Building Terms Glossary

Also: isolated pad, column pad

A foundation type used for point loads such as steel columns, not suitable for continuous wall support.

Also: bearing plate, padstone block

A dense concrete or engineering brick block placed beneath a steel beam where it bears onto blockwork, to spread the concentrated load and prevent crushing.

Also: cutting-in brush, angled brush, 2-inch brush, decorator's brush

Used for cutting in at edges, corners, ceiling lines, and around woodwork where a roller cannot reach. Also the primary tool for painting skirting boards, architrave, and door frames. Used in combination with a roller for all wall and ceiling work.

Also: roller frame, 9-inch roller, emulsion roller, foam roller, lambswool roller

Primary application tool for emulsion paint on walls and ceilings, including the mist coat on new plaster. A 9-inch roller with medium pile is standard for plaster surfaces. Extension decoration at scale is impractical without a roller.

Also: town council, local council consultee

A formal statutory consultee on planning applications in rural and semi-rural areas.

Also: Party Wall etc. Act 1996

Legal framework for work on shared walls and boundaries

A legal document agreed between neighbours under the Party Wall Act

Also: dissent, counter-notice, dispute under the Party Wall Act

The formal response when an adjoining owner refuses to consent or fails to respond within 14 days, triggering the surveyor appointment process

Also: party wall notice letter, Section 2 notice, Section 6 notice

The formal written notice served on neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 before starting work on or near a shared boundary

Manages the party wall process between neighbours under the Party Wall Act 1996

Also: party wall acknowledgement, post-works party wall award, schedule of condition sign-off

Post-works acknowledgement from the appointed Party Wall Surveyor (or the agreed surveyor acting for both parties) confirming that notifiable works under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 have been completed without damage beyond anything agreed in the original award, or recording any damage for make-good. Kept with the handover pack alongside the original Award; often requested by solicitors on resale when a party wall is involved.

Also: PAS 24:2022, Publicly Available Specification 24, door security standard, window security standard, enhanced security performance

British Standard security certification required by Part Q for new doors and windows. Configuration-specific: a 3-panel bifold certificate does not cover a 4-panel variant of the same system.

Also: lead patination oil, patinating oil, anti-stain lead treatment

Also: paving, hard landscaping, external paving

External paved area typically demolished during extension groundworks and reinstated afterwards, often with new drainage requirements.

Also: patio slabs, stone paving, porcelain paving, natural stone paving, concrete paving slabs, patio paving

Primary hard landscaping material for post-extension patios and paths. Available in concrete (£15-55/m²), natural stone (£40-95/m²), and porcelain (£50-80/m²). Requires a compacted hardcore sub-base and sharp sand bed.

Also: PDFgear, pdfgear.com

Free PDF editor with annotation, drawing, and markup tools. Useful for adding red line boundaries, north arrows, and annotations to OS map extracts for planning applications. Available on Windows, Mac, and mobile.

Also: pea shingle, 10mm gravel, pipe bedding gravel, drainage gravel

Rounded 10mm gravel used as bedding and surround material for underground drainage pipes. Pipes must be laid on a 100mm bed of pea gravel with the gravel packed as surround to 300mm above the pipe crown before any other backfill is placed. Distributes load evenly, drains freely, and prevents pipe settlement. Building control rejects pipes laid directly on soil or backfilled with rubble.

Also: point pricing, electrical point rate, price per point, points-based quote

How electricians typically price domestic work — each socket, switch, light fitting, or accessory counts as one point. Rates range from £25-80 per point depending on region and complexity. The main tool homeowners can use to sense-check an electrical quote.

Also: perc test, soakaway test, BRE Digest 365 test, BRE 365 test, soil infiltration test

A standardised site test (per BRE Digest 365) to determine whether ground conditions are suitable for a soakaway. A hole is dug, filled with water, and the drainage rate is timed. If the soil infiltration rate is below 1x10^-6 m/s, a soakaway is not viable and a different surface water disposal method must be used. Building control requires evidence of a passing percolation test before approving a soakaway.

Also: edge insulation strip, compressible foam strip

10-20mm compressible foam strip installed at room perimeter before screed pour over PIR floor insulation. Allows thermal expansion and prevents cold bridging at wall-floor junction.

Also: Permaroof UK, permaroof.co.uk

Also: permeable surface, porous paving, permeable block paving, porous asphalt, gravel driveway

Paving that allows rainwater to pass through into the ground below, rather than running off as surface water. Under Permitted Development Rights, front garden impermeable surfaces over 5m² require planning permission; permeable alternatives (gravel, permeable block paving) are exempt regardless of size.

Rights to carry out certain building works without planning permission

The right to make certain changes to a property without planning permission

Also: POPs, POPs waste, upholstered furniture disposal

Since January 2023, upholstered furniture containing PBDE flame retardants is classified as hazardous waste and cannot go in standard skips

Also: PPE Regulations 1992, PPER 1992, PPE at Work Regulations

Primary UK legislation requiring employers to provide suitable PPE where risk assessment identifies a need. Governs hard hats, safety glasses, ear defenders, dust masks, safety boots, hi-vis vests, and work gloves on construction sites.

Also: mini-piling, short bored piles, screw piles, micro piles

Required when good bearing ground is deeper than about 2.5m, common on heavy clay near mature trees. Adds £5,000-£15,000 to foundation costs.

Also: lever bender, hand bender

A tool for bending copper pipes to precise angles without kinking. Available as handheld mini-benders for 15mm and 22mm pipe, or as larger stand-mounted benders for accurate repeated bends. Reduces the need for elbow fittings.

Also: copper pipe cutter, plastic pipe cutter, pipe slice, autocut pipe cutter, tube cutter

A small handheld tool that wraps around a pipe and cuts it cleanly by rotating. Available in copper and plastic versions. Produces a much cleaner cut than a hacksaw, which is important for making watertight joints.

Also: pipe insulation, foam pipe insulation, pipe wrap, lagging, pipe foam, armaflex

Foam tube insulation for pipes. Required by Water Fittings Regulations 1999 to keep cold water pipes below 25°C in unheated spaces and to prevent freezing. Also improves hot water efficiency.

Also: Loctite 55, thread sealing cord, sealing filament, pipe seal cord

A non-curing multi-filament yarn coated with sealing agent used as a professional-preferred alternative to PTFE tape for threaded connections. Gas-rated, allows joints to be backed off without re-sealing, and has higher pressure and temperature resistance than PTFE tape.

Also: Stillson wrench, Stillsons, pipe spanner

A heavy-duty wrench with serrated jaws that grip round pipes and fittings. The jaws tighten as you turn, providing enormous grip. Used for removing stubborn old fittings, tightening large pipe connections, and working with iron or steel pipes.

Also: Pipelines Safety Regulations, PSR 1996

UK statutory instrument that governs the safe operation of pipelines, including gas service pipes. Regulation 15 makes it a criminal offence to damage a pipeline in a way that creates a dangerous situation. Liability sits with the contractor whose excavation caused the damage. The HSE enforces and has prosecuted contractors for striking gas pipes on domestic projects.

Also: Celotex 100mm, Kingspan 100mm, rigid insulation 100mm, PIR board 100mm, Celotex GA4100, Recticel Eurothane GP 100mm

100mm polyisocyanurate rigid insulation board. Commonly specified for floor and roof insulation in extensions to achieve current Building Regulations U-value targets.

Also: Celotex 120mm, Kingspan 120mm, rigid insulation 120mm, Celotex XR4120, PIR board 120mm

120mm polyisocyanurate rigid insulation board. Used where maximum thermal performance is needed, particularly in flat roofs and floors where Part L 2021 U-value requirements are stringent.

Also: Celotex 50mm, Kingspan 50mm, rigid insulation 50mm, PIR board 50mm, Celotex GA4050, polyisocyanurate insulation 50mm

50mm polyisocyanurate rigid insulation board with foil facing. High thermal performance for its thickness. Used in walls, roofs and floors. Common brands include Celotex and Kingspan. Standard board size 2400x1200mm.

Also: Celotex 75mm, Kingspan 75mm, rigid insulation 75mm, PIR board 75mm, Celotex GA4075

75mm polyisocyanurate rigid insulation board. Often used in combination with other thicknesses to achieve the required U-value specified by building control.

Also: roof pitch

The angle/slope of a roof, affecting material choices and regulations

Also: Velux window, Fakro window, RoofLITE window, centre-pivot roof window, top-hung roof window, roof window

Standard pivot-type roof windows (Velux GGL, Fakro FT series, RoofLITE equivalent) for pitched roofs. Require a specific flashing kit matched to tile type, structural trimmer rafters, and a manufacturer-specified underfelt collar. Available in standard size codes from builders merchants with 1-2 week lead times for stock sizes.

Also: electric planer, hand planer, power planer, electric hand planer

An electric tool for shaving thin layers from timber surfaces and edges. Used for trimming doors to fit, levelling timber, and creating chamfers. More precise and faster than hand planing for site work.

Also: PLBCAA 1990, Listed Buildings Act 1990, Conservation Areas Act 1990, Planning (Listed Buildings) Act

A free appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, available within 12 weeks of a planning refusal or when the council fails to determine an application within 8 weeks. An inspector reviews the case afresh and can overturn the council's decision. Typically takes several months.

Also: appeal costs, costs claim, unreasonable behaviour costs

A costs award available when one party behaves unreasonably during a planning appeal.

Also: planning committee meeting, committee hearing, called in to committee

A formal procedural stage where planning applications are debated and decided by elected councillors rather than delegated to an officer.

Also: conditional approval

Requirements attached to a planning permission grant. Conditions are enforceable and may cover materials, parking, working hours, and future alterations.

Also: planning agent

A specialist advisor on planning law and policy, distinct from an architect. Recommended for borderline permitted development cases where specialist planning knowledge is needed.

Also: planning application drawings, extension drawings

The architectural drawings submitted with a planning application, including floor plans, elevations, site plan, and location plan. Must communicate the full proposal as planning officers may visit and inspect without contacting the homeowner.

Also: inspector, PINS inspector

An independent civil servant appointed by the Planning Inspectorate to decide planning appeals.

Also: PINS

The government body that handles planning appeals. If a council refuses an application or fails to determine it within 8 weeks, homeowners can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate within 12 weeks. Appeals are free but slow, typically taking several months.

Also: case officer, development management officer

Council officer who assesses planning applications against local and national planning policy. Considers neighbour impact, appearance, parking, and drainage. May visit the site without contacting the homeowner and writes the decision report.

Local authority planning consent for development

Also: 3-year rule, planning expiry

Planning permission is valid for 3 years from the date granted. If meaningful physical work on site does not start within that window, the permission expires and a fresh application (with full fee) is required. There is no mechanism to extend it. Digging the foundation trench counts as starting; buying a skip does not.

Also: planningportal.co.uk, Planning Portal building control

The official online planning application submission service for England and Wales. Charges a service fee of £70 + VAT in addition to the council application fee.

Also: public planning register, council planning register, planning history

The public register maintained by every local authority showing all planning applications submitted for every property, plus conditions, Article 4 directions, and conservation area designations. The definitive source for checking your property's planning history.

Also: plant, heavy plant, construction plant, hire equipment, plant hire tools

Hire-class plant tools used on extension and groundwork projects — diggers, breakers, compactors, pumps, and propping. Almost always hired daily or weekly from plant hire companies (HSS, Brandon Hire, Speedy Hire) rather than purchased outright.

Also: Speedy, HSS, Fat Llama, National Tool Hire, WHC Hire Services, Sunbelt Rentals, Speedy Hire, Huws Gray Plant and Tool Hire, Brandon Hire

Equipment hire companies providing mini diggers, concrete mixers, generators, and specialist tools

Also: plasterboard waste rules, plasterboard skip rules, gypsum waste disposal

Since 2009, plasterboard has been banned from co-disposal with general skip waste because gypsum produces hydrogen sulphide gas in landfill

Also: pink board, fireline board, fire board, fire-rated plasterboard

Fire-resistant plasterboard with added glass fibre and other additives, identified by its pink paper facing. Required where Building Regulations demand fire-rated partitions, such as walls and ceilings around a garage conversion or walls protecting escape routes.

Also: green board, moisture board, bathroom plasterboard, MR board

Moisture-resistant plasterboard with a green paper facing, designed for use in kitchens, bathrooms and other areas subject to intermittent moisture. Not waterproof but resists humidity better than standard plasterboard. Required behind tiles in wet areas.

Also: plasterboard, wallboard, drywall, gyproc

Standard 12.5mm gypsum plasterboard for internal wall and ceiling linings. The workhorse of internal finishing. Fixed to timber or metal studs and either skim-plastered or dry-jointed. Standard sheet size 2400x1200mm. Tapered edge boards allow flush jointing.

Applies plaster to walls and ceilings to create smooth, flat surfaces

Also: poly float, plastic float, polyurethane float

A flat rectangular tool for spreading and smoothing plaster on walls and ceilings. Available in plastic (for finishing plaster) and sponge (for creating textured finishes). A key tool if you plan to do any plastering yourself.

Also: handboard, plaster hawk, mortar board

A flat metal or plastic plate with a handle underneath, held in one hand to carry plaster while the other hand applies it with a trowel or float. Essential companion to a plastering float.

Also: rendering sand, fine sand

Very fine, washed sand used in render and traditional lime plaster mixes. Finer grain than building sand for a smoother finish.

Also: finishing trowel, skimming trowel, skim trowel

Large flat steel trowel for applying and finishing plaster on walls and ceilings

Also: plastic manhole, mini access chamber, drainage access chamber, inspection chamber kit, polypropylene chamber

A pre-formed polypropylene chamber (typically 320mm or 450mm diameter) installed at junctions, direction changes, and intervals in a domestic drainage run to provide access for inspection, testing, and rodding. Supplied as a kit with base, riser sections, and cover. Has largely replaced traditional brick-built manholes for domestic drainage. Must have a removable cover and be accessible from ground level.

Also: modified plasticity index, mPI, PI

The soil classification measure used by the NHBC to categorise clay soils and derive minimum foundation depths near trees.

Also: wacker plate

A vibrating plate machine for compacting sub-base, hardcore, and soil in preparation for foundations, paths, and driveways. Almost always hired from a local plant hire company rather than purchased.

Also: kitchen plinth, toe kick, kickboard

The panel at the base of kitchen units that closes the gap between floor and unit bottom. Standard height 150mm, adjustable ±10mm. The plinth height plus leg length determines the overall worktop height, giving an adjustment range of approximately ±50mm from the 900mm standard.

Also: plugging chisel, joint raking chisel, mortar raking chisel, chase chisel

Also: plumb line, plummet

A weighted metal point on a string that uses gravity to establish a perfectly vertical line. Used for checking walls are plumb, transferring points from ceiling to floor, and setting out work. An ancient but still essential tool.

Also: first-fix plumber

Installs water supply, waste pipes, and sanitaryware

Also: jointing compound, pipe jointing compound, Boss White, Jet Blue, thread sealant paste, gloop

A paste-form thread sealant used either alone or in combination with PTFE tape or hemp to create watertight joints on threaded plumbing connections. Used as a supplement for PTFE tape on critical connections (radiator tails, heating systems) and as the preferred treatment for old or weeping compression fitting olives.

Also: plumbing supplies, pipe and fittings

Pipes, fittings, valves and drainage components used in hot and cold water supply, central heating and waste water systems.

Also: Plumbase, City Plumbing

Trade merchants stocking pipes, fittings, boilers, radiators, and sanitaryware

Specialist tools for working with water pipes, waste pipes, and plumbing fittings. Most plumbing on an extension will be done by a plumber, but these tools are useful for small tasks and understanding the work.

Also: track saw, plunge cut saw, rail saw

A professional-grade circular saw that runs enclosed in a guide rail for chip-free straight cuts on sheet materials and worktops. Safer and more accurate than a freehand circular saw for laminate worktop cutting.

Filling and finishing mortar joints between bricks or blocks

Also: London pattern pointing trowel

A small, narrow trowel for finishing mortar joints between bricks and blocks. Used after laying to shape the mortar profile and create a neat, weatherproof finish.

Also: DPC roll, polythene DPC, damp proof course strip, DPC membrane roll, diamond-embossed DPC

Polyethylene strip laid in the mortar bed to form the horizontal damp-proof course in new-build walls. Available in widths from 100mm to 600mm; width must match or exceed wall width.

Also: polyroof.co.uk, Polyroof 185, Polyroof GRP

Also: flat roof ponding, water ponding

Also: defective work, substandard work, defective building work, shoddy work, bad workmanship

Building work that falls below the standard of a reasonably competent tradesperson. Establishing poor workmanship typically requires a written report from a second tradesperson or surveyor.

Also: porcelain tiles, large-format porcelain, 60x60 tiles, rectified porcelain, full-body porcelain

The most durable and UFH-compatible floor finish for kitchen extensions. Large-format tiles (60x60cm) are a common choice for open-plan extensions. Requires flexible (S2 class) tile adhesive and a decoupling membrane over UFH screed to prevent cracking from thermal expansion.

Also: OPC, cement, ordinary Portland cement

Standard 25kg bags of Portland cement, the binding agent in concrete and mortar mixes. Store off the ground and keep dry; cement that gets damp before use is ruined.

Also: PC

The point at which construction work is substantially finished

Also: pre-app, pre-application consultation

A paid service offered by most councils (typically £100-£600) where you describe your proposal and a planning officer gives an informal opinion on whether it needs permission and whether it is likely to be approved. Not binding but useful for avoiding wasted application fees.

Also: pre-commencement, pre-start condition

A planning condition that must be formally discharged before any construction work begins on site. Starting work without discharging can invalidate the entire planning permission.

Also: pre-occupation, before first use

A planning condition that must be satisfied before the completed development is occupied or used, such as completing landscaping or providing parking spaces.

Also: first fix inspection, pre-plaster inspection

A discrete BCO inspection stage and the last opportunity to view structural steels, roof timbers, insulation, fire stopping, and cabling routes before they are concealed behind plasterboard. The most frequently missed inspection stage.

Also: pre-commencement meeting, site start meeting, kick-off meeting

A formal meeting between homeowner, builder, and key trades before construction begins on site. Used to confirm the programme, responsibilities, site access, working hours, and handover points. Recommended by architects as the mechanism for committing the builder to the programme.

Also: PTE, independent cost estimate, early cost advice, ECA

A rough cost estimate prepared by your architect or quantity surveyor before you send the project out to builders. It helps you check your budget is realistic before committing to the tender process.

Also: prelims

Upfront costs for site setup: skip, scaffolding, welfare, insurance

Also: mortar mix, ready-mixed mortar, just add water mortar

Bags of pre-blended sand, cement and additives that only need water adding. More convenient and consistent than site-mixing but more expensive per unit volume. Good for small areas or where mixer access is limited.

Also: cable safe zones, permitted cable zones, BS 7671 cable zones, safe zones

Defined areas in walls within which cables must be installed: 150mm from ceilings, 150mm from corners, vertically or horizontally to accessories (BS 7671 Reg 522.6.202). Cables outside these zones require mechanical protection.

BS 7671 Regulation 522.6.202 zones within walls where cables concealed at less than 50mm depth are permitted without additional mechanical protection.

Also: right to price reduction, CRA price reduction, partial refund for poor workmanship

A remedy under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 available when repeat performance is impossible or not completed within a reasonable time. The homeowner can require an appropriate reduction in the price paid, which can be a full refund in serious cases.

Also: PC sum, PC item, prime cost item

An allowance in a builder’s quote for materials or fittings you haven’t chosen yet, like tiles or a kitchen. You’ll pay the actual cost of whatever you select, plus the builder’s labour to install it.

Also: paint primer, bare plaster sealer, undercoat primer

Acrylic or alkyd-based primer applied to bare plaster, new wood or previously painted surfaces before topcoating. Seals porous surfaces, improves paint adhesion and ensures even coverage. Essential on new plaster; a mist coat of diluted non-vinyl matt emulsion (70:30 paint:water) is a common alternative on fresh plaster.

Also: PC duty holder, BSA principal contractor

A legal role under CDM regulations, usually your main builder, who is responsible for managing health and safety on site during construction.

Also: PD duty holder, BSA principal designer

A legal role under CDM regulations, usually your architect, who is responsible for managing health and safety risks during the design phase.

Also: neighbour consultation scheme

A distinct planning route for single-storey rear extensions beyond standard permitted development depth limits, involving a 42-day neighbour consultation process.

Also: PSR, free meter move eligibility

A free support service from energy suppliers and network operators for vulnerable customers, who may be entitled to a free meter relocation.

Also: private sewer, lateral drain, private lateral drain

Also: PI insurance, PII

Insurance that architects and other professionals carry to cover you if their advice or designs turn out to be faulty. Always check your architect and structural engineer have valid PI insurance before they start work.

Also: proof of debt form, Rule 14.4 form, creditor claim form

A formal claim you submit to an insolvency practitioner setting out how much the failed builder owes you. File this promptly — there are deadlines, and you won’t receive anything back without it.

Also: house type, dwelling type

The classification of a residential property (detached, semi-detached, terraced, flat, maisonette). PD rules apply only to houses, with different depth limits for detached vs semi-detached/terraced properties.

Also: DuPont Airguard Control, Airguard Control, intelligent vapour control layer, variable vapour membrane, Pro Clima INTELLO, vapour check membrane

Purpose-made multi-layer vapour control membrane (e.g. DuPont Airguard Control, Pro Clima INTELLO) with targeted vapour resistance (sd 5-18m). Meets NHBC Standards 6.2.12 UKAS certification requirement, unlike cheap polythene sheeting.

Also: voltage proving unit, proving device, known voltage source

A standalone device that outputs a known AC voltage (typically 230V or 690V) so a voltage indicator can be confirmed working before and after testing a circuit dead. Required by HSE GS38 to verify the tester has not developed a fault. Some two-pole testers have a built-in self-proving function that eliminates the need for a separate unit.

Also: PS, provisional allowance, undefined provisional sum, defined provisional sum

An estimated allowance in a builder’s quote for work that can’t be priced exactly yet, such as drainage connections. The final cost will be adjusted up or down based on what’s actually needed.

Also: plumber's tape, thread seal tape, Teflon tape, gas tape, yellow tape

A thin white tape wrapped around threaded pipe connections to create a watertight seal. Cheap, essential, and used on virtually every threaded plumbing joint. Wrap it clockwise around the thread before screwing the fitting on.

Also: adopted road, public road

A road maintained at public expense and open to all traffic. In planning, the red line boundary on a location plan must include access from the public highway to the application site.

Also: planning inquiry, appeal inquiry

The most formal planning appeal procedure, typically used for complex or contentious cases. Very rarely used for householder extensions.

Also: PLI, public liability

Insurance covering damage to third-party property and injury to members of the public caused by the builder's work. Typical cover levels are £2M-£10M. Builders should provide evidence on request.

Also: sewage pump, drainage pump station, pumped sewage system, sewage pumping station, pump chamber

A drainage system where a pump chamber collects foul waste and pumps it uphill to the sewer — the last resort when adequate gravity fall cannot be achieved. Accepted by building control but avoided wherever possible because it requires electricity, regular maintenance, and pump failure means drains stop working entirely. Costs more to install than gravity drainage and carries ongoing running and servicing costs.

Also: rapid ventilation, openable window ventilation

Rapid ventilation through openable windows, required by Approved Document F. Minimum openable area of 1/20th of floor area. Distinct from trickle (background) ventilation and extract ventilation. BCO checks compliance at final inspection.

Also: Speedfit fittings, Hep2O fittings, push-fit elbows, push-fit tees

Plastic or brass fittings that join push-fit or copper pipes by simply pushing the pipe into the fitting until it clicks. Demountable using a release tool. Extremely fast to install. Available as elbows, tees, straight couplers, reducers and valves.

Also: Speedfit 15mm, JG Speedfit, plastic water pipe 15mm, polybutylene pipe, Hep2O 15mm

15mm plastic push-fit pipe (typically polybutylene) that can be bent around gentle curves without fittings. Much faster to install than copper as joints simply push together. Compatible with Speedfit, Hep2O and similar push-fit systems. Increasingly popular for first fix plumbing in new extensions.

Also: Speedfit 22mm, plastic water pipe 22mm, Hep2O 22mm

22mm plastic push-fit pipe for larger supply and heating runs. Same advantages as 15mm push-fit: fast installation, no soldering, demountable joints.

Also: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 — the legal basis for competency requirements when fitting and changing abrasive wheels on angle grinders. Requires that anyone who mounts an abrasive wheel has received adequate training. The British Abrasives Federation (BAF) provides the recognised training under this framework.

Also: PVA, PVA glue, bonding agent, Unibond PVA

Polyvinyl acetate adhesive diluted with water and applied as a primer/sealer before plastering to reduce suction and improve adhesion. Also used as a wood glue and general-purpose bonding agent. Applied diluted (typically 1:4 with water) as a plaster primer, or neat as an adhesive. Not suitable for wet areas or as a tiling primer.

Also: pyrolytic self-clean, pyrolysis cleaning cycle

An oven self-cleaning feature that heats the oven to 400–500°C to incinerate food residue. Draws significantly more power than normal cooking (up to 5kW sustained), which affects the electrician's cable sizing calculation for the oven circuit.