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ACRYLIC/WOOD - The
generic name for wood-plastic-composites utilizing wood impregnated with
acrylic monomers and polymerized within the wood cells by gamma
irradiation. Some versions are cured by heat radiation. (In the case of
acrylic/wood parquet, a semi-built-in finish is developed.)
AIR-DRIED - Dried by exposure to air in a yard or shed without
artificial heat.ALLIGATORING - The appearance of paint, and floor finish film
that is cracked into large segments, resembling the hide of an alligator.
This is caused by heavy coats, recoating before bottom coats is completely
dry, the use of thinners that evaporate too quickly, or by a less elastic
material applied over a more elastic one.AMBER - A yellowish translucent resin formerly used in the
manufacture of varnish, but now very scarce and expensive. Also used to
refer to the color of a resin or varnish.
ANNUAL GROWTH RING - The layer of wood growth, including spring
and summerwood formed on a tree during a single growing season.
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BASE SHOE - A molding designed to be attached to base
molding to cover expansion space. Similar to quarter round in profile.
BASTARD SAWN - 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 Rift Sawn)
BEVELED EDGE- (See Eased Edge)
BLEEDING - When to color of a stain or other coating material
works up into succeeding coats, imparting to them a certain amount of
color, it is said to bleed.
BOARD- FOOT - 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 I inch.
BOW - The distortion of lumber in which there is a deviation, in
a direction perpendicular to the flat face, from a straight line from end
to end of the piece.
BURL - A swirl or twist of the grain of the wood which usually
occurs near a knot, but does not contain a knot.
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CARBONIZED
BAMBOO - Is achieved by pressure steaming the bamboo, this darkens the
bamboo into a rich, amber color.
CHECK - 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 air
drying or kiln-drying.
CHIPBOARD - A paperboard used for many purposes that may or may
not have specifications for strength, color, or other characteristics. It
is normally made from paper stock with a relatively low density in the
thickness of 0.006 inch and up.
COMPRESSION SET - 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 loose
resiliency and creates cracks when the floor returns to its normal
moisture content.
CONIFEROUS- (See Softwoods)
CROOK - The distortion of a board in which there is a deviation,
in a direction perpendicular to the edge, from a straight line from end to
end of the piece.
CROSSPULL - A condition occurring at an end-joint with the ends
of flooring strips pulled in opposite directions.
CROWNING - A "convex" or "crowned" condition or appearance of
individual strips, with the center of the strip higher than the edges.
(Opposite of cupping.)
CUPPING - A "concave" or "dished" appearance of individual
strips, with the edges raised above the center. (Opposite of
crowning.)
CURE - To change the properties of an adhesive by chemical
reaction (which may be condensation, polymerization, or vulcanization) and
thereby develop maximum strength. Generally accomplished by the action of
heat or a catalyst, with or without pressure.
CUSTOM FLOORS - Wood floors that are made to order. Complete
flexibility is allowed for design, specie grade, etc.
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DECAY - The
decomposition of wood by fungi.
Advanced Decay - The older stage of decay in which destruction
is readily recognized by soft, pitted, or crumbly areas. Decided
discoloration or bleaching of the rotted wood is often apparent.
Incipient Decay - The early stage of decay that has not proceeded far
enough to soften or otherwise perceptibly impair the hardness of the wood.
It is usually accompanied by a slight discoloration or bleaching of the
wood.
DELAMINATION - The separation of layers in a laminate,
through failure within the adhesive, or at the bond between adhesive and
laminate.
DECIDUOUS - (See Hardwoods)
DIFFUSE - POROUS WOODS - 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. (EXAMPLE: Hard Maple)
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY - The ability to maintain the original
intended dimensions when influenced by a foreign substance. Wood is
hygroscopic, and is not dimensional stable with changes in moisture
content below the fiber saturation point.
DISTRESSED - A heavy artificial texture in which the floor has
been scraped, scratched, or gouged to give it a time-worn antique look. (A
common method of distressing is wire-brushing.)
DRY WALL - Interior covering material, such as gypsum board,
hardboard, or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.
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EASED EDGE - The
chamfered, or beveled edge, of strip flooring, plank, block, and parquet
at approximately 45 degree angle. Eased edge is considered to be less of a
indentation than beveled edge flooring.
END - JOINT - The place where two pieces of flooring are joined
together end to end.
END MATCHED - In strip and plank flooring the ends of 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 engages the groove of the next piece. (or) (A male
projection milled on one edge of a strip, plank, slat or unit to be
engaged with a female counterpart on an adjoining unit.)
EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CONTENT - The moisture content at which
wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded by air at a given
relative humidity and temperature.
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FEATURE STRIP - A
molding accessory for parquet floors utilized to separate squares into
patterns larger than the individual parquet units. It is available in
widths from 5/16" to 2", the same thickness as the parquet, and is
available in various lengths. The strip is flat and may have grooves on
both sides to match the tongues of adjacent plank or parquet.
FIBERBOARD - A broad generic term inclusive of sheet materials
of wisely 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.
FIBER SATURATION POINT - 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 is usually taken as approximately 30% moisture
content, based on oven dry weight.
FIGURE - Inherent markings, designs, or configurations on the
surface of the wood produced by the annual growth rings, rays, knots and
deviations from regular grain.
FILLER - In woodworking, any substance used to fill the holes
and irregularities in planed or sanded surfaces to decrease the porosity
of the surface before applying finish coatings.
FIRE RESISTANCE - The property of a material or assembly, to
withstand fire or give protection from it.
FIRE RETARDANT - A chemical or preparation of chemicals used to
reduce flammability or to retard spread of a fire over the surface.
FLAG - A heavy dark mineral streak shaped like a banner.
FLAG WORM HOLE - One or more worm holes surrounded by a mineral
streak.
FLAKEBOARD - A particle panel product composed of flakes.
Oriented Strand Board - A type of particle panel product composed of
strand-type flakes which are purposefully aligned in directions which make
a panel stronger, stiffer, and with improved dimensional properties in the
alignment directions than a panel with random flake orientation.
FLAME SPREAD - The propagation of a flame away from the source
of ignition across the surface of a liquid or a solid, or through the
volume of a gaseous mixture.
FLECKS - The wide irregular conspicuous figure in Quartersawn
oak flooring. (Also, See Rays, Wood)
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HARDWOOD- 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.
HEARTWOOD - The wood extending from the pith of the sapwood, the
cells of which no longer participate in the life processes of the tree. It
is usually darker than sapwood.
HEAVY STREAKS - Spots and streaks of sufficient size and density
to severely mar the appearance of the wood.
HONEY COMBING - Checks often not visible at the surface, that
occur in the interior of a piece of wood, usually along the wood rays.
HYGROSCOPIC - 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 dimensions become smaller
when moisture is lost or thrown off.
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INTUMESCE - To expand
with heat to provide a low density film; used in reference to certain fire
retardant coatings.
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JOINTED FLOORING - Strip
flooring, generally Birch, Beech & Hard Maple or Pecan, manufactured
with Square Edges and no tongue or groove, usually end-matched. Used
principally for factory floors where the square edges make replacement of
strips easier.
JOIST - One of a series of parallel beams used to support floor
or ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or
bearing walls.
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KILN - (Pronounced "Kill") A chamber having controlled air flow,
temperature, and relative humidity, for drying lumber, veneer and other
wood products.
KILN DRIED - Dried in a Kiln with the use of artificial
heat.
KNOT - That portion of a branch or limb which has been
surrounded by subsequent growth of the stem. 'Me 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.
- Small Knot - In hardwood strip flooring not over 1/2" in
diameter.
- Pin Knot - A knot that is not more than 1/2 inch in
diameter.
- Sound Knot - A knot cut approximately parallel to its
long axis so that the exposed section is definitely elongated.
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LAMINATED WOOD - An assembly made by bonding
layers of veneer or lumber with an adhesive. May also refer to edge-glued
lumber items such as treads, etc.
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MANUFACTURING DEFECTS -
Includes all defects or blemishes that are produced in manufacturing, such
as chipped grain, tom grain, skips in dressing, hit and miss (a series of
surfaced areas with skips between them), variation in machining, machine
burn, mismatching.
MEDULLARY RAYS - 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.
MINERAL STREAK - Wood containing an accumulation of mineral
matter introduced by sap flow, causing an unnatural color ranging from
greenish brown to black.
MIXED MEDIA - A wood floor that is predominantly of wood but
incorporates other materials such as slate, stone, ceramic, marble, metal
and painted finishes (faux).
MOISTURE CONTENT - The amount of moisture in wood expressed as a
percentage of the weight of the oven dry wood.
- National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association hardwood flooring is
manufactured at 6% to 9% moisture content, with a 5% allowance for pieces
up to 12% moisture content.
- American Parquet Association parquet flooring is to be 7% to 11%
moisture content at time of shipment. 5% of the flooring may be outside of
this range.
MOSAIC PARQUET - A parquet flooring made up of small solid
pieces of wood (slats) assembled in units that may consist of individual
squares, units with slats arranged in single or double herringbone design,
or units or squares bordered with slats of the same or contrasting
species.
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NOSING - A hardwood
molding used to cover the outside comer of a step, milled to meet the
hardwood floor in the horizontal plane, to meet the riser in the vertical
plane. (Usually used on landings.)
NOMINAL SIZE - As applied to timber or lumber, the size by which
it is known and sold in the market; often differs from the actual
size.
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PARQUET - A patterned floor.
PARQUET FLOOR SQUARE - Basically a "tile" composed of individual
slats held in place by a mechanical fastening (banding) or other means
such as paper backing. A square may or may not possess tongues and grooves
to interlock, and is not necessarily regular in dimension.
PARQUET FLOOR UNITS - A unit consists of four (sometimes three)
or more squares or "tiles" fastened together.
PARTICLEBOARD - A generic term for a material manufactured from
wood particles or other ligno-cellulosic material and a synthetic resin or
other suitable binder.
PIN WORM HOLE - In hardwood flooring - a small round hole not
over 1/16" in diameter, made by a small wood boring insect.
PITH - The
small, soft core occurring near the center of a tree trunk, branch, twig,
or log.
PLAINSAWED - 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 pleasing grain pattern.
PLANER BITE - A groove cut in the surface of the piece deeper
than intended by the planer knives.
PLANK- Solid boards, usually 3/4" thick and 3" to 8" wide
designed to be installed in parallel rows. Edges may be beveled to
simulate the appearance of Colonial American plank floors.
PLUGS - Dowels that simulate the Colonial American plugged, or
pegged plank look. Sometimes used to cover counter-sunk screws when
installing plank.
PREFINISHED - A completely finished flooring that requires
installation only.
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QUARTERSAWED - The
annual growth rings form an angle of 45 Degrees - 90 Degrees with the
surface of the piece. In Quartersawed strips the modularly rays or pith
rays in ring porous woods are exposed as flecks which are reflective and
produce a distinctive grain pattern.
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RAISED GRAIN - A
roughened or fuzzy condition on the face of the flooring in which the
dense summer- wood in raised above the softer springwood, but not torn or
separated.
RAYS, WOOD - Strips of cells extending radialy within a tree and
varying in height from a few cells in some species to 4 inches or more in
oak. The rays serve primarily to store food and transport it horizontally
in the tree. On Quartersawn oak flooring, the rays form a conspicuous
figure, sometimes referred to as Flecks.
REDUCER STRIP - A teardrop shaped molding accessory for hardwood
flooring, normally 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. Various lengths are available.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY - Ratio of the amount of water vapor present
in the air to that which the air would hold at saturation at the same
temperature. It is usually considered on the basis of the weight of the
vapor but, for accuracy, should be considered on the basis of vapor
pressures.
RIFT SAWN - 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)
RING POROUS - 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 sunmerwood.
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SAPWOOD - The wood near
the outside of the tree. Usually lighter in color than heartwood.
SAWN - (See Plainsawed, Quartersawed, Bastardsawn)
SCREEDS - Usually a 2" X 4" laid flat side down and attached to
a concrete subfloor to provide a nailing surface for tongued and grooved
strip flooring or a wood subfloor.
SLEEPER - Another name for SCREEDS.
SHAKE - A separation along the grain, the greater part of which
occurs between the annual growth rings.
SHEATHING - The structural covering, usually boards or plywood,
placed over exterior studding or rafters of a structure.
SLATS - The small solid hardwood pieces which form Mosaic
Parquet Squares.
SLIP-TONGUE - A spline or small strip of wood or metal used to
reverse or change direction in installing standard tongue and groove strip
flooring. Sometimes used in laying 3/4" solid tongue and groove
parquet.
SOFTWOOD - General term used to describe lumber produced from
needle and/or cone bearing trees (Conifers)
SPLIT - Separations of wood fiber running parallel to the
grain.
SQUARES - Usually composed of an equal number of Slats.
SQUARE EDGE - A flooring that is NOT Tongue & Grooved.
Square edged strip flooring is face nailed when installed. (Also See
Jointed Flooring.)
SQUARE JOINT - Tongue & Grooved strip or plank flooring with
edges that are not eased or beveled.
STAIN - A discoloration occurring in or on flooring of any color
other than the natural color of the species. For instance, blue stain,
brown stain.
STREAKS - (See Mineral Streaks)
STRIP FLOORING - Solid boards to be installed in parallel rows
now produced in these thicknesses 1/2", 3/4", 33/32" and these widths 1
1/2", 2", 2 1/4", and occasionally 3 1/4". The strips are tongue and
grooved and end matched. They are for nail down installation directly to
wood or plywood subfloors; or over wood screeds on concrete slab
construction.
STUD - One of a series of slender wood structural members used
as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
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TONGUE & GROOVE (T&G) - In strip, plank, and parquet flooring made from strip, and
some mosaic parquet; a tongue is milled one edge and a groove on the
opposite edge. As the flooring is installed the tongue of each strip,
slat, or unit, is engaged with the groove of the adjacent strip or
unit.
TRIM - The finish materials in a building, such as moldings,
applied around openings (window trim, door trim) or at the floor and
ceiling of rooms (baseboard, shoemold, cornice, and other moldings)
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UNFINISHED - A product
which must be sanded and have stain and/or a finish applied after
installation.
UNITS - Four or more basic Mosaic Parquet Squares; or four or
more slats in 3/4" parquet, usually made from T&G strip flooring
combined into a parquet unit.
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V-JOINT - A term used in
plank flooring to indicate that edges are eased or beveled to simulate
cracks in floors of early Colonial American homes.
VAPOR BARRIER - A material with a high resistance to vapor movement,
such as foil, plastic film, or specially coated paper, that is used to
control condensation or prevent migration of moisture.
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WARPING - Any distortion
of a piece of flooring from its true plane that may occur in
seasoning.
WIRE BRUSHING - A method for imparting an artificial texture or
distressed appearance to the surface of hardwood flooring.
WAFERBOARD - A particle panel product made of wafer-type
flakes. Usually manufactured to possess equal properties in all directions
parallel to the plane of the panel.
WOOD FILLER - (for Cracks, Knot Holes, Worm Holes, Etc.) Usually a
commercial wood putty, Plastic Wood, or other materials mixed to the
consistency of putty. A wood filler may also be mixed on the job using
sander dust from the final sanding, or other suitable material, mixed with
sealer, or finish.
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