Glossary of Terms

A - F   |  G - P  |  P - Y

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.