Glossary
Building materials glossary.
Short, clear explanations of common building and hardware terms.
- Cement
- Fundamental binding material in construction; hardens when mixed with water.
- Ceramic Tile
- Fired clay material used for floor and wall covering.
- Circuit Breaker
- Electrical safety device that automatically cuts the circuit during overcurrent.
- Concrete
- Building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water.
- EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
- Lightweight foam polystyrene board material used in thermal insulation.
- Exterior Paint
- Special paint type protecting building exteriors against weather conditions.
- Galvanized Steel
- Steel material protected against rust with zinc coating.
- Grout
- Waterproof material used to fill gaps between tiles and ceramics.
- Insulation
- Materials and applications protecting buildings against heat, sound or water loss.
- Interior Paint
- Decorative and protective paint applied to interior walls and ceilings.
- Junction Box
- Plastic or metal box where electrical cables are joined and protected.
- Mastic Sealant
- Flexible sealing material that makes joints and connections watertight.
- Membrane
- Covering material providing waterproofing on roofs, terraces and foundations.
- Mortar
- Cement mixture used as a binding material between bricks, stones or blocks.
- Plaster / Render
- Cement or plaster-based coating applied to smooth and protect wall surfaces.
- Plaster of Paris
- White powder material mixed with water, used for smoothing walls and ceilings.
- Porcelain Tile
- Ceramic type fired at high temperatures, durable with low water absorption rate.
- PPR Pipe
- Polypropylene pipe system used in hot and cold water plumbing.
- Primer
- Preparatory coating applied before paint to improve adhesion.
- Putty / Filler
- Paste-like material used to fill cracks and gaps on wall surfaces.
- PVC Pipe
- Plastic pipe type used in sewage and rainwater drainage systems.
- Screed
- Thin cement-based layer poured over concrete floor to level the surface.
- Silicone Sealant
- Flexible waterproof sealant used in bathroom, kitchen and glass joints.
- Socket Outlet
- Wall-mounted device that provides power by plugging in electrical appliances.
- Switch
- Wall-mounted device used to turn electrical circuits on and off.
- Thinner / Solvent
- Chemical solvent liquid used for thinning paint and cleaning.
- VAT
- Value Added Tax. Generally applied at 20% rate on building materials.
- Wall Tile
- Thin ceramic covering typically used on bathroom and kitchen walls.
- Wallpaper
- Decorative covering material applied to wall surfaces by adhesion.
- XPS (Extruded Polystyrene)
- Thermal insulation board with high compressive strength that does not absorb moisture.