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P
P Trap:
P-shaped section of drain pipe that prevents sewer odors
from escaping into your home. Water is trapped in the pipe
blocking gases
from escaping through the drain.
Pad Out,
Pack Out: To shim out or add strips of wood to
a wall or ceiling in order that the finished ceiling/wall
will appear correct.
Padding:
A material installed under carpet to add foot
comfort, isolate sound, and to prolong carpet life.
Paint:
A combination of pigments with suitable thinners
or oils to provide decorative and protective coatings.
Pallets:
Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping
bundles of shingles.
Panel:
In house construction, a thin flat piece of wood,
plywood, or similar material, framed by stiles and rails
as in a door or fitted
into grooves of
thicker material with molded edges for decorative wall treatment.
Parapet
Wall: A low wall around the perimeter of a roof
deck.
Parge Coat:
A thin application of plaster for coating a wall.
Parking
Strip: The area in front of a building between
the sidewalk and the street usually landscaped with grass.
The parking
strip serves as
a buffer between the road and pedestrians walking on the
sidewalk.
Parting
Stop or Strip: A small wood piece used in the
side and head jambs of double-hung windows to separate upper
and
lower sash.
Partition:
A wall that subdivides spaces within any story
of a building.
Patterned
Glass: A type of rolled glass having a pattern
impressed on one or both sides. Used extensively for light
control, bath
enclosures and
decorative glazing. Sometimes call "rolled," "figured,"
or "obscure" glass.
Paver Stones:
Usually pre-cast concrete slabs used to create
a traffic surface.
Payment
Schedule: A pre-agreed upon schedule of payments
to a contractor usually based upon the amount of work completed.
Such a schedule
may include a deposit prior to the start of work. Payments
are often scheduled for the beginning of the month
and allow the contractor
to subcontractors and suppliers by the 10th of the month.
There may also be a temporary 'holdout' at the
end of the contract
for any small items which have not been completed.
Pedestal
Lavatory: A lavatory in which the bowl is supported
by a single pedestal leg.
Penalty
Clause: A provision in a contract that provides
for a reduction in the amount otherwise payable under a
contract to a
contractor as a
penalty for failure to meet deadlines or for failure of
the project to meet contract specifications.
Penny:
As applied to nails, it originally indicated the
price per hundred. The term now serves as a measure of nail
length and is
abbreviated by
the letter "D."
Penthouse:
A relatively small structure built above the plane
of the roof.
Percolation
Test (Perc Test): Tests that a soil engineer performs
on earth to determine the feasibility of installing a leech
field
type sewer system
on a lot. A test to determine if the soil on a proposed
building lot is capable of absorbing the liquid affluent
from a septic system.
Performance
and Payment Bond: Guaranty by a surety company
that if a contractor fails to perform under a contract,
the surety
company will complete
the work.
Performance
Bond: An amount of money (usually 10% of the total
price of a job) that a contractor must put on deposit with
a
governmental agency
as an insurance policy that guarantees the contractors'
proper and timely completion of a project or job.
Perimeter
Drain: 3" or 4" perforated plastic pipe
that goes around the perimeter (either inside or outside)
of a foundation wall
(before backfill)
and collects and diverts ground water away from the foundation.
Generally, it is "daylighted" into a sump pit
inside
the home, and a
sump pump is sometimes inserted into the pit to discharge
any accumulation of water.
Perlite:
An aggregate formed by heating and expanding siliceous
volcanic glass.
Perm:
A measure of water vapor movement through a material (grains
per square foot per hour per inch of mercury difference
in
vapor pressure).
Permanent
Set: The amount by which a material fails to return
to its original dimensions after being deformed by an applied
force
or load.
Permit:
A governmental authorization to perform a building
process as in: Zoning\Use permit - authorization to use
a property for a
specific use e.g.
a factory, a single family residence etc. Grading permit
- authorization to change the contour of the land. Septic
permit - a health
dept. authorization to build or modify a septic system.
Building permit - authorization to build or modify a structure.
Electrical permit
- a separate permit required for most electrical work. Plumbing
permit - a separate permit required for new
plumbing and larger
modifications of existing plumbing systems.
Photo-Oxidation:
Oxidation caused by rays of the sun.
Pier:
A column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross
section, used to support other structural members.
Pier Block:
A concrete block used to support foundation members
such as posts, beams, girders and joist.
Pigment:
A powdered solid in suitable degree of subdivision
for use in paint or enamel.
Pigtails,
Electrical: The electric cord that the electrician
provides and installs on an appliance such as a garbage
disposal,
dishwasher, or
range hood.
Pilot Hole:
A small-diameter, pre-drilled hole that guides
a nail or screw.
Pilot Light:
A small, continuous flame (in a hot water heater,
boiler, or furnace) that ignites gas or oil burners when
needed.
Pitch:
(a) The incline slope of a roof or the ratio of
the total rise to the total width of a house, i.e., an 8-foot
rise and 24-foot width is
a one-third pitch
roof. Roof slope is expressed in the inches of rise per
foot of run. A term frequently used to designate coal tar
pitch.
Pitch Pan
or Pitch Pocket: A container, usually formed of
sheet metal, around supporting connections with roof-mounted
machinery. Filling
the container with pitch, or better yet, plastic roof cement,
helps seal out water even when vibration is present.
Pitch Pocket:
An opening extending parallel to the annual rings
of growth, that usually contains, or has contained, either
solid or
liquid pitch.
Pith:
The small, soft core at the original center of a tree around
which wood formation takes place.
PITI:
Principal, interest, taxes and insurance (the four major
components of monthly housing payments).
Plan Submittal:
Submission of construction plans to the city or
county in order to obtain a Building Permit.
Plans:
See Blue Prints.
Plaster
Grounds: Strips of wood used as guides or strike
off edges around window and door openings and at base of
walls.
Plastic
Roof Cement: Used as a waterproofing medium in
new construction and as a general-purpose exterior repair
and
maintenance material.
Stops roof and other leaks fast. Available in both summer
and winter grades.
Plat:
A map of a geographical area as recorded by the county.
Plate:
Sill plate: a horizontal member anchored to a
masonry wall. Sole plate: bottom horizontal member of a
frame wall. Top
plate: top horizontal
member of a frame wall supporting ceiling joists, rafters,
or other members.
Plate Line:
The top horizontal line of a building wall upon
which the roof rests.
Platform
Framing (Platform Construction): A system of framing
a building in which floor joists of each story rest on the
top plates
of the story below
or on the foundation sill for the first story, and the bearing
walls and partitions rest on the subfloor of each story.
(Usually one story
constitutes a platform.)
Plenum
(or Plenum Chamber): Chamber or container for
moving air under a slight positive pressure to which one
or more ducts
are connected.
Plot Plan:
A bird’s eye view showing how a building sits
on the building lot, typically showing setbacks (how far
the building must
sit from the road),
easements, rights of way, and drainage.
Plough:
To cut a lengthwise groove in a board or plank.
Plumb:
Exactly perpendicular; vertical.
Plumb Bob:
A lead weight attached to a string. It is the
tool used in determining plumb.
Plumbing
Boots: Metal saddles used to strengthen a bearing
wall/vertical stud(s) where a plumbing drain line has been
cut
through and installed.
Plumbing
Ground: The plumbing drain and waste lines that
are installed beneath a basement floor.
Plumbing
Jacks: Sleeves that fit around drain and waste
vent pipes at and are nailed to the roof sheeting.
Plumbing
Rough: Work performed by the plumbing contractor
after the Rough Heat is installed. This work includes installing
all
plastic ABS drain
and waste lines, copper water lines, bath tubs, shower pans,
and gas piping to furnaces and fireplaces. Lead
solder should not
be used on copper piping.
Plumbing
Stack: A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the
roof.
Plumbing
Trim: Work performed by the plumbing contractor
to get the home ready for a final plumbing inspection. Includes
installing all
toilets (water closets), hot water heaters, sinks, connecting
all gas pipe to appliances, disposal, dishwasher, and all
plumbing items.
Plumbing
Waste Line: Plastic pipe used to collect and drain
sewage waste.
Ply:
A term to denote the number of thicknesses or layers of
roofing felt, veneer in plywood, or layers in built-up materials,
in any
finished piece
of such material.
Ply Sheet:
A layer in built-up roofing.
Plywood:
A piece of wood made of three or more layers of
veneer joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain
of adjoining
plies at right
angles. Almost always an odd number of plies are used to
provide balanced construction.
Pocket
(Channel): A three-sided, U-shaped opening in
a sash or frame to receive glazing infill. Contrasted to
a rabbet, which is a
two-sided, L-shaped
sections as with face glazed window sash.
Point Load:
A point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated
and transferred to the foundation.
Pointing:
The process where joints between masonry units,
brick, etc., are filled with mortar.
Polished
Wired Glass: Wired glass that has been ground
and polished on both surfaces.
Polymer:
A substance consisting of large molecules which
have been formed from smaller molecules of similar make-up.
Polysulfide
Sealant: Polysulfide liquid polymer sealant which
is mercaptan terminated, long chain aliphatic polymers containing
disulfide linkages.
They can be converted to rubbers at room temperature without
shrinkage upon addition of a curing agent.
Polyurethane
Sealant: An organic compound formed by reaction
of a glycol with an isocyanate.
Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC): Polymer formed by polymerization
of vinyl chloride monomer. Sometimes called vinyl.
Ponding:
A condition where water stands on a roof for prolonged
periods due to poor drainage and/or deflection of the deck.
Pop Rivets:
Fasteners used to join pieces of metal that are
installed by either compressed-air-assisted or hand-operated
guns.
Unique in that
they are installed from one side of the work.
Pop-Out:
See Stucco Pop-Out.
Pores:
Wood cells of comparatively large diameter that
have open ends and are set one above the other to form continuous
tubes. The openings
of the vessels on the surface of a piece of wood are referred
to as pores.
Porosity:
The density of substance and its capacity to pass
liquids.
Portland
Cement: A mixture of certain minerals which when
mixed with water form a gray colored paste and cure into
a very hard
mass.
Post:
A vertical member of wood, steel, concrete or other material
that transfers weight from the top of the post to whatever
the
post is resting
on.
Post &
Beam Construction: Most common type of wall framing,
using posts which carry horizontal beams on which joists
are
supported. It allows
for fewer bearing partitions and less material.
Post-and-Beam:
A basic building method that uses just a few hefty
posts and beams to support an entire structure. Contrasts
with stud framing.
Pot-Life:
The time interval following the addition of an
accelerator before chemically curing material will become
too viscous to
apply satisfactorily.
See Shelf Life.
Potable:
Water that is safe to drink.
Powder
Coat: A technique for applying paint to metal
surfaces. The metal is covered with a powder of dry paint
particles and is
baked in an oven.
This causes the powder to melt and harden into a tough,
colorful finish.
Power:
The energy rate, usually measured in watts. Power
equals voltage times amps, or W = E x 1. The heavier the
flow of amps
at a given supply,
the higher the rate at which energy is being supplied and
used.
Power Vent:
A vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow.
Often installed on roofs.
Pre-Shimed
Tape Sealant: A sealant having a pre-formed shape
containing solids or discrete particles that limit its deformation
under compression.
Precast:
Concrete building components which are formed
and cured at a factory and then transported to a work site
for erection.
Premium:
Amount payable on a loan.
Preservative:
Any substance that, for a reasonable length of
time, will prevent the action of wood-destroying fungi,
borers of
various kinds,
and similar destructive agents when the wood has been properly
coated or impregnated with it.
Pressure
Tank: Used in conjuction with wells to maintain
pressure.
Pressure-Reducing
Valve: Valve installed in the water service line
where it enters the building to reduce the pressure of water
in
the line to an
acceptable pressure used in buildings (40-55 psi desired).
Pressure-Relief
Valve: Valve to relieve excess pressure in water
storage tanks.
Pressure-Treated
Lumber: Lumber that is treated in such a way that
the sealer is forced into the pores of the wood.
Primer:
A material of relatively thin consistency applied
to a surface for the purpose of creating a more secure bonding
surface
and to form a barrier
to prevent migration of components. The first coat of paint
in a paint job that consists of two or more coats.
Also, the paint
used for such a first coat.
Priming:
Sealing of a porous surface so that compounds
will not stain, lose elasticity, shrink excessively, etc.
because of loss of
oil or vehicle
into the surround.
Principal:
The original amount of the loan, the capital.
Projection:
In roofing, any object or equipment which pierces
the roof membrane.
Property
Survey: A survey to determine the boundaries of
a property. The cost depends on the complexity of the survey.
Protection
Board: In roofing, heavy asphalt impregnated boards
which are laid over bituminous coatings to protect against
mechanical injury.
Pump Mix:
Special concrete that will be used in a concrete
pump. Generally, the mix has smaller rock aggregate than
regular mix.
Punch List:
A list of discrepancies that need to be corrected
by the contractor.
Punch Out:
To inspect and make a discrepancy list.
Purlins:
A horizontal structural member spanning between
beams or trusses to support a roof deck. In slope glazing,
purlins are
the horizontal
framing members.
Push Stick:
In hardware, a tool used when cutting a short
board on a table saw.
Putty:
A type of cement usually made of whiting and boiled
linseed oil, beaten or kneaded to the consistency of dough,
and used
in sealing glass
in sash, filling small holes and crevices in wood, and for
similar purposes.
PVC or
CPVC (PolyVinyl Choride): A type of white plastic
pipe sometimes used for water supply lines.
PVD (Physical
Vapor Deposition): A very durable titanium or
zirconium coating that resists tarnish, scratches, and corrosion.
It is
used mostly to
protect faucets with a brass finish.
PVDF:
Architectural coating. See Kynar Coating.
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