Path = Home : Glossary of DIY Home Improvement Terms - U

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.