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- A - Adapter coupling: A flexible sleeve used to join a toilet pan outlet to the soil pipe inlet Aerate: Loosen soil by digging or spiking to allow air to enter the soil Aggregate: A mixture of small stones of varying size, which form the bulk of many concrete mixes Allen keys: Strips of hexagonal-shaped hardened metal bent to an L-shape, used to tighten and loosen special nuts. Available in sets Amps: A measure of electrical current. In incandescent lamps, amps are related to voltage and power as follows: Current (Amps) = Power (Watts) / Voltage (Volts) Annuals: A plant which grows, flowers and dies within a single season Anodised: Metal treated with a coating of zinc to prevent rusting Aphids( Greenfly): A pest which infests plants, particularly roses, weakening them by feeding on the plant`s sap Arbour: An attractive garden feature, usually with sides and a roof Armoured cable: Used for outdoor wiring. Two insulated conductors are surrounded by steel wires which act as the earth conductor. There is an outer sheath of PVC Arris rail: The triangular rail set between fence posts to which fencing panels are nailed Auger bit (Twist bit): A bit with helical twist, centre screw and cutters used with a carpenter`s brace to bore holes in wood Awning: A type of external blind, usually of canvas top of page Back siphonage: A fault caused when external water is drawn back into a domestic water supply system Ballast: A coarse aggregate used in concrete and for general building repairs BAR: A measure of pressure Bark mulch: A material applied around plants to conserve moisture and enrich the soil Beam spread: A measure of the angular spread of light from reflector lamps such as R and PAR types, typically including the central part of the beam within 50% of the maximum intensity (centre beam candlepower - CBCP) Bearers: Battens designed to provide a support for other timbers Bedding: The act of pressing a tile or slab on to a prepared bed of adhesive or mortar Bevelled edges: Edges which have been angled - such as on many wall tiles Biax lamp: GE registered trademark for some Compact Fluorescent lamp families Biennials: Plants producing stems and leaves in the first season, then flowers in the next. The plant dies after flowering Bitumen: A black composition derived from mineral pitch, used for waterproofing Bitumen emulsion: A thick liquid form of bitumen used as both waterproofer and adhesive, particularly on solid floors Bolster chisel: A wide blade steel chisel used with a club hammer. Ideal for splitting bricks and slabs Braces: Diagonal strips of timber used on tongued and grooved doors and gates to strengthen and prevent sagging Bradawl: A tool with a sharp tip designed to make start holes for small screws Brassicas: A plant grouping which includes broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers Brick bolster: See Bolster chisel Bulkhead fittings: Small enclosed watertight fittings used for outdoor lighting. As seen on ships' bulkheads Burr: A rough edge often produced when drilling metal Butt hinge: Used for hanging doors, the hinge has two rectangular leaves joined by a pin. It is normally recessed into both door and frame top of page Cable buckles: Small straps, usually of soft metal, designed to hold cables in close contact with a surface Cable cores: The actual cables which conduct electricity or act as the earth for an electrical system. (Two-core or three core cable) Cam fastener: A fitting used on sash windows to lock two sashes together Candela (CD): The International System (SI) unit of luminous intensity. The term has evolved from considering a standard candle as the basis of evaluating the intensity of other light sources. Sometimes the term candlepower is used to describe the relative intensity of a source (See Lumen) Canker: A diseased and discoloured area on a plant stem Capillary joints: Joints made in copper pipe using fittings containing a prepared ring of solder ready for heating Capstan head pillar tap: A tap with a cross-shaped handle, with vertical inlet, designed to fit through a hole in a basin, sink or bath Casement stay: The metal bar which controls the amount of opening of a casement window Castor cups: Small plastic cups placed under castors to reduce the amount of wear on carpets Catenary support wire: A wire which supports the weight of an outside extension cable when linking, for example, house and workshop Caulking tool: A tool designed to press a filling material into gaps between materials such as plasterboard Caustic-based stripper: A liquid stripper based on caustic soda which needs care in handling and neutralising Cellulose filler: The most traditional filler for dealing with cracks and gaps prior to decorating. Not high in adhesion Cement mortar: A mixture of sand and cement, used for a variety of jobs, ranging from bricklaying and pointing to gap filling Centre beam candlepower: Light intensity in the centre of the beam, which is usually the maximum intensity Central muntin: The vertical central timber of a panelled door into which, panels slot Chamfer: A bevel produced on timber constructions, often for decorative purposes - such as door panels Chelated iron compounds: Chemicals in soil which can aid the health of lime-hating plants Chinagraph pencil: A pencil with greasy lead, designed to write on very smooth surfaces Chitting: A method of preparing potato tubers by placing them in a tray in a light, airy place. This gives them a good start Circuit breaker: A device designed to cut off the power to a given electrical circuit. Now replaces fuses in many modern homes Cistern: The tank in which water is stored in many homes Clearance hole: The hole drilled in a piece of wood, designed to accommodate the shank of a woodscrew Cloches: A structure of glass or plastic to protect early crops outdoors Cloddy soil: Soil in a lumpy condition Closing stile: The vertical timber of a door to which a lock or latch is fitted Coaxial downlead: A lead from a TV aerial down to wherever a TV and tuner are situated Cockspur handle: The pivoted handle which holds a casement window shut Codling moth grub: A caterpillar which attacks mainly apples Co-efficient of utilisation: A percent of initial lamp lumens that reaches the work plane as determined by surface reflection, room shape (RCR), and fixture efficiency Coir cement: A cement which contains coconut fibre as a binding agent Cold frame: A simple outdoor construction in which to grow seeds or small plants Colour rendering: Defines how light from the lamps affects the colours of objects being illuminated Combination boiler: Is designed to provide water for heating and domestic hot water. Eliminates the need for a hot water cylinder Compact fluorescent lamp: The general term applied to families of smaller diameter fluorescent lamps, some of which have built-in ballasts and BC or ES caps for easy replacement of incandescent lamps (See Energy Saving Light bulb) Compression joint: A plumbing component for pipe jointing where a spanner is used to seal the joint Compression T joint: A pipe fitting in the form of the letter T. See also Compression joint Conduit gland: A component used when securing outdoor cable in a mounting box Consumer unit: The power centre of a home`s electrical system Continuity tester: An electrical appliance designed to check that electrical circuits are functioning correctly Core bit: A bit consisting of a circle of tungsten carbide-tipped teeth, designed to make large holes in masonry. Used with a power drill Couplers: Special sleeves designed to join lengths of PVC conduit together. Joints are solvent-welded Crackle glaze: A crackle finish produced in the glaze of a tile during manufacture Cranked hinge: A hinge bent in such a way that a door can be opened through 180 degrees Cranked spanner: A spanner with off-set jaws, for dealing with nuts in confined spaces Cranked swivel tails: Tap tails which allow connection to a pipe which may not be in direct line with the tap Craquelure: A crackle glaze finish supplied as a two-part varnish. Ideal for furniture decoration. Cross bonding: A method of linking insulated earthing cables so that a system is safely earthed Cross rail joint: The point at which a door rail meets a vertical stile Cylinder lock: The most common door lock where the key operates the door latch top of page Datum pegs: Pegs used to mark out an area when constructing paths, drives or patios Datum point: The measured point at which a datum peg is to be inserted Deadlocking: The turn of a key in a lock which makes the lock inoperable without the key Dead-heading: The removal of the remains of flowers which have bloomed Deciduous: Refers to trees which shed their leaves annually Dedicated radial circuit: A circuit run from a consumer unit, necessary when installing an instantaneously heating electric shower Deep seal trap: The U-bend beneath a bath or basin which prevents smells rising from drains Defoliate: To remove leaves from a plant Delft rail: A form of display or picture rail Dimmable: An electrical device which enables you to vary the light output of the lamp Dip pipe flange: A special flange which fits into the top of a cylinder to provide a separate supply - such as to a pumped shower Diplexers: Units which avoid the need for multiple downleads when you have both TV and FM aerials Direct cylinder: A cylinder connected directly to a hot water supply Directional dipole aerial: A type of aerial which is sited so it is directed at the transmitter supplying radio signals Distemper: An early form of chalky paint best removed before repainting with emulsion Double-check non-return valve: A special valve inserted mainly in external taps to prevent back-siphonage Dovetail nailing: A system of angling nails to provide a better grip - especially in end-grain Dowel: A cylindrical, grooved piece of wood used to join two pieces of wood together Downpipe shoe: The angled end-piece of a downpipe directing water into a gully DPC: Damp Proof Course. A material used to prevent damp rising into the fabric of a building Drain spigot: The end of a pipe to which a hose can be connected to drain down a domestic water system Drilling jig: An aid to ensuring holes are drilled in correct positions - as with making dowel joints Drip loop: A loop designed to discourage rainwater from gathering on an overhead cable Dry mortar mix: A mix with a minimum of water so the mortar doesn`t stain a surface Drylined: The use of plasterboard to line a wall or ceiling, as opposed to using wet plaster Ducting: A form of channelling. Can be to direct air or fumes to an exit, or to house or hide pipes or wiring Dust mulch: A loose soil surface produced by shallow hoeing. The hoeing also eliminates weeds top of page Earth clamps: A means of connecting insulated earthing cables to pipes Earthing tags: Used to connect an earthing cable to metal baths and sinks Eaves: The lowest point of a roof which usually overhangs the walls Eddy currents: A movement of wind often encouraged by walls and fences. Hedges reduce wind speed more effectively Edging sander: A power tool ideal for finishing floor sanding around the perimeter of a room Efficacy: See Lumens Per Watt (lpw) Efflorescence: A fluffy white deposit formed through salts being drawn by damp from masonry - mainly brickwork Electromagnetic spectrum: An orderly arrangement of radiant energy by wavelength or frequency. In the visible spectrum, the eye is sensitive to radiant energy between 380 nanometers (violet) and 770 nanometers (red) Energy saving light bulb: Uses advanced 'electronic' technology to produce a highly efficient and compact light using a fraction of the electricity of ordinary incandescent bulbs. These bulbs use about 20% of the electricity of standard bulbs and last up to eight times as long EPDM seal: A form of draught excluder Ericaceous compost: A compost suitable for all lime-hating plants Escutcheon plate: Open or covered, it provides a neat finish to a keyhole - and keeps out draughts Espalier fruits: Fruit trees trained by pruning and tying so that the branches lie flat against a wall or fence Eye bolt: See Ring bolt top of page Faceplate: The outer part of a light switch or socket outlet Fascia: The board immediately below a roof to which guttering is fixed Feather-edge boards: Boards which are tapered across the width. Mainly used for close-board fencing Female connectors: That section of a fitting which houses the thread Filament: Very thin coiled wire used in incandescent lamps which is heated by an electric current to produce light Filling loop: A means of feeding water into a sealed domestic water system, or a system with a combination boiler Finial: The end-stops on curtain poles, usually decorative Fitch: A type of brush used for stencilling Fitch fastener: A device designed to secure a wooden sliding sash window. Not a good security risk Flashing: A means of sealing the gap between a roof and an adjoining wall Flashing tape: A waterproof, self-adhesive tape, used for creating new or repairing old flashings Flexible drain auger: A flexible device for clearing blockages in drainpipes Flexible filler: A filling material which retains its grip despite slight movements in the materials involved Flexible silicone joint: A seal made with silicone sealant which has the ability to absorb movement between surfaces without cracking Float valve: A valve which is opened and closed by the movement of a float as water level varies Floating floor: A floor which is independent of the base upon which it stands Flue: A channel designed to allow for the removal of fumes from a domestic fire Flue liner: A flexible liner inserted into an existing flue to prevent corrosion of the flue lining Fluorescent lamp: A lamp in which electric discharge of ultraviolet energy excites a fluorescent coating (phosphor) and transforms some of that energy to visible light. Uses very little electricity and last for a long time Foliage: The leaves of any form of plant. Not the flowers Foliar feed: A type of liquid plant food which is taken up by the leaves Fruiting spurs: Short lateral branches of a fruit tree top of page Galvanised: Metal parts coated with zinc to prevent rusting Gasket: A kind of washer designed to provide a perfect seal between two surfaces Gate valve: A tap designed to control low-pressure water flow. Usually with a wheel handle Gauge: A simple device for finding the centre point of any circular object (Centre finding gauge) Gazebo: A garden structure, usually positioned for its view G clamps (or cramps): Devices shaped like the letter G, for holding work pieces in close contact - often when gluing Germination: The very first stage of a plant's development Geyser effect: A fountain with intermittent rise and fall of water Gimlet: A small tool, usually with T-shaped handle, for boring small holes Gland nut: A small nut in the body of a tap which compresses the gland packing to prevent water leaking at the tap spindle Glazing bars: The supports into which glass is fitted - as in a greenhouse Glyphosate: A garden chemical suitable for helping eliminate unwanted grasses and weeds Gravity circulation: A natural (un-pumped) flow created within a water heating system Grommet: A soft washer, usually rubber, designed to prevent a cable coming into contact with a metal socket box Groundsel: A common weed whose seeds are carried by the wind top of page Halogen beam: A bright light produced by a tungsten halogen bulb. Widely used in exterior security lighting Halogen light bulb: Produces twice as much light and lasts twice as long as a conventional incandescent bulb of the same wattage. However, they generate a great deal of heat Hardcore: The sub-base material for concrete work, usually made of broken brick or stone Hasp: Half of a hasp and staple, used with a padlock to secure the door of a building Head plate: A horizontal timber fixed to a ceiling to which vertical timbers of a stud partition are nailed Headgear mechanism: The working part of a tap, including handle Herbaceous: A type of plant that does not develop a woody stem. Usually dies off in Autumn to re-grow in Spring Herbicide: A general term for weedkiller Hexagon bush: A coupling designed to join together lengths of flexible supply hose - as to a washing machine Hinge bolts: Bolts inserted at the hinge side of a door to prevent the door from being levered off its hinges Hoe: A traditional garden tool used for chopping off weeds and piling soil around plants Hoggin: A bedding material of gravel and sandy clay - more expensive than hardcore Hole boring tool: See Gimlet Hollow tine aerators: A garden tool with hollow prongs designed to allow air to enter the soil Hopper head: An external fitting at the head of a downpipe into which wastepipes from basins and baths may drain Horticultural fleece: A lightweight, fluffy, material which can be laid over seeds or young plants to insulate them from the cold Hose lances: A metal extension to a hose to simplify the watering of window boxes and hanging baskets Humus-rich casts: Deposits from some worms which contain nutrients beneficial to the soil top of page Illuminance: The quantity of light (foot-candles or lux) at a point on a surface Impoverished grass: Grass which lacks nutrients and water Incandescent bulbs: A bulb with a filament that glows with light and heat Indirect cylinder: A hot water cylinder in which domestic water and central heating water are separated from each other Infrared radiation: For practical purposes, any radiant energy within the range 770-106 nanometers. This energy is sensed as heat Initial lumens: Light output of a lamp Insectivorous species: Types of plant which trap and devour insects Irrigation system: A method of circulating or supplying water to feed plants Isolating valve: A form of tap designed to control the supply of water to a system top of page Japanned: Metal items coated in a tough lacquer Joists: The timber supports upon which a floor is constructed Jubilee clip: A circular clip which can be tightened by means of a small screw. Often used on hoses top of page Keyhole angle plates: Slotted metal plates which connect with screw heads to lock an item in place Kilowatt (kW): A larger unit of power; a thousand watts (watts x 1000 = kilowatts) Kilowatt Hour (kwh): The measure of electrical usage from which electricity billing is determined. For example, a 100-watt lamp operated for 1000 hours would consume 100 kilowatt hours, (100 watts x 1000 hours = 100 kwh). At a billing rate of 0.10/kwh, this lamp would cost 10.00 (100 kwh x 0.10/kwh) to operate Knotting: A shellac-based liquid used to prevent knots in wood from `bleeding` resin top of page Lamp: This is actually the technical word meaning light bulb or tube - the part that provides light until it burns out. However, the lamp is also commonly used to refer to a type of fixture, such as a desk lamp Lamp efficiency: Lamp selection with more light output per watt of input to reduce cost of lighting - the more efficient the lamp, the lower the cost of lighting Lamp properties: Lamp properties are characteristics which describe the lamp functionality. They include watts, volts, and colour rendering index Linear fluorescent: Straight, tubular-shaped fluorescent light - uses very little electricity and lasts for a very long time Lintel: A strong support, usually above a door or window designed to bear the weight of any load above it Live knots: Any knots in timber which are still exuding resin (See Knotting) Load bearing: Any structure which is supporting weight. Such as a load bearing wall Loam: Soil which is a mixture of sand, clay, humus and silt Lock staple: The housing mounted on a doorframe into which a latch and bolt move Lockshield head: The upper part of a lockshield valve, fitted to a hot water radiator to control the water flow Low voltage: Denotes a lamp with a voltage of less than 50 Volts Lugs: Projections built into an appliance to enable it to be secured to a wall. As with a fireplace surround Lumen maintenance: How a lamp maintains its light output over its life, often expressed as percent initial lumens vs. percent rated life Lumens per watt (lpw): A measure of the efficacy of a light source in terms of the light produced for the power consumed. For example, a 100-watt lamp producing 1750 lumens gives 17.5 lumens per watt. Examples: Edison's first lamp 1.4 lpw Incandescent lamps 10-40 lpw Fluorescent lamps 35-100 lpw Halogen lamps 20-45 lpw Luminaire: The international term for a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp (or lamps), together with the parts designed to distribute the light, position and protect lamps and connect them to the power supply Luminaire efficiency: The ratio of lumens emitted by a Luminaire to those emitted by the lamp or lamps used Luminance: Measurable quantity (candelas per square inch or per square metre) which is related to perceived brightness Lux: The SI (International System) unit of illumination: one lumen uniformly distributed over an area of one square metre top of page Magnetic contact transmitter: A device mainly fitted to windows which activates an alarm when the window is opened Male threaded connector: That part of a connector which includes the actual thread (See Female connector) Marginal plants: Plants which require constantly damp or wet soil Masonry bit: A drill bit with tungsten carbide tip, used for drilling holes in bricks and blocks Masonry nails: Specially hardened nails which can be driven direct into bricks and blocks (safety spectacles essential) Masonry paint: Paint specially formulated for coating rendered exterior walls Masonry stud anchors: A special type of expanding bolt used to fix timbers to masonry Mastic: A flexible sealant used widely for repairs, and for waterproofing surfaces MCB: Short for miniature circuit breakers. Replacing fuses in modern homes Mealy moulds: White, woolly patches on plants caused by the mealybug pest Melamine: A plastic best known as the material used to surface worktops (Formica laminate) Milliamp residual current device: See RCD Millstone: Stone originally used for grinding flour, but now widely used as a garden decoration Mini trunking: A plastic surface-mounted channeling used to hide pipes or cables Mitred: Any material with surfaces cut at an angle. Mostly associated with picture frame corners Mortar: See Cement mortar Mortice lock: A type of lock where the key drives a bolt into a striking plate in the door frame Mouldings: Decorative strips of wood Mounting box: A box to which a light switch or socket is screwed Mulching: The application of a material to the soil around a plant to conserve moisture, enrich the soil and discourage weeds top of page Nocturnal arthropods: Insects, such as centipedes, which hunt at night Noggings: Short timber struts used as strengtheners. Usually associated with joists or timber studs Non-ferrous: Metals with no iron content, such as copper or aluminium Non-load bearing: A surface, such as a partition wall which has no weight bearing upon it top of page Offset: A change of direction in the design of a component or tool - such as offset spanner Offset bend: A section of pipe especially angled to alter the position of a downpipe - i.e, bring it closer to a wall Omni-directional aerial: A type of radio aerial ideal for receiving signals from several FM transmitters Openable sashes: A window which slides up and down in a frame, to open or close it Ornate escutcheon: A decorative keyhole cover, pivoted at the top Over-rim supply bidet: A bidet connected in the same way as a washbasin, with water supplied to the inner rim top of page Parabolic aluminised reflector (PAR) lamp: A type of incandescent lamp of heavy glass that controls its light beam by a reflector and lens; typically used in floodlighting Parquet: Timber flooring made up of small blocks of wood, often in basket-weave pattern Particle board: Sheet material made from wood chips bonded together under pressure - such as chipboard Passive system: Often referred to an alarm system which lies dormant until disturbed by intrusion Paste flux: A special paste which is used to prepare a metal surface prior to soldering Peach leaf curl: A disease often caused by poor air circulation around the plant Pebble dash: A form of wall rendering produced by flinging small pebbles onto a wet mortar Pent roof: A roof sloping in one direction - i.e. shed roof, front to back Perennials: Plants which live for an indefinite period, dying down in Autumn and producing new growth in Spring Pergola: A decorative timber structure, ideal for climbing plants Perlite: A fine pebble-like material used with nutrients to grow plants without soil Phosphor: A coating deposited on the inner bulb surface of fluorescent lamps, which converts ultraviolet energy into visible light Phosphorous: A garden fertiliser essential for seed germination and root development Pilaster blocks: Hollow blocks used to form the end piers of screen block walling Pilot hole: Hole drilled in timber to give a start for the thread part of a screw PIR detector: Short for passive infra-red, used in security devices to detect the movement of intruders Plank: A thin but strong section of timber used to stand on, or wheel barrows over Pirimicarb: A chemical used in pesticides which will control aphids without harming beneficial insects Plate vibrator: A powered vibrator used to work fine sand between blocks used for paths and drives Plinth panel: A raised section, such as around the base of a shower cabinet Plumb line: A weighted cord used to check or locate a true vertical. Used principally in wallpapering Pointing: The use of mortar to finish the joints formed between bricks in a wall Pollination: The act of carrying pollen from flower to flower, facilitating fertilisation Polyurethane: A chemical used in many exterior varnishes to ensure weatherproofing and durability Porous: A material which has the ability to absorb liquids Potash: An excellent plant food, which also protects against disease and ensures a balanced use of nitrogen Power factor (PF): A measure of how efficiently a device uses power. Power factor may range from 0 to 1, with 1 being the ideal. A device that converts all the power supplied to it by the power utility into watts is said to have a power factor of 1. Devices with PF greater than or equal to 0.90 are referred to as High Power Factor (HPF) devices, whereas devices with PF less than 0.60 are referred to as low power factor devices Press locking bolt: A bolt which can be manually driven home without the use of a key Proboscis: The elongated part of the mouth of an insect Profile gauge: A device housing a large number of movable needles which, when pressed against a surface, will take up its shape Propagation: A way of multiplying a plant by natural process from a parent stock Propagator: A mini greenhouse designed to encourage propagation Proprietary filler: Any filler, used when decorating, known by brand name Purlins: Horizontal timbers running parallel to the ridges, also referred to as side timbers Purpose-made cylinder union: A device for connecting primary pipe work to a hot water cylinder Push-fit joints: Joints which lock naturally when pressed together top of page Quadrant moulding: A thin piece of timber of quarter-circle section Queen closer: A small section of brick used to complete a pattern in Flemish and English bond top of page Rafter: A timber sloping from the ridge to the wall head and supporting the roof coverings Rag rolling: A form of decoration where paint is transferred to a surface by a loosely rolled rag RCD: Short for Residual Current Device, it has the ability to cut off a power supply immediately if a fault develops in a circuit Reflector lamp: An incandescent lamp with a built-in reflecting surface. The glass bulb is blow-moulded in one piece and may be of soft or hard glass. The reflector is a specific functional shape to concentrate the light in one direction Render, rendering: The process of coating an external wall with a layer of fine cement mortar Re-point: To replace missing or damaged mortar between bricks Resin: The sticky sap which exudes mainly from knots in timber Ridge: The line formed where two sides of a sloping or pitched roof meet Ring circuit/Ring main: The system of running rings of cable around rooms, to which electrical sockets are connected Rodding eye: An opening in a drainage pipe through which rods can enter to clear a blockage Rootstock: A vigorous growing plant to which another plant is grafted top of page Sash: The part of a window which slides up and down in a frame Sash stops: Small security devices which prevent a sash window opening further than a given point Scarify: To remove thatch and dead grass from a lawn by raking Scotia beads: Decorative mouldings, all based upon a right-angled section of timber Screed: A fine layer of concrete or compound used to provide a smooth and level surface to a floor Screeding timbers: Spaced battens temporarily fixed to a wall and used for depth control when plastering Screw eye: A screw with open circular head available in a range of sizes. Provides an anchor point for curtain wire hooks or ropes Scumble glaze: Used in a form of decoration where a light glaze is painted over a darker colour Sealant: A special filler designed to seal the gap between two surfaces - such as bath or basin and wall Sealing washers: A flexible washer used between tap and a basin to provide a watertight seal Serpentine layering: A system of layering along the long stems of climbers such as Clematis Shavehook: A shaped metal tool designed to scrape softened paint from a decorated surface Shellac-based knotting: See Knotting Shepherd`s purse: A common annual garden weed Shiplap claddding: Shaped timber boards, designed to overlap to provide a weather tight joint Shuttering (Formwork): A temporary structure into which fluid concrete is poured Silicon carbide paper: An abrasive paper which can be used wet or dry. Contains a special non-clogging agent Skew nailing: Nails driven in at an acute angle to improve holding power Soffit board: A board used to enclose the space below a fascia board (See Fascia) Soil stack (Soil pipe): A pipe designed to convey gases from drains away from the house Sole plate: A timber used as a base to which vertical timbers are nailed to form a stud partition Solenoid valve: An electrically operated valve, often used to control water flow in an appliance - washing machine, dishwasher Solvent cement: An adhesive which softens the material to which it is applied - such as polystyrene cement Solvent-welded joints: Used in plastic plumbing, the adhesive used melts the plastic together Spacers: Pieces of X-shaped plastic inserted between wall tiles to produce small gaps. Not removed Spacing lugs: The small projections on certain wall tiles which provide the necessary spacing Spigot end: The plain end of a pipe, designed to fit into a socket in another pipe Spoke shave: A small two-handed tool used to plane narrow curved sections of timber Spotlight: Beam of light projected onto a particular object or location Spurs: Electrical cables run from a ring circuit to feed other sockets or appliances Stabilising primer: A primer used to bond an unstable surface prior to decorating - i.e. over old distemper or old external rendering Stakes: Strong timber battens used to support plants Stamen: The male reproductive organ of a flower Staple: Used with a Hasp on an outbuilding door to provide a fixing point for a padlock Stay arm: See Casement stay Stay peg: The raised pin on which holes in a casement stay can be located Stiles: The vertical timbers of a panelled door Stippler: A special brush designed to produce a soft broken effect to a surface being painted Stock block: The main part of a mortise gauge which slides along the bar housing the marking pins Stop cock: Most commonly the tap which can be used to cut off the water supply to a home Stopends: Sections of guttering used to cap the ends of runs Stress crack: Damage often caused by over tightening a fitting, or applying too much pressure Striker plate: The part of a lock fitted to the door frame, into which the bolt and latch pass Striplight: Tubular-shaped incandescent lightbulb used in bathroom shaver lights, picture lights and under-cupboard lighting (See also Fluorescent Lamps) Stud partition: A wall constructed of timbers to which plasterboard is nailed Stud and noggin: A timber framework with short strengthening pieces inserted Succulent: A type of plant which retains a large amount of water and has thick, fleshy leaves Surface-mounted socket: A type of socket designed to be mounted on the surface of a wall, rather than inset Surform: A shaping tool with a base perforated by scores of chisel-like teeth Sward: An area of ground covered by short grass Swarf: Metal shavings - produced by drilling Swivel tap: Any tap where the spout can be moved from side to side Systemic fungicide / insecticide: Chemicals which enter the sap of a plant to kill fungus or insects top of page Tamping: To compress soil or building materials by striking with a flat surface Tap spindle: The part of a tap linking the handle to the main body Taproot: The chief descending root of a plant Teed-off: A branch taken from an existing pipe - in the form of a letter T Thermal Resistance: The value of the thermal resistance of a piece of material can be thought of as the temperature difference across it required to produce one unit of heat flow per unit area. It is measured by m2K/W, where m2 is the surface area, K is the temperature difference and W is the resultant heat flow Thermostatic valve: A valve used on a radiator which can be set to control the heat-output Threaded insert: The threaded part of a jointing system designed to be inserted into timber Tilling soil: Raking over an area to prepare it or disturb weed growth Tilth: Soil prepared and ready to use Timber bearers: See Bearers Topiary: The art of clipping shrubs into ornamental shapes Torque: The amount of force applied by a spanner to tighten or loosen a thread. Some tools have a Torque control Trellis: An open construction of thin battens, ideal for climbing plants Tuber: The thick part of an underground plant stem - such as the potato Two-core flex: A flexible cable having only `live` and neutral conductors. As used with double-insulated appliances top of page Ultraviolet radiation: Any radiant energy within the range of 100-380 nanometers. Wavelengths 180-220nm produce ozone; 220-300nm bactericidal (germicidal); 280-320nm erythemal (reddening of human skin); and 320-400nm secondary luminance (blacklight) Union clips: Special sections, incorporating seals, which link two sections of plastic gutter together Unvented water cylinder: A cylinder well suited to feeding continental water taps top of page Vapour barrier: A water-resistant sheet often used in house construction to prevent moisture passing from one surface to another Variable gain controls: A TV signal booster which allows you to select the level of amplification you need for good results Variegated: Plant leaves marked with a number of contrasting colours Vine weevil: A beetle pest which cuts irregular notches in the leaves of many plants Volt: A unit of measure of the potential difference in an electric circuit. (A lamp's voltage should match the voltage rating of the circuit on which it operates) Voltage: A measurement of electromotive force or the pressure of electricity Volts (V): Voltage requirement (e.g. 240V) top of page Waterproofer: A liquid designed to prevent the entry of water into masonry. It may still allow the wall to `breathe` so moisture can escape Watt: Unit used to measure power consumption Weatherstruck joint: Pointing in brickwork finished with a sloping, roof-like, surface Worm casts: Mounds of coiled, sticky earth deposited on a soil's surface |