Dryliners A–Z dictionary
UK trade reference · plain English
Safety: if a material might contain asbestos, leave it undisturbed and do not drill, sand or break it. Have it surveyed, and use a licensed asbestos contractor for removal: HSE requires a licence for most asbestos removal work.
Dry lining uses boards and framing or other approved backgrounds to form internal surfaces and partitions. Fire, acoustic, moisture and structural functions can depend on the whole assembly. A neat finished face does not show every hidden layer. Use this vocabulary to read drawings and scopes, not to substitute one board or fixing by appearance. Homeowners should agree finish and heavy-fixing positions before work is concealed.
This A–Z combines useful technical vocabulary with links to full references where the article meets our depth and sourcing checks. An unlinked definition is intentionally kept here rather than turned into a shallow standalone page. Read a quotation against its actual scope: a familiar word is not a complete specification.
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B
- Board joint
- The meeting of board edges within the specified system. Support, joint treatment and layer arrangement need to follow the detail, not simply disappear beneath decoration.
D
- Deflection head
- A designed junction allowing specified movement between a partition and supporting construction. It must not be replaced with an improvised gap or rigid fixing.
- Dot and dab
- Common name for certain adhesive board-lining methods. Background suitability, services and performance details must follow the actual system rather than a few remembered adhesive spots.
M
- Metal stud
- A framing component within a specified partition. Section, spacing, height and connections depend on the design; physically similar profiles are not automatically interchangeable.
N
- Noggin
- A transverse support or member in a framed construction. Its purpose and location depend on the system and load, not a universal rule that one extra piece makes any fitting safe.
R
- Resilient bar
- A component in some acoustic lining arrangements. Correct assembly and avoiding unwanted rigid connections matter; adding a bar alone does not establish a sound-insulation rating.
S
- Scrim
- A reinforcing material used at specified joints in suitable finishing systems. It is not a repair for every moving crack or a replacement for correct board support.
T
- Taping and jointing
- A specified board-finishing process. The agreed decoration standard and lighting conditions should be understood; it is a different finish from automatically applying a full skim coat.
Read the slang and site language dictionary · Browse related encyclopedia references
Sources and further reading
Linked article sources support the technical background; informal usage is editorial and varies by region. Full specification and legal requirements must be checked in the original.
- GOV.UK: fire, sound and structural building guidance
- British Gypsum: plasterboard product and system selection
- HSE: construction dust
- HSE: asbestos survey scope
- National Careers Service: occupational routes and duties
- HSE: dust, handling and access risks
- Historic England: traditional construction and moisture
- GOV.UK: moisture guidance
Sources checked: 8 November 2026. General reference, not instructions for safety-critical DIY. National regulations and current standards must be checked for the project.
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