| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Palladian Window | Palladian Window – A three-part window in which the center window is arched and larger than two smaller, often-rectangular windows flanking it on either side. |
| Palladium | Palladium – A photographic process in which the image is produced by palladium crystals deposited on the paper. |
| Paneling | Paneling – Wood used to cover the entire expanse of a wall, from top to bottom. |
| Parquetry | Parquetry – Geometrically patterned wood inlay. |
| Pastel | Pastel – A crayon of ground pigment bound with gum or oil. Pastel crayons have varying ratios of pigment to chalk and gum; the more pigment, the more intense the color. |
| Pate De Verre | Pate De Verre – A “paste” of finely crushed glass that is mixed, heated, and poured into a mold. |
| Patera | Patera – A round or oval raised surface design. |
| Patina | Patina – A surface coloring, usually brown or green, produced by the oxidation of bronze, copper, or other metal. Patinas occur naturally and are also produced artificially for decorative effect. |
| Pattern | Pattern – Is the repetition of a decorative motif on a surface. |
| Pediment | Pediment – Awn ornamental detail placed over a door, portico, or window, often found in a triangular shape. |
| Performance Bond | Performance Bond – Required of the winning bidder as a guarantee that the designer/vendor will complete the work as specified and will protect the client from any loss up to the amount of the bond as a result of the failure of the designer/vendor to perform the contract. |
| Petrology | Petrology – The study of rocks, their origin and what they are made from. |
| Photoetching | Photoetching – A printmaking technique in which a light-sensitive metal plate is exposed to photographic film under ultraviolet light. |
| Photogravure | Photogravure – A printing process based on the production, by photographic methods, of a plate containing small ink-receptive pits. |
| Pilaster | Pilaster – A shallow rectangular column built into a wall for decorative purposes. |
| Pin Knot | Pin Knot – A knot smaller that one-half inch in diameter. |
| Pitch Pocket | Pitch Pocket – An opening between growth rings that may contain resin or bark or both. |
| Plain sawn | Plain sawn – The most common way in which a log is cut, tangentially to the growth rings. Results in the common flam-grain appearance. |
| Pleasing Match | Pleasing Match – A veneer method where attention is given to matching color and grain for a pleasing final effect. |
| Plenum | Plenum – The space between a suspended ceiling and the floor above. |
| Plinth | Plinth – A square or rectangular base for a pilaster or column. |
| Plutonic | Plutonic – Igneous rocks which have formed from magma at a great depth in the earth’s crust. |
| Point | Point – Is perceived when a two-dimensionally perceived object appears relatively small in relation to the plane against which it is seen. |
| Polaroid Transfer | Polaroid Transfer – A trademarked named for the process by which an image recorded by the camera’s lens is reproduced directly onto a photosensitive surface, which functions as both film and photograph. |
| Polychromatic | Polychromatic – Having various or changing colors. |
| Polyurethane | Polyurethane – A paint and varnish resin that forms a protective coating on wood. Sold under the names Varathane, Urethane, and Durathane. |
| Porcelain | Porcelain – A clay body that is white, strong, and hard when fired. When sufficiently thin, it is also translucent. |
| Portico | Portico – A covered entry structure normally supported by columns. |
| Power | Power – The quality of acoustic energy as measured in watts. It is this power that people perceive as loudness. |
| Premium Grade | Premium Grade – Gives the highest level of quality in materials, workmanship, and installation. |
Print – An image made from an inked surface. Prints are usually, but not always, produced by multiples. | |
| Proportion | Proportion – Is the relationship between one part of an object or composition and another part and to the whole, or between one element and another. |
| Proprietary Specification | Proprietary Specification – Names the products and materials by manufacturer’s name, model number, or part number. |
| Purlin | Purlin – A horizontal timber laid parallel to the wall plate and ridge beam, providing extra support for common rafters. |