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.

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  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 40	1 to 5	1 to 6
1 to 9

DIY terms beginning with 2

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2-way switches

DIY terms beginning with 3

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3-way terminal block

DIY terms beginning with A

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Accessories	Accessory	Adhesive
Adhesive spreader	Adjustable pliers	Adjustable spanner
Adjustable wire cutter	Adjustable wire stripper	Aggregate
Airlock	All purpose saw	Ambience
Angled brush	Angled chisel	Angled drill
Anti-condensation	Anti-condensation paint	Appliance
Architrave	Arris	Arrising tool
Artificial respiration

DIY terms beginning with B

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Back-siphonage	Balanced flue
Ball valve	Ballast	Baluster
Balustrade or Banister	Basin wrench	Bath shower mixer
Bathroom lights	Batt	Batten
Battens	Batter	Bay
Belt sander	Bevelled edge	Binder
Blade	Blade knife	Blind
Blown	Blowtorch	Bolster
Bond	Bonding clamp	Bonding conductor
Bore	Boss	Bottle trap
Boundary	Boxing the paint	Bracket
Bracket, decorative	Bracket, metal	Bracket, wooden
Bradawl	Breaker	Bricks
Brush wide	Brush, angled	Brush, narrow
Brush, standard	Builder's right-angle	Builder's square, metal
Builders square, wooden	Burr	Butter a birck
Buttercoat

DIY terms beginning with C

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Cable clips	Cable drop
Cable sheathing	Came	Cap-nut
Carborundum stone	Cartridge fuse	Casing
Catenary wire	Cavity wall	Ceiling light
Ceiling rose	Ceiling tiles	Cement
Chamfer	Chamfering	Chamois
Chase	Chemical strippers	Chinagraph pencil
Circuit	Circuit continuity tester	Circuit protective device.
Circular saw	Cistern	Claw hammer
Cold chisel	Compression fitting	Compression joint
Compression tee fitting	Concave	Concrete mixer
Concrete post	Conductor	Conduit box
Connecting strips	Connector block, one-way	Consumer unit
Continuity tester	Contraction units	Convex
Cooker control unit	Coping stones	Copper pipe
Cordless drill & screwdriver	Cordless drill & screwdriver variable speed	Cordless hammer drill & screwdriver variable speed
Cordless hammer drill variable speed	Cordless screwdriver	Cornice
Counter-bore	Countersink	Course
Cover, depth	Coving	Crawling board
Crossfall	Cup	Curing
Curtain pole	Curtain track	Cutting in

DIY terms beginning with D

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Dado	Dado rail	Damp proof course
Damp-proof course (DPC)	Damp-proof membrane (DPM)	Datum point
Dead	Decorative bracket	Delta sander
Delta sander variable speed	Depth cover	Depth gauge
Dimmer switch	Distribution	Dolly
Door hinge	Door lock	Door panelled
Double check valve	Double insulated	Double pole isolating switch
Double pole switch	Double switched socket	Downlighter
Drain-cock	Drill	Drill hammer
Drill speed	Drip groove	Drop
Dry area	Dry lined	Dry rot
Drywall surfaces

DIY terms beginning with E

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Ear protectors	Earth
Earth block	Earth clamp	Earth conductor
Earth faults	Earth leakage	Earth metalwork
Earth metalwork	Earth protective conductor	Earth rammer
Earth terminal bar	Earth wire	Earthed protective metal
Earthing lead	Earthing point	Earthing system
Eaves	Efflorescence	Elbow
Elbow joint	ELCB	Electric scraper
Electric shock	Electric shower unit	Electric tacker
Electrical supply service	Electrician's screwdriver	Emulsion
Enamel	End grain	Engineering Brick
Equipotential bonding	Ergonomics	Expansion bolts
Exposure level	Extension	Extension lead
Extra-low-voltage

DIY terms beginning with F

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Face edge	Face side
Fall	Fascia	Fascia board
Fault	Feather	Fence
Fence panel	Fibre	Filaments
Filing	Filler strip	First aid
Fished	Fixed appliance	Flashing
Flat twinned flexible	Flat-headed Screwdriver	Flaunching
Flex connector	Flexible conductor	Flexible connector
Float	Float arm	Float valve
Floor tiles	Floorboards	Flush
Flush door	Flute	Flux
Footing	Former	Formwork
Framed mirror	Frass	Free-standing cooker
Frog	Fungicide	Furring battens or Furring strips
Fuse	Fuse box	Fuse cartridge
Fuse wire	Fuseboard	Fused connection units
Fused spur	Fused spur unit

DIY terms beginning with G

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Galvanised
Galvanized	Gauge	Gauge, depth
G-clamp	Gel	Generators
Glasspaper	Glaze	Gloss
Gloves	Glue gun	Going
Grain	Grass shears	Gravel
Gravel board	Grinder angle	Grinder straight
Grommet	Groove	Grounds
Grout	Grouted	Grouting
Gullet	Gully

DIY terms beginning with H

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Hacksaw
Half round file	Hammer claw	Hammer drill
Hammer drill variable speed	Hardboard	Hardcore
Hardpoint tenon saw	Hardwood	Head
Head plate	Heat gun	Heave
Hedge trimmer	Helical	High pressure cleaner
Hoggin	Hole boring tool	Hone
Hopperhead	Horns	Hose
Hot air gun	Hot air gun variable speed	Housing
Hydrated lime

DIY terms beginning with I

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IEE regulations	Infill
Instantaneous shower	Instantaneous shower units	Insulating sleeves
Insulation	Insulation - electrical	Isolated
Isolating toggles	Isolating valve

DIY terms beginning with J

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Jamb
Jigsaw	Jigsaw variable high speed	Jigsaw variable speed
Joint box	Joint boxes	Joist
Junction box

DIY terms beginning with K

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Kerf	Key
Kilowatt	Knife, blade	Knurled

DIY terms beginning with L

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Ladder	Ladder stay	Large roller
Large tile cutter	Lath and plaster	Lead
Light switch	Lighting track	Lights, ceiling
Lights, outside	Lights, wall	Lintel
Live	Load	Locking jamb
Lockshield	Loop-in circuit	Low voltage lighting
Luminaires	Lump hammer

DIY terms beginning with M

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Main consumer unit
Main earth terminal	Main isolating switch	Main isolator
Marine plywood	Masking tape	Masonry bit
Masonry drill	Mastic	Matt
MCB	Metal bracket	Metal Builder's square
Metal mounting box	Metal ruler	Meter tails
Micro porous	Mini belt sander	Miniature circuit breaker
Mirror, framed	Mismatch	Mitre
Mole	Mono-pitch roof	Mortar
Mortise	Moulded sealed-in	Mounting box
Mouse	Muck	Mud Sill
Mullion	Multi-core solder	Multi-meter
Multi-sander	Multi-sander variable speed	Multi-saw
Muntin

DIY terms beginning with N

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Naked flame	Narrow brush
Natural stone	Needle	Network
Neutral	New wood	Newel
Noggin	Nogging	Nominal current capacity
Non-drip paint	Non-fused spurs	Nosing

DIY terms beginning with O

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Olive	One-way connector block	Orbital sander
Orbital sander variable speed	Outer sheath	Outer string
Outside light	Outside lights	Outside tap
Overflow pipe	Oxidize

DIY terms beginning with P

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Padsaw
Paint kettle	Paint pad	Paint tray
Paintbrush	Pallet	Panel saw
Panelled door	Pare	Pargeting
Partition stud	Party wall	Passive infra-red
Pasting brush	Pasting table	Pattress
Paving slab	Pegged string-line	Pendant drop
Penetrating damp	Penetrating oil	Permeable
Pickaxe	Picture rail	Pigment
Pile	Pilot hole	Pinch rod
Pipe bender	Pipe bender spring	Pipe cutter
Pipe cutter's reamer	Pipe wrench	Pipe, copper
Pipe, waste	Plane	Planer
Plaster	Plaster and Lath	Plasterboard
Plasterboard stud construction	Plasticiser	Plate compactor
Platform ladder	Pliers	Plug
Plumb	Plumb line	Plunger
Plywood	Point load	Pointing
Polythene	Polythene sheeting	Portable equipment
Prime	Prime new wood	Primer
Profile	Proprietary dry partitions	Protection
Protective device	Protective link	Protective multiple earth (PME)
PTFE	Pull cord	Pull switch
Purlin	PVC conduit

DIY terms beginning with R

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Radial circuit
Radiator	Radiator key	Rafter
Ratchet	RCD	Ready-mixed concrete
Rebate	Recessed fitting	Recessed luminaires
Recovery position	Render	Repointing
Residual current devices	Residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB)	Resin
Resistance	Retaining nut	Retardant
Retarded	Reveal	Rewirable fuse
Ridged Roof	Right angle	Ring circuit
Ring Main	Riser	Rising main
Riving knife	Rodding eye	Rolled steel joist (RSJ)
Roller	Roller covers	Roller extension rods
Roller, foam	Roller, mohair long	Roller, mohair short
Rotary hammer & chiselling machine	Router	Router variable speed
Rub joint	Rubber

DIY terms beginning with S

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Sander belt
Sash	Sash cord	Saw
Scaffolding	Scale	Score
Scour	Scraper	Scratchcoat
Screed	Screed batten	Screw
Screwdriver	Screwdriver & cordless drill	Screwdriver, flat-headed
Scribe	Scumble glaze	Sealing
Seam roller	Secondary stack	Self-cutting tap
Semi-porous	Septic tank	Service fuse
Service valve	Set	Shank
Sharp sand	Shavehook	Shaving hook
Sheathing	Shelves	Shim
Shoe	Short circuit	Short circuit faults
Short circuits	Short grain	Shower mixer
Side cutters	Silent filling device	Silk
Sill	Single core	Single socket outlet
Single switched socket.	Single-phase	Single-pole switch
Skirting board	Slab	Sleeper wall
Sliding clip	Slip coupling	Small pipe cutter
Small tile cutter	Smoke alarm	Smooth paints
Smoothing brush	Soakaway	Socket
Socket plates	Socket spanner	Soffit
Soft sand	Softwood	Soil pipe
Soil stack	Solder ring fittings	Solder, multi-core
Sole plate	Solvent	Solvent weld
Spacer	Spade	Spalling
Spandrel	Spanner	Spigot
Spike	Spirit level	Split level cooker
Split pin	Spray gun	Spreader, adhesive
Spur	Square	Staff bead
Standard Brush	Stanley knife	Steel pegs
Stepladders	Stile	Stipple brush
Stippling	Stippling brush	Stirrer
Stone chippings	Stopcock	Stopper
Storyboard	Straight connector	Straight edge
Strap on boss	Strimmer	String
Strut	Stud partition	Studded
Studs	Sub-base	Subsidence
Subsoil	Supplementary bonding	Supplementary earth bonding
Swarf	Swept tee connector	Switch wire
Symbols

DIY terms beginning with T

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Tamp	Tamp down
Tamping tool	Tamping tool	Tandem saw
Tap	Tap spanner	Tape measure
Tee connector	Template	Tenon
Terminal	Terminal block	Textured paint
Thermostat	Thinners	Thixotropic
Three phases	Three-core & earth cable	Three-core flexible cable
Three-way connector block	Tile cutter large	Tile cutter small
Tile gauge	Tile saw	Tiles
Toilet	Tongue	Top coat
Topcoat	Torque	Track lighting
Transformer	Transmission towers	Transom
Trap	Trap 's'	Trap, bottle
Trap, 'p'	Tread	Trowel
True	Try square	Twin-and-earth
Twin-and-earth core cable	Twin-core flex	Two-core-and-earth
Two-gang light switch

DIY terms beginning with U

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Undercoat	Universal re-seating tool

DIY terms beginning with V

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Vapour barrier or Vapour check	Variable speed cordless hammer drill	Variable speed Jigsaw
Variable speed multi-sander	Variable speed orbital sander	Variable speed router
Variable speed, cordless drill & screwdriver	Variable speed, cordless hammer drill & screwdriver	Variable, high speed Jigsaw
Vinyl	Voltage

DIY terms beginning with W

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Wall light
Wall plate	Wall plugs	Wall string
Wall tie	Walling blocks	Wallpaper
Wallpaper stripper	Waney edge	Warp
Washbasin, pedestal	Waste pipe	Water closet (WC)
Water hammer	Watts	Wax polish
WC	Weathered	Weep hole
Wet area	Wet edge	Wet 'n' dry vacuum cleaner
Wet-and-dry-paper	White spirit	Wide brush
Wire strippers	Wire wool	Wiring regulations
Wooden bracket	Wooden builder's square	Wooden float
Work bench	Workpiece	Wrench, pipe

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