Building & Trade Glossary
A plain-English glossary of common UK building and trade terms. Each entry explains what the term means, why it matters, and links to relevant calculators on TradeCalcs.
Bonding Coat
A gypsum-based undercoat plaster applied to walls before the finishing skim coat.
BS 7671
The UK standard for electrical wiring regulations, also known as the IET Wiring Regulations.
Cavity Wall
A wall made of two separate leaves (usually brick and block) with an air gap between them.
Dot and Dab
A method of fixing plasterboard directly to masonry walls using dabs of adhesive.
Part L
The section of UK Building Regulations covering energy efficiency and insulation requirements.
Pointing
The process of filling and finishing the mortar joints between bricks or blocks.
R-Value (RSK Value)
A measure of thermal resistance, indicating how well a material resists the flow of heat.
Screed
A thin layer of cement-based material laid over a concrete slab to create a smooth, level floor surface.
Skim Coat
A thin finishing layer of plaster (typically multi-finish) applied over plasterboard or an undercoat.
U-Value
A measure of how much heat passes through a building element, measured in W/m²K.