Glossary

Glossary of 7847 Property Development Terms

P

P Trap - Curved, U section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the property through a fixtures water drain.

P&T (Pressure And Temperature) Valve - A safety valve installed on a hot water storage tank to limit temperature and pressure of the water.

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.

Packings - Square pieces of either plywood or handboard of varying thickness. They are used to make up the gap between a casing or frame and the wall that they are being fixed to.

Pad - A square piece of softwood timber that a bricklayer inserts drying agents into the the brickwork joints.

Pad Bearing - A block of metal, plastic, or synthetic material used to cushion the point at which one structural element rests upon another.

Pad 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. Can be oil based or latex water based.

Paint Acoustic - Paint which absorbs or deadens sound.

Paint Aluminium - Mixture of finely divided aluminium particles in flake form combined with vehicle.

Paint Anti Corrosive - Metal paint designed to inhibit corrosion; applied directly to the metal.

Paint Anti Fouling - A special coating for ship bottoms, containing poison like copper or mercury, formulated to effect the release of the poison at a controlled rate, to prevent attachment and growth of marine organisms such as barnacles and algae.

Paint Asphlatic -

• A liquid form of asphalt which can contain other materials such as aluminum flakes and mineral pigments, generally used for creating a water-resistant coating.
• A liquid product used for weatherproofing.

Paint Casein - Paint in which casein solution has replaced the binder.

Paint Cement Base - A paint composed of portland cement, lime, pigment, and other modifying ingredients, sold as dry powder to be mixed with water for application.

Paint Deck - An enamel with a high degree of resistance to mechanical wear, designed for use on such surfaces as porch floors.

Paint Drier - Usually oil-soluble soaps of such metals as lead manganese, or cobalt, which, in small proportions, hasten the oxidation and hardening (drying) of the drying oils in paints.

Paint Enamel - A finishing paint material. Forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and dries to a sheen or lustre.

Paint Flat - An interior paint that contains a high proportion of pigment and dries to a flat or lusterless finish.

Paint Gloss - A finishing material made of varnish and sufficient pigments to provide opacity and color, but little or no pigment of low opacity. Such an enamel forms a hard coating with maximum smoothness of surface and a high degree of gloss

Paint Milk - A paint made with milk solids, chemically akin to casein glue, often the original finish on antique furniture.

Paint Porch Floor - An enamel with a high degree of resistance to mechanical wear, designed for use on such surfaces as porch floors.

Paint Rubber Emulsion - Paint, the vehicle of which consists of rubber or synthetic rubber dispersed in fine droplets in water.

Paint Semi Gloss - Paint or enamel made so that its coating, when dry, has some lustre but is not very glossy. Bathrooms and kitchens are normally painted semi gloss.

Paint Semigloss - Paint or enamel made so that its coating, when dry, has some lustre but is not very glossy. Bathrooms and kitchens are normally painted semi gloss.

Paint Texture - One which may be manipulated by brush, trowel or other to give various patterns.

Paint Water - A paint in which the vehicle is a water emulsion and in which water is used as thinner.

Painting Ceiling - The actual physical process of applying paint, either by brush, roller, or spray gun to the ceiling section of a structure.

Palladian - A motif having three openings, the centre one being arched and larger than the other two.

Pallets - Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping material. Forklifts and hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around.

Pane - A sheet of glass for glazing a window. After installation, the pane is referred to as a light or lite or window light.

Pane Quarrel - A square or lozenge shaped piece of material, especially a piece of glass, set diagonally, as in a latticed sash

Panel - A thin flat piece of wood, plywood, or similar material, framed by stiles and rails as in a door (or cabinet door), or fitted into grooves of thicker material with moulded edges for decorative wall treatment.

Panel Access - Removable or swinging panel, usually flush with adjoining surface to provide access to concealed equipment or system components for inspection and maintenance purposes.

Panel Acoustical - Ceiling and wall mounted modular units composed of sound absorbing materials.

Panel And Riser - The exterior vertical pipe (riser) and metal electric box (panel) the electrician provides and installs at the rough electric stage.

Panel Annunciator - A panel mounted on a surface which indicates by lights which circuits have been activated.

Panel Distribution - The main box through which electrical power is brought into the home and then distributed.

Panel Sandwich - A panel with plastic, paper, or other material enclosed between two layers of a different material.

Panel Saw - The most common and recognizable of all handsaws. Has a wide, tapering blade with teeth cut along one edge and a handle riveted to the wide end. Two basic types: crosscut and rip. Most effectively used to cut large, wide or thick pieces of wood.

Panel Saw Japanese - Although it looks like a standard Western hand saw, actually a Japanese tool. The unique tooth design helps reduce friction at the beginning of the cutting stroke while increasing the cutting action throughout the stroke.

Panel Wall - Form sheathing, constructed from plywood, boards, or metal sheets, that are installed as a unit.

Paneling Birch - Rectangular sheets of paneling that have been constructed of a strong fine grained birch hardwood.

Panelling - The lining of a wall with a wainscot.

Panels Radiant - Panels with integral passages for the flow of warm fluids, either air or liquids. Heat from the fluid is conducted through the metal and transferred to the rooms by thermal radiation.

Pantile - A clay roof tile that has an "S" shaped form or profile.

Pantry Butlers - A service room between kitchen and dining room.

Paper Abrasive - Paper with an abrasive surface; sandpaper, emery paper; garnet paper.

Paper Base Laminated - A multilayer panel made by compressing sheets of resin impregnated paper together into a solid mass.

Paper Building - A general term for papers, felts, and similar sheet materials used in buildings without reference to their properties or uses. Generally comes in long rolls.

Paper Kraft - A heavy, water resistant paper.

Paper Sheathing - A building material, generally paper or felt, used in wall and roof construction as a protection against the passage of air and sometimes moisture.

Paper Water Repellent - A special paper treated to minimize wetting of the surface.

Papers Calendered - Wallpapers with hard finish.

PAR (Planed All Round) - Timber that has been planed face, back, edges and sides.

Parallel Bar - A pair of bars on a support, adjustable in height and spacing, that are parallel to each other, and are used for gymnastic exercises.

Parapet - The upper part of a wall, usually extending higher beyond the top of the structural wall. Usually used for architectural or decorative effect or to hide areas protruding at the top of walls.

Parapet Wall - A low wall around the perimeter of a roof deck.

Parge Coat - A thin application of plaster for coating a wall.

Parging - A coat of plaster or cement mortar applied to masonry or concrete walls.

Paring Chisel - The design allows you to make light finishing cuts with the blade flat on the stock, even when working in the middle of a wide board.

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.

Parquet Floor - Wood flooring laid to form geometric patterns.

Part Exchange - This is where a new home developer will offer to buy your home and put its value towards to cost of a new home. It is very convenient as it negates the possibility of becoming embroiled in a chain. The downside is that the developer will often offer a fairly low price so they can make a profit when they re-sell it.

Part Possession - This is the term used where a tenant has legal right of occupation to a property when it is sold.

Particle Board - Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. Used for closet shelving, floor underlay, stair treads, etc.

Parties - The parties to a property transaction are the buyer and seller and/or their representative estate agent, solicitors or persons legally acting on either the buyer or sellers behalf.

Parting Bead - A narrow strip between the upper and lower sashes in a double-hung window frame.

Parting Stop - A small wood piece used in the side and head jambs of double hung windows to separate the upper sash from the lower sash.

Parting Strip - A small wood piece used in the side and head jambs of double hung windows to separate the upper sash from the lower sash.

Partition - The name given to an interior wall.

Partition Accordian - A folded, creased, or hinged interior dividing wall.

Partition Bearing - A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Partition Bearing - A partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.

Partition Bulletproof - A dividing wall which has been rendered bulletproof by using specific materials in its construction.

Partition Non Bearing - A wall which separates space into rooms, but supports no vertical load except its own weight.

Partition Stud - An interior timber framed wall.

Partition Wall - A wall that divides and/or separates. Such as a wall dividing one room or cubicle from another.

Parts Of Window -

• Window Parts:
• Balance A device used to counteract the weight of the sash for ease of operation.
• Window pane; the term is used to designate the number of separate panes which make up the entire window.
• Lintel The horizontal top piece of the window framework.
• Mullion The perpendicular members which divide the bays or lights of windows or screen-work.
• Muntin A secondary framing member (horizontal, vertical or slanted) to hold the window panes in the sash. This term is often confused with Mullion.
• Pane A glass surface in a window. A window may include a number of panes or may consist of a single pane.
• Rough Frame Framing of the enclosure in which the finished window frame is placed.
• Sash A light frame of wood, metal or plastic either fixed or movable which holds the glass.
• Sill The base of the window frame sloped on the outside to shed rain.

Party Wall - A wall or fence that straddles the legal boundary of two or more properties. Each side of the party wall is the responsibility of the property on that side of the wall to maintain unless agreements are made otherwise.

Passive Cooling System - A solar heating or cooling system that uses no external mechanical power to move the collected solar heat.

Passive Heating System - A solar heating or cooling system that uses no external mechanical power to move the collected solar heat.

Paste Cement - The mixture of portland cement, water, pozzolans and other admixtures, if any, and air which surround the aggregates in concrete, also called the matrix.

Paste Wallpaper - An adhesive used for attaching wallpaper.

Patch Cold - In roofing, a roof repair done with cold-applied material.

Patch Hot - In roofing, a roof repair done with hot-applied material.

Patch Roof - In roofing, a roof repair done with applied material.

Patch Roofing - In roofing, a roof repair done with applied material.

Paternmaker Rasp - Like regular rasps that have individual teeth for fast cutting, these tools also are staggered and smaller to give a finer finished surface in wood. Also have cut edges for working in corners.

Patient Money - Money left over for investment after housing, living and emergencies has been accounted for.

Patio - Paved recreation area, usually at the rear of a home.

Pattern Bolting - The arrangement, spacings, and dimensions of bolts used to attach two or more structural members together.

Patterned Glass - On 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.

Paved Materials - Commonly masonry - laid down to make a firm, even surface.

Paver Brick - Brick units that are used in foot traffic areas, usually four inches wide, eight inches long, and 1-5/8 to 2-1/4 inches thick.

Paver Materials - Commonly masonry laid down to make a firm, even surface.

Paver Stones - Usually pre-cast concrete slabs used to create a traffic surface.

Paving Materials - Commonly masonry laid down to make a firm, even surface.

Paving Slabs - A stone used for paving.

Paviors - A small brick-like paving unit.

Pay Rate - The rate of interest that you pay on a mortgage.

Payable Accounts - Money owed by the firm to vendors for services or materials.

Payback Timeframe - The amount of time required,usually in years, for positive cash flows to equal the total investment costs. This is often used to describe how long it will take for energy savings resulting from using more energy-efficient equipment to equal the premium paid to purchase the more energy-efficient equipment

Payment Application - A written document forwarded by the contractor requesting payment for work completed.

Payment Balloon - A payment due, as a final payment in a mortgage, and at a given date. This payment is usually at the end of a designated period of time and usually much larger than normal monthly mortgage payment.

Payment Bond - Guaranty by a surety company that if a contractor fails to perform under a contract, the surety company will complete the work.

Payment Bond - A guarantee by a surety that those persons who supply work and materials to a construction project will be paid for the work and materials.

Payment Certificate - A written document forwarded to the general contractor by the architect, engineer, or owner approving payment for work completed.

Payment Default - This results when you are unable or simply unwilling to meet your mortgage repayments. If you default on your payments, the lender is ultimately entitled to sell your home in order to recover the loan. Different lenders will have different policies on how long they give you before they start the legal proceedings to recover the loan. Many will have a separate schedule of charges which you will incur before they start proceedings.

Payment Of Balance - This usually takes place between a week and a month after exchanging contracts. It is possible to have a simultaneous exchange and completion if you are in a real hurry to get moving. When you complete the sale, your solicitor forwards the remaining balance of the purchase price to the seller's solicitor. You then have the right to take occupancy of the property and are free to move in.

Payment Protection Insurance - This is a type of insurance that pays your loan for you if you become unable to work for an extended period of time, as a result of redundancy, accident, sickness or disability. Most non-mortgage PPI products are taken out for a length of time that corresponds to the life of the loan it is protecting.

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. There may also be a temporary retainer (5-10% of the total cost of the job) at the end of the contract for correcting any small items which have not been completed or repaired.

Payment Shock - Payment shocks are when the discount period ends and the monthly repayments jump by a large amount to match the Standard Variable Rate. You must be sure that you can budget for this in your monthly expenses.

Peck Birch - A small hole or patch of distorted grain in wood resulting from birds pecking through the growing cells in the tree.

Pedestal - A metal box installed at various locations along utility easements that contain electrical, telephone, or cable television switches and connections.

Pediment - A triangular feature in classical type buildings surmounting a portico, but often used over doors in a much smaller scale.

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.

Pencil Carpenter - Rectangular shaped pencil, about 1/4" X 1/2", with a 1/16" X 3/16" lead.

Pencil Joiner - Rectangular shaped pencil, about 1/4" X 1/2", with a 1/16" X 3/16" lead.

Pendant - A bulbous, knob-like ornament which hangs downward.

Penny - As applied to nails, it originally indicated the price per hundred. The term now series as a measure of nail length and is abbreviated by the letter d.

Pension Mortgage - Monthly repayments made up of a) Interest on loan and b) contribution to a personal pension scheme. The loan on the house is paid off in one lump sum at the end of the loan period.

Pent Roof - A small roof protruding from a facade, separating stories.

Penthouse - The dwelling residence located at the top of a tall building. Penthouses are usually the prime living dwelling within these buildings.

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.

Percentage Of Possible Sunshine - The percentage of daytime hours during which there is enough direct solar radiation to cast a shadow.

Percolation 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 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.

Performance Bond - A bond, secured by the general contractor, which guarantees that the contract will be performed; an undertaking by a surety that a contractor will perform a contract.

Pergola - An open framework over a walkway or path. Pergolas are usually designed to be covered by climbing or clinging plants.

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 day lighted into a sump pit inside the property, and a sump pump is sometimes inserted into the pit to discharge any accumulation of water.

Perimeter Drawing - A top view drawing of a building or roof showing only the perimeter drawn to scale.

Period Of Accounts - The time that elapses between the preparation of financial statements.

Period Of Bidding - The time period during which contractors can prepare their bid proposals.

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

Permeability - A measure of the ease with which water penetrates a material.

Permeance - Water vapour permeance is the rate of water vapour diffusion through a sheet of any thickness of material (or assembly between parallel surfaces). It is the ratio of water vapour flow to the differences of the vapour pressures on the opposite surfaces. Permeance is measured in perms (m².C/W).

Permit - A governmental municipal authorisation to perform a building process as in:

1. Zoning/Use permit (Authorization to use a property for a specific use e.g. a garage, a single family residence etc).
2. Demolition permit (Authorization to tear down and remove an existing structure).
3. Grading permit (Authorization to change the contour of the land).
4. Septic permit (A health department authorization to build or modify a septic system).
5. Building permit (Authorization to build or modify a structure).
6. Electrical permit (A separate permit required for most electrical work).
7. Plumbing permit (A separate permit required for new plumbing and larger modifications of existing plumbing systems).

Permit Building - Written authorization from the city, county or other governing regulatory body giving permission to construct or renovate a building. A building permit is specific to the building project described in the application.

Permitted Development - A development that has been given "blanket permission" by statute and as such is exempt of any further planning permission from local authorities.

Perpend Bond - In masonry, a header brick or large stone extending through a wall so that one end appears on each side of the wall and acts as a binder.

Personal Search - This is a manual search by a conveyancer or some other specialist, who manually undertakes the same activities as in a local search. These can be completed in a matter of days rather than weeks or months, though they do end up being up to fifty pounds more expensive.

Phillips Head - A type of screw head requiring a driver in the shape of +.

Phillips Head Screwdriver - A screwdriver to use on a type of screw head requiring a driver in the shape of +.

Phosphor Lighting - The conversion of electric power to visible light by using an electric charge to excite gaseous atoms in a glass tube. These atoms emit ultraviolet radiation that is absorbed by a phosphor coating on the walls of the lamp tube. The phosphor coating produces visible light.

Photo Oxidation - Oxidation caused by rays of the sun.

Photosynthesis - The conversion of solar energy to chemical energy, by the action of chlorophyll in plants and algae.

Photovoltaic Cells - Semi conductor devices that convert solar energy into electricity.

Picture Window - One single, large window pane that does not open from either side.

Pier - A vertical, non-circular masonry support, more massive than a column.

Pier Wall - A wall segment with a horizontal length to thickness ratio between 2.5 and 6 and whose clear height is at least two times its horizontal length.

Pigment - A powdered solid used in paint or enamel to give it a colour.

Pigment Lake - Pigment made by putting an organic dye on a base of fine particles of inert or translucent pigment.

Pigtail - In electrical work, a term used to refer to a short piece of wire used to terminate and connect a device, such as a switch or a receptacle, to a set of wires.

Pigtails Electrical - The electric cord that the electrician provides and installs on an appliance such as a garbage disposal, dishwasher, or range hood.

Pilaster - A flattened column used to frame a door or window frame.

Pile Batter - Pile driven at an angle to brace a structure against lateral or horizontal thrust.

Pile Butt - The large end of a pile, the small end is called the Tip.

Pile Cap - A structural member usually fastened to, and placed on the top of a slender timber, concrete, steel pile, used to transmit loads into the pile or group of piles and to interconnect them.

Pillar - Similar to but more slender than a pier, also non-circular.

Pilot Bit - A router bit with a bearing at the end of the cutter that rides against the edge the material or a template to guide the cut.

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.

Pincer - Essentially a large nail puller and cutter, a pincer is designed for removing brads and small nails. Can pull nails like a claw hammer.

Pinch Dogs - Perfect for edge gluing, they pull joints tightly without the need for clamping. The dog is hammered into the butt ends of the work.

Pine Knotty - Pine wood whose knots are exposed, often used for cabinets and interior paneling

Pipe (PVC) Poly Vinyl Chloride - A type of white or light grey plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines and waste pipe.

Pipe ABS Plumbing - A plastic pipe sold in 10 and 20 foot lengths in various diameters for plumbing stacks and drains; used primarily for drain lines.

Pipe Backwash - Piping that conducts waste water from a filter to a drainage system; connection to drainage system is made through an air gap or other approved methods.

Pipe Bollard - Short pipe length, placed vertically in the ground and filled with concrete to prevent vehicular access or to protect property from damage by vehicular encroachment.

Pipe Butt Welded - Pipe that is joined by welding.

Pipe Clamp Fixtures - Long reaching fixtures attached to a pipe, that, once positioned, are tightened by turning a handle. Only pipe length limits capacity. Ideal for joining boards to make wider panels.

Pipe Copper Various Types -

• Type K has the heaviest or thickest wall and is generally used underground. It has a green stripe.
• Type L has a medium wall thickness and is most commonly used for water service and for general interior water piping. It has a blue stripe.
• Type M has a thin wall and many codes permit its use in general water piping installation. It has a red stripe.

Pipe Restoration Water - To install new linings in pipes to improve the condition of existing water pipes, usually includes the cleaning and removal of built up scale or debris out of the existing pipe and the relining with a compatible material.

Pipe Smoke - A pipe conveying products of combustion from a solid or liquid fuel-fired appliance to a chimney flue.

Pipe Vent - A vertical pipe of relatively small dimensions which protrudes through a roof to provide for the ventilation of gasses.

Pipe Waste - Plumbing plastic pipe that carries waste water to the municipal sewage system.

Pipe Waste - A plumbing line that carries waste water from fixtures except water closets and urinals.

Pipe Water Service - The pipe from the water main or other sources of potable water supply to the water-distributing system of the building served.

Pipe Water Service - The pipe from the water main or other source of water supply to the building serviced.

Piping Backwash - Piping that conducts waste water from a filter to a drainage system, connection to drainage system is made through an air gap or other approved methods.

Piping Removal Water - The act or process of tearing out and carrying away old water piping systems.

Piping Waste - Piping that conducts waste water from a filter to a drainage system, connection to drainage system is made through an air gap or other approved methods.

Pit Ash - The compartment below a fireplace in which ashes may be dumped from the firebox and stored for later removal.

Pit Borrow - An area designated as the source of earth removal to be used elsewhere for fill.

Pit Seepage - A sewage disposal system composed of a septic tank and a connected cesspool.

Pitch -

• 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.
• The number of teeth on a saw blade per inch.

Pitch Board - A board used in framing roof or stairway to lay out bevels.

Pitch Coal Tar - A bituminous material, which is a by-product from the coking of coal. It is used as the waterproofing material for tar and gravel built-up roofing.

Pitch Of A Roof - The angle or the slant of a roof surface.

Pitch Pocket - An opening extending parallel to the annual rings of growth, that usually contains, or has contained, either solid or liquid pitch

Pitched Roof - A roof which has one or more surfaces sloping at angles greater than necessary for drainage.

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.

Pivot Hinge Bottom - A flexible pair of plates joined by a pin to allow swinging of a door or gate installed at the bottom.

Plain Concrete - Concrete either without reinforcement, or reinforced only for shrinkage or temperature changes.

Plain Sawn - Boards are sliced from the log with the cut tangent to the growth rings.

Plan - A drawing representing the horizontal arrangement of a site or building to a given scale.

Plan Submittal - Submission of construction plans to the city or county in order to obtain a Building Permit.

Plan View - Drawing of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down.

Plane Bedding - A separation or weakness between two layers of rock, caused by changes during the building up of the rock forming material.

Plane Block - Designed for trimming end grain. Also used for smoothing small wood pieces and for edge-planing plywood, particleboard and plastic laminate.

Plane Block - Woodworking hand tool, for final smoothing.

Plane Chisel - Excellent for removing glue and trimming work. Features a blade that extends in advance of the body, so the plane can be used to reach the farthest corner of a joint to get it clean

Plane Hand - A tool to smooth and true wood surfaces, consisting of a blade fastened in frame at an angle with hand grips to slide it along the board.

Plane Jack - All-purpose and most useful of all bench planes. Used to smooth rough boards and flatten uneven surfaces.

Plane Rabbet - Has a wide blade which is ideal for trimming narrow dadoes and rabbets.

Plane Smooth - Designed for general-purpose planing; often used after the jack plane for final polishing.

Plane Violin - Small plane used for precision finishing and decorative work.

Planed All Round (PAR) - Timber that has been planed face, back, edges and sides.

Planer Rotary - A power hand tool with rotating blades that smooths the surface of material.

Planer Thickness - A power-fed rotary planer that trims the surface of a board to a certain thickness.

Planning Obligation - A commitment made by a landowner under Planning Act regulations in conjunction with the granting of planning permission either in the form of an agreement with local planning authorities or by a unilateral or agreed upon undertaking.

Planning Permission - Permission granted by the Council or local authorities to progress with work on a building that required permission to make the changes to the structure required.

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGN) - Planning Policy Guidance notes published by the Government.

Plans - A set of drawings representing the horizontal arrangement of a site or building to a given scale.

Plans Architectural - Building plans drawn up and produced by an architect.

Plans Electrical - Drawn plans detailing the electrical layout in a building.

Plans Plumbing - Drawn plans detailing the plumbing layout in a building.

Plans Roofing - Drawn plans detailing the roofing layout in a building.

Plans Structural - Drawn plans detailing the structure of a building.

Plant Batch -

,li>A manufacturing facility for producing asphalt paving mixtures that proportions the aggregate constituents into the mix by weighed batches and adds asphalt material by either weight or volume.
• An operating installation of equipment including batchers and mixers as required for batching or for batching and mixing concrete materials; also called mixing plant when equipment is included.

Plaque Built Up - Layers of a localized abnormal patch on a surface.

Plaster - A surface covering for walls and ceilings applied wet, dries to smooth, hard protective surface.

Plaster Accoustical - Sound absorbing finishing materials mill-formulated for application in areas where a rction in sound reverberation or noise intensity is desired; these materials usually are applied to a minimum thickness of 1/2 inch and generally provide a noise rction coefficient of at least .45 decibels.

Plaster Bead - Built in edging usually metal, to strengthen a plaster angle.

Plaster Beam - A combination of cementitious material and aggregate mixed with water and applied to a horizontal structural member, preserving in a rigid state the form or texture imposed during the period of elasticity.

Plaster Bond - In addition to gypsum, bond plaster contains 2-5% lime by weight and chemical additives which improve the bond with dense non porous surfaces such as concrete. It is used as a base coat.

Plaster Brown Coat -

• The coat of plaster directly beneath the finish coat
• In two coat work, brown coat refers to the basecoat plaster applied over the lath
• In three coat work, the brown coat refers to the second coat applied over a scratch coat
• Brown coats are applied with a fairly rough surface to receive the finish coat.

Plaster Casting - A fast setting gypsum plaster that is used to anchor marble to walls, see Gypsum Moulding Plaster.

Plaster Cement -

• Plaster having portland cement as its binder, used on exterior surfaces or in damp areas.
• Gypsum plaster made to be used with the addition of sand for basecoat plaster.
• Also called Neat or Hardwall plaster.

Plaster Grounds - Strips of wood used as guides or strike off edges around window and door openings and at base of walls.

Plaster Gypsum Moulding - A fast setting gypsum plaster that is used to anchor marble to walls.

Plaster Hardwall -

• Plaster having portland cement as its binder, used on exterior surfaces or in damp areas.
• Gypsum plaster made to be used with the addition of sand for basecoat plaster.
• Also called Neat plaster.

Plaster Land - Coarsely ground natural gypsum used agriculturally as a soil conditioner.

Plaster Neat -

• Plaster having portland cement as its binder, used on exterior surfaces or in damp areas.
• Gypsum plaster made to be used with the addition of sand for basecoat plaster.
• Also called Neat or Hardwall plaster.
• A base coat plaster which does not contain aggregates and is used where the addition of aggregates on the job is desired.

Plaster Wall - A paste like composition that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls.

Plaster Woodfiber - Consists of calcified gypsum integrally mixed with selected coarse cellulose fibers which provide bulk and greater coverage. It is formulated to produce high-strength base coats for use in highly fire-resistant ceiling assemblies.

Plasterboard - A paper coated board made of gypsum used to finish interior walls, also known as Drywall, Gyprock or Gypsum Board.

Plasterboard Beam - A horizontal member constructed of plasterboard.

Plastering Back - Plaster applied to one face of a lath system following application and subsequent hardening of plaster applied to the opposite face; used primarily in construction of solid plaster partitions and certain exterior wall systems.

Plastering Double Back - A method of plaster placement characterized by application in successive operations with no setting or drying time allowed between coats.

Plastering Double Up - A method of plaster placement characterized by application in successive operations with no setting or drying time allowed between coats.

Plastering Laid Off - A method of plaster placement characterized by application in successive operations with no setting or drying time allowed between coats.

Plastering Laid On - A method of plaster placement characterized by application in successive operations with no setting or drying time allowed between coats.

Plastering Two Coat - A method of plaster placement characterized by application in successive operations with no setting or drying time allowed between coats.

Plastic Accoustical - Sound absorbing finishing materials mill-formulated for application in areas where a rction in sound reverberation or noise intensity is desired; these materials usually are applied to a minimum thickness of 1/2 inch and generally provide a noise rction coefficient of at least .45 decibels.

Plastic Box - An electrical box for the joining of electrical wires, constructed of hard plastic and nailed in place.

Plastic Laminated -

• Sheet material manufactured of multiple layers of paper with top layer of plastic usually 1/16 inch (1.59 mm) thick with decorative finish.
• Laminate Plastic may be used in flat sheets or heat formed, bent, and adhered to single curved base material.
• Commonly referred to by the brand name of Formica.

Plastic Tipped Hammer - A steel-core hammer that features two replaceable plastic faces—one hard, one soft. The hammer can strike various materials without marring, including wood, metals, plastic and stone.

Plastics Acrylic - Plastics based on resins made by the polymerization of acrylic monomers, such as ethyl acrylate and methecrylate.

Plastics Butylene - Plastics based on resins made by the polymerization of butene or copolymerization of butene with one or more unsaturated compounds, the butene being in greatest amount by weight.

Plat - A map of a geographical area as recorded by the county.

Plate - Normally a 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 that lies horizontally within a framed structure, such as:

• Sill plate, A horizontal member anchored to a concrete or 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 Aluminium - Flat aluminium sheet material.

Plate Armour - A kick plate made of metal installed on the bottom of a door to protect it from denting and scratching.

Plate Base - A steel plate inserted between a column and the foundation, used to level the column and to spread the load of the column to a larger area of the foundation.

Plate Batten - A formed piece of metal designed to cover the joint between two lengths of metal edge.

Plate Bearing - A plate placed under a truss, beam, girder, or column to distribute the load.

Plate Bottom - The 2 by 4's or 6's that lay on the sub-floor upon which the vertical studs are installed, also called the Sole Plate.

Plate Bottom - In wood stud framing construction, the bottom continuous horizontal member that supports the studs.

Plate Carpet - A thin piece of ornamental metal that the rough edges of carpet is connected to at doorways or at the junction of carpet to another flooring material to form a clean ending point.

Plate Cover - A sheet of glass or transparent plastic placed above the absorber in a flat plate collector.

Plate Face - A basic cover plate usually with a polished finish and designed to cover over a less attractive material.

Plate Floor - The basic layout of building or addition, which includes placement of walls, windows and doors as well as dimensions.

Plate Head - The topmost horizontal member in a timber stud partition.

Plate Joiner - A tool designed to quickly and accurately cut matching slots in pieces that are to be joined with a small carbide-tipped blade

Plate Kick - A metal plate or strip that runs along the bottom edge of a door to protect against the marring of the finished surface.

Plate Line - The top horizontal line of a building wall upon which the roof rests.

Plate Sill - Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill, also sole plate, bottom member of an interior wall frame.

Plate Sole - The 2 by 4's or 6's that lay on the sub-floor upon which the vertical studs are installed, also called the Sole Plate.

Plate Striking - The metal plate of a mortice lock or latch that is fixed into the frame to engage the bolt.

Plate Texture - One which may be manipulated by brush, trowel or other to give various patterns.

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.

Platform Frame - A house frame in which the floor joists of one storey rest on the top plate of the wall below.

Platform Frame - A wooden building frame composed of closely spaced members which are continuous from the sill to the top plate of the roof line.

Platform Framing - 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.

Platic Mallet - Use these mallets to strike blows without damaging the surface. Useful for assembling furniture parts, setting dowel pins, metalwork, etc.

Pleater Of Paris - A dry powder, primarily calcium sulfate hemihydrate, resulting from calcination of gypsum, cementitious base for production of most gypsum plasters, sometimes called Stucco.

Plenum - The main heat distribution box attached to forced air furnace duct systems.

Plenum Air - Any space used to convey return air in a building or structure.

Plenum Ceiling - Space below the flooring and above the suspended ceiling that accommodates the mechanical and electrical equipment and that is used as part of the air distribution system.

Plinth - The base area of a column or a wall.

Plot - A map showing the boundaries of a property or land plot.

Plot Plan - An overhead view plan that shows the location of the property on the lot. Includes all easements, property lines, set backs, and legal descriptions of the property. Provided by the surveyor.

Plot Ratio - The ration of the total floor-space in a building (which would include all stories of that building) to the area of the land site on which it stands.

Plough - To cut a lengthwise groove in a board, plank, hard surface or earth.

Ploughed Groove - A groove made on a surface usually for grip or decorative purposes. An exterior handrail normally has a ploughed groove for hand gripping purposes.

Plow - To cut a lengthwise groove in a board or plank, hard surface or earth.

Plug Timber - A length of softwood timber that is specially shaped and driven into raked out or mortar joints. This provides a secure fixing point when fixing window and door frames to masonry.

Plumb - The exact vertical level position of an object.

Plumb - When the vertical member of a unit is perfect and correctly level with intersecting members.

Plumb Bob - A lead weight attached to a string. It is the tool used in determining plumb.

Plumb Bob Laser - Improves on one of the world’s oldest tools by emitting a laser light that indicates exactly where to mark, with no guesswork involved.

Plumb Bond - In brick laying, an all stretcher bond with all joints directly over one another.

Plumb Cut - The cutting of a board or rafter so that that final cut is vertical to the ground.

Plumbing - The practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with sanitary or storm drainage facilities, the venting system, and the public or private water supply systems. Plumbing does not include the trade of drilling water wells, installing water softening equipment, or the business of manufacturing or selling plumbing fixtures, appliances, equipment, or hardware.A plumbing system consists of three separate parts

• An adequate potable water supply system
• A safe, adequate drainage system
• And ample fixtures and equipment.

Plumbing ABS Pipe - A plastic pipe sold in 10 and 20 foot lengths in various diameters for plumbing stacks and drains; used primarily for drain lines.

Plumbing Access - The opening in a wall, floor or other surface area that allows access to behind wall, under floor and otherwise non-exposed plumbing and pipes for repairs, installation, upkeep and inspection.

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 Engineer - A qualified professional that specialises in plumbing engineering.

Plumbing Fixture - A receptacle or device from which water is dispensed and/or drained, such as a bath, toilet, or faucet.

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 Lateral - The underground trench and related services (i.e., electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water lines) that will be buried within the trench.

Plumbing Plans - Drawn plans detailing the plumbing layout in a building.

Plumbing Report - An in-depth report detailing the plumbing integrity of a building.

Plumbing Rough - All plumbing that should be done before the finish trades (sheetrock, painting, etc), including all waste lines and supply water lines that are in the walls or framing of the building. See also: Plumbing, Sub Rough, and Finish Plumbing.

Plumbing Rough Heat - 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 Survey - An in-depth report detailing the plumbing integrity of a building.

Plumbing Trim - Work performed by the plumbing contractor to get the property ready for a final plumbing inspection. Includes installing all toilets (water closets), hot water heaters, sinks, connecting all gas pipes to appliances, disposal, dishwasher, and all plumbing items.

Plumbing Waste Line - Plastic pipe used to collect and drain sewage waste.

Plunge Router - A router that can be pushed down to insert the bit in the material.

Ply - A term to denote the number of layers of roofing felt, veneer in plywood, or layers in built-up materials, in any finished piece of such material.

Ply Base - An asphalt-saturated and/or coated felt installed as the first ply with 4 inch laps in a built-up roof system under the following felts which can be installed in a shingle-like fashion.

Ply Base - The first layer in a built up roof.

Ply Cap - A plain shaped moulding, 1/4 rounded to provide a smooth edge along the baseboard.

Plywood - Sheets of wood made of 3 or more thin layers of wood bonded together with glue. The amount of layers dictate the degree of stiffness in plywood.

Plywood AD - A designation or gradation of plywood. The A and the D designate quality of surface layers.

Plywood CDX - Plywood used in exterior applications that is graded C and D, for sheathing.

Pneumatic Nailer - Framing: Perfect for frame construction. The most powerful of the air-powered fasteners, it can drive nails up to 3-1/2-inches long. Pin: Used for attaching trim, carpet strips and moldings. Finish: Useful for installing siding, flooring, door and window casing and most types of finish carpentry.

Pneumatic Stapler - Can drive crown-style staples up to 1/2-inch wide and two inches long. Smaller models are great for installing carpeting, roofing felt, floor underlayment and insulation.

Pocket bark - An opening between a trees annual growth rings that contains bark.

Pocket Beam - A notch formed at the top of a wall to receive and support the end of a beam.

Pocket Door - A door which slides open into cavities within walls, seeming to disappear when open.

Pocket Glazing - The setting of a light of glass or panel into a four-sided sash or frame opening containing a recessed "U" shaped channel without removable stops on three sides of the sash or frame and one channel with a removable stop along the fourth side

Pocket Hole - A hole drilled on an angle with a step bit to make a butt joint. The larger hole is for the screw head to enter, and the smaller hole is for the shank.

Point Dew - Temperature at which vapor condenses from the atmosphere and forms water.

Point Glazier - A thin metal triangle with one point pounded into the frame to hold the glass, putty is then applied to seal the glass.

Point Load - A point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation.

Point Of Boiling -

• The temperature at which a liquid boils
• The point at which a liquid starts to change to gas; boiling temperature of a liquid under a pressure of 14.7 psia (760 mm)
• Water boils at 100° C or 212° F.

Pointing - The exposed mortar between bricks.

Pointing Truck - The re-grouting of defective mortar joints in a masonry or brick wall.

Points - A way of calculating costs over and above a loan rate. Used to calculate some Loan Originating Fees.

Points Trammel - Allows you to scribe a large diameter circle or arc, or transfer measurements that are too great for dividers.

Pole Centre - Column in center of spiral stair which supports stair treads.

Polished Wired Glass - Wired glass that has been ground and polished on both surfaces.

Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) - Polymer formed by polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. Sometimes called vinyl.

Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe - A type of white or light grey plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines and waste pipe.

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 and 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.

Pool Ladder - A ladder used for climbing in and out of a swimming pool.

Pool Wading - Any constructed or prefabricated pool used for wading which is less than twenty four (24) inches in depth.

Pop Out - A type of exterior finish. Most commonly refers to an outside plaster made with Portland cement as its base.

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.

Porcelain Alumina - A vitreous ceramic whiteware for technical application in which Alumina (A12O3) is the essential crystalline phase.

Porcelain Zircon - A vitreous ceramic whiteware for technical application in which zircon (ZrO2SiO2) is the essential crystalline phase.

Porch - A structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance. Also:

• A covered platform, usually having a separate roof, at an entrance to a building.
• An open or enclosed gallery or room attached to the outside of a building; a verandah.
• A portico or covered walk.

Porch Floor Paint - An enamel with a high degree of resistance to mechanical wear, designed for use on such surfaces as porch floors.

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.

Portability - A product feature that governs whether you can take the mortgage with you if you move during the introductory offer period and beyond. This saves you having to pay off the loan and take out a new one.

Portable Appliance - An appliance which is movable or can easily be moved from one place to another in normal use.

Portable Mortgage - When you can transfer your mortgage to a new property without incurring penalties.

Portable Water - Water having no impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming in its bacteriological and chemical quality to the requirements of the Public Health Service drinking water standards or meeting the regulations of the public health authority having jurisdiction.

Porte Cochere - A porch that is actually large enough for wheeled vehicles to pass through it.

Portfolio - The aggregate of investments held in various differing companies or investment trusts that can apply to either an individual or an organisation.

Portico - A porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leading to the entrance of a building.

Portland Cement - Cement made by heating clay and crushed limestone into a brick and then grinding to a pulverized powder state.

Position Buyers - Refers to whether the buyer has to sell a property in order to purchase, is a cash buyer, first time buyer etc.

Positive Pressure - A pressure above atmospheric. In residential construction this refers to pressure inside the house envelope that is greater than the outside pressure; a positive pressure difference will encourage exfiltration.

Possession Adverse - The overt occupation of real property under some claim of right that is opposed to the claim of some other claimant.

Possessor Title - The description given by the Land Registry to the title or ownership of a property when the registry is not entirely satisfied in regards to the vendor's ownership of the property due to a discrepancy. It is satisfied only that the person is lawfully in possession of the property, as opposed to title absolute and good leasehold title.

Post - A vertical framing member usually designed to carry a beam. Often a 4" x 4", a 6" x 6", or a metal pipe with a flat plate on top and bottom.

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.

Post And 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, & less material.

Post Cap - A fitting which joins the end of a wooden post to a joist or girder connected to the post.

Post King -

• In a roof system, the member placed vertically between the center of the horizontal tie beam at the lower end of the rafters and the ridge, or apex of the inclined rafters.
• The middle post of a truss.

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.

Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI) - A unit of measurement referring to the actual pressure exerted on one square inch of an objects' surface.

Poured Concrete - Any concrete structure or slab that was formed or poured from an original liquid state.

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 Of Attorney - Document appointing one person to act on behalf of another.

Power Vent - A vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow. Often installed on roofs.

Powered Hoist Air - A hoist that is operated by compressed air.

Pozzolan Artificial - Fly ash and other similar substances such as rice hull ash and microsilica.

PPG s - Planning Policy Guidance notes published by the Government.

PPGN (Planning Policy Guidance Notes) - Planning Policy Guidance notes published by the Government.

Pre Approval - Where a potential home buyer attempts to secure a guaranteed mortgage approval before making an offer on a house.

Pre Cast Concrete - Concrete cast in a factory or on site before being placed in position.

Pre Contract Enquiries - These are enquiries made by the purchaser's solicitor to the vendor's solicitor requiring information relating to the property being purchased prior to exchange of contracts.

Pre Contract Exclusivity Agreement - This is an agreement between yourself and the vendor which is a sure-fire way to prevent gazumping as you can specify a sum in the contract that the vendor would have to compensate you with in such circumstances. Use of these agreements is uncommon though, as you have to pay to get a solicitor to draw one up, and not too many vendors would be willing to sign one.

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.

Precast Beam - A concrete horizontal structural member that is cast and cured in other than its final position.

Precast Concrete - Concrete cast in a factory or on site before being placed in position.

Prefabricated - A house whose substantial parts are made entirely or in sections away from the building site.

Prefabrication - The manufacture of whole buildings or components cast in a factory or on site before being placed in position.

Preliminary Enquiry - Whilst waiting for the draft contract, your solicitor sends a list of pre-contract enquiries to the seller's solicitor, in order to uncover some basic information about the property. This enquiry will ask a standard set of questions, which amongst other things should include: What is to be included in the sale? What contents will the vendor will be taking with them? What is being left behind? What are the boundaries of the property? Who owns and is responsible for any perimeter hedges or fences? Is the property connected to all the appropriate utilities? In the case of leasehold: Who is the managing agent? Who is the freeholder? Is the current owner up to date with service charge bills and ground rent?

Premium - Amount payable on a loan.

Prequalification - The process of qualifying yourself for a loan prior to actually being offered a mortgage. This is done by checking your credit and confirming your debt to income ratio to determine exactly how much of a mortgage you can afford.

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.

Preservative Apllied And Treated - Applied treatment of wood or plywood to make it resistant to deterioration from moisture and insects.

Press Drill - Extremely versatile tool for hole boring, the drill press bores a variety of holes accurately and easily. It can also sand, rout, polish, saw, shape, grind, sharpen and mortise. Used in both metalworking and woodworking.

Press Radial Drill - A drill press with the head mounted on a tube which is laterally and vertically adjustable, this type gives greater throat clearance but is not as solid as a conventional drill press so run out can be a problem.

Pressure Absolute - The pressure measured by a gauge plus a correction for the effect of air pressure on the gauge (l4.7 psi at sea level).

Pressure Active - The pressure exerted by retained earth; such as the earth retained by a retaining wall.

Pressure And Temperature Relief Valve - A safety valve installed on a hot water storage tank to limit temperature and pressure of the water.

Pressure Atmospheric - The pressure that atmospheric gases in air exert upon the earth; measured in pounds per square inch or grams per square centimeter; one standard atmosphere equals 14.69 psi of pressure and measures 760 mm (29.92 inches) in a barometer of mercury.

Pressure Back -

• In plumbing, a higher air pressure at the sewer side of the trap than on the fixture side of the trap; water can, under certain conditions, be forced out of the trap in the wrong direction towards the fixture.
• In a refrigerating system, the pressure on the low side of the system, also called suction pressure or low-side pressure.

Pressure Design - Specified pressure a product is designed to withstand.

Pressure Difference - The difference in pressure of the volume of air enclosed by the house envelope and the air surrounding the envelope.

Pressure Positive - A pressure above atmospheric. In residential construction this refers to pressure inside the house envelope that is greater than the outside pressure; a positive pressure difference will encourage exfiltration.

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 (PRV) - A device mounted on a hot water heater or boiler which is designed to release any high steam pressure in the tank to prevent tank explosions.

Pressure Sensitive Adhesive - An adhesive that will adhere to a surface at room temperature by briefly applied pressure alone.

Pressure Steam Boiler - A boiler furnishing hot water at pressures not more than 30 pounds per square inch gauge (2.12 kg/cm2) or steam at pressures not more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge (1.06 kg/cm2).

Pressure Treated Lumber - Lumber that is treated in such a way that the sealer is forced into the pores of the wood.

Pressure Treated Wood - Lumber that has been saturated with a preservative.

Preventer Backflow - A device or means to prevent backflow into the potable water supply.

Price - In England, the seller gets the property valued by several estate agents and will often set the asking price at, or marginally above the highest valuation. They will usually expect the buyers to come in with offers below the asking price. To Scottish people, this must seem like a backwards way of doing things. In Scotland, the seller will, in consultation with his or her solicitor, set a price and invite offers over and above that price. This is known as the upset price. This is the minimum price at which an offer is likely to be considered.

Price Ceiling - The maximum price that an informed buyer would pay to purchase or lease property.

Price Of Asking - The price that a seller has placed on a property for sale.

Price Reserve - Properties for sale by auction are normally offered subject to a reserve in which case the property is withdrawn if the highest bid does not reach the reserve price.

Primary Wood - This is the wood that is on the main or primary surfaces of a piece of furniture. These are the premium or money woods of the cabinet. Woods of lesser value, that are on the sides or not seen is called Secondary Wood.

Prime Coat Asphalt - A low viscosity liquid asphalt applied to prepare an untreated surface to penetrate into the voids, harden the top and help bind it to the overlying asphalt surface.

Prime Contractor - A person or company that agrees to furnish materials or perform services at a specified price and within a timeframe, especially for construction work. Also leads the construction work and may use subcontractors for specific areas of the construction process.

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 .
• The paint used for such a first coat.

Primer Wash - A thin inhibiting paint usually chromate pigmented with a polyvinyl butyrate binder.

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

Priming Back - A coat of paint applied to the back of woodwork and exterior siding to prevent moisture from entering the wood and causing the grain to swell.

Principal - The sum of the loan on which interest is calculated.

Principle - The sum of the loan on which the interest is calculated.

Principle Agreement - An agreement in principle takes the form of confirmation from your lender that, subject to various conditions, they are prepared to give you a mortgage up to a certain amount.

Principle Interest Taxes And Insurance (PITI) - Principle, interest, taxes and insurance are the four major components of monthly housing payments.

Print Foot - The basic layout of building or addition, which includes placement of walls, windows and doors as well as dimensions.

Private Treaty - The sale of property by private treaty is the most common method employed by estate agents and involves preparing descriptive details of the property and quoting a definitive asking price. Details can then be viewed by potential buyers and viewings arranged.

Probate - Authority granted to a person to administer the estate of a deceased person.

Probate Property - Property that is being sold out of probate by the executor of an estate.

Professional Conduct Department - If you have a complaint regarding your surveyor that does not relate to a loss of money, you can still air your grievances to this professional body. You may feel that your complaint was not handled very well by the surveyor, there may have been an apparent lack of complaints procedure, confidential information about your personal matters may have been disclosed to a third party, or there could have been some other reason why the surveyor acted unprofessionally.

Profile - The outline shape when viewed from the side.

Project Architects Representative - A more or less continuous architects representative on the jobsite; reports to the architect; formerly called Clerk of the Works.

Project Manager Asbestos - A building owner or designated representative who supervises all aspects of the facility asbestos management and control program.

Projection - In roofing, any object or equipment which pierces the roof membrane.

Projection Axonometric - A drafting projection in which objects on the drawing appear inclined with three sides showing and with horizontal and vertical distances drawn to scale but diagonal and curved lines distorted.

Projection Bay Window - The area of a Bay window projecting from a structure.

Projection Board - In roofing, heavy asphalt impregnated boards which are laid over bituminous coatings to protect against mechanical injury.

Projection Dormer - The extension of a dormer from the main structure of a building.

Property All Risk - A property insurance policy that insures against all risks of loss that are not specifically excluded.

Property Auction - An auction disposing of property to the high bidder. If you win the bid, you are legally bound to buy the property. Tip: Have a survey carried out before the auction.

Property Centre - The premise where solicitors or estate agents display their stock of properties for sale.

Property Chain - Occurs when a seller needs the sale of their house to occur before they can complete the purchase of another property. This can be the situation for many people in the chain, all relying on the sale of their current home. The whole chain can collapse if one buyer is unable to sell their home and a link breaks causing a knock on effect. Always check what your buyer and seller's positions are. First time and cash buyers do not have these problems.

Property Enquiry Certificate - A written confirmation that the property is not in any detrimental planning or building control circumstances.

Property Information Form - Your solicitor may send you a property information form. This has summary information about many of the things that will go into the draft contract - boundaries, fixtures, fitting etc. You should make sure that this is accurate and quickly let your solicitor know if it is not.

Property Survey - A survey to determine the boundaries of your property. The cost depends on the complexity of the survey.

Proportonining Control Automatic - In an asphaltic concrete plant, a system in which proportions of the aggregate and asphalt fractions are controlled by means of gates or valves which are opened and closed by means of self- acting mechanical or electronic machinery without any intermediate manual control.

Prototype - An original model; an Archetype.

Protractor Bevel - Read, transfer and mark angles quickly and accurately with this tool.

Protractor Digital - Four tools in one, featuring an angle-finder, compound cut calculator, protractor and level.

Proud - To just protrude above the surface so it is sticking out a bit.

Provisions - Monies included for in a company's balance sheet to account prospective, future, liabilities that are as yet unforeseen and unquantifiable.

Proxylin - A binder made by chemical reaction of nitric acid on cellulose (cotton linters.

Pruning Saw - Excellent for trimming trees and bushes, the curved blade folds back into the curved hardwood handle for convenience.

Pry Bar - Has a curved blade to fit behind molding or between two sections of an object that are to be separated. The long handle provides leverage to pry the sections apart.

PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) - A unit of measurement referring to the actual pressure exerted on one square inch of an objects' surface.

Psychrometer Aspiring - Device which draws sample of air through it to measure humidity.

Public Liability Insurance - Insurance that covers injury or death to anyone on or around your property.

Public Rooms - Living Rooms, Lounges, Sitting Rooms and Dining Rooms.

Public Sewer - A common sewer directly controlled by public authority.

Pull Box - An electrical rough in box placed in a length of conduit, through which cables can be pulled.

Puller Nail - Has a V-notch, which slips under the nail head and a long handle to provide extra leverage to pull up a nail.

Pump Centrifugal - A pump which draws water into the center of a high speed impeller and forces the fluid outward with velocity and pressure.

Pump Heat - A mechanical device which uses compression and decompression of gas to heat and/or cool a property.

Pump Heat - A mechanical device that transfers heat from one medium to another, thereby cooling the first and warming the second.

Pump Mix - Special concrete that will be used in a concrete pump. Generally, the mix has smaller rock aggregate than regular mix.

Pump Sump - A pump that is placed inside a sump to remove any excess water that has collected.

Punch Centre - A hand punch consisting of a short steel bar with a hardened conical point at one end used for marking the centers of holes to be drilled.

Punch List - A list of discrepancies that need to be corrected by the contractor.

Punch Out - To inspect and make a discrepancy list.

Purchaser - Someone who buys property - The buyer.

Purger Air - A mechanical device that removes unwanted air.

Purlins - A horizontal structural member spanning between beams or trusses to support a roof deck. In slope glazing, purlins are the horizontal framing members.

Purpose Built Flat - A self-contained flat, part of a larger complex, all sharing a common entrance.

Push Stick - In hardware, a tool used when cutting a short board on a table saw.

Putty - A type of dough used in sealing glass in the sash, filling small holes and crevices in wood, and for similar purposes.

PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) - Polymer formed by polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. Sometimes called vinyl.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - Polymer formed by polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. Sometimes called vinyl.

PVC Pipe (Poly Vinyl Chloride) - A type of white or light grey plastic pipe sometimes used for water supply lines and waste pipe.

PVC Vinyl - Polymer formed by polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. Sometimes called vinyl.

PVDF - Architectural coating that is UV stable and suitable for exterior use on aluminum and other metal surfaces.

Pyranometer - An instrument for measuring solar radiation.

top of the page