Glossary of Terms

Here is a list of terms that we feel are useful to understanding flooring.

Amber – when a flooring becomes discolored with a yellowish tint.
Antimicrobial – the ability to resist the growth of most bacteria, mold, fungi, yeast, mildew.
Backing – the bottom layer of the flooring. It sits on the subfloor or underlayment.
Backsplash – The area of wall behind a counter or sink.
Balanced Construction – A construction that has similar materials bonded to both sides of the panel, plank, or strip.
Balanced Cuts – Tile that is cut to fit where full tiles will not
Base – A word used to describe tiles that are cut and placed where a baseboard would normally go.
Beating Block – A block of wood often used with a mallet to firmly embed tiles into an adhesive.
Below Grade – Any floor that is below the level of the ground is referred to as below grade.
Berber – A level or multilevel loop style carpet that has a very full, comfortable feel. It often has tiny specks of color contrasting a base color. It is made of nylon, olefin, or a mix of various fibers.
Beveled Edge – A wood flooring term describing the cut of an angle less than 90 on the top edge of the plank or strip. These angled edges form a very deep V-shaped groove when they come together with another beveled edge plank or strip on either side.
Binding – A strip that is used to protect or add strength that is sewn on the edge of carpet.
Bleached Floors – Wood floors that are lightened in color using wood bleach, white stain, or a combination of both.
Borders – A design inlaid in the floor which can be simple or intricate and visually frames the floor.
Broadloom – Carpet that comes in rolls wider than 6 feet. Usual widths are 12', 13'6"", and 15'.
Build – The thickness or fullness of a finished product.
Build Coat – When extra coats of a finishing material are applied over the sealer or color to build up the fullness of the finished look.
Bull Nose Tiles – Tiles with built in bull nosing, also known as caps.
Bull Nosing – A molding applied to the front of stairs and landings to create a rounded finish.
Burl – A natural characteristic of wood where the grain appears to swirl or twist but does not contain a knot.
Burnishing – Fine sanding with speeds in excess of 2000 RPM.
Cable – A cut pile carpet with thicker, longer yarn. It mats and crushes easily and is not recommended for very high traffic areas.
Carbonized – When bamboo canes undergo a steaming process their sugars and starches cook and caramelize inside. This produces a rich brown coloring effect in the bamboo.
Carpet Cushion – A layer of cushion that is placed under the carpeting. It gives carpet its soft cushiony feel and protects it from wear and tear.
Carpet Dying – The process of dying carpet by spraying or printing a color or pattern of colors directly onto the face of the carpet. It is also called continuous dying.
Casing – A trim that usually goes around windows, doors, or entryways.
Ceramic Tile – Ceramic floor tiles are made of clay, sand, and other natural minerals. They are molded into the desired shape, colored, then fired at temperatures between 1000°C and 1250°C.
Check – A separation of wood running lengthwise that usually results from stress during drying.
Checking – When a finish cracks into small segments that appear to resemble alligator hide. This is usually caused by applying coating too heavily or over other coatings that have not cured. It can also be caused by using thinners meant to speed drying time or by applying a layer of finish over another layer with less elasticity.
Chipboard – Chipboard is a type of low-density paperboard used for subfloors. It is not usually recommended for glue-down installations.
Continuous Laminate Flooring – A type of laminate flooring in a continuous sheet that is adhered to a core.
Cove – A tile used as a trim around corners and baseboards that is concave on one edge.
Cross Ply – A construction technique of layers of plywood stacked in opposing directions to provide floor stability and strength.
Crowning – A condition where individual strips or planks of flooring will appear convex where the center is raised above the edges.
Cupping – A condition where individual strips or planks of flooring will appear concave with the edges raised above the center.
Cut – When sanding a floor, each time a floor is passed over with a sanding machine it is called a cut.
Cut Pile – A type of carpet which is constructed of small loops of yarn that are bound together. The loops are then cut to create the surface of the carpet.
Cut-Loop Pile – A type of carpet that is constructed of small loops of yarn that are bound together. Some of the loops are cut and some are not.
Decorative Layer – A term used in floors with printed designs like laminate and vinyl. It refers to the decorative layer or high-resolution image printed on the surface of the floor that gives it its appearance.
Density – A term used to describe how tightly yarn is stitched in carpet.
Dimensional Stability – The structural integrity of a floor and its ability to maintain its original dimensions.
Direct Glue-Down – An installation method where the flooring is glued directly to the subfloor.
Direct Laminating Flooring – A type of laminate flooring that has resin impregnated into the surface layer.
Distressed – A texture applied to wood to give it a worn and antique look. It is gouged or scraped by hand or by machine.
Ditra – A layer of material used as a foundation for a tile installation which protects the subfloor and allows the tiles to move slightly without being damaged. It is also known as an underlayment.
Double Glue-Down – An installation method where the underlayment or cushion is glued to the subfloor. The flooring is then glued to the cushion or underlayment.
End cap – A type of floor trim used to separate and transition between carpet, fireplaces, sliding doors, or any other outside door jambs.
End Matched – A tongue and groove system used on the ends of strips and planks so that when butted together, the tongue of one piece fits into the groove of the next piece.
End Molding – An accessory used to transition from hard flooring surfaces to other flooring surfaces where a reducer is not high enough.
Engineered – A top veneer layer of bamboo is backed by another layer of wood, often pine, fiberboard, or plywood. Engineered bamboo floors are generally available as floating floors with tongue and groove edges for easy installation.
Engineered Flooring – Engineered Flooring Wood flooring that is made from multiple layers of wood put together in a ""cross-grain"" format under high pressure. This helps each plank resist expansion and contraction due to moisture andtemperature changes. Engineered wood flooring is much more stable than solid wood flooring.
Face Weight – A measurement of the ounces of fiber per square inch of carpet.
Fiberboard – A broad term used to describe a material made from wood and other vegetable fibers glued together with heatand pressure. There are different levels of density and strength known as low, medium, or high density.
Figure – The natural characteristics of wood such as the grain, rays, knots, and other markings.
Filament – One continuous strand of carpet fiber.
Film – A protective coating which generally adds sheen to the floor and protects it. When finish dries, the layer that rises to the top is called the film.
Finish – The coating applied to the surface of flooring to provide protection.
Floating floor Installation – A common flooring installation method where the floor floats on an underlayment and planks are attach at their tongue and groove edges. Glue is sometimes used in the seams of the tongue and groove, but the flooring is not attached to the subfloor. It is held down around the perimeter of the wall by the base molding.
Fluffing – Loose carpet fibers that have fallen into the carpet pile during manufacturing that come loose on the surface after installation. Also call fuzzing or shedding, it tends to go away after vacuuming a few times.
Frieze – A type of carpet that is made from tightly twisted cut pile that curls over at the ends, giving the floor a rough, textured, knobby look. It is highly durable and hides footprints and other marks well.
Glass Mosaic Tiles – Small pieces of glass arranged and mounted on a backing.
Glaze – A protective coating fired onto a flooring surface, often colored.
Glazed Tiles – Tiles covered with a glossy or matte glaze which also adds moisture resistance.
Grade – A system for classifying the amount of natural characteristics allowed in a piece of wood. Most common grades are known as clear, select or better, common (No. 1 and No. 2), tavern grade, and cabin grade (also know as country and utility).
Grout – A creamy mixture of mortar, cement or other cementious material and water used to fill joints and grout lines. It often has sand, gravel or other similar material added and is available in a variety of colors.
Grouting Float – A trowel that is used to push grout firmly into joints.
Hand – A term that is used in context with how carpet or another flooring surface feels to the touch.
Handscraped – A method used by artisans to create an ""aged"" look by creating character or depth on a wooden floor's surface; typically done by hand.
Hardness – The ability of a floor to withstand denting or marks under pressure.
Hardwood – The term actually does not correlate to the hardness of the wood, though hardwoods do tend to be denser and therefore sturdier than softwoods. The distinction involves how the plant reproduces. Hardwood trees are considered angiosperms, and produce seed.
Herringbone – Plank or strip wood floors that are installed in different symmetrical patterns, creating a unique design.
High Density Fiberboard (HDF) – Also known as hardboard. HDF is a tremendously dense wood fiberboard that can be used as the central layer of engineered bamboo flooring to provide stability. It is the typical core layer for laminate flooring. A high-strength material made of very compact wood fibers and resins that is used in the cores of flooring. Its pressure is greater than 50 lbs. per cubic feet. High Pressure Laminate Flooring – Laminate surface that is permanently bonded with high pressure to its core.
Homogeneous – Flooring that is uniform in structure throughout the top layer and can be sanded and refinished, while veneer products should not be.
Honed Finish – A finishing layer of flooring which has a matte appearance and reflects less light then a polished floor.
Hypoallergenic – A term used to describe flooring that reduces allergic irritation.
Impervious Tile – Tile that is considered very water resistant and has an absorption rate of 0.5% or less.
Inlay – A design method that involves inserting flooring with different colors, patterns, grains, or textures to create a border, feature strip, or design.
Inner Core – The center of a piece of flooring which often provides its structural durability.
Janka Hardness Rating – The Janka Hardness Rating applies to both engineered and solid wood flooring and measures the amount of force needed to push a steel ball into the wood to a depth of half the ball's diameter. The higher the Janka Hardness Rating, the more durable and resistant to damage the floor generally is.
Jointed Flooring – Flooring that has no tongue or groove and is usually end-matched, which makes replacing strips easier.
Laminate – A type of high density flooring that gives the appearance of hardwood, ceramic tile, stone or even brick. It generally consists of a moisture barrier, a layer of high density fiberboard, a very high resolution image, and a durable, clear layer of resin-c.
Laminated Wood – A type of high density flooring that gives the appearance of hardwood. It is made similar to regular laminate but uses a thin piece of real wood instead of a high resolution image in its top layer.
Level Loop – A type of carpet that has loops that are uncut and about the same height making a level surface.
Long Strip Plank – A type of engineered floor that has several smaller strips of wood glued together on one core to create the look of a board that is three rows wide and several planks long.
Loop Pile – A type of carpet that has uncut loops which can be tufted or woven. Also known as round wire, it generally holds up better than other piles under heavy traffic.
Low Emitting – Low emitting finishes have low overall levels of off-gassing, limiting the amount of dangerous gasses released into your home.
Luster – The quality of brightness, gloss, or sheen that a substance has.
Matte/Crush – The appearance of matted or crushed carpet generally visible in areas with high traffic.
Medallion – An artistic centerpiece of a floor that is often used in parquet flooring.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) – A type of material similar to particleboard that is used to make the core of some flooring products. It is made of wood waste fibers that are compressed and glued together under high heat and pressure.
Memory – Due to its composition of millions of microscopic air pockets, cork flooring can flex under foot pressure or other heavy objects and then return to its original shape after impact. This is called having a ""memory"".
Mexican Paver Tile – A terracotta-like tile flooring that is usually unglazed and is available in many colors and textures. Miter Joint – The place where two pieces of flooring come together at an angle.
Mortar – A cementious mixture that also contains sand, water, and lime and is used to adhere masonry such as ceramic tile or stone to the surface beneath.
Mosaic – A pattern or irregular design created with small pieces of flooring.
Mosaic Parquet – A type of parquet flooring that forms a mosaic by using small pieces of wood and arranging them in a herringbone design.
Neoprene Rubber – Rubber underlayment used beneath hard surface floors to significantly reduce the noise produced when walking on a floor.
Non-vitreous Tile – Tile that is not very resistant to moisture and has absorption rates over 7%.
Nosing – A molding applied to the front of stairs and landings used to create a rounded finish.
Nylon – The most commonly used fiber to make carpet. It is a synthetic material that is fade, stain, and heat resistant.
Overlap Reducer – A transitional molding that is used to transition between two floors of different heights.
Overlay – A product built into the top layer of flooring which gives it protection and durability. It can be many different materials such as paper, plastic, film, metal foil, and so on.
Parquet – A type of wood floor made from combining small pieces of wood in different patterns.
Particleboard – A generic term for a material composed of wood and other vegetable material that is bound together with glue.
Pattern End Matched – When the pattern on flooring panels match up with the next panel end to end to create a continuous pattern.
Peeled Veneer – A way of manufacturing the top layer of engineered wood flooring where the log is peeled to produce a thin layer of wood.
Perimeter Adhered – An installation method where the flooring is only adhered to the perimeter of the room and at the seams.
Permeability – The ability of liquid or gas to penetrate a material.
Photo-sensitive – The sensitivity of a material that causes it to get lighter or darker when exposed to light.
Pile – Also known as the face of the carpet, it consists of the yarn that makes the surface of carpet. It is found in loops, cut loops, and a combination of both.
Pile Crush – A condition that occurs when areas of carpet experience heavy traffic or furniture, which causes the pile to become crushed and lose thickness. It can be permanent in some situations.
Pile Height – A measurement from the primary backing of carpet to the tip of the tufts. It is also referred to as the nap. Carpet with shorter pile height tends to hold up better.
Piling – A condition that occurs where fibers from different tufts become knotted together, forming masses or pills. These can usually be cut off with scissors.
Plank – Flooring boards that are usually 3"" to 8"" wide and are installed in parallel rows.
Plies – Layers of wood glued together in a cross-grain pattern, making them more resistant to expansion and contraction. They are used in engineered wood floors.
Plush – A luxury carpet that is smooth and velvety. It is normally made from cut pile carpet that is brushed or sheared. Ply – Single ends of carpet yarn that are twisted together to form plied carpet.
Plywood – Boards constructed in cross-directional layers which provide more dimensional stability.
Polyester – A synthetic material that is often used in carpet yarn. It is not as resilient as nylon, but is fairly fade and stain resistant.
Polymer Stain – An acrylic-urethane based polymer solution that is used to finish flooring, available in a wide array of colors.
Polypropylene – A synthetic material that is often used to make carpet yarn. It is also known as olefin. Generally used for loop-pile constructions, it is fairly stain and fade resistant.
Polyurethane – Several units of urethane chemically joined together and able to solidify.
Porcelain Tile – Very dense and smooth dust-pressed mosaic or paver tile.
Porosity – The amount and size of tiny holes or pores in a flooring surface.
Pre-Finished – The usage of sealers or finish applied at the factory making floors ready for immediate installation and use.
Pre-Glued Flooring – An easy to install type of flooring that has adhesive pre-applied to the back or to the tongue and groove of each piece of flooring.
Pre-Grouted Tile – Tile that is pre-grouted in sheets and bonded together usually using an elastomeric material.
Prefinished – Flooring that is finished completely before being sold to a consumer and requires no sanding or finishing after installation.
Quarter Round – A piece of molding that is generally applied in the front of pre-existing baseboard covering the expansion gap needed for bamboo flooringYour browser may not support display of this image. . Differs from base shoe because quarter round is a quarter of a full circle and a base shoe is the quarter of an oval.
Radiant Heat – Also known as in floor heating, the term refers to a heating system which uses hot water that runs through tubes under the subfloor, warming the surface of the floor.
Random Width – Flooring that comes in several different widths in the same box.
Reducer – A molding piece that is used when there is a transition between two flooring types of varying height. An example of this would be when bamboo flooring is reducing down to a concrete or vinyl floor.
Reducer Strip – A molding accessory normally used at doorways and fireplaces or to divide a room that is grooved on one edge and tapered on the other.
Refinishing – The act of sanding a finished floor and apply a new layer of finish. Resilient – Elastic, flexible, or has ""give"".
Resins – A material used for impregnating and bonding flooring.
Rubber Flooring – A type of flooring that is extremely durable and elastic. It is also resistant to shock and moisture and will not conduct electricity. It is warm to the touch and quiet when walked on.
Sanded – Term used when a fine top layer is removed from a bamboo floor, usually during the manufacturing process. This allows the bamboo flooring to be prepared for finishing. Sanding a bamboo floor again in the future may or may not be needed due to how much or how little wear and tear the floor has seen. If scratches, dents or other damages are evident, sanding and refinishing are likely necessary. See also Refinished or Screen and Coat.
Saxony – A style of plush carpet that is very soft and smooth to the touch. It is made from uniform twisted cut-pile tufts. It does tend to show footprints and is not recommended for high traffic areas.
Sculptured Tile – Tile that has been sculpted or molded for decoration.
Sealer – A coat that is applied to the surface of a floor before applying additional coats of finish, which prevents them from being absorbed into the flooring itself.
Select Grade – Refers to a grade of wood flooring that has a minimum amount of knots and mineral streak.
Shading – A term used to describe what appears to be changes in the color of carpet but is actually different reflections of light due to the orientation of the carpet.
Side-Matched – A tongue and groove system used on the sides of strips and planks so that when butted together, the tongue of one piece fits into the groove of the next piece.
Sisal – A type of carpet made from natural plant fibers that has a woven rug look.
Slats – Small pieces of wood that are laid together in simple or intricate designs to form Parquet flooring.
Sleeper – Usually a 2"" x 4"" glued to a concrete subfloor which either a wooden subfloor or new flooring is nailed to.
Sliced Cut – One of several methods of cutting a piece of wood flooring, which tends to show a more uniform grain pattern. This method requires that the wood is presoaked, which can alter the natural color and also cause it to splinter.
Solid Floors – A solid floor is defined as flooring made using one solid section of a single hardwood species. Bamboo flooring is often considered a solid floor to differ itself for the traditional engineered floor; however, solid bamboo is engineered because it is made from many layers of strips of bamboo.
Sprouting – Small tufts or loops that protrude above the pile surface and can be easily clipped with scissors.
Square Joint – Flooring that does not have a beveled or eased edge.
Square Nosing – A trim used when a hard surface floor meets up to another surface where the edge will be exposed, such as carpet or a fireplace.
Stain – A transparent or semitransparent product that changes the color of wood but does not affect the texture or markings. Stapled Down – A flooring installation method that used staples to affix the flooring to the subfloor.
Stitch – The act of making a tuft in carpeting.
Stitch Rate – A measurement of how many tufts of yarn are in a certain amount of carpet. It is usually measured in tufts per inch. 7-8 tufts per inch is ideal while 3-4 is low quality.
Strand Woven – A manufactured process of compressing long strips of bamboo together. Strand woven flooring is a durable and dense floor which is considered twice as hard as red oak and traditional bamboo flooring.
Stretch-In – A method of installing carpet that involves stretching it over a tack-less strip which catches and holds the carpet in place.
Strip Flooring – Flooring sold in various thickness and widths, which is usually less than 3"" wide.
Strips – Strips are referred to the amount of individual bamboo slats making up the entire width of a bamboo floor board.
Structural Placement – Structural placement is defined as the different grades of a building or individual home where a floor is able of to be installed. An example of this would be ""below grade"" which is the basement level, ""on grade"" is known as the first floor, and ""above grade"" is the second floor or higher.
Suberin – A waxy material which is the key component in the makeup of the cells in cork and is responsible for the moisture resistance of cork flooring. Suberin is also what makes cork insect resistant and adds a level of fire resistance.
Subfloor – A subfloor is described as the base floor of a given structure. Typically subfloors are made up of concrete or wood products such as plywood, OSB board, etc. Bamboo floors are then installed over the subfloor.
Substrate – The surface that the flooring is installed on, generally the subfloor.
Surface – The exterior layer of flooring, and the area that you see and walk on.
Sustainability – Sustainability is a process that allows a resource to be used no more than it can be replaced in a reasonable period of time. Bamboo plants are sustainable as they regenerate in a relatively short period for future harvests.
Tack-less Strip – A strip generally made of wood or metal that is usually nailed to the subfloor around the perimeter of the room. It has row of pins that are angled towards the walls, which catch the carpet as it is stretched and secured in place.
Tannin – The chemical contained in wood that produces its color.
Textured Carpet – A type of carpet with a two-toned appearance made from cut piles with alternating twists.
Tongue and Groove – A process where one side of a plank or strip has a groove cut out and the other side has a tongue extending out. When the two sides fit together they form a unit.
Transition – A term used to describe two flooring surfaces that meet. A molding is often used to cover this transitional area. Trim – The materials used to give the flooring a finished look and cover expansion gaps. This includes T-moldings, baseboards, quarter rounds, etc.
Tuft – Loops or cut loops of yarn that form the surface layer of carpeting.
Tuft Bind – The force that it takes to pull a tuft away from the carpet backing.
Tufting – Tufting is the process of weaving loops or cut loops of yarn onto a primary backing.
Tumbled Finish – A finish often used on tiles where they are placed in a machine and tumbled to deliver a tile that is chipped or broken around corners and does not usually have square edges as a result.
Tung Oil – A type of oil-based finish that penetrates wood, giving it a hand rubbed look when applied in multiple coats. It also slightly ambers the wood.
Twist – The winding of each individual tuft which gives the carpet more dimensional stability.
Un-Sanded Grout – A type of grout which is applied to joints and requires no sanding once dry, minimizing the risk of damaging the floor. Any excess grout is wiped clean with a sponge before the grout hardens.
Underlayment – A layer of material installed between the subfloor and new flooring to provide moisture resistance, insulation, and sound transmission resistance. It is often made of rubber, cork, foam, or plastic.
Unfinished – A type of flooring that is sanded and finished after installation. Unglazed Tile – A hard tile which does not have a color or glaze over the surface and is often naturally or synthetically colored throughout the entire piece.
Units – A term generally used for Parquet flooring to describe three or more squares bond together.
UV Cured – The factory process of baking finish onto bamboo with ultra violet light. Each coat of applied finish must go through UV lamps immediately after it has been applied.
V. O. C. – Volatile Organic Compounds, a measurement of solvents that are not water in a product.
Vapor Barrier – A layer of material that is applied between the floor and subfloor which prevents the migration of moisture.
Vapor Retarder – Foil, plastic, specialty paper, or other material which is used to control the migration of moisture.
Varnish – A solution made of either natural or synthetic oils, used as a sealer.
Veneer – A thin facing applied to a surface for decoration, insulation, or extra protection. It is commonly seen in stone veneer applied to interiors and exteriors of homes to provide a stone wall look.
Vertical Grain – This type of bamboo flooring. lacks the visible nodes of horizontal grain bamboo flooring, creating a more uniform look.
Vitreous Tile – A glassy, rather than crystalline, tile with low porosity that has a low water absorption rate between 0.5% and 3%.
Wear Layer – The layer on top of the core in wood flooring that can be sanded and refinished to make the floor appear new again.
Wool – A less common, very expensive fiber used to make carpet that comes from the wool of sheep. It can range in color from off-white to black and many neutral, earthen colors in between.
Woven – A method of manufacturing carpet that involves interlacing or weaving carpet on a weaving loom.
Yarn Dying – A uniform method of dying yarn before it is sewn onto the primary backing. It is also known as pre-dying.
Yarn Ply – The amount of single plies twisted together to form plied yarn.