A
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.
ANNUAL GROWTH RING - The layer of wood growth, including
spring and summerwood formed on a tree during a single
growing season.
B
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)
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.
C
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.
CROSS-PULL - 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, polymer ization, 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.
D
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
wirebrushing.)
DRY WALL
- Interior covering material, such as gypsum board,
hardboard, or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or
panels.
E
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.
F
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 ovendry
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.
-
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.
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.
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)
G
H
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.
I
INTUMESCE - To expand with heat to provide a low density
film; used in reference to certain fire retardant coatings.
J
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.
K
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.
L
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.
M
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.
N
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.
O
P
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 lignocellulosic
material and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder.
-
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.
-
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.
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.
PLAINSAWN - 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.
Q
QUARTERSAWED - The annual growth rings form an angle of
45 Degrees - 90 Degrees with the surface of the piece. In
Quartersawed strips the medullary rays or pith rays in ring
porous woods are exposed as flecks which are reflective and
produce a distinctive grain pattern.
R
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 radially 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 summerwood.
S
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.
T
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)
U
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.
V
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.
W
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.
X
Y
Z