871
Glossary
plumbing plan: A plan view drawing that
shows the complete plumbing system,
including the location, size, and type of all
plumbing equipment and fi xtures to be used
in a residence.
pocket door: A type of sliding door that slides
into a wall pocket when opened.
polygonal rubble: Rubble stonework in which
the stones are dressed with relatively straight
edges to fi t a particular place in the pattern,
but still give a rubble, not ashlar, appearance;
also called uncoursed cobweb.
polyvinyl chloride (CPVC): A thermoplastic
plumbing pipe used in distribution and
drainage piping.
porch: An outdoor space that is structurally
connected to the residence.
portfolio: A collection of your best professional
design drafting work that you can show to
potential employers.
post (column) foundation: A type of foundation
that consists of columns or posts resting on
a footing. Columns are often located within
the house rather than under it and support a
beam that in turn supports joists.
post and beam construction: A construction
method that uses posts, beams, and planks
as framing members to carry the majority of
the live and dead loads to the foundation;
the structural members are larger and spaced
farther apart than conventional framing
members.
Postmodernism: An architectural movement
of the mid- to late-20th century that marked
the return of embellishment and injected wit
and character into architecture.
prefabricated metal fi replace: A steel fi replace
unit that includes the inner hearth and fi re
chamber, throat, damper, smoke shelf, and
smoke chamber.
preliminary estimate: A rough estimate of
building costs based on the preliminary
design documents.
presentation drawing: A pictorial or elevation
drawing used to show laypeople what a
fi nished structure will look like.
presentation model: A model constructed to
show the appearance of the fi nished building
as realistically as possible.
perspective drawing: A type of pictorial
drawing that shows objects in the foreground
larger than those in the background, just as
they would appear if a person were viewing
the actual objects.
physical model: A model made of modeling
materials such as wood, sandpaper, or scaled
lumber or bricks.
pictorial drawing: A drawing that presents a
three-dimensional image of an object in two
dimensions.
pictorial presentation: A rendering that is
sometimes included in a set of working
drawings to show how the structure will
appear when fi nished.
picture plane (PP): A transparent plane onto
which a drawing is projected.
pier: A masonry pillar that supports the fl oor
framing.
pier foundation: A type of foundation that
consists of piers resting on a footing, usually
below the house.
pilaster: A rectangular column that projects
from a basement wall to strengthen it; also
used for additional girder or beam support.
plain stringer: A stringer that has been cut or
notched to fi t the profi le of a stairway.
plan view: A top view of a structure. Types of
plan views include fl oor plans, site plans, roof
plans, and foundation plans, among others.
platform framing: Framing in which the fl oor
joists form a platform on which the walls
rest; another platform, formed by either the
ceiling joists or the fl oor joists of the upper
fl oor, rests on the walls.
plenum: The chamber in a heating system
where warmed air is collected for distribution.
plot plan: A plan developed from a site plan
that includes not only the existing contours
and features of the site, but also the location
of the proposed new construction.
plumb cut: Any cut in a rafter that is vertical
or perpendicular to the ground.
plumbing fi xture: Any device, such as a
bathtub, shower, toilet, sink, or dishwasher,
that requires water.
plumbing fi xture schedule: A schedule that
specifi es names of all plumbing fi xtures to
be used in the residence, number required,
identifying symbols, pipe connection sizes,
and a space for remarks.