A round stone for paving. Often shortened to cobble.

Coping Stone

A stone that forms the top of wall or building.

CSS

County Surveyors' Society.

D

Damp-proof course

Layer of damp-proof material between the courses of bricks near the bottom of exterior walls.

Dry lining

Plasterboarding walls and ceilings by fixing sheets of pre-plastered boards to a timber frame or metal channels.

Dry rot

The damage caused to timber and other materials by a fungal attack.

Dubbing out

Filling larger voids in an uneven surface before plastering or rendering, often using brick or tile to avoid extra thickness.

E

Expansion joint

The narrow gap filled with treated fibreboard between bays of concrete to allow for expansion and contraction.

F

Fascia

A flat surface, usually made of wood, that covers the end of roof rafters and on which the guttering is fixed.

Flashing

Waterproof material used to seal exterior joints such as between the roof and walls or chimney; or where two roof planes meet.

G

Grout

A compound used to fill the gaps between ceramic tiles.

H

Hardwood

Timber generally from deciduous trees, used in construction e.g. oak, ash, beach and birch.

HPAS

Highways Authorities Product Approval Scheme

I

Insulation

Any material used to prevent or limit the passage of heat or sound. Also a non-conductive material surrounding electrical wires or cores.

J

Joist

Timber or steel beams for supporting floors and ceilings.

K

Keying

The process of creating a rough surface to provide a better grip for plaster, paint or adhesive.

L

Lagging

The insulation material used to wrap around pipes and tanks in unheated areas to prevent freezing. Also, used on hot water tanks to prevent heat loss.

M

Mastic

A sealant used to waterproof joints with a flexible, rubbery consistency even when dry.

Mortar

A mixture of sand, cement and water used in bricklaying and rendering.

N

Newel

An upright post fixed at the foot of a stair or at a point of a change of direction and used as a support for a balustrade.

O

Olive

A metal ring used in plumbing to create a seal for brass compression joints.

P

Paviour

Material used for paving, the person who lays it or the machine used to ram down pavement.

PVA

Is the abbreviation for Polyvinyl acetate which is a synthetic resin that can be used as an adhesive or, when diluted with water, a sealer on porous surfaces.

PVC

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic material used extensively in the construction industry. Uses include insulation for electric wire, roofing sheets, and soft floor tiles. PVC is also used in rigid form to manufacture guttering, drain pipes and window frames.

Q

Quarry Tiles

A square or diamond-shaped unglazed floor tile.

R

RAL

RAL is a colour matching system used in Europe.

Rising damp

A serious damp problem caused by moisture from the ground rising through the walls or floor of the house.

RSJ

Abbreviation for Rolled Steel Joist.

S

Screed

A thin layer of mortar applied to the surface of a concrete floor to give it a smooth finish.

Sealant

A flexible, waterproof substance used for sealing along joints. Normally applied using a cartridge applicator.

Sett

A small rectangular paving block made of stone, such as granite, used to provide a durable path, patio or driveway.

T

Tarmac

A paving material that consists of crushed stone rolled and bound with a mixture of tar and bitumen. Used for a roads, paths, patios, motorways, airport runways etc. Short for Tarmacadam.

Topcoat

The finishing coat applied to an undercoat or first coat, usually in reference to paint or plaster.

U

Undercoat

The foundation coats applied before the topcoat.

UPVC

UPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) is a rigid plastic material widely used in the construction industry in the form of pipes, guttering, window and doorframes, fascias and soffits.

V

Vermiculite

A granular material with thermal insulating properties which is used as loose-fill loft insulation. It can also be mixed with cement to form a lightweight, fire-resistant concrete.

W

Weatherboard

The cladding or ‘siding’ of a house consisting of long thin timber boards that overlap one another, either vertically or horizontally on the outside of the wall.

DIY Glossary