A flooring product which contains prominent variations in coloration and varying characters.  Open characters such as checks and knot holes are admitted but must be sound and readily fill.

May contain sound natural variations of the forest product and manufacturing imperfections.  The purpose of this grade is to furnish a floor suitable for homes general utility use or where character marks and contrasting appearance is desired.  Knot holes and open characters which will readily fill are admitted. A limited number of pieces with no tongue which may be face nailed are admitted.

Flooring product that has even more pronounced color and character variation with large knots checks gaps and holes that may not be able to be readily filled.

Any area in the home that is located above the surface of the ground. This would refer to a surface above the basement or any surface over a well-ventilated crawl space.

Wearing grinding or rubbing away by friction. A floor can suffer abrasion from excessive use, if sand or dirt is left on the floor and walked on or from the movement of furniture or heavy objects across the floor.

Resistance to a wear from scratches and use. Abrasion resistance is affected by the hardness of the wood or material used, the thickness of the wear layer and the quality of surface coatings. 

Allowing wood or laminate to stay on the job site, or in a storage area which has similar humidity and temperature, until its moisture content becomes the same as the environment in which it will be used.  See EMC Equilibrium Moisture Content.

American Concrete Institute - a trade organization of the concrete industry.

Refers to the use of a mixture of muriatic acid and water on concrete, either to neutralize the surface if it shows signs of alkali or to open the surface to allow a good bond with adhesives or powder underlayments. If not properly neutralized, an acid etch can cause problems with bonding due to acid residue.

Absorbance reflection or transmission of sound waves

"The sounds of floor traffic and dropped objects are important when considering types of flooring materials. The cushioning of impacts reduces the generation of airborne sound within the room and the level of sound that can be transmitted to adjacent areas. It also minimizes the transmission of impact-generated structure-borne noises throughout the building. In multifamily dwellings the transmission of impact-generated noise is of primary concern. Resilient flooring in general ""give"" under the impact of footsteps dropped objects and rolling loads. The resilience helps to reduce traffic noise. In comparison with other hard-surfaced flooring (wood marble ceramic concrete metal)"

A synthetic resin usually white in color that dries transparent and is resistant to discoloration moisture alcohol acids alkalis and mineral oils. It is usually made by polymerization of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

The generic name for wood plastic composites using wood impregnated with acrylic monomers and polymerized within the wood cells by gamma irradiation.  Some versions are cured by heat radiation.

The property that causes one material to stick to another. Adhesion is affected by the condition of the surface to be coated and by the closeness of contact as well as by the molecular forces of the unlike substances. Thus the surface should allow a certain amount of penetration should be chemically clean and not too smooth hard or nonporous for good adhesion.

The force holding two materials together. Usually refers to the strength of a glue product.

"A substance that can hold materials together by surface attachment. Adhesive is also called cement glue, mastic, or paste."

Undesired flow of materials in the adhesive to the floor surface.

"Usually sand or gravel. It is the inert material used in concrete or grout. Fine aggregate is usually sand. Coarse aggregate is 1/4"" up to 1-1/2"" in diameter and usually consists of crushed gravel."

Trapped air under flooring. Bubbles can be small or large in size. When bubbles appear shortly after installation placing the flooring into the adhesive too soon or rolling improperly is generally the cause. When they appear at a later time they may be caused by moisture in the sub-floor.

Wood dried by exposure to air in a yard or shed without artificial heat. (Not kiln dried)

Concrete containing tiny air bubbles formed by adding soap-like resinous or fatty materials to the cement or to the concrete when mixed. Bubbles give the water in the concrete enough room to expand as it freezes.

Diluted salts that are carried to the surface of a concrete sub-floor by water coming up from the ground below. These salts may cause installation failure of resilient flooring by destroying the adhesive bond. They can work their way up through tile joints and sheet goods' seams. In dry concrete normal surface alkalinity on a pH scale is 9 or less. When alkali readings on a slab are above 9 alkali can cause problems with a flooring installation. There is no guarantee any treatment will keep the surface free of alkali but washing the surface with clear water or soda water will lower the alkalinity. Traditionally muriatic acid has been used but it too may leave behind residue which can adversely affect the flooring installation.

A measurement of alkaline rated above 7 on the PH scale.

A finish that exhibits large segmented cracks with the appearance of an alligator hide.  May be caused by heavy coating coating over non-cured coatings use of fast drying thinners or the application of a finish over another with less elasticity.

A yellowish color change from either the wood or finish. See Color Change.

A hammer. Some unscrupulous tradespeople will use a hammer to drive a screw to all but the last quarter inch of its length and then finish it with a few turns with a screwdriver. This greatly compromises the holding power of the screw, although the job looks as if it has been done properly.

Commonly used to achieve beautiful and rich colors in furniture and cabinetry these dyes are made from aniline oils or coal tar derivatives and used in the manufacture of wood stains. Aniline dyes are made in different grades to be soluble in water alcohol or hydrocarbons and accordingly are called water colors, spirit colors, and oil colors respectively.  Analine Dyes are known for their ability to achieve very deep dark colors without limit to number of coats, saturation, or coating thickness.  They typically Aniline dyes also dry much faster than traditional stains. NOTE: Application can be very difficult and complex as adhesion with polyurethanes can be a problem. Test the finish on a scrap piece of material before attempting to use on a large surface.

Not possessing the same properties in all directions. Wood is anisotropic because the shrinking and swelling from moisture loss or gain are unequal in length thickness and width

The layer of wood growth including spring and summerwood formed on a tree during a single growing season.

American National Standards Institute.

Ability to limit the accumulation of static electricity on a surface

The Engineered Wood Association formally known as the American Plywood Association - A trade organization that specifies which wood panels are acceptable as underlayment boards for resilient flooring.

Marks on the surface of the flooring from the brushes or other applicators used to apply it. This is often a problem when finish is applied too soon to partially cured finishes. This mark may be only a variation in the gloss of the finish and may only be visible under certain lighting conditions. Applicator marks can be caused by using finishes that have been thinned more than their specifications allow. Parts of the finish may have faster curing times than the surrounding area.  These marks may also be caused by inadequate mixing of satin and semi-gloss finishes which allows settling of glossing agents.

Wood flooring outside the border. Also called frame or skirting.

A water-based solution or a solution containing water.

A professional who draws plans and writes specifications for a project.

A method of installation of brick or tile flooring where the joints in one course (row) of the tile fall directly in the center of each tile in the rows of tile immediately adjacent.

  A 15lb asphalt felt paper that meets ASTM Standard D4869 or 30/30/30 Asphalt laminated Kraft paper that meets federal specification UU-13-790A commonly used as a moisture retarder.

a.) American Society of Testing Materials - sets testing standards for a variety of materials including resilient flooring. b.) American Standard Testing Methods

The bottom layer of the floor covering. This is the part of the flooring which determines what adhesive will be used for installation over various substrates.

A nontechnical term used to describe all the tissues outside the wood (xylem) cylinder.

The common name for all the tissues outside the tree's wood core.

An area of encased bark generally caused by a wound around which normal wood has grown.

  A molding designed to be attached to baseboard molding to cover expansion space.  It is the alternative to a quarter round in profile. Baseboard or Baseboard molding

The molding around the wall at the floor.

  See Rift Sawn.

A piece of timber steel stone or other material placed horizontally to support a load over an opening from post to post (column to column).

Any part of a building (wall column etc.) that supports part of the weight of the structure. A wall is often spoken as a bearing-wall whenever it supports weight other than itself. Usually this is a wall that supports the walls on floors above it. Bearing walls cannot be removed without headers or beams being installed to carry the weight.

The basement or sub-basement. Any area below ground level. Moisture is often present and the sub-floor must be tested to determine the moisture level.

A common name for Clear Grade wood.

  The chamfered or beveled edge of strip flooring plank block or parquet. See Eased Edge.

An edge material normally vinyl or rubber fastened in place to taper the edge of the floor covering to a lower level. Also called reducer strip.

The offer or proposal of any contractor to the architect owner or general contractor to furnish material and/or labor for one or more parts of a building.

The composition of a plastic that contains the resin plasticizer and stabilizer; whatever is not binder is filler.

A small hole or patch of distorted grain or bark resulting from birds pecking through the growing cells in the tree.

"Multiple natural figuring in wood, usually maple, where the wood fibers are slightly indented and form swirling elliptical figures that resemble a bird’s eye."

  Most commonly associated with stains but may be caused by a slow drying finish system.  Deep stain penetration especially in spring wood causes slow curing of the stain due to the absence of air flow and oxygen.  When humidity rises or with the application of a finish the cell structure swells causing the stain to be squeezed out forming a small droplet on the surface of the floor or film.  Wiping with a dry white towel normally identifies the presence of the problem which can be prevented by buffing with a red or white pad.

The undesired flow of materials in an adhesive to the surface of the floor.  This may be caused by moisture in sub-floor, not enough open time, too much adhesive solvent removers in the sub-floor, or the use of no-rinse strippers within the first two years of the installation. It can also refer to the color of a stain seeping through succeeding layers.  A non bleeding color is one that isn’t disoloved by any materials used over it.

Driving a finish nail or staple in the side of a strip of flooring or on the top and into the tongue of tongue and groove flooring so that it doesn't show when the next strip of flooring covers it. This process makes the nails not visible when the floor is completed.

A raised spot on the surface of a floor similar in shape to a blister on human skin. How soon after installation a blister develops can help determine the cause. Blisters that occur within a few hours are usually due to a concentration of trapped air. Blisters that occur at a later time often indicate the presence of moisture in the substrate.

The formation of a white or grayish cast in a spirit varnish shellac or lacquer film during the drying period. It is caused by the partial or total precipitation of the solid ingredient as a result of condensed moisture in the film. This may be caused by excessive humidity or by use of an improper solvent.

A unit of measurement of lumber represented by a board 1 foot long 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick or its cubic equivalent. In practice the board foot calculation for lumber 1 inch or more in thickness is based on its nominal thickness and width and the actual length. Lumber with a nominal thickness of less than 1 inch is calculated as 1 inch.

a.) Often used to describe the consistency of viscosity of a finishing material. It's also used to describe the fullness or thickness of film on the work. b.) The consistency of an adhesive.

Adhesion - usually refers to the properties of a glue product or the strength of the attachment of glue covered material.

Part of the function of the polyethylene foam or paper underlayment is to prevent the bonding of the laminate floor to the sub-floor. Without a bond breaker the glue pressed out of the bottom during the glue up step will adhere the floor to the sub-floor.

  Simple or intricate designs which frame and customize a flooring installation.  They are usually patterns of contrasting (by color and/or specie) flooring surrounding a room or at a transition area outside the field.

  The distortion or warping of lumber in which the material distorts to a shape similar to a bow.

(Unstained) The term is applied to wood that is free from discolorations.

A knot with a crack or check through the center.

A linear brown discoloration.

  Marks of the brush that remain in the dried film of a finishing material.  They are caused by working the material after its solvents have evaporated to the point that the flowing power has been lost or by defects in formulation that prevent the material from leveling out after it has been brushed.

The ease with which a material can be applied with a brush under practical conditions.

  indicates the appearance of bubbles in the film of finish while a finishing material is being applied.  It is caused by any condition that causes air vapors or gases to be trapped in the film while it’s soft but after it has hardened sufficiently to prevent the gas from escaping.

  A finishing material usually of a transparent nature used over the sealer or color coats and under the finishing coats to increase the fullness of the finished work.

A group of flooring strips or planks assembled and bound together.

A severe swirl or twist of the grain of the wood that usually occurs near a knot but doesn't contain a knot. A burl is commonly found in the stump of a tree and where limbs branch out from the tree.

  The minimum grade of plywood which is suitable as an underlayment for nailing down tongue and groove flooring.  CDX indicates that one side of the plywood is a C grade and the other is a D grade where grade is determined by smoothness number of plugs discoloration and the presence of knots.  (A is the highest grade while D is the lowest).

Usually refers to a Portland cement.

Usually a cotton cord coated with chalk. The cord is pulled taunt and snapped to mark a straight line. The chalk line is used to align spots screeds and tiles.

  Slight indentations causing a ripple effect on the surface of a wood floor. They are usually caused by sanding machines that have out of balance drums bad drive belts or foreign objects stuck to the wheels.  The marks are most noticeable on gloss finishes in direct light areas or at eye level.

  Similar to Alligatoring except that the finish is broken into smaller segments. Crowfoot checking is the name given to the defect when the breaks in the film form a definite three prong pattern with the breaks running outward from a central point of intersection.  When the checks are generally arranged in parallel lines the defect is known as line checking.  Irregular checks without a definite pattern are known as irregular checking.

A lengthwise separation of the wood that usually extends across the rings of annual growth and commonly results from stress set up in wood during the drying process.

The degree to which a material resists corrosive action of various household and/or industrial chemicals

another name for Particleboard.

An area in which pieces of wood have been pulled or chipped away from the surface during machining.

The condition that occurs when a dried film of finishing material separates from the underneath surface in the form of flakes or chips. It is usually caused by insufficient elasticity or improper adhesion to the base material.

  A flooring product of mostly heartwood with a minimum number of character marks and discoloration providing a uniform appearance while allowing for all heartwood natural color variations.  In order for flooring to be graded as Clear it can contain no knots.

  A barbed fastener commonly used as a mechanical device to fasten hardwood flooring.

Nails which have been coated with a resin or other type of coating which gives the nails better staying power. This helps prevent the nails from working back up from the underlayment and causing what are commonly called nail-pops. Nail-pops cause bumps in the appearance of the finished flooring. Some coated nails cause staining of resilient flooring. A quick test should be run to determine the potential for staining.

  Visual changes in the color of the wood species caused by exposure to light deprivation of light and air or some chemical reaction.  See Photo-Sensitive.

"Material could be graded as regulars or irregulars except color range is beyond acceptable limits for either grade. Color Trial material is sold ""as is"" with no warranty. Color Trials will be sold as single rolls."

The ability of a material to withstand color change on exposure to light (i.e. light resistance)

"A dual purpose molding that is 2"" high and extends out from the wall 3/4"" at the toe and is 78"" long. Prefinished or unfinished available."

Resilient floors designed for installation in commercial settings such as schools hospitals public buildings and institutions. Also referred to as contract flooring.

A high pressure laminate with a thickness(es) greater than or equal to 2mm

a.) A phenomenon occurring in wood when wood tries to expand due to moisture gain but cannot because of some restraining force. When the same wood loses the moisture it will shrink the same amount as a similar piece of wood. This phenomenon is why cracks in wood floors continue to widen with repeated mopping when the cracks are filled with dirt and cannot expand with moisture gain. b.) Caused when wood strips or parquet slats absorb excess moisture and expand so much that the cells along the edges of adjoining pieces in the floor are crushed. This causes them to lose resiliency and create cracks when the floor returns to its normal moisture content.

The ability of a material such as concrete to withstand loads. Compressive strength is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). If the compressive strength is 3500 psi it means the subject material will withstand a load up to 3500 pounds per square inch without breaking down.

A mixture of Portland cement water fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. The concrete is bound together by the Portland cement and water paste which surrounds the aggregate and fills all the spaces between particles.

The process of keeping concrete moist for an extended period of time. Curing is necessary to insure proper hydration and for strength and quality.

Compounds which are applied to new concrete to seal water in for curing. This makes it possible to get onto the concrete quickly. Traditionally slabs were kept wet for curing by traditional means such as wet straw burlap plastic film etc. This kept the concrete wet for the 28 day wet-cure but did not allow for use of the slab during the curing period. Whenever curing agents have been used a bond test should be run to determine the compatibility of the adhesive to the curing compounds. Curing compounds must be removed in areas where calcium chloride tests are being run. When moisture testing fails curing agents need to be removed to allow the concrete to dry.

Compounds or other materials designed to strengthen the surface of new concrete and improve the quality of old concrete. These do not normally cause any bonding problems with resilient flooring installations but a bond test should be run.

Sealers are normally a finish coating used to protect concrete floors from traffic and surface cleaning and should not be used when the slab is intended as a substrate for resilient flooring. Sealers are designed to prevent water and dirt from getting into the concrete from the surface and render the concrete less porous. Sealers may interfere with the bond adhesives and a bond test should always be run.

A required step in the installation of laminate floors. This insures that the laminate has equilibrated to the new environment thus minimizing the risk for peaked seams or bowed boards. See Acclimatization

A floor designed to carry off built-up static electricity and reduce the risk of explosion in potentially explosive environments.

  See Softwoods.

Joints in concrete which occur whenever concrete work is concluded for the day. They separate areas of concrete placed at different times. In slabs on grade construction joints usually align with and function as control or isolation joints.

An adhesive applied to both surfaces to be bonded and is allowed to dry to the touch. It bonds to itself instantaneously on contact. Since this type of adhesive does not remain tacky it must not be allowed to dry.

Also known as an integrate uninterrupted.  Compare with Corner Block.

Joints in concrete which are grooved formed or sawed into slabs so cracking will occur in these joints rather than in a random manner. They extend to 1/4 the depth of the concrete thickness. When the concrete is completely cured and dry they may be filled with a Portland-based underlayment before the application of resilient flooring.

The center of a panel (i.e. surface layer core backer)

A trim piece having one edge with a concave radius. A cove is used to form a junction between the bottom wall course and the floor.

Usually made of vinyl or rubber in a variety of sizes and shapes cove base is designed to give a finished appearance between the floor and the wall. The base meets requirements of ASTM F 1861 Standard Specification for Resilient Wall Base.

A stick made of wood plastic or wax which is placed at the juncture of the floor and wall to support sheet flooring which is flash coved. If there is no support behind the cove the flooring can be punctured.

  The appearance of minute interlacing cracks or checks on the surface of a dried film of finishing material.

A specific type of warping when a panel has curvature from end to end edgewise form a straight line similar to the curve in macaroni.

A condition occurring at an end joint with the ends of flooring strips pulled in opposite directions.

The name given to the defect when the breaks in the film form a definite three-prong pattern with the breaks running outward from a central point of intersection. When the checks are generally arranged in parallel lines the defect is known as line checking. Irregular checks without a definite pattern are known as irregular checking.

A convex or crowned condition or appearance of individual strips with the center of the strip higher than the edges. The opposite of cupping.

A concave or dished appearance of individual strips with the edges raised above the center. The opposite of crowning.

The hardening of a finish or adhesive by chemical action.

Process of keeping concrete moist for an extended period of time. Necessary to insure proper hydration and for strength and quality.

"All laminated floor structures require the use of some kind of underlayment to be placed over the sub-floor. These materials conform to minor sub-floor imperfections and stop the ""grinding"" that would occur if the laminate floor structure were just placed directly on the sub-floor. The also prevent any adhesive used from bonding the laminated floor to the subfloor."

To sand a floor. A cut refers to one pass over an area of floor with sanding equipment.  Usually an installer will make two or more cuts using progressively finer grits of sandpaper.

A term applied to a flooring unit that must be cut to fit next to a wall or any vertical object to allow for the proper expansion space between the flooring and all vertical objects.

When estimating the amount material needed for an installation, an installer needs to take into account the amount of extra material required to compensate for flooring wasted when boards are cut to fit the room. Lower grades of wood will have higher cutting allowances, since imperfections will need to be cut from the material.

This procedure involves the removal of fine dust grit and spills from the floor surface with a mop dampened with a neutral detergent solution. Performed daily this procedure helps to control grit and can reduce time and money spent on more intensive maintenance procedures.

The layer of laminate flooring providing visual aesthetic properties

Any abnormality lowering the value of a product no matter why when or how it developed.

The bending of a material between supports when a load is applied

A variation in the position or shapes of a structure or structural element due to the effects of loads or volume change; usually measured as a linear deviation from an established plan rather than an angular variation.

Separation of the panel's layer(s)

Weight of a panel weight in lb/ft3 or kg/m3

A dent in the surface of a panel

Certain hardwoods in which the pores tend to be uniform in size and distribution throughout each annual ring or to decrease in size slightly and gradually toward the outer border of the annual growth ring. Hard maple is an example.

The ability of a material to resist changes caused by environmental factors (i.e. moisture or temperature)

A product where resin impregnated material layer(s) is permanently bonded to the core

A heavy artificial texture in which the floor has been scraped scratched or gouged to give it a timeworn antique look. A common method of distressing is wire brushing.

An additive that improves the drying or hardening properties of finishes when added in small amounts.

A procedure where the first couple of rows of laminate floor are placed together without glue to get the proper orientation and starting point for the continuation of the remaining floor.

The stage of solidification of a film of finishing material when it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky when a finger is drawn lightly across it in a quick continuous motion.

That stage of solidification of an applied film of finishing material when it can be sanded without undue softening sticking or clogging of the sandpaper.

That stage of drying of a film of finishing material when it has solidified sufficiently that it can be touched lightly without any of the finishing material adhering to the fingers.

The ability of the wood species or finish to withstand the traffic and chemicals it encounters in actual use without a significant change in appearance or functionality.

That stage of solidification of an applied film of finishing material when dust that settles on the coated surface won't penetrate or stick to the film.

Appearance of powdery material on the surface of newly hardened concrete. Sometimes caused by allowing the surface to dry too rapidly without curing.

Most dependent on the porosity of the surface that provides voids for dirt entrapment presence of surface coatings uniform coverage of the coating and toughness of the surface coating to stand-up to wear and maintenance routines.

See Beveled Edge.

A process by which the surface of the material is given a texture or three-dimensional appearance.

See Equilibrium Moisture Content.

  The place where two pieces of flooring are joined together end to end.

  In tongue and groove strip and plank flooringthe individual pieces have a tongue milled on one end and a groove milled on the opposite end so that when the individual strips or planks are butted together the tongue of one piece fits into the groove of the next piece. See Side Matched and Tongue and Grooved.

  An assembly made by bonding layers of veneer or lumber with an adhesive so that the adjacent layers have their grains going in opposite directions to increase dimensional stability.  This is how Plywood and wood laminated floors are constructed.

A very strong two-part thermo set adhesive which is mixed on the job. Depending on the use epoxies can have short or long working times.

An extremely hard finish or varnish that requires mixing the finish and a chemical hardener. It cures quickly to a very hard finish, but Epoxy finishes can be very difficult to refinish or repair. They are often used in very high traffic areas, such as gymnasiums or school hallways.

The point of balance when the moisture content in wood is equal to the moisture content in the surrounding atmosphere. See Acclimatization

A preliminary cost figure prepared by contractors or others to give a job owner and/or architect a rough idea of the cost of a completed building

A space necessary between fixed objects i.e. walls of a room pipes and cabinets and between the material itself to allow for the movement of the material

Separations between adjoining parts of a concrete slab allowing separate movement of the parts. They are usually filled with an elastomeric type of material. Expansion joints should never be filled with a cementitious underlayment product because any movement of the separate parts may cause the underlayment to break up and be pushed out of the joint. Resilient flooring should not be installed over this type of joint as cracking and buckling may occur. Expansion joint covers should be used instead.

Special covers designed to span expansion joints and move with the movement of the separate parts of concrete without breaking.

A space around the perimeter of a room which allows for expansion of the floor due to changes in moisture or temperature. Usually about half of an inch, but larger floors will have more movement and require larger Expansion Zones. They are usually covered by molding.

  The loss of color due to exposure to light heat or other destructive agents.

The tapering of the edge of a film of dried material either by the method of application sanding or rubbing the dried film resulting in a gradual progression of the film thickness from little or no material at the edge to a normal coating at the center.

  Usually a single board/strip of flooring at a threshold or to border/ surround a room or to otherwise serve as an accent often in another species and a contrasting color from the wood used in the field.

The stage in drying or wetting wood at which the cell walls are saturated with water and the cell cavities are free from water. It's usually taken as approximately 30 percent moisture content based on oven dry weight.

A broad generic term inclusive of sheet materials of widely varying densities manufactured of refined or partially refined wood or other vegetable fibers. Bonding agents and other materials may be added to increase strength resistance to moisture fire or decay or to improve some other property.

"Markings, designs or grain on the surface of the wood produced by the annual growth rings, knots and deviations from regular grain."

Sand gravel or dirt used to bring a subgrade up to desired level.

In woodworking, any substance used to fill the holes and irregularities in planed or sanded surfaces. Filler can also be used to decrease the porosity of the surface before applying finish coatings. Wood filler used for cracks knotholes worm holes etc... is often a commercial putty plastic wood or other material mixed to the consistency of putty. A wood filler may also be mixed on the job using sander dust from the final sanding mixed with sealer or finish.

The small pieces of wood used to form finger-block parquet patterns. Also called fingers or slats.

  The thickness of each coat of finish is measured with a precision balance.

See Fillets.

The property of a material or assembly to withstand fire or give protection from it.  Certain species naturally provide greater fire resistance than others. Classes are I II III or A B C with Class I or A being the most fire resistant.

A chemical or preparation of chemicals used to reduce flammability or to retard the spread of a fire over a surface.

Resilient floor coverings are usually exempt from model building code flammability requirements. However some building code officials government agencies and other regulatory authorities require test information on the fire performance of resilient flooring. The most widely used test for flammability is based on the Flooring Radiant Panel Test. The current editions of the B.O.C.A. Standard Building Code and the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code reference the Flooring Radiant Panel Test. NOTE Numerical flammability ratings alone may not define the performance of a product under actual fire conditions. Ratings are provided only for use in the selection of products to meet the specified limits. Flooring Radiant Panel Test - ASTM E 648 (NFPA Standard 253 and Federal Standard #372) - In this test a horizontally mounted floor covering system is exposed to radiant energy from a gas/air fuel radiant panel mounted above one end of the sample and inclined at a 30 degree angle. The radiant panel gene

a common term for Clear Grade

Also called cratering. Fish Eyes are small holes, spots, or flow marks caused by surface contaminants. They occur when the finish is applied over areas that may have been previously partially finished. The finish then recedes away from this area creating round or elliptical areas lacking adequate finish. This can be caused by the wood previously coming into contact with silcone. Fish Eye can also be caused by improper agitatition of a finish prior to application.

A heavy dark mineral streak shaped like a banner.

is a particle panel product composed of flakes. See Particleboard

Measurement of the flame propagation along the surface of a material

The propagation of a flame away from the source of ignition across the surface of a liquid or solid or through the volume of a gaseous mixture.NOTE Most wood species are Class C Flame Spread unless the wood floor has been treated and marked.

An extension of the sheet flooring up the wall a few inches to form a wall base integral with the flooring.

Temperature at which an inflammable liquid produces a vapor which when mixed with air becomes an explosive mixture.

A material added to a normally glossy coating to reduce luster and produce a flat appearance.

The irregular figure in Quarter Sawn oak flooring occur-ring across the width resulting from a radially cut wood ray. (Also called “angle wings” or Medullary Rays)

The degree of a floor covering material's ability to be bent turned or twisted without cracking breaking or showing other permanent damage. Flexibility will vary with temperature.

Installation method where the flooring panels are connected together and not attached to the subfloor

The characteristic of a coating that allows it to level or spread into a smooth film of uniform thickness before hardening.

Parquet (Foam Tile) that is 3/8 inch thick for residential and commercial use or urethane finish that is 7/16 inch thick for residential use with a closed cell polyethylene back. Usually installed on or above grade level.

The spreading course or courses at the base or bottom of a foundation wall pier or column.

The structural portion of a building or wall below the first floor construction including the footings.

See Apron.

The rough timberwork of a structure including the walls floors roof ceiling and the beams and studs which make up these various parts.

An adhesive which is able to be frozen and thawed for a specified number of times without the emulsion breaking. When an adhesive is harmed by freezing it is the handling characteristics which are affected. The adhesive becomes rubbery stringy and thick and is unable to be troweled or applied to the substrate.

Spreading the adhesive over the entire substrate before placing the flooring.

Fibers protruding on the finished surface exhibiting a rough surface.

The nominal thickness of a flooring material or of a layer within the material. With resilient flooring wear layer and backing gauge are often listed separately.

The luster shininess or reflecting ability of a surface.

  see Sheen

  An instrument for measuring the luster or gloss of a finished surface.

The increase of luster in a rubbed film through friction in use or the increase in luster of a flat varnish in the package through a decrease in the effect of a flattening agent.

A groove or cavity in the flooring surface accompanied by material removal and penetration below the immediate flooring surface.

The property that enables an adhesive film to hold in place an adherent which is trying to pull away. This is usually applied to a partially set film.

The level of the sub-floor in relation to the surrounding ground.

  sometimes incorrectly referred to as veins or veining refers to the naturally occurring pattern of lines in wood.  The grain is actually the pattern produced when wood is cut and the end or cross-section of the trees growth rings (one years worth of Xylem growth) are exposed.  Therefore grain appearance is based on the angle of the cut of the particular piece of wood and is described in terms of the way the blade saws the piece of lumber in one of 3 ways Plainsawn or tangential Riftsawn and Quartersawn or radial.

The objectionable appearance of small grain like particles in a finishing material or in the dried film thereof. 

Concrete which is fairly new and has not had a chance to completely cure and/or dry.

Groove- A recessed channel milled on the edge or end of a board.

A 1/4” diameter or larger hole caused by a wood boring insect.

"Non-production, specially cut pattern flooring. (Compare with Laser-Cut and Manufactured.)"

That property of the wood species or dried film of finishing material that causes it to withstand denting or being marked when pressure is exerted on its surface by an outside object or force.

Generally one of the botanical groups of deciduous trees that have broad leaves in contrast to the conifers or softwoods. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood.

A fiberboard with density greater than 50 pounds per cubic foot or 800 kg per cubic meter

  The wood extending from the pith to the sapwood the cells of which no longer participate in the life processes of a tree.  The inner portion of the log that dies.  It is usually darker than sapwood. See Pith and Sapwood.

A seam produced by grooving abutting edges of resilient flooring and filling the groove with heated fused or melted material (usually from a weld rod) to provide a bond and seal. Excess welding material is trimmed flush with the finished flooring after cooling.

Spots and streaks of sufficient size and density to be prominent in appearance.

Floor surfacing in sheet form consisting of a wear layer and other layers which differ in composition and/or design and may contain a reinforcement. (Sometimes called layered composite or backed vinyl sheet flooring) The flooring meets requirements of ASTM F 1303 Standard Specification for Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering with Backing.

A product created by permanently bonding high-pressure decorative laminate to a core

A general term used to denote the presence of a higher than average percentage of solid ingredients and thus a lower percentage of solvents.

A floor machine designed for buffing and spray-buffing at speeds of 300 to 1100 rpm. (For machines in the 1100 to 2000 plus rpm range see Ultra High-Speed buffer.)

Floor surfacing in sheet form that is of uniform structure and composition throughout usually consisting of vinyl plastic resins plasticizers fillers pigments and stabilizers. (Sometimes called unbacked vinyl sheet flooring.) The flooring meets requirements of ASTM F 1913 Standard Specification for Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering without Backing.

a.) Checks often not visible at the surface that occur in the interior of a piece of wood usually along the wood rays. b.) Large ruptures or openings along the grain in wood that develop during kiln drying due to internal stresses.

An adhesive which is specially formulated and placed on the back of resilient tile so it can be installed without spreading any other adhesive products. This is normally used on tile commonly referred to as Place n Press and is sold to the do-it-yourself (DIY) market.

The amount of water vapor in the air. See Relative Humidity.

A relative humidity meter is placed on the surface of the concrete next to interior walls and pillars. The meter is covered with an 18-inch-square polyethylene sheet sealed at the edges with tape. The test should run 24 hours on a slab four inches thick up to 72 hours on a thicker slab. If the meter reading stays at 65 percent or above the slab is too wet.

The chemical reaction between water and Portland cement which causes the concrete to attain its ultimate compressive strength.

Pressure which forces water up through a below-grade slab generally causing installation problems due to moisture. This occurs when the water table is higher than the slab. Hydrostatic pressure is caused by the weight of the water pressing down on itself. Contrary to popular belief this is not the cause of most problems with resilient flooring.

An instrument for measuring the degree of humidity or relative humidity of the atmosphere.

a.) A substance that can absorb and retain moisture or lose or throw off moisture. Wood and wood products are hygroscopic. They expand with absorption of moisture and their dimensions become smaller when moisture is lost or thrown off. b.) The ability to lose or gain moisture relative to the atmospheric humidity and temperature.

IIC is the measurement of how well a product resists the direct transfer of an impact over a wide frequency range from an elevated floor to the room below.

Impact loads are momentary indentations like those produced from walking traffic. These impact pressures are high (often as much as several thousand pounds per square inch) and the smaller or sharper the impact area the more damaging the indentation. NOTE The extremely high forces exerted by high heels or spiked shoes (1000 psi [70.3 kg/sq cm] or more) may visibly damage wood floors resilient floorings and other commercial floor coverings. See also Static Loads and Rolling Loads.

Ability to resist fracture or damage from a falling object

  A test for determining the resistance to shattering of a dried film by dropping a weight onto the finish.

A solid parquet composite of oak and acrylic. For use commercially and residentially.

Floor surfacing material in which the decorative pattern or design is formed by color areas set into the surface. The design may or may not extend through to a backing.

Any ornamentation or embellishment in a wood floor (border arch medallion) that is flush with the rest of the floor embedded in and as part of the floor and solid through all (or at last through the full wear layer) or part of the thickness of the floor and when the floor is sanded remains intact (i.e. it is NOT drawn or painted on the floor).

Being or composed of something other than plant or animal (i.e. mineral); primarily relates to fillers being inorganic.

The cutting and placement of a design or motif usually of contrasting colors into the overall floor covering.

The intensity of a color is its purity or degree of hue as seen by the eye.

A piece of flooring material that is down-graded because of one or more defects of material workmanship. The defects are primarily visual and may not be of such a degree as to make the goods unusable material. This material is not covered under the material warranty and is sold as is.

The side of a doorway door frame or window.

The junction of precut surfaces butted together such as tile or underlayment boards.

The beams used to support a floor. Usually 2x8 or 2x10 boards on edge that are placed on top of beams or supporting walls to support the floor above. Nailer flooring must be installed perpendicular to the floor joists.

A chamber having controlled air flow temperature and relative humidity for drying lumber veneer and other wood products.

Wood dried in a kiln with the use of artificial heat.

The portion of a branch or limb that has been surrounded by subsequent growth of the stem. The shape of the knot as it appears on a cut surface depends on the angle of the cut relative to the long axis of the knot. In hardwood flooring small and pin knots aren't more than one-half inch in diameter. A sound knot is a knot cut approximately parallel to its long axis so that the exposed section is definitely elongated.

A hole previously occupied by a knot.

  A finish containing nitrocellulose more often used as a sealer. The fast curing properties of this finish are created by using a solvent with a very low flash point which causes it to be very flammable.  Lacquer ambers little cures rapidly but may water spot and become cloudy when applied in high humidity. Can be incompatible with some types of stains and topcoats. Dries to tack free in 10-30 minutes reaching full cure in 4-8 hours.

A product made by bonding together two or more layers of material

A rigid floor covering with a surface layer consisting of one or more thin sheets of a fibrous material (usually paper) impregnated with aminoplastic thermosetting resins (usually melamine). These sheets are either pressed as such (HPL or CPL Compact) and in the case of HPL or CPL bonded on a substrate or in the case of DPL directly pressed on a substrate. The product is normally finished with a backing primarily used as a balancing material. Its performance values are set by the NALFA Standard

To lay or place one coat so its edge extends over and covers the edge of a previous coat.

  See Log-Cabin Corner .

  A milky rubbery fluid found in several seed plants. Originally latex meant the natural rubber dispersion as it came from the tree. Today it includes synthetic rubbers or other polymers dispersed in water.

Lines chalked on a substrate to guide in accurately setting tile.

A surface or line with all points at the same elevation. Horizontally straight.

The ability of a finish to flow out free of ripples, pock marks, brush marks or other surface defects.

Light reflectivity values are determined by measuring the percentage of light directed at any surface that is then reflected under standardized test conditions. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America recommends that floors have a reflectance factor of 20% to 40% for optimal seeing areas in offices 30% to 50% for school classrooms and 20% to 30% for hospital operating rooms. Light reflectance should not be confused with gloss.

The Characteristics of a material which determines the degree or amount of light which will be reflected from its surface from any given angle.

Can be made two ways; may use lightweight aggregate such as shale clays pumice etc. or may add chemicals that foam and produce air spaces in the concrete as it hardens.

A surfacing material composed of a solidified mixture of linseed oil pine rosin fossil or other resins or rosins or an equivalent oxidized oleoresinous binder ground cork wood flour mineral fillers and pigments bonded to a burlap jute or other suitable backing.

A corner pattern in which the ends of perpendicular boards overlap the end of one butting against the side of another. Also called a lapped corner. (Compare with Mitered Corner.)

The separation of the growth ring primarily at the tips from the surface of a wood slat especially on the surface of plainsawn wood.

A darkened area across the width of flooring caused by a machine.

A floor that is created by a manufacturing process and sold assembled to be installed on-site. (Compare with Hand-Cut.)

Includes all defects or blemishes that are produced in manufacturing such as chipped grain torn grain skips in dressing hit-and-miss (a series of surfaced areas with skips between them) variation in machining machine burn and mismatching.

Relating to flooring adhesive and sometimes even to latex primers. It is normally associated with water-based products and is a catchall term.

A type of core material primarily composed of lignocellulosic fibers combined with a synthetic resin or other suitable bonding system and bonded together under heat and pressure

Strips of cells extending radially within a tree and varying in height from a few cells in some species to four or more inches in oak. The rays serve primarily to store food and transport it horizontally in the tree.On quartersawn oak the rays form a conspicuous figure sometimes referred to as flecks. See Flecks .

A thermosetting resin used in the impregnation process of materials used to make laminate flooring

Refers to a latex liquid used to prime dusty substrates or mix with an underlayment powder.

Having the appearance of milk or showing some whiteness as when water is mixed with varnish or when a dried transparent film starts to turn white from moisture.

A solvent product used as a thinner and/or cleaner.

An olive to greenish-black or brown discol-oration of undeterrnined cause in hardwoods.

Usually a 45 degree angle cut in the laminate to create custom borders and insets. These cuts require that a new groove be cut and a spline inserted prior to final installation.

A wood floor that is predominately of wood but also incorporates other materials such as slate stone ceramic marble or metal.

The amount of water in the material expressed as a percentage of the dry weight

A tool used to measure moisture content

Usually a polyethylene film used to impede or block the transmission of water from the sub-floor up to the laminate structure.

Machined wood that is used to enhance the appearance and performance of floors. Six different moldings commonly used in flooring installation are:
reducer strip
threshold
quarter round
stair nosing
combination base and shoe
T-Molding. 

Placed in one continuous pour without construction joints.

See Parquet.

A diluted acid used to neutralize alkalinity of concrete sub-floors.

The natural variation of wood color may be light dark or variable.

A mild (pH of 6 to 8) detergent that does not contain any strongly alkaline materials and is designed to remove soil not floor polish.

The National Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association a non profit organization whose members must either manufacture or sell NOFMA certified flooring.  NOFMA sets the standards and specifications for wood floor grading for many species as well as the specifications for milling drying storage and all other stages of flooring production and transport.  Although NOFMA no longer represents only Oak flooring manufacturers it has decided to keep its NOFMA (National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association) acronym and logo.

As applied to timber or lumber the size by which it is known and sold in the market; often different from actual size.

That portion of a material which doesn't evaporate at ordinary temperatures; the solid substances left behind after the volatiles have evaporated.

  A hardwood molding used to cover the outside corner of a step and/or landing. It is milled to meet the hardwood floor in the horizontal plane and to meet the riser in the vertical plane. Nosing is often thicker than the flooring (usually 1 ¼) that it is capping to extend below the floor and hide any joints. It is also usually milled as a curved half-circle to create a smooth and safe edge which lends it its namesake.

 That property of a substance which is perceptible by the sense of smell; the smell scent or fragrance of a material.

 An oil based varnish enhanced with urethane. This hybrid ambers well and has good abrasion resistance. Curing may be delayed when humidity levels are high which can lead to inadvertent damage such as scratches. Very stain and abrasion resistant but has a long curing time. Dries to tack free in 8-36 hours reaching full cure in 30-60 days.

This usually refers to a surface, such as the concrete floor, that is indirect contact with the ground. Examples would be the basement floor or the ground level floor in a home with no basement.

An open blemish on the face of a piece of flooring.

   A failure of finish to form a film over areas of low density normally associated with the softer spring wood.  The finish is absorbed into the softer grain failing to form a film and causing a loss of sheen. While not considered a finish defect it can often be concealed by the application of an additional coat of finish.

This is a specification where the architect's requirements for material are stated but in which no specific manufacturer's product is listed. When a specification of this kind is written the architect and/or the owner must approve material made by one or several manufacturers and then bids are made on the basis of the architect's approval of this material.

Amount of time recommended for the adhesive to set before it is covered with the flooring. Open time is affected by temperature humidity and porosity of the substrate.

An architect may mention one or more manufacturers' products and will add the words or equal. Those manufacturer's names given have had the architect's approval for this specification but other competing products may be approved if they are considered equal in quality and function to those mentioned by name.

A finish that exhibits a surface texture resembling the surface of an orange.  Normally caused by rolling a finish that has cured excessively which freezes the roller pattern in the film.  May also be caused by excessive air flow the velocity of which freezes waves in the film when it sets.

Having been living at one time (like petroleum crude oil coal wood etc.) or derived from living materials and/or containing carbon and hydrogen atoms; primarily relates to plastics being derived from petroleum.

Oriented Strand Board is a type of particle panel product constructed of strand-like wood particles or flakes arranged in layers (usually 3-5) oriented at right angles to each other to make a panel stronger. No longer used as an underlayment board although it is still available as STURD-I-FLOOR. Oriented strand board is stiffer and improves dimensional properties in the alignment directions when compared a panel of random flake orientation

A product of paper plastic film metal foil or other material incorporated into laminate flooring that provides the wear resistance and protection

The effect caused by the exposure of a substance to oxygen. Rust is a form of oxidation. Can also refer to the deterioration of a finish, due to exposure to the air, before it is applied.

Finished sections of the laminate flooring i.e. planks tiles squares

A wood tile composed of individual slats held in place by a glued fabric backing.

Incorrectly commonly referred to as Flakeboard or Chipboard these are boards manufactured from small reconstituted wood particles as opposed to wafers or strands and usually arranged in layers by size. But also used as a generic term for a material manufactured from wood particles or other lingo-cellulosic material and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder. See Flakeboard OSB and Waferboard.

When the ends of the flooring panels typically similar patterns are matched end to end to yield a continuous linear effect

  A non-linear floor (Parquet).

A condition that can occur at the joints between two pieces of laminate that can be caused by too much moisture from the surface or from damage of the tongue during installation.

A defect in a dried film manifested by large pieces becoming detached from the under surface and coming loose in sheets or large flakes.

  See Plugs.

Stains that penetrate into the surface of the wood. They are usually made of dyes dissolved into liquids that easily penetrate the wood.

Another name for mineral spirits.

The concentration of the hydrogen ion in a material. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral. Lower values are acidic; higher values are alkaline.

  The property of some wood species which causes them to lighten or darken when exposed to light. See Color Change.

The fine solid particles used for color or other properties in the manufacture of paint enamel and certain stains.

Stains that get their color primarily from pigments mixed with binder and volatile thinners.

A small round hole not more than 1/4 inch in diameter but usually not more than 1/16inch in diameter made by a small wood boring insect like ambrosia and similar beetles.

Small holes in the finish caused by finish being absorbed into low lying or less dense areas of the wood.  Can also be caused by gasses formed during curing of the finish. It can often be corrected by the application of an additional coat of finish.

The small soft core occurring near the center of a tree trunk branch twig or log.

  Lumber in which the annual growth rings make an angle of less than 45 degrees with the surface of the piece.This exposes the pores of the springwood and dense summerwood of the annual growth ring in ring porous woods to produce a pronounced grain pattern.

  A deeper than intended groove cut into the surface of a piece of wood by planer.

Solid boards, usually 3 inches or wider designed to be installed in parallel rows. 

  Square round or butterfly inserts or dowels that are sometimes used to cover countersunk screws when installing planks but may be used for purely decorative purposes.  Plugs sometimes simulate the Colonial American plugged or pegged plank look.

A fabricated wood boards or panels made of three or more separate plies or panels of wood veneer laid with grain of adjoining plies at right angles. The most dimensionally stable of wood underlayment boards plywood is recommended for all applications of resilient flooring. Standards for acceptable underlayments for resilient floors are set by the APA - The Engineered Wood Association.  See Engineered.

The application of a temporary coating that protects the floor from wear abrasion soiling and discoloration while smoothing the surface and significantly improving gloss. Polishes are easily removed and replaced or refurbished.

A material often placed under laminated floors. Serves as a moisture barrier sound deadener.

A tough plastic like floor finishing material.

Small straw-like ends of hardwood elements appearing on the ends of a slat or flooring unit as small holes. They are very predominant in the springwood of red oak.

A matter which is porous or contains pores which are able to absorb liquid. Sub-floors which are porous are normally concrete and wood. If there is any doubt as to the porosity of a sub-floor put a few drops of water on the surface. If the water is quickly absorbed the surface is porous. If the water remains on the surface the surface is nonporous.

A finely pulverized material used in the making of concrete. When mixed with water it causes hydration to occur. Named for its color - like the Isle of Port off the English coast.

The amount of time an adhesive remains useable in the container once it has been mixed or opened. Normally used in reference to products which are mixed together such as epoxy adhesives or portland-based underlayments.

Partial or total disintegration of the polish film resulting in a fine light-colored material.

Factory finished flooring that only requires installation.

A floor surfacing material which has a pattern printed on a backing and is protected with a wear layer of transparent or translucent vinyl plastic. Also called rotogravure sheet vinyl flooring.

  The crinkling shriveling or wrinkling of a coat of finishing material upon drying.

A molding small in size with the profile of a quarter circle.  Frequently used as base molding for resilient flooring or as a finish molding when hardwood flooring can not be installed before more formal or higher profile molding is installed.

  Lumber in which the annual growth rings of wood form an angle of 45 to 90 degrees with the surface of the piece.  In quartersawn strips/boards the medullary rays or pith rays in ring-porous woods are exposed as flecks that are reflective and produce a distinctive grain pattern. (See our ABOUT FLOORS - ABOUT WOOD FLOORS flooring guide for more details and an illustration.)

A sub-floor which also serves as a means to heat an area. Generally heating coils pipes or ducts are built into the sub-floor. All Armstrong resilient flooring may be installed over radiant-heated sub-floors as long as the surface temperature does not exceed 85° F. When temperatures exceed this limit the flooring can soften and increase the risk of indentation.

  A border pattern designed to reflect a curved room element.

  A roughened or fuzzy condition of the face of the flooring where the dense summerwood is raised above the softer springwood but not torn or separated.

Tissue formed in a living tree that radiates from the pith towards the perimeter of a tree across the growth rings. Rays are very distinct in the oak species.

A part of a ray appearing very distinctly on the face of a quartersawn slat.

Resistance to color change or damage by common chemicals.

The application characteristics of a polish and the appearance of the film after successive coatings to a surface.

  To lower the viscosity of a material or to thin it by the addition of a solvent thinner varnish oil etc.

  A teardrop shaped molding accessory for hardwood flooringnormally used at doorways but sometimes at fireplaces and as a room divider. It is grooved on one edge and tapered or feathered on the other edge.

Sanding a previously finished floor to bare wood and applying new finish.

Made by casting concrete around steel rods or bars.

The ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature

The ability of a floor to recover its size and shape after being deformed by compression. The pressure of a high heel or other heavy item can compress the floor. Resilience is a measure of its ability to restore itself.

A non-textile floor surfacing material made in sheet or tile form or formed in place. Materials include but are not limited to asphalt, cork, linoleum, rubber, and vinyl.

A polymeric material used for impregnating and bonding layers of laminate flooring

A slowly evaporating solvent that decreases the evaporation rate or slows up the drying of lacquers and similar materials.

Small tunnel-like raised areas over underlayment joints. They are approximately 1/4 inch wide and similar in cause to tunnels

Lumber (primarily hardwoods) in which the annual rings make angles of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with the surface of the piece. Also known as bastard sawn.

Headed nail for underlayment installation with rings on the shaft (shank) to improve the holding characteristics.

A group of hardwoods in which the pores are comparatively large at the beginning of each annual growth ring and decrease in size more or less abruptly toward the outer portion of the annual growth ring. The large pores are springwood and the smaller pores are summerwood.

Newly installed flooring should not be exposed to rolling heavy fixtures or appliances over the flooring on casters or dollies. Typically a new floor should not be exposed to a rolling load for at least 72 hours and then only if the load is within the capacity of the surface to handle it.

The decomposition of wood by fungi producing a generally whitish residue that may be spongy or stringy.

A cutting tool used with a hand held or table mounted router to cut a new groove into a cut piece of laminate.

For Packaging with bundled flooring a single strip or more than one strip layed end-to-end. Multiple runs make up the bundle.

The living wood near the outside of a tree. It is usually lighter in color than heartwood.

  See Plain Sawn Quartersawn and Rift Sawn. 

A mechanical means of roughing a surface to abtain a better bond.

Usually a 2 by 4 inch (50MM by 100MM) piece of wood laid flat side down and attached to a concrete sub-floor to provide a nailing surface for tongue and groove strip flooring or a wood sub-floor.

A wearing away of the surface through abrasion or a thermo-mechanical displacement of the upper surface of the floor covering by friction from traffic bodies.

Any finishing material that is applied with the primary purpose of stopping the absorption of succeeding coats.

A combination of a sealer, generally varnish, with wax.Both the sealer and wax are normally burnished to enhance wear and appearance.This type of finish easily water spots and stains, but it is simple to repair. Dries to tack free in 6-8 hours reaching full cure in 7-14 days.

The line along which two pieces of sheet flooring are joined.

 A clear coating normally used to coat the surface area of seams in residential resilient flooring. The seam coating protects the seam from dirt and also helps hold seams together.

  refers to any lumber or flooring that is composed of at least 50% Select Grade wood.

  Flooring product with coloration variations produced by differences of natural heartwood and sapwood along with all the characters described in Clear Grade wood.  Additionally the face may contain unlimited sound sapwood; slight imperfections in milling; a small tight knot every 3'; pin worm holes; burls and a reasonable amount of slightly open checks.

Excess material manufactured on the edge of the flooring. It is cut off before the flooring is seamed or matched at the edges.

  The breaking up or segregation of two or more integral parts of a mixture into its component parts.  In a varnish this may take the form of the resin becoming insoluble in the other ingredients.  In a paint or enamel it may mean that a clear liquid portion forms above the pigmented portion. In liquid there may be a segregation of layers of component liquids.

  See Dry to Touch.

The separation of a pigment or other solid ingredient from a coating material upon standing.

  The degree to a color as a dark green. Also the act of changing the tone or degree of a color by adding small quantities of other colors to it.

A separation along the grain the greater part of which occurs between and within rings of annual growth.

  The degree of luster of the dried film of a finishing material.It is usually used to describe the luster of rubbed surfaces or of flat drying materials.

Any form of resilient flooring such as vinyl or linoleum.

The period of time which the manufacturer guarantees the unopened adhesive will be useable. The date of manufacture is normally stamped somewhere on the adhesive container. In most cases the adhesive will be usable for a period of time following the shelf life. When the adhesive becomes unusable the handling characteristics are affected.

A natural finish produced from a combination of alcohol and resins excreted by the Lac Beetle. Often use to seal knots or blemishes before finishing. Shellac may become tacky when subjected to high humidity and it lacks the high abrasion resistance of more modern finishes. Shellac is low in cost and is a good choice when trying to duplicate antique finishes. It easily water spots, but the spots are easy to repair.

  In tongue and groove strip and plank flooringthe individual pieces have a tongue milled on one side and a groove milled on the opposite side so that when the individual strips or planks are placed side by sidethe tongue of one piece fits into the groove of the next piece. See End Matched and Tongue and Groove.

The film of oxidized or polymerized finishing material that forms on the surface while in a container or tank.

   See Apron.

Individual components or fillets held together by wire to form a parquet flooring square or tile.

  A spline or small strip of wood or metal used to reverse or change direction in installing standard tongue and groove strip flooring or when making and assembling parquet flooring.  It is sometimes used in laying 3/4 inch (19MM) solid tongue and groove parquet.

"A measure of the consistency of concrete in inches. The distance the concrete slumps from its original 12"" molded form."

A conical mold is filled in three layers with the concrete. After each layer the concrete is puddled with 25 strokes of a rod. Concrete is evened off at the top of the mold and the mold removed. The slump is the space between a rod laid across the top of the mold and the molded concrete. ASTM C 143.

  General term used to describe lumber produced from needle and/or cone bearing trees (conifers).

A resilient tile flooring composed of binder fillers and pigments compounded with suitable stabilizers and processing aids. The binder consists of polymers and/or copolymers of vinyl chloride other modifying resins and plasticizers which comprise at least 34% by weight of the finished tile. The polymers and copolymers of vinyl chloride comprise at least 60% of the weight of the binder. The tile meets requirements of ASTM F 1700 Standard Specification for Solid Vinyl Floor Tile.

A knot that is solid across its face at least as hard as the surrounding wood and shows no indication of decay.

Wood free from any form of decay or splits.

A knot cut across its long axis.

  Another word for Slip-Tongue.

Separations of wood fiber running parallel to the grain.

The amount of coverage which can be expected from a given amount of adhesive when spread using the recommended trowel.

The portion of a growth ring that is formed in the early stages of growth.

  Flooring that isn’t tongue and grooved. May also refer to square edge strip flooring that is face nailed when installed.

Parquet flooring units usually composed of an equal number of slats.

Chemicals developed to impart light and heat stability to plastics so they don't start to turn color when exposed to normal lighting and heat ranges expected in end-use areas.

Linoleum is generally resistant to dilute acids oils greases and most common organic solvents. However it is susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to alkalis (bases). Vinyls are generally resistant to alkalis acids alcohols oils greases and aliphatic hydrocarbons. They can be softened by ketones esters and chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons. If any particular chemicals or substances are going to be present in the environment adequate testing should be performed on the floor covering material in advance to ensure suitability for such applications. On floors where polish is recommended

The degree which a material resists permanent discoloration form exposure to household items

The act of changing the color of wood without disturbing the texture or markings through the application of transparent or semitransparent liquids made from dyes finely divided pigments or chemicals.

A molding designed for the purpose of trimming a stair landing or the border of an open room that adjoins a room that is a lower level. One side possesses a rounded nose. Available prefinished with urethane to blend with the floor or available unfinished.

The vertical board under the tread in a set of stairs.

The horizontal board which forms the walking portion of the set of stairs.

Static-control flooring used extensively in the electronics industry to prevent damage to sensitive components.

Ability to resist or bounce back from high load small indenture exposure like hospital beds table legs chair legs stiletto heels etc. Static load indentation resistance is most dependent on the product construction presence and type of backing surface embossing and pattern (which may help to mask indentation).

Static loads are any loads remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Static load limit values have been established to aid in the selection and protection of resilient flooring for use under these conditions and these values are listed on each product page. See also Impact Loads and Rolling Loads.

A strip placed between courses of lumber in a pile unit package or kiln truck load at right angels to the boards to permit air to circulate between the layers.

A strip placed between courses of lumber in a pile unit package or kiln truck load at right angels to the boards to permit air to circulate between the layers.

Stained discolorations about 1 “ - 2” wide occur-ring across the width of a strip/plank and spaced corresponding to sticker placement.

See Mineral Streaks or Applicator Streaks.

Solid or engineered boards that are less than 3 inches in width and are usually installed in parallel rows. They are produced in various thicknesses and widths. The strips are tongue and grooved to prevent movement of the material once installed.  They are designed to be nailed directly to a wood or plywood sub-floor or over wood screeds on concrete slab construction.

The removal of old floor finish using a strong and usually very alkaline chemical stripper. Stripping should be done to small segments of the floor at a time with each segment being thoroughly rinsed before moving to the next segment.

One of a series of slender wood structural members used as supporting elements in walls and partitions.

  Any of a variety of materials that compose a flat level surface over which (the final layer of) flooring can be installed and laid as a base for underlayment resilient floor covering or other finished flooring.

A firm which provides a certain number of the required parts of a building project to the general contractor. Reports to takes his instructions form is paid for completed work by the general contractor. In flooring installation the retailer or flooring contractor providing the materials and/or the installation of those materials for floors walls counter-top surfaces in a building project.

Core

The portion of a growth ring that is formed in the latter stages of growth.

When a coating dries on top but remains relatively soft on the bottom it's said to surface dry.

The outermost layer of laminate flooring designed to be the visible side when installed (i.e. wear layer)

"A suspended floor is one with a minimum of 18"" of well-ventilated air space below. Also referred to as above grade."

  An acid curing conversion varnish that is very stain water and spot resistant.  Ambers little but during curing may contain fumes that are harmful to plants and pets. Dries to tack free in 8-24 hours reaching full cure in 14 days. Sometimes inaccurately defined as a urethane finish with wax applied.

"A molding designed for obtaining an expansion space up to 1/2"" wide between two different Hartco floors or hard surface floors of the same thickness or as an internal expansion space for long spans. It is 3/8"" thick x 2"" wide x 78"" long and prefinished in urethane to blend with the floor or available unfinished."

That condition when a film of finishing material has reached the point that the surface can be touched lightly without a sensation of stickiness.

  Used to remove dust after sanding or screening.  May be used dry or with an appropriate liquid compatible with the finish to be used.

When the irregularities imperfections or patterns of the substrate are visibly transmitted through the flooring.

The ability of a film to withstand pulling stresses.

A type of mosaic flooring made by embedding small pieces of marble granite glass or onyx in freshly placed mortar. The surface is usually hardened ground and polished.

A process where resins are consolidated under heat and pressure to create a permanent bonding

  The property of softening when heated and hardening upon cooling.

Resins that cure by chemical reaction to form bonds and do not melt when exposed to heat

A check with a imperceptible or slight opening.

A sound knot so fixed by growth or position that it will firmly retain its place in the piece.

A panel of geometric shapes (e.g. squares rectangles etc)

A flat thin piece of resilient material (such as cork linoleum rubber solid vinyl or vinyl composition) that is used to cover floors and can be installed as individual units. Tiles are usually square with sides of 9 to 24 inches. Most common are 12 inch by 12 inch tiles. They can also be rectangular with sides of 3 to 36 inches.

 A protruding strip milled on the edge or end of a board.

Tongue- A protruding strip milled on the edge or end of a board. Groove- A recessed channel milled on the edge or end of a board. In strip plank and parquet flooring a tongue is milled on one edge and a groove cut on the opposite edge. As the flooring is installed the tongue of each strip or unit is engaged with the groove of the adjacent strip or unit. See End Matched and Side Matched.

  see Chipped Grain

A measure of the durability of flooring products and its resistance to gouging, punctures, cuts, impacts, rolling loads and static loads.

Normally a plastic wood or metal strip which smoothly transitions a higher piece of flooring to a lower piece such as carpet to vinyl.

  The finish materials in a building at the floor of rooms (baseboard base shoe quarter round for example).

A hand tool with notches used for spreading adhesives onto the substrate. Trowels are recommended with notches which are able to leave adhesive ridges of a size which will ensure complete contact with the flooring being installed.

Method to fill an entire floor or large area.

  Engineered or solid floor joist system.

When incomplete bonding causes releasing from the substrate and long areas of the flooring form tunnel-like deformities usually over underlayment joints. Tunnels are normally caused by movement of the underlayment joints from moisture growth and are sometimes combined with product growth.

  Light rays that are outside the visible spectrum at its violet end.These rays have a chemical effect upon the dried film of finishing materials. Ultraviolet light is commonly used in curing finishes at the factory for prefinished flooring. Ultraviolet light also causes woods to lighten or darken.  See Color Change.

Coats that are applied prior to the finishing or final coats.

A procedure that removes the appropriate amount of trim around doors and passage ways whereby allowing the floating floor to pass freely underneath.

A material placed under resilient flooring to provide a suitable installation surface.

  same as Overwood.  A term used to describe a condition when adjoining edges of the flooring pieces are not the same height after installation is complete. Tolerances for each product and grade vary.  This occurs because of inaccuracies during milling where the tongues and grooves of each strip are not identical from piece to piece resulting in some higher than others.  The condition can be sanded down and made smooth however due the uniform thickness of the board itself it does leave a space underneath the board between the board and the sub-floor.  Eventually this can lead to squeaking in the floor.  This is just one reason why the quality of the milling and where you floor is/what manufacturer produced your floor is important.  Higher quality flooring is more expensive but it can worth avoiding a problem like this in the long run. 

  A product that must have stain and/or a finish applied after installation.

Defects with a large opening excessive move-ment or an excessively soft area.

See Polyurethane.

  A special type of polyurethane that is cured by subjecting it to a specific dosage of radiation in the form of ultraviolet light.  See Polyurethane and Ultraviolet.

See Beveled Edge.

a.) A material such as foil plastic film or specially coated paper with a high resistance to vapor movement used to control condensation or prevent migration of moisture. b.) Any material used to stop the migration of vapor through walls floors or ceilings.

A finish that contains either natural or synthetic oils that are refined by boiling and cooking with the addition of dryers. Slow to cure but can be accelerated by the addition of heat. When used as a sealer it is often burnished with a buffer and pads the friction of which accelerates the curing process. Ambers well somewhat stain and spot resistant but may be scratched easily when new due to slow curing time.

An obsolete form of resilient tile composed of vinyl plastic binders chrysotile asbestos fibers mineral fillers and pigments.

A resilient tile floor covering composed of binder fillers and pigments compounded with suitable stabilizers and processing aides. The binder consists of polymers and/or copolymers of vinyl chloride other modifying resins and plasticizers. The tile meets requirements of ASTM F 1066 Standard Specification for Vinyl Composition Floor Tile.

A property of fluids either liquid or gaseous that can briefly be described as causing resistance to flow. Viscosity is the measure of the combined effects of cohesion and adhesion. It is one of the most important physical properties of an oil varnish or lacquer. Viscosity is usually measured with the GardnerHoldt Bubble Viscometer.

is a particle panel product made of wafer type flakes. It is usually manufactured to possess equal properties in all directions parallel to the plane of the panel. See Particleboard

Bark or the lack of wood from any cause normally found along the edge of a piece.

Crowning cupping or crook

  Any distortion of a piece of flooring from its true plane that may occur in seasoning.

  A waterborne urethane that is fully cured and dries by water evaporation.  See Polyurethane.

Water Borne Finishes  This large family of finishes has a common trait of having the solids suspended in water which is used as the solvent. A clear color free finish available as a one part two-part or cross linked.  Products using a cross-linker (catalyst) may have enhanced stain and abrasion resistance.  Easy to apply with low odor and good stain resistance but may raise grain during first and second coat. Fast drying and easy to recoat. These finishes dry to tack free in 2-4 hours reaching full cure in 14 days.

Ratio by weight between the water and the cement. Only a small amount of water is needed for hydration and the rest is used to make the concrete more workable. The water/cement ratio controls the characteristics of the paste and ultimately the concrete. Allowance must be made for water in the aggregate when adding water to the concrete batch.

  Any of a number of resinous pliable substances of plant or animal origin that is insoluble in water partially soluble in alcohol ether etc. and miscible in all proportions with oils. It is used for making polishes and other products. Also A temporary protective coating similar to polish but softer in composition. Must be buffed to achieve maximum gloss.

Deterioration caused from use. A diminishing from the accumulation of abrasion gouging scratching and scuffing of the thickness of the flooring.

The portion of a resilient floor covering that contains or protects the pattern and design exclusive of temporary finishes or maintenance coatings.

Ability of the laminate flooring surface to resist wear through to the decor layer

  Those stains usually pigmented that are applied and then wiped with a cloth to remove excess.

  A method for imparting an artificial texture or distressed appearance to the surface of hardwood flooring.

  See Filler.

When installing sheet flooring this is the amount of time allowable from the laying in of the flooring until all cutting and fitting must be completed. When installing tile this is the amount of time from the point when the adhesive is dry to the touch until the tile will no longer bond. Temperature humidity and porosity of the sub-floor affect working time.