Acid Etching : type of stain produced by acidic liquids and foodstuffs

Admixtures : chemical additives to control concrete strength and mix

Aggregate(s) : stones or shingle of varying sizes and types

Arris : a sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, commonly used to describe a chamfered edge

Burnished :  method of densifying a concrete surface to make it hard wearing and polished / burnishing darkens the surface

Blowhole : small cavity caused by air pockets trapped in the surface of cast concrete

Cantilever : unsupported concrete element that juts out of the main slab on a countertop

Carnaubawax : hard, lustrous wax obtained from a Brazilian palm tree

Casein Distemper : paint made of chalk, lime and natural oils

Cement Render : mixture of sand and cement used to finish brick or block work

'Cold' Joints : joints designed in a floor where wet concrete is cast up to dry concrete

Concrete : blend of aggregate, sand, cement, water and admixtures

Cones : plastic component of wall tie system that keeps the wall shuttering at a constant thickness whilst the concrete is wet

Control Joint : a joint designed into a floor to allow movement that help prevent

cracking

Countertop : also known as worktop

Curing : process of sealing new concrete to prevent excessive moisture loss / helps create a stronger surface

Dry Shake Pigment(s) : powder pigment that is applied to wet concrete surface abd usually contains hardeners

Expansion Gap : gap placed around the entire perimeter of a floor to allow concrete to expand and contract

Fair faced concrete : a concrete surface that constitutes a design element or is intended to be exposed that requires no additional treatment other than sealing

Formwork : a mould to contain wet concrete. Usually of timber or sheet material

Free Form : describes a concrete element that is of unlimited size or shape

Groundworks : preparation of the ground for laying a concrete slab (compacting / membrane / insulation)

Grout loss : bleeding of the liquid cement paste due to the formwork not being watertight leaving a pitted area on the surface with visible aggregates

Gypsum Plaster : plaster made from calcium sulphate (CaSO4)

Hand Batched : placing concrete by hand rather than by pump

Hand Trowelled : method of finishing a surface using a flat steel blade

Hydraulic Lime : lime that contains clay and other impurities that allow it to set under water

Inset : type of sink that sits on top of the countertop

<In-situ>: constructed in place or on site, as opposed to pre-fabricated, allowing for flexibility of design

Integral Pigment : powder pigment that colours the entire concrete matrix

Knockout : designed removable element of formwork to allow sink, hob or tap installation

Lime :  by-product of burning limestone or chalk in a kiln

Limecrete :  hydraulic lime, sand and aggregate mix used to make floor slabs

Limewash : traditional paint made by diluting lime putty with water

Linear Metre : measurement of 1000mm x 600mm

Load Bearing : a structure that supports part of a building

Marseille Soap : mixture of olive oil and soaps that create water resistance

Non-load Bearing : non-structural element of a building

Non-hydraulic Lime : lime that sets by the reaction of carbon dioxide in the air

OPC : Ordinary (grey) Portland Cement with no additives

Pigments : powder or liquid to colour concrete, lime or plaster

Phenolic Ply : resin-faced sheet material used to create a smooth glass like finish to cast concrete

Poured in Situ : method of placing concrete in its final location

Power Trowelled : similar to hand-trowelled but using a rotating machine

Pre-cast : casting concrete off site for subsequent installation

Punic Wax :  a processed beeswax

Ready Mix Concrete : pre-mixed in a concrete plant delivered by lorry

Reinforcement Steel : mesh / bars / fibres or staples placed into concrete to prevent cracking and strengthen the structure

Sand run: the product of excessive grout loss further up the cast surface resulting in exposed sand

Seal : application of a liquid that helps prevent staining

Shuttering : see Formwork

Slab :  flat horizontal concrete structure, usually a floor

Snowcrete : brand of white cement

Soffit : the underside of any construction element e.e. the underside of a flight of stairs or overhanging roof

Soft Distemper :  chalk-based paint used for ceilings of mouldings

Tadelakt : Moroccan-style polished plaster

Terrazzo : method of grinding and polishing concrete to expose aggregates

Undermounted : type of sink installation where the sink hangs underneath the countertop

Upstand : vertical element extending from the floor to a countertop

Venetian Plaster : Italian-style polished plaster

Wall Ties : system that keeps the sides of a wall former at a constant thickness and stops them from distorting under the pressure of wet concrete

White Dolomite : white coloured quartz stone