Flooring Glossary

Flooring is one of the most important elements of any home, influencing both its aesthetic appeal and practical comfort. Whether you're renovating, building from scratch, or simply curious about the options available, understanding the terminology can be overwhelming. That's why we've created this comprehensive flooring glossary, an A-Z guide covering everything from materials and finishes to installation techniques and maintenance tips.

This resource is designed to help you navigate the world of flooring with confidence, ensuring you make informed decisions that suit your style and needs. Whether you're looking for the perfect hardwood, exploring the latest in vinyl technology, or curious about underfloor heating, our glossary has you covered. Dive in and discover the essential terms that will help you create the perfect foundation for your home.

A

1. Acclimation: The process of allowing flooring materials, such as hardwood, laminate, or vinyl, to adjust to the temperature and humidity conditions of the environment where they will be installed. This process is critical to prevent issues like warping, buckling, or gaps after installation.
2. Adhesive: A substance used to bond flooring materials to the subfloor, commonly used for vinyl, linoleum, and carpet tiles.
3. Aggregate: Crushed stone, gravel, or other materials used in concrete floors for added strength and texture.
4. Antimicrobial Flooring: Flooring treated with substances that inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, often used in healthcare settings.

B

5. Backing: The underside of a flooring material that provides stability and sometimes additional features like moisture barriers or cushioning.
6. Baseboard: A strip of wood or vinyl that covers the lowest part of an interior wall, providing a neat edge and protecting the wall from damage.
7. Bamboo Flooring: A sustainable and eco-friendly flooring option made from bamboo grass, known for its hardness and durability.
8. Beading: Trim used around the edges of flooring to cover the expansion gap and provide a finished look.
9. Berber Carpet: A style of carpet made with a loop pile construction and typically featuring a flecked or speckled appearance.

C

10. Carpet Pile: The visible surface of a carpet, consisting of tufts of yarn that create its texture and appearance.
11. Cementitious Flooring: Flooring systems based on cement, used for their durability and resistance in industrial and commercial applications.
12. Ceramic Tile: A popular flooring choice made from clay and other natural materials, fired at high temperatures to achieve hardness and durability.
13. Click-Lock Flooring: A type of flooring with edges designed to snap together, making installation easier and eliminating the need for adhesives.
14. Coir Matting: A natural fibre matting made from coconut husks, used for entrance mats and outdoor flooring for its durability and weather resistance.
15. Concrete Flooring: Flooring made from poured concrete, popular in both residential and commercial spaces for its durability and versatility.

D

16. Dado Rail: A type of moulding fixed horizontally to a wall, often to protect it from damage.
17. Damp Proof Membrane (DPM): A layer of material, usually plastic sheeting, installed under flooring to prevent moisture from seeping through.
18. Distressed Flooring: Flooring that has been intentionally aged or worn to give it a rustic, antique appearance.
19. Double Stick Installation: A method of installing carpet where both the carpet and the underlay are glued to the subfloor.

E

20. Eased Edge: A slightly beveled edge on flooring planks that helps to hide minor subfloor irregularities and provides a more defined look.
21. Engineered Wood Flooring: A type of wood flooring made of a hardwood top layer bonded over a plywood or high-density fiberboard base, offering stability and resistance to moisture.
22. Epoxy Flooring: A durable, seamless flooring surface made from a mixture of resin and hardeners, commonly used in industrial and commercial settings.
23. Expansion Gap: A small gap left around the perimeter of a room when installing flooring, allowing for expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity.

F

24. Felt Backing: A type of carpet backing that provides added cushioning and insulation.
25. Floating Floor: A method of installation where the flooring is not attached to the subfloor, but instead "floats" over an underlay.
26. Floor Joist: A structural element of a building's floor frame that supports the floor and runs parallel to the length of the floor.
27. Floor Levelling Compound: A cement-based mixture used to create a smooth, level surface on which to install flooring.
28. Floor Sander: A machine used to sand down rough or uneven wood floors, preparing them for finishing.

G

29. Grout: A paste used to fill the spaces between tiles and secure them in place.
30. Glue Down Installation: A method of installing flooring where adhesive is applied directly to the subfloor and the flooring material is laid on top.
31. Grade: The quality or classification of wood flooring, based on factors like grain pattern, color, and number of knots.

H

32. Hardwood Flooring: Flooring made from solid wood planks or strips, offering natural beauty and long-lasting durability.
33. Herringbone Pattern: A classic pattern where rectangular tiles or wood planks are laid in a staggered zigzag design.
34. High-Density Fiberboard (HDF): An engineered wood product used as a core layer in laminate and engineered wood flooring for added strength and stability.

I

35. Inlays: Decorative elements made from different types of wood or other materials, set into flooring to create patterns or designs.
36. Installation Method: The specific process used to lay down flooring, such as glue down, nail down, or floating.
37. Interlocking Tiles: Tiles designed to snap together without the need for adhesive, allowing for easy installation and removal.

J

38. Janka Hardness Test: A measure of the hardness of wood flooring, indicating its resistance to denting and wear.

K

39. Knot: A naturally occurring imperfection in wood, often seen as a desirable feature for its unique appearance.

L

40. Laminate Flooring: A multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together through a lamination process, designed to simulate the appearance of wood or stone.
41. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): A type of vinyl flooring that mimics the look of natural materials like wood or stone, offering durability and water resistance.
42. Linoleum: A natural flooring material made from linseed oil, wood flour, and other renewable materials, known for its resilience and eco-friendliness.
43. Loose Lay Vinyl: Vinyl flooring that can be laid down without adhesive, often featuring a non-slip backing for stability.

M

44. Mastic: A type of adhesive used for setting tiles or other flooring materials.
45. Matte Finish: A low-sheen finish on flooring that hides scratches and dirt, and provides a more natural appearance.
46. Mosaic Tile: Small tiles, often made of glass, ceramic, or stone, arranged in intricate patterns or designs.

N

47. Nail Down Installation: A method of installing wood flooring where nails or staples are used to secure the planks to the subfloor.
48. Natural Stone Flooring: Flooring made from natural stone materials such as marble, granite, or slate, prized for its beauty and durability.
49. Non-Slip Flooring: Flooring with a textured surface or special coating designed to prevent slips and falls.

O

50. Oak Flooring: A popular choice for wood flooring, known for its strength, durability, and attractive grain patterns.
51. Oil Finish: A type of wood finish that penetrates the wood to enhance its natural beauty and provide protection.

P

52. Parquet Flooring: Wood flooring composed of small pieces arranged in geometric patterns, often used for decorative effect.
53. Perimeter Gluing: A method of gluing flooring materials around the perimeter of a room, leaving the center area floating.
54. Plank Flooring: Flooring made from long, wide boards of wood or other materials, offering a traditional and expansive look.
55. Porcelain Tile: A type of ceramic tile made from fine, dense clay, fired at high temperatures for a hard, durable finish.
56. Prefinished Flooring: Flooring that comes with a factory-applied finish, ready for installation without the need for additional sanding or finishing.

Q

57. Quarry Tile: A type of unglazed ceramic tile made from natural clay, often used in kitchens and outdoor areas for its durability.

R

58. Radiant Heat Flooring: A heating system installed under flooring that radiates heat upwards, providing even and efficient heating.
59. Reclaimed Wood Flooring: Wood flooring made from reclaimed or salvaged wood, offering a unique, rustic appearance and an eco-friendly option.
60. Resilient Flooring: A category of flooring that includes vinyl, linoleum, and rubber, known for its flexibility and durability.

S

61. Sanding: The process of smoothing a wood floor with abrasive materials to prepare it for finishing.
62. Screed: A layer of material, typically concrete or cement, laid on top of a subfloor to create a smooth, level surface for flooring installation.
63. Sealer: A protective coating applied to flooring to prevent damage from moisture, stains, and wear.
64. Sheet Vinyl: A type of vinyl flooring sold in large, continuous sheets, offering a seamless and water-resistant surface.
65. Skirting Board: A board running along the base of an interior wall, covering the joint between the floor and the wall.
66. Slate Flooring: A natural stone flooring option known for its durability, natural slip resistance, and unique layered appearance.
67. Solid Wood Flooring: Flooring made from solid pieces of hardwood, known for its longevity and ability to be refinished multiple times.
68. Soundproof Underlay: An underlay designed to reduce noise transmission through floors, often used in multi-story buildings.
69. Staining: The process of applying a coloured liquid to wood flooring to enhance or change its colour while allowing the grain to show through.

T

70. T-Moulding: A type of trim used to cover the gap between two different types of flooring, providing a smooth transition.
71. Terrazzo Flooring: A composite material made from chips of marble, quartz, granite, or glass, poured with a binder and polished to a smooth finish.
72. Threshold: A strip of material placed at the bottom of a doorway, providing a transition between different types of flooring or between different levels of flooring.
73. Tile Spacers: Small plastic or metal pieces used to maintain consistent spacing between tiles during installation.
74. Tongue and Groove: A method of fitting flooring boards together where one board has a tongue (a protrusion) that fits into a groove (a recess) on the adjacent board.

U

75. Underlay: A layer of material laid under flooring to provide cushioning, insulation, and soundproofing.
76. Unfinished Flooring: Flooring that is installed without a factory finish, allowing for custom finishing on site.

V

77. Varnish: A clear finish applied to wood flooring to protect the surface and enhance its appearance.
78. Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT): A type of flooring made from vinyl resin and limestone filler, often used in commercial settings for its durability and low maintenance.
79. Vinyl Flooring: A synthetic flooring material made from PVC, available in sheets, tiles, or planks, and known for its water resistance and durability.

W

80. Wainscoting: A type of wall panelling that covers the lower part of an interior wall, providing a decorative and protective surface.
81. Wear Layer: The top layer of laminate or vinyl flooring that provides resistance to wear, scratches, and stains.
82. Wide Plank Flooring: Flooring made from planks that are wider than traditional wood flooring, offering a spacious and contemporary look.
83. Wool Carpet: A type of carpet made from natural wool fibers, known for its softness, durability, and insulating properties.

X

84. Xeriscaping: Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation, which can also include permeable paving options for sustainable drainage.

Y

85. Yellowing: A discolouration that can occur in some types of vinyl or linoleum flooring over time, often due to exposure to sunlight or chemicals.

Z

86. Z-Bar: A type of metal transition strip used to cover the edge of a carpet where it meets another type of flooring.
87. Zero VOC Flooring: Flooring made with materials that emit no volatile organic compounds, offering improved indoor air quality.
88. Zoning: Dividing a space into different areas for heating or cooling control, which can also affect flooring choices in terms of insulation and comfort.

Additional Terms

89. Acoustic Underlay: A type of underlay designed specifically to reduce noise transmission through floors.
90. Anhydrite Screed: A type of screed made from calcium sulphate, offering fast drying times and minimal shrinkage.
91. Bleached Wood: Wood flooring that has been treated with a bleaching agent to lighten its colour and remove natural variations.
92. Carpet Tiles: Individual squares of carpet that can be laid in various patterns and are easy to replace or move.
93. Ceramic Wood Tile: Ceramic tiles designed to mimic the appearance of wood flooring, offering durability and water resistance.
94. Engineered Bamboo: Bamboo flooring made from compressed bamboo fibres, offering increased stability and resistance to moisture.
95. French Oak Flooring: A type of oak flooring known for its high quality, distinctive grain patterns, and rich colour variations.
96. HDF Core: A core layer made from high-density fibreboard, used in laminate and engineered wood flooring for strength and stability.
97. Natural Rubber Flooring: A resilient flooring option made from natural rubber, known for its durability and slip resistance.
98. Prefinished Hardwood: Hardwood flooring with a factory-applied finish, ready for installation without additional finishing work.
99. Self-Levelling Compound: A cementitious compound that flows out to create a flat, smooth surface on uneven subfloors.
100. Stone Polymer Composite (SPC): A type of rigid vinyl flooring with a stone composite core, offering increased durability and water resistance.