A
Abrasion - AC Abrasion
AC Abrasion, or Abrasion Class, is a rating system designed for laminate flooring products, indicating their wear layer durability. AC3 is suitable for domestic use, while AC4 and above are suitable for commercial applications.
Acclimatization
Acclimatization refers to allowing flooring to adjust to the home's environmental conditions before installation. This process enhances dimensional stability, preventing issues like excessive shrinkage or expansion. Not all floors require acclimatization, and the duration can vary based on the product.
Air Humidity
Air humidity, the moisture content in the atmosphere, impacts wood flooring. Changes in air humidity affect the timber's condition, making it a crucial factor in wood floor maintenance.
B
Beveled Edge
A beveled edge refers to planks with a V-shaped groove. This feature is available for vinyl, engineered wood and laminate flooring, adding a distinctive visual element.
Brushed Finish
A brushed finish is achieved by using a steel comb on wood planks, highlighting the grain and creating a textured appearance. This process adds character and visual appeal to the wood floor's surface.
Broadloom
Broadloom refers to carpets woven on wide looms, typically 3.66m or 4.0m wide. It's a common measurement in South Africa and provides a seamless appearance when installed.
C
Colour Variation
Colour variation denotes natural tone differences from one board to another, often seen when comparing engineered oak and high end laminates and vinyls .
Contraction and Cupping
Contraction occurs when flooring responds to changes in moisture levels, leading to shrinking or expanding. Cupping, on the other hand, results from increased humidity, causing the edges of boards to rise. Both processes are natural responses to environmental conditions.
Chevron
A style of parquet flooring when the boards are laid to create a 'V' pattern.
D
Distressed
Distressed flooring features artificial textures such as scraping, scratching, or gouging, giving it an antique, timeworn appearance.
Dye Batch/Lot
Dye batch/lot refers to a quantity of flooring or carpet manufactured or dyed at the same time, ensuring consistent colour throughout. Purchasing from the same dye batch ensures colour uniformity in a project.
DIY (Do It Yourself)
DIY refers to projects undertaken without professional assistance, allowing individuals to handle tasks independently.
E
End Profile
An end profile runs along the edge of a flooring piece, creating transitions between different flooring types like carpet and wood.
Expansion Gap
Expansion gaps are left around the perimeter of rooms for floating floors, allowing them to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. These gaps accommodate flooring movement and are often concealed beneath skirting boards or Scotia.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood flooring consists of multiple layers, including a real hardwood surface layer and a base layer of plywood or three-ply block construction. It's more affordable than solid wood and offers practicality and resilience.
F
Fading
Fading occurs due to factors like sunlight, artificial light, atmospheric gases and cleaning products, causing loss of colour in flooring materials.
Floating Floor
Floating floors are installed without being nailed or glued to the subfloor. They can be glued together or use a glue-free click system, providing flexibility and ease of installation.
Floor Protectors
Floor protectors are attachments screwed to heavy furniture, preventing scratches and damage to the flooring surface when furniture is moved.
G
Gap/Gapping
Gapping results from the separation of floorboards, caused by adhesive failure or natural expansion and contraction. It can occur between boards due to varying environmental conditions.
Grain
Grain refers to the patterns and lines visible on the surface of wooden boards, determined by the arrangement of wood fibres. It influences the appearance of the flooring, with distinctive grains complementing rustic interiors and subtle grains suiting contemporary styles.
Glue Down
Glue down installation involves adhering floorboards to the subfloor using glue, providing a stable, seamless and durable flooring surface.
H
Herringbone
Herringbone is a flooring pattern where planks are laid parallel in rows, with adjacent rows sloping in opposite directions. This classic European style enhances visual appeal.
Homogeneous Sheet Vinyl
Homogeneous sheet vinyl consists of a single layer, making it durable and stain-resistant. It is often used in commercial applications like hospitals and schools.
Hand-Scraped
Hand-scraped flooring undergoes a treatment where the surface is distressed, scraped, or gouged to achieve a unique, time-worn appearance.
I
Installation
Installation involves arranging wooden floorboards over a subfloor or underlay, creating a finished flooring surface.
Impact resistance
Impact resistance measures how well a flooring material can withstand the force of dropped items. Floors with high impact resistance can withstand regular dropped or dragged items and continue to remain intact.
Inlay
Technique involving laying multiple pieces down to create a pattern inside the vinyl or hardwood. For example, a border or a brass strip.
J
Join/Seam
A join or seam occurs when two separate pieces of carpet or sheet vinyl are installed in the same room, creating a continuous appearance. Special techniques and tools are used to create seamless joins.
Janka Hardness Test
The Janka Hardness Test measures the hardness of different wood species, providing valuable information for flooring selection.
Joist
Under many floors or ceilings are parallel lengths of timber or steel called joists. These help support the building’s structure. You can often see them exposed in the ceilings
K
Kickplate
A kickplate is a fascia that conceals the legs or supports of a floor-mounted cabinet, providing a finished appearance.
Knot
A knot is a section in wood where a branch or stem has grown. Knots on wooden floorboards are usually denser and darker, adding character to the flooring surface.
Kiln Dried
Wood dried with artificial heat in a controlled environment as opposed to naturally air dried
L
Loop Pile
Loop pile carpet features uncut loops of yarn on the surface, providing durability and a comfortable feel underfoot.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a non-wooden flooring type manufactured to resemble real wood. It is made from multi-layer synthetic materials, offering cost-effective and versatile flooring options.
Locking Installation System
A locking installation system utilizes a tongue-and-groove locking mechanism for fitting hardwood and laminate flooring. It ensures secure and stable flooring installation.
M
Micro Bevel Edge
A micro bevel edge features a shallow V-shaped groove, adding subtle detailing to flooring boards.
Multiply Boards
Multiply boards, also known as engineered wood flooring, consist of layers of wood, lumber, or plywood glued together in a cross-ply construction, enhancing stability and durability.
Moisture Content
Moisture content refers to the amount of moisture present in real wood, impacting its stability and suitability for various applications.
N
Nosing
Nosing is the horizontal, protruding edge of a stair, frequently exposed to foot traffic. It is used in hard flooring installations on stairs, enhancing aesthetics and safety.
Nylon
Nylon is a petrochemical-based fibre commonly used in carpet manufacturing. There are different types of nylon, such as Type 6,6 and Type 6, each offering specific characteristics for carpet production.
Nail-Down Flooring Installation
Nail-down installation involves securing floorboards to the subfloor or underlayment using nails, ensuring a stable and durable flooring surface.
O
Oiled Finish
An oiled finish consists of oil wax, providing a subtle sheen to the wood floor. It enhances the natural appearance of the wood while offering protection.
Overlay
Overlay describes flooring installed over a subfloor, providing a finished surface for walking.
P
Parquet
Parquet flooring comprises small wooden blocks arranged in decorative geometric patterns, adding elegance to the flooring surface.
Pile
Pile refers to the visible surface of a carpet, made up of upright loops (loop pile), trimmed yarns (cut pile), or a combination of both (textured or cut and loop pile). Pile characteristics include height, density, and finish.
Pre-finished
Pre-finished hardwood or engineered wood floorboards are stained and sealed in the factory, offering convenience and durability.
R
Resilience
Resilience refers to a carpet's ability to bounce back to its original texture and thickness after compression, ensuring long-lasting performance.
Registered Embossing
Registered embossing aligns surface textures perfectly with design elements, creating realistic features like knots and grains in hard flooring materials.
Reducer Strip
A reducer strip is a decorative moulding used to achieve a uniform appearance when wooden floors meet other surfaces such as vinyl or carpet.
S
Skirting Boards
Skirting boards run along the base of interior walls, protecting them from wear and providing an aesthetic finish. They cover joints and enhance the room's appearance.
Square Meters (sqm or m2)
Square meters refer to the area equal to a square with sides of 1 meter. It is used for measuring room, house, and land areas.
Square Edge
Square edge flooring boards have even and smooth edges, laying flush with neighbouring boards, creating a seamless appearance.
Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl, also known as cushioned vinyl or rolled vinyl, is a water-resistant flooring option that can be loose-laid. It is cut to the desired length directly from rolls.
T
Transition Strip
A transition strip bridges height differences between two different flooring types, ensuring a smooth and uniform transition.
T-Moulding
T-moulding is a moulding detail used to finish the space between two wood or laminate floors, creating a seamless connection.
Traffic
Traffic refers to the frequency of foot movement on a floor's surface. High-traffic areas are those frequently used, such as living rooms and hallways.
U
Unfinished
Unfinished wooden floorboards leave the manufacturer without any applied finish or stain, providing a raw surface for customization.
UV Finish
UV finishes include a UV filter to protect wood's natural colour from fading due to light exposure, ensuring long-lasting aesthetics.
Underlay
Underlay absorbs sound, provides thermal insulation, and offers cushioning underfoot. It is essential for various flooring types, enhancing comfort and longevity.
V
Vapour Barrier
A vapour membrane prevents moisture penetration, ensuring the floor remains protected and stable.
Veneer
A veneer is a layer of hardwood with varying thickness glued to the top of engineered wood boards, enhancing the floor's appearance and durability.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature, often present in household materials. They can affect indoor air quality, with different VOCs having varying health effects.
W
Wear Layer
The wear layer is the topmost layer of a floor, providing durability and protection to the layers beneath. Different thicknesses offer varying levels of protection.
White-Wash
White-washed wood flooring has a chalky and worn appearance, adding a rustic and weathered charm to the floor.