Building Materials

DIY Encyclopedia

A popular alternative to solid hardwood flooring. The surface veneer is made of hardwood such as maple or oak, while tongue-and-groove strips...

Fortified with epoxy to make it one of the toughest masonry patchers available Comes in a kit of emulsion, hardener and dry cement Bonds to...

Plywood construction acceptable for outdoor use. A popular grade is A-C EXT, which has one paintable surface and can be used outside. Type...

Also called building paper. Installed under shingles. Composed of a tough, fibrous base saturated with...

Least expensive type of weather stripping, but also has the shortest life. Installs by gluing, nailing or stapling to the frame or molding...

Has a base mat of glass fibers covered with ceramic-coated mineral granules. Some types may use a polyester or fiberglass blend for the base...

Easy to maintain and requires less time to refinish. Will not rot, crack or split. Comes in a variety of styles including sidelights,...

Strips of sheet metal or roofing material. Used to make waterproof joints on a roof. Some flashing may be called a “boot”. This kind is...

The trim used where the floor and wall meet. The most complete is a combination of a base, base shoe and a base cap on top. Often, just a base...

Comes in a liquid spray form that quickly foams and hardens. May have a higher insulating value than blown-in materials, but is more expensive...

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