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Glossary of Home Building Terms



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. Materials—commonly masonry—laid 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:

  • zoning / use permit. Authorization to use a property for a specific use e.g. a garage, a single family residence, etc.

  • demolition permit. Authorization to tear down and remove an existing structure

  • grading permit. Authorization to change the contour of the land

  • septic permit. A health department 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

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:

  • 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

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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