A unit of timber boards
A comprehensive guide to the most common timber terms from A to Z.
Pack
Pack Stick
A strip of wood or another material that is placed between rows of timber or other wood products in a rack. Rack sticks are placed at right angles to the long axis of the timber to permit air to circulate between the layers. . Also referred to as "sticker" or "stripper".
Parabolic Arch
An arch whose curve is a parabola.
Parquetry flooring
Flooring made up of small, matching pieces of timber laid on a substrate in a geometric patterns.
Particle Board
A pressed sheet material made from particles of timber or other ligno-cellulosic material bonded with synthetic resin and/or other organic binder
Party Wall
A wall between two adjoining living quarters in a multi-family dwelling.
Patina
A surface change due to age or use, such as the fine oxidation of copper or the weathering of wood
PEC
Pigmented emulsified creosote, a wood preservative.
Peel
Converting a log into veneer by rotary cutting.
Performance Based
A code where the requirements are expressed as objectives to be achieved
Permanent Set
A change in the properties of wood which can occur during drying when stressing exceeds the elastic limit. Permanent set prevents normal shrinkage of the timber and can lead to more obvious defects such as casehardening and honeycombing.
Permeability
The ease with which a fluid flows through a porous material (wood) in response to pressure.
Pier
A column or post supporting a superstructure such as floor bearers, beams, etc., or an internal support for a bridge.
Pile
A structural timber driven deep into soil or rock to provide a secure foundation for structures.
Pin Joint
A connection free to rotate like a hinge.
Pith
The small soft core occurring in the centre of a tree trunk, branch, twig, or log.
Plain-Sawn Timber
Timber converted so that the growth rings meet the face in any part at an angle of less than 45 degrees. Also called backsawn timber.
Plantation
An intensively managed stand of trees of either native or introduced species, created by the regular placement of seedlings or seed
Plate
A horizontal framing member laid flat.
Plumb
Straight up and down, perfectly vertical.
