This page of our online a to z glossary of DIY home improvement terms is for do-it-yourself terms beginning with the letter 'A'.
- Abrasive
- A rough-surfaced material used for grinding and polishing.
- Abrasive paper
- Paper coated with abrasive particles for smoothing wood. Graded by grit size and spacing.
- Acrylic sheet
- A rigid plastic sheet, usually about 3 mm thick in clear, coloured or opal.
- Adhesive
- A powerful bonding agent. Many types are available for use with specific materials.
- Adjustable spanner
- Open-ended spanner with a movable jaw enabling it to adapt to a wide range of sizes.
An adjustable spanner
- Aggregate
- Sand, rock and gravel-like materials used with cement to make concrete, or added to paint to make a textured finish.
- Air brick
- A perforated brick placed in a wall which provides ventilation by allowing air to pass through.
- Air pocket
- The empty space in a concrete wall caused by improper pouring.
- Airlock
- A blockage in a pipe caused by a trapped bubble of air.
- Alkyd resins
- Synthetic resins used in paint manufacture.
- Alloy
- A mixture of two or more metals.
- Anchor bolt
- A fixing bolt securing a wood or metal frame to a masonry wall or solid floor.
- Anhydrous
- Moisture-free.
- Aniline dyes
- Synthetically produced colours made from coal tar substances.
- Applique
- Fabric pieces sewn to a backing material in a decorative fashion.
- Arc
- Curve formed by part of the circumference of a circle.
- Architrave
- Traditionally a moulding for doors and windows, covering the gap between frame and wall. Often (incorrectly) used as a generic term for mouldings.
- Arris
- The sharp edge at the meeting of two surfaces.
- Arris rails
- the horizontal rails of a fence to which the upright boards are fixed. Arris rails are usually triangular in cross-section.
- Asbestos
- Threadlike fibres of calcium and magnesium silicate used in fireproofing. Asbestos is now considered a very serious health hazard.
- Aspect
- The direction that a house or room faces, its fronting; for example if a room has a southerly aspect, it faces directly south.
- Asphalt
- A mineral material used widely for waterproofing roofs, walls and floors.
- Auger
- A small pointed tool for piercing holes in leather.
- Auger bit
- A spiral-shaped tool for boring holes in wood.
A selection of auger bits
- Awl
- A sharp-pointed tool for marking holes and scribing.
