• Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
    • DIY & self build
    • Pets
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Home & garden
  • News
  • Community
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
    • DIY & self build
    • Pets
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Home & garden
  • News
  • Community
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»DIY»Glossary»Glossary (D)

Glossary (D)

A B C D E F G H IJK L M
N O PQ R S T U V W XYZ

D

Dado rail

Decorative strip of moulding separating the top and bottom sections of wall.

Damp-proof course

Layer of damp-proof material between the courses of bricks near the bottom of exterior walls.

Damp-proof membrane

Sheet of waterproof plastic inserted under flooring to protect against rising damp.

DC (direct current)

Electrical current that flows in one direction only.

Deadman

T-shaped prop for supporting plasterboard whilst it is fixed to a ceiling.

Dehumidifier

An appliance used to reduce humidity levels.

Dimmer switch

A switch connected to a transformer allowing you to reduce the flow of electricity in the lighting circuit.

Diplexer

Otherwise known as a splitter or combiner, a diplexer combines signals from two sources and transmits them through a single output e.g. to allow a TV to receive signals from an aerial and satellite dish.

Dolly

A low trolley for conveying heavy objects.

Door furniture

All door accessories such as handles, knockers, letterboxes etc.

Door lining

The door lining frames the opening and provides the fixing point for the door.

Double-insulated

An electrical appliance that has been insulated in such a way that it does not need earthing. In Europe a double insulated appliance must be labelled “Class II”, “double insulated” or bear the double insulation symbol (a square inside another square).

Double-pole switch

A circuit where both the Live (L) wire and Neutral (N) wire are disconnected by means of a single switch, these are found on single circuits for electric shower and cookers.

Dovetail nailing

Driving nails into a joint at an angle for extra strength.

Dowel

Wooden peg hammered in to a wooden joint to strengthen the joint or close cracks in woodwork.

Downpipe shoe

The angled connection at the base of a downpipe, or drainpipe, directing water into a gutter.

Dragging

Paint effect in which a brush or rag is dragged through wet glaze or paint.

Drip groove

A lip underneath exterior windowsills and doorframes directing water away from the woodwork.

Drop

A length of wallpaper, measured and cut in preparation for pasting.

Dry laying

Laying bricks or tiles temporarily without fixing them to check positioning.

Dry lining

Plasterboarding walls and ceilings by fixing sheets of pre-plastered boards to a timber frame or metal channels.

Dry rot

The damage caused to timber and other materials by a fungal attack.

Duct

A channel or tube passing through a building to convey air, cables etc. 

Latest News
1

Product Review: Erbauer ERO400 125mm electric random orbital sander

0

Product Review: DeWalt DCF787 brushless cordless impact driver

0

The UK’s ambitious drive towards energy efficiency – Exploring the pros and cons of heat pump systems

0

Potential DIY home improvement trends for 2023

Popular Guides

Average cost of soil

Average cost of skip hire (2023)

Average tennis court cost

Average chimney repair costs

Popular Projects

Painting a ceiling

Repairing a tap with poor water flow video

How to paint metal

8 useful hand tools for the garden

Recent Comments
  • Ted on Product Review: Erbauer ERO400 125mm electric random orbital sander
  • Vic on Is Christmas a good time for DIY?
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

Self Build Guide
How to find a building plot
Evaluating a building plot (2023)
How to get a self build mortgage
Self build construction options
Self build architect and design considerations (2023)
Self build planning permission and legal consents
© 2023 lets do diy ltd | ebuild | Partner site:talkcosts.co.uk
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.