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PITI .
Principal, interest, taxes and insurance (the four major components
of monthly housing payments)
PVC or CPVC.
Poly Vinyl Chloride-A type of white or light gray plastic pipe sometimes
used for water supply lines and waste pipe
padding. A material
installed under carpet to add foot comfort, isolate sound, and to
prolong carpet life
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
paint. A combination
of pigments with suitable thinners or oils to provide decorative
and protective coatings; can be oil-based or water-based
pallets. Wooden
platforms used for storing and shipping material; forklifts and
hand trucks are used to move these wooden platforms around
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 molded edges for decorative wall treatment
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, 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
parapet. A wall
placed at the edge of a roof to prevent people from falling off
parting stop or 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
particle board.
Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin
and pressed into sheets; used for closet shelving, floor underlayment,
stair treads, etc.
partition. A
wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room
paver, paving.
Materialscommonly masonrylaid down to make a firm, even
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); 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
pedestal. A metal
box installed at various locations along utility easements that
contain electrical, telephone, or cable television switches and
connections
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 series as a measure of nail length and is abbreviated by the
letter "d"; normally, 16d (16 penny) nails are used for framing
percolation test or
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; determines whether 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
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
perm. A measure
of water vapor movement through a material (grains per square foot
per hour per inch of mercury difference in vapor pressure)
permeability.
A measure of the ease with which water penetrates a material
permit. A governmental
municipal authorization to perform a building process as in:
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zoning / use permit.
Authorization to use a property for a specific use e.g.
a garage, a single family residence, etc.
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demolition permit.
Authorization to tear down and remove an existing structure
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grading permit.
Authorization to change the contour of the land
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septic permit.
A health department authorization to build or modify a
septic system
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building permit.
Authorization to build or modify a structure
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electrical permit.
A separate permit required for most electrical work
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plumbing permit.
A separate permit required for new plumbing and larger
modifications of existing plumbing systems
pigtails, electrical.
The electric cord that the electrician provides and installs
on an appliance such as a garbage disposal, dishwasher, or range
hood
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 used in paint or enamel to give it a color
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. The incline
slope of a roof or the ratio of the total rise to the total width
of a house, i.e., a 6-foot rise and 24-foot width is a one-fourth
pitch roof; roof slope is expressed in the inches of rise, per foot
of horizontal run
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
plan view. Drawing
of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down
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; vailable in summer and winter grades
plate. Normally
a 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 that lays horizontally within a framed structure,
such as:
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sill plate.
A horizontal member anchored to a concrete or masonry wall
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sole plate.
Bottom horizontal member of a frame wall
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top plate.
Top horizontal member of a frame wall supporting ceiling joists,
rafters, or other members
plan view. Drawing
of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down
plenum. The main
hot-air supply duct leading from a furnace
plot plan. An
overhead view plan that shows the location of the home on the lot;
includes all easements, property lines, set backs, and legal descriptions
of the home; provided by the surveyor
plough, plow.
To cut a lengthwise groove in a board or plank; an exterior handrail
normally has a ploughed groove for hand gripping purposes
plumb. Exactly
vertical and perpendicular
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; includes installing all plastic ABS drain and waste lines,
copper water lines, bath tubs, shower pans, and gas piping to furnaces
and fireplaces
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 layers of roofing felt, veneer in plywood,
or layers in built-up materials, in any finished piece of such material
plywood. A panel
(normally 4' X 8') of wood made of three or more layers of veneer,
compressed and joined with glue, and usually laid with the grain
of adjoining plies at right angles to give the sheet strength
point load. A
point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated and transferred
to the foundation
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
portland cement.
Cement made by heating clay and crushed limestone into a brick and
then grinding to a pulverized powder state
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
power vent. A
vent that includes a fan to speed up air flow; often installed on
roofs
premium. Amount
payable on a loan
preservative. .
Any pesticide substance that, for a reasonable length of time, will
prevent the action of wood-destroying fungi, insect borers, and
similar destructive agents when the wood has been properly coated
or impregnated with it; normally an arsenic derivative (e.g., CCA,
Chromated Copper Arsenate)
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-treated wood.
Lumber that has been saturated with a preservative
primer. The first,
base coat of paint when a paint job consists of two or more coats.
A first coating formulated to seal raw surfaces and holding succeeding
finish coats
principal. The
original amount of the loan, the capital
property survey.
A survey to determine the boundaries of your property; cost depends
on the complexity of the survey
P trap. Curved,
"U" section of drain pipe that holds a water seal to prevent
sewer gasses from entering the home through a fixtures water drain
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
putty. A type
of dough used in sealing glass in the sash, filling small holes
and crevices in wood, and for similar purposes
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