Builders' merchants: jargon buster

Aggregates

Crushed rock, sand and gravel. Most builders' merchants offer decorative aggregates such as slate and Cotswold chippings for landscaping, and base aggregates like building sand and ballast for building.

Blocks

A staple of most builders' merchants, blocks are like bricks, but bigger. You can buy aerated blocks, dense blocks, floor blocks, as well as many other types. The most popular block you'll find in a builders' merchants is the lightweight breezeblock.

Bulk bags

If you're shopping for large quantities of aggregates, you'll probably want the builders' merchant to deliver them. If so, the chances are they'll come in bulk bags—huge non-returnable sacks which can be lifted off the back of a truck by a mechanical arm.

Builders Merchants Federation

The trade body that represents builders' merchants. The BMF produces a comprehensive guide with information about builders' merchants and the services they provide all over the UK.

Fixings

Anchors, wall plugs and other nylon, metal and resin products that enable you to attach things to walls securely. Many people imagine builders' merchants only sell building materials and are surprised at the range of smaller products they stock.

Door furniture

Door furniture is what builders' merchants call the knobs, handles, finger plates and escutcheons that you'll find on almost every door you've ever opened.

Rainwater products

The collective name builders' merchants use for the wide range of products, including gutters, drainpipes and grates, to help get the rain off your roof and away from your house.

Sheet materials

Sheet materials are thin boards such as chipboard, plywood and MDF, that can be used to make lightweight fitted cabinets and partitions.

Builders' merchants tip: You don't have to spend a fortune on equipment in a builders' merchants if you are planning a one-off job. That's because most good builders merchants have a comprehensive tool hire service, so you can get your hands on the tools you need just for the period of time for which you need them.