Article Category: Glossary

Can’t recall the right expression to use when buying washroom fittings? Do not worry – help is at hand. This list of useful terms will sort you out when liasing with your contractor.

Access Panel

An opening in the wall near fixtures for plumbing convenience. Paint these spots to match your decor

Aerator

Attach this device to the end of your faucet for a sweet stream of water without spritzing yourself when you turn on the tap

Apron

Panelling that goes around the bathtub – it provides a clean and consistent look

Backsplash

Tile, stone, marble or granite applied behind the vanity case or adjacent to the bath to prevent damage to the paint due to inadvertent splatter

Bath screen

Partition affixed to the side of the tub to deflect water, thereby creating a separate enclosure. Great for bathroom divas who do not like to be interrupted

Bibb

Typically, a fixture with a nozzle that’s bent downwards. Made for the attachment of a washing machine or a garden hose, it has a threading on the spout – often referred to as spigot or bibcock

Bidet

Looking deceptively like a commode without a lid, it differs vastly in function. Installed adjoining the WC, it is used for personal hygiene purposes

Check Valve

Additions to pipes, it allows the flow of liquid in a direction but closes when the course is reversed. Made of plastic or metal and available in several sizes, once fitted it works on auto pilot mode

Clawfoot

Animal feet shaped supporters fused to free standing tubs. These are larger than the standard baths

Flapper

Mechanism in the flush tank which moves up and down depending on whether water needs to be let out or the flow cut off

Mixer

Separate controls on the fixture that allow hot and cold water to flow simultaneously. Help is at hand to get the right mix for a perfect soak

Privy

Another term for the lavatory used in the bygone era, it refers to a hole in the ground, in an outhouse which worked as a makeshift bathroom. A different way of answering nature’s call

Quarter turn

An internal ceramic component which lets water pass even when the valve is turned at 90 degrees

Shower panel

Comprising a series of wall mounted water jets to target different areas of the body. Components include valve, overhead hand showers and body sprays

Sink trap

A contraption that prevents loose valuables from going down the drain. The U-bend in the pipe under the washbasin retains heavy objects that can be disassembled for retrieving them

Tee

This fitting gets its moniker from its resemblance to the alphabet “T”– used to connect three sections of a pipe

Turkish bath

Also known as a hammam, a steam wash, massage and shower combine to rejuvenate all your senses post a hectic week

Vessel bowl

A standalone sink that rests above the countertop. Faucets cannot be attached to its edges and are positioned on their own on a platform called highrise

Vitreous china

Used as the chief material for fabricating basins, it is made of porcelain or ceramic rendered non-porous by glazing over with a coating of glass or silica based solution

Walk in

Simply, a tub with a door that has air tight seals in  the hatch to prevent water from  spilling out

Local Lingo

Chilamchi

Basin or washbowl

Hauz

Refers to the shower

Ispaat

Steel, commonly used to make pipes

Jal taapak

Water heater

Mori

Sink or basin

Nalsaaj

Refers to a plumber

Null

Simply, a tap

Snaan ghar

Simply, bathroom

Also read: The anatomy of surfaces

Can’t recall the right expression when talking to a contractor? Do not worry – help is at hand. This list of useful terms will sort you out when liasing with your contractor.

AgglomeratedAlso known as engineered stone, it is a composite made of the crushed material bound by an adhesive

AlligatoringScaly patterns appearing on paint when it fails to adhere to the glossy coat underneath. It usually occurs when an oily primer is used for water based dye

AntimicrobialA chemical treatment that bids adieu to common bacteria, fungi and yeast

Bed jointHorizontal gap between two tiles filled using sealant or mortar to prevent water seepage

Bird’s eyesWooden fibres contoured in an elliptical or circular manner, seen on laminates, resembling the eyes of a bird

BlendingPurposely mixing veneers to prevent laying large portions of the same shade and contrasting it with a dissimilar colour

Brushed finishTreating the surface with a coarse or wiry broom for a pattern resembling  wavy lines. Can be used on metal, stone, cement and concrete

ButteringThick pasty mixture of pure cement and water applied to the back of a tile before setting it in place for a firmer grip

CrateringBowl like depressions that form on freshly varnished walls when dirt, fibre moisture or other substances get trapped in the coating

CrazingAn early indication of wear and tear. Tiny spider web like cracks that develop on any surface due to shrinkage of the top layer

EfflorescenceLayer of white salt like deposit that forms on stones due to alkalis leaching from the cement mix below

EngineeredProduced by stacking three to five layers of hardwood and fusing them under heat and pressure, this type of flooring is less affected by humidity

FriezeMade by tightly twisting fibres together, this kind of carpet has a comfortable, shaggy look in a uniform colour

Kill pointJoint where the last strip of wallpaper meets the first when pasting over partitions

Lap marksUgly streaks left behind when a finish is not applied evenly or the climatic conditions are less than ideal. It’s no surprise you are running around in circles

MonocotturaCeramic tiles made using the “single fire” technique. The clay is shaped and heated in a roller kiln in one step giving it a hard glaze

Natural stainFor those who have nothing to hide, this clear finish allows the natural colours and actual grain to show

PatinaChange in the hue and texture of copper, steel, etc due to exposure to natural elements such as wind and water

RabbetGrooves cut into one side of a tile so another one fits.  This allows pieces to be fixed without the use of a binding material, much like a giant jigsaw puzzle

Random matchWallpapers with motifs that don’t need to fall precisely in line with each other

Reducer stripFound often at the threshold, a transitional piece or strip is used to connect one type of flooring to another

RiverwashGranite treated with a high flame to make its natural gradient more visible. It results in rough texture, low sheen and increased percolation

TerrazzoMulticoloured floor made of marble or stone chips embedded in a cement binder, usually poured on site. Available as pre manufactured tiles too

TranslucenceA property of some natural stones which when finely cut, allow light to pass through with a soft, diffused glow

TumbledProcess of washing tiles with acid and putting them through a machine for a worn and used appearance

Underlayment

A thin layer of cushioning material like sponge, foam or felt laid beneath to even irregularities and provide insulation against sound and moisture

UV curedIs the use of ultra violet light to bond the molecular structure of the finish. The exposure improves stain resistance and makes it easier to clean as well

WorstedFirmly twisted smooth yarn made of long strands of wool and used to make rugs…it’s not as bad as it sounds

Local Lingo

KaleenA carpet

SangamarmarTranslates to marble

PharsahSimply, floor

DahlizRefers to the threshold

Cheeni mittiMeans porcelain

FarshTranslates to floor

SatahSimply, surface

Also read: The anatomy of a nursery