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Flooring Glossary

FLOORING TERMINOLOGY

Understanding the Language of Flooring

Whether you're an experienced designer or new to the world of flooring, our comprehensive glossary will help you navigate industry terminology with confidence. Use this resource to better understand the features and benefits of our premium products.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Flooring Glossary Carpet Glossary
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A

Abrasion Resistance
A material's ability to withstand surface wear from friction. Higher abrasion resistance means greater durability and longevity.
Acrylic
A synthetic fiber used in carpet manufacturing, known for its wool-like appearance and soft feel.
Adhesive
Any substance used to bond flooring materials to the subfloor or to join seams together.

B

Backing
The material on the underside of carpet or vinyl flooring that provides structural support, dimensional stability, and cushioning.
Berber
A style of carpet featuring thick, uncut loops of yarn, often flecked with color. Known for its durability and stain resistance.
Broadloom
Carpet manufactured in wide widths (typically 12' or 15') and designed for wall-to-wall installation.

C

Carpet Cushion
Padding installed beneath carpet to provide comfort, insulation, and extend carpet life. Also called carpet pad or underlay.
Cut Pile
A carpet construction where the surface loops are cut, creating upright tufts of yarn for a plush, luxurious feel.
Core
The center layer in engineered wood or luxury vinyl flooring that provides stability and strength.

D

Density
A measurement of how tightly packed carpet fibers are. Higher density generally indicates better quality and durability.
Dimensional Stability
A flooring material's ability to maintain its size and shape despite changes in temperature and humidity.
Direct-Glue Installation
A method of installing carpet by gluing it directly to the subfloor without using separate padding.

E

Engineered Hardwood
Flooring composed of multiple layers of wood veneer with the top layer being a high-quality hardwood. More stable than solid hardwood in varying humidity.
Embossing
A manufacturing process that creates texture or patterns on vinyl, laminate, or other flooring surfaces.

F

Face Weight
The weight of the carpet's surface pile in ounces per square yard, not including backing. Higher face weight often indicates higher quality.
Fiber
The basic material used to make carpet yarn, such as nylon, polyester, wool, or olefin.
Frieze
A cut pile carpet style featuring highly twisted yarns that curl in different directions, creating a textured appearance.

G

Gloss Level
The degree of shine or luster on a flooring surface, ranging from high-gloss to matte finish.
Grain
The natural pattern or direction of fibers in wood flooring, determined by the way the wood was cut.

H

Hand
The feel or texture of carpet when touched, often described in terms of softness, firmness, or plushness.
Hardwood
Flooring made from timber from deciduous trees, known for its natural beauty, durability, and value.

I

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
A measure of the air quality within buildings, often affected by VOC emissions from flooring and other materials.
Inlay
A decorative design or pattern created by inserting contrasting flooring materials into the main floor surface.

J

Jute
A natural fiber sometimes used as a carpet backing material, valued for its strength and eco-friendly properties.

K

Kiln-Dried
Wood that has been dried in a controlled environment to reduce its moisture content, improving stability for flooring use.

L

Laminate Flooring
A multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together through a lamination process, featuring a photographic appliqué layer under a clear protective layer.
Level Loop Pile
Carpet construction where all loops are the same height, creating a uniform, textured surface.

M

Moisture Barrier
A material that prevents moisture from passing through, protecting flooring from water damage.
Multilevel Loop
A carpet style featuring loops of varying heights to create patterns or a textured appearance.

N

Nylon
A synthetic fiber widely used in carpets, known for its durability, resilience, and stain resistance.

O

Olefin
A synthetic fiber used in carpets, highly resistant to moisture, mildew, and staining, but less resilient than nylon.

P

Pad
A layer of cushioning material installed beneath carpet or area rugs to provide comfort and extend flooring life.
Pile
The visible surface of carpet consisting of yarn tufts, which may be cut or uncut (looped).
Plank
A rectangular flooring unit, typically used in wood, vinyl, or laminate flooring. Usually longer than it is wide.

Q

Quarter Round
A molding with a profile that is a quarter of a circle, used to cover the expansion gap between flooring and baseboards.

R

Radiant Heat
A heating system installed beneath flooring that radiates warmth upward. Not all flooring types are compatible with radiant heat.
Resilient Flooring
Flooring materials that have a degree of elasticity, including vinyl, cork, and rubber.

S

Saxony
A cut pile carpet style featuring medium-twist yarns that stand up straight, creating a soft, luxurious surface.
Seam
The junction where two pieces of flooring material meet and are joined together.
Subfloor
The structural floor beneath the finished flooring material, typically made of concrete, plywood, or oriented strand board (OSB).

T

Texture
The surface feel or appearance of flooring, which can be smooth, embossed, distressed, or have other tactile qualities.
Transition Strip
A piece of molding used to join two different flooring materials or to finish the flooring at doorways or other transitions.

U

Underlayment
A layer of material installed between the subfloor and the finished flooring to provide cushioning, sound absorption, or moisture protection.

V

Vinyl Flooring
A synthetic flooring material composed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and various additives for flexibility and durability. Available in sheet, tile, or plank forms.
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
Chemical compounds that can evaporate into the air from certain building materials, including some flooring. Low-VOC products are preferable for indoor air quality.

W

Wear Layer
The top surface of resilient flooring that protects against scratches, stains, and wear. Thicker wear layers typically indicate more durable flooring.
Wool
A natural fiber used in high-quality carpets, prized for its durability, inherent stain resistance, and luxurious feel.

X

No terms starting with this letter.

Y

Yarn
Continuous strands of textile fiber used to make carpet, consisting of twisted fibers or filaments.

Z

No terms starting with this letter.

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