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Parapet A low wall at the edge of a roof . There is often a lead gutter behind a parapet, and sometimes a walkway. Related Words  Gutter ; Lead Parging A cement fillet at the edge of a roof where it abuts a skew. Related Words  Cement, cementitious; Skew, skewput Parquet A floor surface made up of short pieces of thin wood arranged in geometrical patterns.   Pediment Usually, a triangular feature above the columns in a portico, or above a window or doorway. Sometimes the top of a pediment is curved.   Piended roof A Scots term for a hipped roof. Related Words  Hip (hipped) roof Pilaster A low-relief pillar applied as a decoration to the face of a building. Related Words  Classical; Column; Low relief Pillar An upright support of square cross-section.   Pinnacle A tall, pointed decorative feature, usually at a corner of a building, or above the top of a buttress. Related Words  Buttress Pinnings Small stones inserted into a rubble masonry wall, between larger stones. If the large stones are irregular, these stones are necessary for the stability of the wall, but sometimes square pinnings are used ornamentally, with roughly-squared large blocks. When a wall is repointed, the pinnings should be retained in place, or put back if it is necessary to remove them temporarily. Related Words  Rubble, ruble Pitched roof A roof formed with one or more sloping surfaces. Each of these surfaces is a pitch, or skew. Related Words  Skew, skewput Plaster A material applied to a wall-face while plastic, hardening on exposure to air. Internal plaster is generally made from gypsum (calcium sulphate) mixed with sand, but traditionally lime-based plasters were used. Ornamental plasterwork is made with hair or other fibrous material, to give it added strength. The interior walls of churches are usually either finished with lath and plaster, or with plaster applied directly to the masonry or brickwork - plastered 'on the hard'. In modern building plasterboard, a layer of plaster sandwiched between layers of protective material, is often used as a wall-finishing material.  Related Words  Lath and plaster Plastic repairs A term used to describe the replacement of eroded stones by a mortar-like mixture, soft when applied, hardening on exposure. Lime-based repairs of this character can be effective and durable. Related Words  Lime mortar, render, limewashing Plastique A form of plastic material used to form valley gutters, sections of raised roof and other features traditionally made of lead, or sometimes of copper. Less durable than the metallic counterparts.  Related Words  Lead; Valley, valley gutter Platform roof  A roof with sloping sides and a central flat section, usually covered in lead. Related Words  Lead Plinth A raised platform supporting the upper part of a building, or providing the base for a sculpture.   Pointing The application of mortar to  joints in masonry or brickwork. Good pointing has to be undertaken using appropriate mortar, and a surface treatment appropriate to the type of stone or brick of which the wall is made. It should also take account of the direction in which the wall faces, and the quantity of rain expected. Related Words  Brick; Masonry; Mortar Polycarbonate sheet Clear plastic sheet, sometimes used to protect stained or leaded-glass windows. Not an ideal solution, as it can accelerate the decay of the lead cames and painted decoration, unless properly ventilated. Related Words  Cames; Leaded glass; Stained glass Polychrome, polychromy A term used to describe a building constructed of stone or brick of more than one colour, especially when the colours are used to decorative effect.   Poppy head In a crocketted feature (door or window opening, pinnacle or gable), the carved decoration at the top of the feature. Related Words  Crockets; Gable, gabled; Pinnacle Portico In classical architecture, a projection from the body of a building consisting of a row of columns supporting an entablature and often a pediment. Related Words  Classical; Column; Entablature; Pediment Portland cement See cement. Related Words  Cement, cementitious Putty Glazier's putty is a mixture of whiting (crushed chalk) with linseed oil, used to fix glass panes into a window frame. Lime putty is the product of slaking quicklime, after storing it under water for some time. Related Words  Lime mortar, render, limewashing