Jargon Buster - Letter P

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Pallet
A wooden plug built into masonry which provides a fixing point for a door casing.

Parapet
Low wall along the edge of a flat roof, balcony etc.

Pare
Using a chisel to remove fine shavings from wood.

Pargeting
The internal render of a chimney.

Party Wall
The shared wall between two houses, on the boundary line, over which each of the adjoining owners has equal rights in law.

Party Wall Act 1995
An Act of Parliament that prevents the owner of a shared or party wall/fence from doing any work to it without notifying the other owners.

PC (Prime Cost)
The cost of buying a certain item, but not including the installation cost.

Pebble Dash
An outdoor wall finish with stones imbedded in the render.

Penetrating Oil
A thin lubricant which will penetrate into very narrow gaps between corroded components and ease them.

Phase
The part of an electrical circuit which carries the current to an appliance. Also known as live.

Pier
A vertical column often built of bricks, used to strengthen a wall or to support a weight.

Pilaster
Projecting part of a square column which is attached to a wall.

Pile
The raised fibres of a carpet.

Pilot hole
A hole drilled before inserting a screw, which acts as a guide for the screw's thread.

Pinch rod
A wooden batten used to measure the width of a frame or opening.

Pitch
The angle at which a roof slopes.

Plain Tile
Simple flat, rectangular roofing tile.

Plan
A drawing of the layout of a building project, shown in a horizontal plane.

Planning Permission
The consent required from the local authority to alter existing buildings or to construct new ones.

Plaster
Commonly used finish applied to walls and ceilings .

Plasterboard
Prefabricated boards often used when constructing walls and ceiling.

Plinth
Projecting foundation base of external walls.

Pointing
Smooth outer edge of mortar between bricks, stones etc.

Powder Post Beetle
A relatively uncommon pest that, if left untreated, can cause extensive damage to structural timbers.

Primer
The first coat of paint which protects the item being painted and reduces absorption of subsequent undercoats and top coats.

Profile
The outline of an object.

Proforma Checklist
A ready-made checklist.

Progress Report
A report given by builders at regular intervals on large jobs.

Protective multiple earth
An electrical wiring system in which the earth-leakage current is taken to earth by the neutral part of the circuit.

PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene)
The material used to make tape for sealing threaded plumbing fittings.

Purlin
Part of a roof structure: a horizontal beam that provides intermediate support for the sloping rafters.