All Glossary Terms

An Air Brick contains holes or perforations to permit the flow of air through a wall.

An Architrave is commonly defined as a door surround although it is truly described as a molding that surrounds any rectangular opening. It can consist of a number of materials, including white board and, most often, timber.The purpose of an Architrave is to cover the joint between the timber of a...

Between 1950 and 1980 asbestos was used extensively in the booming construction of post-war Britain. If the fibres are breathed in high concentrations for a period of time, they can cause serious illness and even death.

Asbestosis is a chronic condition caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres – usually over an extended period. 

For information about Attic Conversions, please see Loft...

A Balanced Flue is a superior heating device developed in Holland in the 1930's. Whereas traditional heating appliances were 'open' (i.e. they drew air from inside the house to create a fire, then released excess gases through the chimney to outdoors), heating appliances installed with a Balanced...

A Ball Valve is the device that prevents water from flowing into the toilet and controls the flow of water into a toilet when it is flushed. It is called a Ball Valve because it is a Valve with a hollowed spherical disc at its centre.When the handle of the Valve is pulled (the toilet is...

A Baluster is commonly found on a staircase - they are the spindled, often wooden, forms that support the handrail going up the stairs. On ornate buildings they can also be found supporting parapets. In a series like these they are described collectively as a 'Balustrade'.The primary purpose of a...

A Bargeboard (sometimes referred to as a 'Vergeboard') is a wooden or pvc board that fitted to the gable ends of the roof of a property.

A Batten is a strip, usually consisting of wood, plastic or metal, that is used to fix roof tiles or a roofing sheet into place. Please note that battens are only required when covering a sloping roof - it is their job to prevent any covering from slipping off.Many Battens are used together. They...