diy Primer - the How to in d.i.y.
do it yourself primer navigation buttonsPrimer on InfestationsPrimer on Home SecurityPrimer on Rot and DampPrimer on InsulationPrimer on VentilationPrimer on Heation your HousePrimer on what tools to getPrimer on ReferencesPrimer on CalculatorsPrimer on work in the GardenPlanning your DIY workPrimer on Car RepairsPrimer on Renovating your housePrimer on TV DIYPrimer on Telephone workPrimer on Decorating your HomePrimer on running repairsPrimer on Carpentry SkillsPrimer on Electrical DIYPrimer on Plumbing

DIY Terms; plan English

The following is a list of terms, materials, tools and slang used in diy and the DIY trades. To find a term select the beginning letter of the terms you are after and you will be taken to the page showing terms biggining with this letter.


Select the starting letter of the material you want to find

  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W X Y Z

1 in 401 to 51 to 6
1 to 9

DIY terms beginning with 2

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

2-way switches

DIY terms beginning with 3

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

3-way terminal block

DIY terms beginning with A

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

AccessoriesAccessoryAdhesive
Adhesive spreaderAdjustable pliersAdjustable spanner
Adjustable wire cutterAdjustable wire stripperAggregate
AirlockAll purpose sawAmbience
Angled brushAngled chiselAngled drill
Anti-condensationAnti-condensation paintAppliance
ArchitraveArrisArrising tool
Artificial respiration

DIY terms beginning with B

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Back-siphonageBalanced flue
Ball valveBallastBaluster
Balustrade or BanisterBasin wrenchBath shower mixer
Bathroom lightsBattBatten
BattensBatterBay
Belt sanderBevelled edgeBinder
BladeBlade knifeBlind
BlownBlowtorchBolster
BondBonding clampBonding conductor
BoreBossBottle trap
BoundaryBoxing the paintBracket
Bracket, decorativeBracket, metalBracket, wooden
BradawlBreakerBricks
Brush wideBrush, angledBrush, narrow
Brush, standardBuilder's right-angleBuilder's square, metal
Builders square, woodenBurrButter a birck
Buttercoat

DIY terms beginning with C

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Cable clipsCable drop
Cable sheathingCameCap-nut
Carborundum stoneCartridge fuseCasing
Catenary wireCavity wallCeiling light
Ceiling roseCeiling tilesCement
ChamferChamferingChamois
ChaseChemical strippersChinagraph pencil
CircuitCircuit continuity testerCircuit protective device.
Circular sawCisternClaw hammer
Cold chiselCompression fittingCompression joint
Compression tee fittingConcaveConcrete mixer
Concrete postConductorConduit box
Connecting stripsConnector block, one-wayConsumer unit
Continuity testerContraction unitsConvex
Cooker control unitCoping stonesCopper pipe
Cordless drill & screwdriverCordless drill & screwdriver variable speedCordless hammer drill & screwdriver variable speed
Cordless hammer drill variable speedCordless screwdriverCornice
Counter-boreCountersinkCourse
Cover, depthCovingCrawling board
CrossfallCupCuring
Curtain poleCurtain trackCutting in

DIY terms beginning with D

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

DadoDado railDamp proof course
Damp-proof course (DPC)Damp-proof membrane (DPM)Datum point
DeadDecorative bracketDelta sander
Delta sander variable speedDepth coverDepth gauge
Dimmer switchDistributionDolly
Door hingeDoor lockDoor panelled
Double check valveDouble insulatedDouble pole isolating switch
Double pole switchDouble switched socketDownlighter
Drain-cockDrillDrill hammer
Drill speedDrip grooveDrop
Dry areaDry linedDry rot
Drywall surfaces

DIY terms beginning with E

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Ear protectorsEarth
Earth blockEarth clampEarth conductor
Earth faultsEarth leakageEarth metalwork
Earth metalworkEarth protective conductorEarth rammer
Earth terminal barEarth wireEarthed protective metal
Earthing leadEarthing pointEarthing system
EavesEfflorescenceElbow
Elbow jointELCBElectric scraper
Electric shockElectric shower unitElectric tacker
Electrical supply serviceElectrician's screwdriverEmulsion
EnamelEnd grainEngineering Brick
Equipotential bondingErgonomicsExpansion bolts
Exposure levelExtensionExtension lead
Extra-low-voltage

DIY terms beginning with F

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Face edgeFace side
FallFasciaFascia board
FaultFeatherFence
Fence panelFibreFilaments
FilingFiller stripFirst aid
FishedFixed applianceFlashing
Flat twinned flexibleFlat-headed ScrewdriverFlaunching
Flex connectorFlexible conductorFlexible connector
FloatFloat armFloat valve
Floor tilesFloorboardsFlush
Flush doorFluteFlux
FootingFormerFormwork
Framed mirrorFrassFree-standing cooker
FrogFungicideFurring battens or Furring strips
FuseFuse boxFuse cartridge
Fuse wireFuseboardFused connection units
Fused spurFused spur unit

DIY terms beginning with G

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Galvanised
GalvanizedGaugeGauge, depth
G-clampGelGenerators
GlasspaperGlazeGloss
GlovesGlue gunGoing
GrainGrass shearsGravel
Gravel boardGrinder angleGrinder straight
GrommetGrooveGrounds
GroutGroutedGrouting
GulletGully

DIY terms beginning with H

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Hacksaw
Half round fileHammer clawHammer drill
Hammer drill variable speedHardboardHardcore
Hardpoint tenon sawHardwoodHead
Head plateHeat gunHeave
Hedge trimmerHelicalHigh pressure cleaner
HogginHole boring toolHone
HopperheadHornsHose
Hot air gunHot air gun variable speedHousing
Hydrated lime

DIY terms beginning with I

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

IEE regulationsInfill
Instantaneous showerInstantaneous shower unitsInsulating sleeves
InsulationInsulation - electricalIsolated
Isolating togglesIsolating valve

DIY terms beginning with J

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Jamb
JigsawJigsaw variable high speedJigsaw variable speed
Joint boxJoint boxesJoist
Junction box

DIY terms beginning with K

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

KerfKey
KilowattKnife, bladeKnurled

DIY terms beginning with L

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

LadderLadder stayLarge roller
Large tile cutterLath and plasterLead
Light switchLighting trackLights, ceiling
Lights, outsideLights, wallLintel
LiveLoadLocking jamb
LockshieldLoop-in circuitLow voltage lighting
LuminairesLump hammer

DIY terms beginning with M

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Main consumer unit
Main earth terminalMain isolating switchMain isolator
Marine plywoodMasking tapeMasonry bit
Masonry drillMasticMatt
MCBMetal bracketMetal Builder's square
Metal mounting boxMetal rulerMeter tails
Micro porousMini belt sanderMiniature circuit breaker
Mirror, framedMismatchMitre
MoleMono-pitch roofMortar
MortiseMoulded sealed-inMounting box
MouseMuckMud Sill
MullionMulti-core solderMulti-meter
Multi-sanderMulti-sander variable speedMulti-saw
Muntin

DIY terms beginning with N

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Naked flameNarrow brush
Natural stoneNeedleNetwork
NeutralNew woodNewel
NogginNoggingNominal current capacity
Non-drip paintNon-fused spursNosing

DIY terms beginning with O

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

OliveOne-way connector blockOrbital sander
Orbital sander variable speedOuter sheathOuter string
Outside lightOutside lightsOutside tap
Overflow pipeOxidize

DIY terms beginning with P

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Padsaw
Paint kettlePaint padPaint tray
PaintbrushPalletPanel saw
Panelled doorParePargeting
Partition studParty wallPassive infra-red
Pasting brushPasting tablePattress
Paving slabPegged string-linePendant drop
Penetrating dampPenetrating oilPermeable
PickaxePicture railPigment
PilePilot holePinch rod
Pipe benderPipe bender springPipe cutter
Pipe cutter's reamerPipe wrenchPipe, copper
Pipe, wastePlanePlaner
PlasterPlaster and LathPlasterboard
Plasterboard stud constructionPlasticiserPlate compactor
Platform ladderPliersPlug
PlumbPlumb linePlunger
PlywoodPoint loadPointing
PolythenePolythene sheetingPortable equipment
PrimePrime new woodPrimer
ProfileProprietary dry partitionsProtection
Protective deviceProtective linkProtective multiple earth (PME)
PTFEPull cordPull switch
PurlinPVC conduit

DIY terms beginning with R

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Radial circuit
RadiatorRadiator keyRafter
RatchetRCDReady-mixed concrete
RebateRecessed fittingRecessed luminaires
Recovery positionRenderRepointing
Residual current devicesResidual-current circuit breaker (RCCB)Resin
ResistanceRetaining nutRetardant
RetardedRevealRewirable fuse
Ridged RoofRight angleRing circuit
Ring MainRiserRising main
Riving knifeRodding eyeRolled steel joist (RSJ)
RollerRoller coversRoller extension rods
Roller, foamRoller, mohair longRoller, mohair short
Rotary hammer & chiselling machineRouterRouter variable speed
Rub jointRubber

DIY terms beginning with S

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Sander belt
SashSash cordSaw
ScaffoldingScaleScore
ScourScraperScratchcoat
ScreedScreed battenScrew
ScrewdriverScrewdriver & cordless drillScrewdriver, flat-headed
ScribeScumble glazeSealing
Seam rollerSecondary stackSelf-cutting tap
Semi-porousSeptic tankService fuse
Service valveSetShank
Sharp sandShavehookShaving hook
SheathingShelvesShim
ShoeShort circuitShort circuit faults
Short circuitsShort grainShower mixer
Side cuttersSilent filling deviceSilk
SillSingle coreSingle socket outlet
Single switched socket.Single-phaseSingle-pole switch
Skirting boardSlabSleeper wall
Sliding clipSlip couplingSmall pipe cutter
Small tile cutterSmoke alarmSmooth paints
Smoothing brushSoakawaySocket
Socket platesSocket spannerSoffit
Soft sandSoftwoodSoil pipe
Soil stackSolder ring fittingsSolder, multi-core
Sole plateSolventSolvent weld
SpacerSpadeSpalling
SpandrelSpannerSpigot
SpikeSpirit levelSplit level cooker
Split pinSpray gunSpreader, adhesive
SpurSquareStaff bead
Standard BrushStanley knifeSteel pegs
StepladdersStileStipple brush
StipplingStippling brushStirrer
Stone chippingsStopcockStopper
StoryboardStraight connectorStraight edge
Strap on bossStrimmerString
StrutStud partitionStudded
StudsSub-baseSubsidence
SubsoilSupplementary bondingSupplementary earth bonding
SwarfSwept tee connectorSwitch wire
Symbols

DIY terms beginning with T

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

TampTamp down
Tamping toolTamping toolTandem saw
TapTap spannerTape measure
Tee connectorTemplateTenon
TerminalTerminal blockTextured paint
ThermostatThinnersThixotropic
Three phasesThree-core & earth cableThree-core flexible cable
Three-way connector blockTile cutter largeTile cutter small
Tile gaugeTile sawTiles
ToiletTongueTop coat
TopcoatTorqueTrack lighting
TransformerTransmission towersTransom
TrapTrap 's'Trap, bottle
Trap, 'p'TreadTrowel
TrueTry squareTwin-and-earth
Twin-and-earth core cableTwin-core flexTwo-core-and-earth
Two-gang light switch

DIY terms beginning with U

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

UndercoatUniversal re-seating tool

DIY terms beginning with V

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Vapour barrier or Vapour checkVariable speed cordless hammer drillVariable speed Jigsaw
Variable speed multi-sanderVariable speed orbital sanderVariable speed router
Variable speed, cordless drill & screwdriverVariable speed, cordless hammer drill & screwdriverVariable, high speed Jigsaw
VinylVoltage

DIY terms beginning with W

        Back to top of DIY Terms List

Wall light
Wall plateWall plugsWall string
Wall tieWalling blocksWallpaper
Wallpaper stripperWaney edgeWarp
Washbasin, pedestalWaste pipeWater closet (WC)
Water hammerWattsWax polish
WCWeatheredWeep hole
Wet areaWet edgeWet 'n' dry vacuum cleaner
Wet-and-dry-paperWhite spiritWide brush
Wire strippersWire woolWiring regulations
Wooden bracketWooden builder's squareWooden float
Work benchWorkpieceWrench, pipe

Terms Used

The links below will take you to any of the diy terms we have used on this page