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Glossary of DIY Home Improvement Terms - U

This page of our online a to z glossary of DIY home improvement terms is for do-it-yourself terms beginning with the letter 'U'.

• U-value
  - The figure given to a material to indicate its resistance to the passage of heat.
• Undercoat
  - The second of three paint applications or the first coat in repainting. Dries to a matt finish to provide a key for topcoat and helps cover minor discrepancies in the surface.
• Underlay
  - Hard-wearing cushioning under a floor covering, carpet or floating floor.
• Union
  - A plumbing slip nut device used to join two threaded pipes without the need for dismantling them when disconnecting.
• Urea formaldehyde
  - Heat-setting resins used in certain adhesives.