Glossary - Wood Flooring Terminology
Sapwood:
The youngest part of wood, located around the trunk's perimeter just under the bark. This living part transports sap from the roots to the leaves and is always lighter in color.
Bevel:
Sawing at an angle about 1 mm from the plank's straight edges along its lengths and sides. This effect highlights each plank and gives the floor a chic relief appearance.
Screed:
A layer of surface cement mortar (or anhydrite) applied to the ground as a foundation.
Grade:
Describes the quality of the wood used in flooring. The higher the "grade," the better the wood species under normal use. A higher grade often indicates rare natural imperfections. For exotic woods like beech or maple, grades may be A, B, or C. For oak, the grading system is more complex and accounts for factors such as knots and sapwood (A+, A, AB, BC, CD). The "grade" often affects the price.
Backlayer:
The side of the plank opposite the face.
Top layer:
The layer of wood on the visible side of the plank that can be sanded without altering the floor’s appearance.
Wood Density:
The density varies depending on the wood species, origin, and natural properties.
Not Flush:
A difference in level between two floor planks or sections.
DTU (Unified Technical Document):
A document outlining construction standards, created by professionals. It is a reference for all parties involved in a building project. Failing to comply with the DTU may invalidate warranties.
Durability:
The wood's ability to resist rot or decay during use.
Duramen (Heartwood):
The central part of a tree, which is always darker than the sapwood.
Hardness:
The wood’s ability to resist penetration from a solid object. Measured using Monnin or Brinell tests.
Scuffing:
Light sanding with fine abrasives or soft steel wool between applying two coats of finish to eliminate surface roughness caused by raised wood fibers.
Wood Species:
Identifies the origin and characteristics of the wood.
Wood Grain:
The direction of the wood fibers.
Finishings:
The process of giving a uniform width and thickness to sawn wood pieces while minimizing surface irregularities. Finishes are classified by their reflective properties.
Frieze:
A raw piece of parallel-sawn wood used for manufacturing parquet planks.
Warping:
A dimensional change that occurs in dry wood.
Grain:
The visual effect created by the size and arrangement of the wood's fibers and veins. The grain can be fine or coarse.
Oiled:
The finish obtained by applying protective, satin-like oil, which emphasizes the natural aspect of the wood.
Batten:
A piece of oak used as a support for wood flooring.
Tongue and Groove Wood Flooring Plank:
A wood plank where one side has a "tongue" that fits into the "groove" of an adjoining plank.
Tongue:
A continuous protuberance along the side or cross-section of a plank designed to fit into the groove of another plank.
Wood Stain:
A wood-impregnating product that not only protects but also gives a decorative finish.
Knot:
A dense and hard part of the wood that can be seen in the planks.
Solid Wood Facing:
The visible face of the wood flooring after it has been laid.
Parquet:
An arrangement of tongue-and-groove wooden planks, nailed or glued to battens, forming a floor.
Sanding:
The process of using sandpaper to smooth out rough spots on wood before painting or varnishing, helping improve adhesion.
Floating Parquet:
A flooring system where each piece is attached to other pieces but not fixed to the underlying surface.
Groove:
A cut along the length of the frieze intended to fit into the "tongue" of an adjoining plank.
Veinage:
The effect produced by the veins in the wood.
Joist:
A beam that spans across the room, forming part of the floor's structural support.
Varnish:
A finishing product that forms a hard, protective coating, available in matte, satin, or shiny finishes.
Distressed / Aged:
A technique used to give wood a worn appearance while maintaining its new wood properties, involving shading, hammering, scratching, and oiling.
