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Glossary

  • A
  • Above-Grade - Any level of the home located above the soil line.

  • AC Rating - AC is an acronym for Abrasion Class. The European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) developed the Abrasion Ration System. They rate every laminate based on a series of tests, including Tabor Abrasion Test, impact resistance, stain resistance, burn resistance and swelling resistance. Each product is assigned an AC number

  • Acclimation - The period of time prior to installation that a hardwood floor needs to adjust to the moisture content and temperature of the environment in which it's to be installed and maintained.

  • Accreditation - Formal recognition that a person or organization is competent to carry out specific tasks, such as certifying, verifying, sampling, testing, inspection or auditing compliance of an entity against an ecolabel’s standard or set of criteria

  • Acrylic - Acrylic is a synthetic fiber blended with other fibers to simulate the look of wool, but at a much lower cost.

  • Acrylic Infused/Impregnated - An engineered floor in which the acrylic stain/finish isn't just coated along the top of the board, but rather injected into the wear layer of the flooring, filling the pores and creating a more durable surface.

  • Aluminum Oxide - The most common finish type for prefinished hardwood flooring. Includes minuscule particles of aluminum in one or more of the coats of finish, which create a more durable and scratch resistant surface than standard polyurethane finishes.

  • ANSI - American National Standards Institute

  • Antique - An antique rug is 80 years old or older.

  • Antique - Rugs made before 1915 are considered antique.

  • Antique Wash - An antique wash is a chemical wash that is used to make the rug look antique.

  • ArmourBead - ArmourBead is a Shaw proprietary coating that employes nanobead technology for additional protection. It is primarily small ceramic beads that are combined with the polyurethane coating to offer out a high resistance to scuffing below the surface. The beads perform a wear resistance function thus reducing the erosion of the polyurethane which gives it the floor shine.

  • Art Deco - Art deco is a decorating style that was popular during the latter 1920s and early 1930s. This style originated in Paris, France and is known for its geometric patterns, angular shapes and bold colors.

  • Art Nouveau - Originating in Paris, France, art nouveau is a decorating style that was popular during the 1920s. In French, art nouveau means "new art" and is defined by organic and flowing lines.

  • Arts and Crafts - Arts and Crafts is a decorating style that emphasizes handiwork and craftsmanship. It began in the early 20th century. Arts and Crafts is sometimes also known as Mission or prairie-style.

  • ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

  • ASTM F1869 - ASTM F1869 is a Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride.

  • ASTM F2170 - ASTM F2170 is officially described as the "Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes," as one of the many ASTM standards.

  • Attribute - The characteristics or elements of products or services that determine the type and extent of their short and longer term impacts on the environment or human health. Environmental attributes include, for example, biodegradability, recyclability, VOC emissions, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air emissions, hazardous waste, carcinogenicity,

  • Aubusson - Aubusson rugs were originally flat-woven tapestries made in France. The designs are now mostly made in China and India and are hand-carved, creating an embossed look. They traditionally have a Victorian look and feel.

  • Audit - A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which criteria (of an ecolabel) are fulfilled. Audits may take place in before or after gaining certification; and can be scheduled or surprise.

  • Auditor / Audit by - An organization or individual with the competence to conduct an audit, verification or certification process. Competence is the demonstrated attributes and ability to apply the relevant knowledge or skills to conduct an audit.

  • Axminster - An axminster rug has a stiff backing and a soft, colorful pile. Axminster was named after a town in England, and usually contains a complex pattern. Axminster rugs must be rolled length-wise.

  • B
  • B2B - Transactions that between Business seller to Business buyer versus a consumer.

  • Backing - The underside of the rug can be made from many types of materials, including wool, cotton or synthetic fibers. A rug may contain both a primary and secondary backing.

  • Balancing Layer - The bottom wood ply layer of an multi-ply engineered floor plank that matches the same wood species used on the top decorative wear layer of the plank, adding stability during seasonal relative humidity level changes.

  • Bamboo - Bamboo is a natural material that can be harvested without killing the host plant. Bamboo rugs are durable and easy to clean.

  • Baseboard - A wall base molding used to cover expansion gaps. Wall Base heights differ from manufacturer to manufacturer but typically can range anywhere from 2 inch to 5 inch tall. Wall Bases can be plain and generic or very decorative and, like the Quarter Round.

  • Below Grade - A level of the home located below the soil line (basements).

  • Benefit - An expected environmental or social improvement (or positive impact) that has been made as a result of procurement of an environmentally preferable product or service, or as a result of an ecolabel program.

  • Bevel - The slightly sloped edges and ends of a hardwood flooring plank. Variations in size include full bevel, micro-bevel, eased edge or micron-bevel (the smallest).

  • BIFMA - Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association

  • Binary (Pass / Fail) - An ecolabel that is either awarded or not-awarded depending on the outcome of an evaluation or assessment of the entity against an ecolabel's standard. Binary ecolabels are different to tiered ecolabels that have different ratings as a result (e.g. gold, sliver, bronze).

  • Bio-based Products - Commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that utilize biological products or renewable, domestic, agricultural (e.g., plant, animal and marine), or forestry materials.

  • Birdseye - A rare pattern appearing in select wood species (mostly in maple) which has distinctive cream colored spots, named because they look similar to swirling birds eyes.

  • Black Felt Paper - Necessary for a nail or staple down installation, helps to reduce any moisture transfer up through the subfloor and into the bottom of the wood flooring.

  • Border - The border is the outermost part of the rug that surrounds the field.

  • Burling - During the final inspection, or burling, a specialist will correct any loose tufts or missing tufts of yarn.

  • C
  • Capped polymer decking - Capped Polymer – made with 100% PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) – decking contains no wood fibers at all.

  • CARB - The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California.

  • Carbon Footprint - Carbon footprint is a commonly used methodology in which the greenhouse gas emissions during the life cycle of a product can be measured in terms of their kg CO2 equivalent (CO2e).

  • Carbon Negative - This is when carbon credits through carbon sequestration and energy production at the end of life phase are higher than the emissions caused by production and transport. Carbon sequestered during the life cycle that exceeds released.

  • Carbon sequestration - Carbon negative is a negative outcome of the carbon footprint of a product, i.e. when carbon credits through carbon sequestration and energy production at the end of life phase are higher than the emissions caused by production and transport.

  • Carpet - A rug that measures 8x10 feet or larger is referred to as a carpet.

  • Cause-based Marketing - A

  • Certificate - A document or statement attesting to an entity or product meeting the criteria of an ecolabel, and thus being awarded the right to use the ecolabel in marketing, packaging etc.

  • Certification - The process by which an entity is examined against the standard or set of criteria of an ecolabel. A successful certification process will result in the awarding of the ecolabel. Typically certification refers to third-party attestation that a product, process or service conforms to specified requirements.

  • Certification Duration - The period of time for which the holder of the ecolabel may use and display it before it needs to be re-certified or re-audited to ensure standards are still being met.

  • Certifier - An individual or organization who assesses compliance of an entity against a standard or set of criteria, and issues a certificate if deemed successful.

  • Chain of Custody - Tracing of a product or commodity through a supply chain to determine that it has met the criteria of the ecolabel and that the certified product is identifiable.

  • Chair Glides - Felt circles, which when attached to chairs and other pieces of furniture, prevent scratching and denting of hardwood flooring.

  • Chatter Marks - Chatter marks are small repeated imperfections on the plank of a floor that occur at regular intervals. They can be irregular shapes, but the shape will be the same for the entirety of the plank. They are caused during the machining processing where the equipment is not balanced with an asymmetrical spin. Bad sandpaper alignment, uneven wheels, incorrect drum pressure, imbalanced drums, loose V-Belts, failed bearings, or even poor subfloor construction are all common issues that could produce chatter marks on the floor.

  • China - The country of China is one of the world's largest rug exporters.

  • Chrome - Chrome is a chemical that is used to make modern synthetic dyes.

  • CIMS - Cleaning Industry Management Standard

  • Clear Flooring - A mostly heartwood flooring product that allows all the natural heartwood color variations with minimal character marks and limited color variation. This combination features the infinitely variable grain patterns with the minimal distraction from character marks and color variation.

  • Click Lock - Created for easy floating installation (especially for Do-It-Yourself installations). The edges and ends of the hardwood flooring planks have special curved tongue and grooves which, when fitted together, lock and create a strong hold and a tight seam without the use of glue.

  • Closed Cell - Closed-cell foam is when the gas pockets that compose the foam are sealed from each other cell.

  • Cochineal - Dried insect carapace that produces bright reds and burgundy in naturally dyed wool is called cochineal.

  • Coir - Coir is the fiber taken from coconut shells and used to make natural fiber rugs.

  • Color Symbolism - In many cultures color has symbolic values. For example, green is considered to be a sacred color for Muslims.

  • Color Variation - Hardwood flooring is created from a product of nature where each board can have color variations. Sometimes a particular wood species will have slight to moderate to heavy color variation from board to board within the flooring carton. The level of color variation is dependent upon the type of wood species and the grade of the flooring. A higher flooring grade will generally have more uniform color from board to board. All wood flooring will have, to some extent, varying coloration.

  • Color Wheel - A color wheel is a chart that shows the spectrum of colors and how they relate to one another.

  • Colorfast - A rug made with colorfast yarn has stable colors and will not run together when washed.

  • Comb - A weaver uses a comb-like tool to straighten and align knots during the knotting process.

  • Commercial Finish Warranty - Usually specifies either light or heavy commercial use. This is the number of years the particular manufacturer will offer their finish warranty for with use in a commercial setting. Finish warranties do not cover denting, scratching, water damage or improper installation.

  • Complementary - Colors that are opposite from one another on the color wheel are called complementary colors.

  • Compliance Audit - A compliance audit checks to see if the entity is still meeting the standard or set of criteria of an ecolabel, and is correctly using the ecolabel in its marketing.

  • Concrete Slab - A type of subfloor you can install engineered flooring over.

  • Conformity Assessment - Activities concerned with demonstrating that requirements or criteria of a given standard or ecolabel are being fulfilled.

  • Consensus - Where substantial agreement has been reached by directly and materially affected interests. This signifies the concurrence of more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an effort be made toward their resolution.

  • Consensus-based process - A process or activity that ensures that consensus amongst multiple stakeholders has been achieved, for example, in determining the exact requirements of a standard or set of criteria.

  • Construction - The way the hardwood flooring plank is assembled --- can be solid, engineered or solid sawn (structured).

  • Construction Specifications Institute - The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is an organization that keeps and changes the standardization of construction language as it pertains to building specifications. CSI provides structured guidelines for specification writing in their Project Resource Manual, (formerly called the Manual of Practice (MOP)).

  • Contemporary - Contemporary is a decorating style that is “of the moment.”

  • Contraction - When the homes atmosphere is dry, moisture can evaporate from the cells of the hardwood flooring and causing the boards to contract in size. Engineered boards are less affected than solid boards. Slight seasonal gapping between boards may occur --- this slight gapping is to be expected and is considered normal across the industry. To minimize this contraction the Homes relative humidity level should be maintained between 30 -60 %.

  • Core Values - That which is embraced whole hardily.

  • Cork - Cork bark is in fact about 89% air, giving it a very low density, but when it is compressed the air is not squeezed out, because the cell membranes will not release it, which is why it will return to its original shape when the compression is removed. Cork has a cell membrane that makes it impermeable to liquids and gases. This chemical is a mixture of fatty acids and heavy organic alcohol called suberin, which as well as rendering cork impermeable also stops it from rotting or degrading over time. It will not absorb water and gain density/mass in humid conditions.

  • Corrective Action Reports - Reports that are issued during certification that require entities applying for an ecolabel to make specific changes to their processes in order to meet criteria. Requirements in Corrective Action Reports can be either mandatory, or recommended.

  • Cradle-to-grave Assessment - Cradle-to-grave assessments include the aggregated environmental impact of a product during the use and end-of-life phases, thus throughout its full life cycle.

  • Criteria - The specific conditions or indicators that have to be met in order for an entity to be awarded the use of an ecolabel. A set-of-criteria make up a standard.

  • Cross - Ly - In engineered flooring is where the ply layers under the actual decorative wear layer are assembled in alternate directions, leading to exceptional plank stability. These ply layers are typically made of softer birch, pine or even hardwood.

  • Crowning - Damage to a hardwood floor resulting in the edges of the planks curling down. Usually due to the presence of excessive moisture in the environment from above the floor. Or a cupped water damaged floor that was sanded and refinished before the flooring was allowed to dry out.

  • CSA - Canadian Standards Association

  • Cupping - Damage to a hardwood floor resulting in the edges of the planks curling up and forming a U shape. Usually due to the presence of excessive moisture coming from below the floor.

  • Curvilinear - Patterns in a rug that feature curves. Usually floral motifs and scrolls are curvilinear.

  • Cut Order - Cut order is when less than a full pallet is ordered requiring the warehouse to cut into the pallet quantity to meet the requirements of fulfillment. This leaves loose items for handling in the warehouse. Some companies charge more for cut orders because it is additional handling.

  • D
  • Declaration - An enforceable attestation by a responsible authority within the manufacturer's organization that the product meets the requirements of the standard as declared.

  • Defects In Materials and Workmanship - The most common kind of warranty on goods is a warranty that the product is free from defects in materials and workmanship. This simply promises that the manufacturer properly constructed the product, out of proper materials. This implies that the product will perform as well as such products customarily do. For instance, if you buy a floor and install it and five years later, through a defect in coupling construction, fails, it may be eligible for replacement. It is common for these to be limited warranties, limiting the time the buyer has to make a claim. For example, a typical 90-day warranty on a television gives the buyer 90 days from the date of purchase to claim that the television was improperly constructed. Should the television fail after 91 days of normal usage, which because televisions customarily last longer than 91 days means there was a defect in the materials or workmanship of the television, the buyer nonetheless may not collect on the warranty because it is too late to file a claim.

  • DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK)

  • Density - The density of a rug is measured by counting the number of knots in a square inch. The higher the density, the higher the rug quality and price.

  • Derclon - Derclon is a synthetic yarn.

  • Design Pattern - : a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something
    : the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

  • Desk Review - Review of initial data provided by a manufacturer when they initiate registration of products to some ecolabel systems

  • Dhurrie - Originating in India, a dhurrie is a flatwoven rug made of wool andChr(47)or cotton fibers.

  • Discontinued - When a color or style of hardwood flooring is no longer available from a particular manufacturer. Product lines are constantly changing. Discontinued products are sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to find.

  • Dispute Resolution Process - A formal procedure that lays out the method

  • Distressed - Type of texture of a hardwood floor board where the surface has been "antiqued" by using a variety of methods including, but not restricted to: dents, burn marks or blackening of edges.

  • DIY - Acronym for Do It Yourself

  • Domestic Wood Species - Wood species which are prevalent in North America (e.g. red oak, white oak, maple, hickory).

  • Dozar - A dozar rug measures 4.5x7 feet.

  • Dye - A liquid color is either a natural or synthetic dye that is used to color fibers.

  • Dye Lot - A dye lot is a record taken during the dyeing of yarn to identify yarn that received its coloration in the same vat at the same time. Yarn manufacturers assign each lot a unique identification number and stamp it on the label before shipping.

  • Embossing - See "hand carving."

  • E
  • Eco-Cost - Eco-cost is an indicator in the Life-Cycle Assessment (see below) used to express the total environmental burden of a product over its life cycle on the basis of the prevention of that burden.

  • Ecolabel - Eco-labels and Green Stickers are labeling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are voluntary, but green stickers are mandated by law; for example, in North America major appliances and automobiles use Energy Star. They are a form of sustainability measurement directed at consumers, intended to make it easy to take environmental concerns into account when shopping. Some labels quantify pollution or energy consumption by way of index scores or units of measurement; others simply assert compliance with a set of practices or minimum requirements for sustainability or reduction of harm to the environment.

  • Ecolabel Description - A description of the overarching goal, scope and key criteria of an ecolabel program.

  • Ecolabel Program - The organization that creates an ecolabel, and is responsible for its ongoing management and use.

  • Embossed in Register - Embossed in register is a flooring term applied to a manufacturing process that creates a visual and tactile matching pattern of realism wherein the surface contours match the underlying photographic image of wood.

  • EMS - Environmental Management System

  • Engineered - A type of construction of hardwood flooring where thinner ply layers of wood are cross layered together to make a wood floor board.

  • Entity - A product, service, company, or organization that seeks, or has been, awarded an ecolabel. Entities can be buildings, companies, facilities, farms, fisheries, forests / land holdings, individuals, non-profit, organizations, products, processes, services, or supply chains.

  • Environmental Claim - Any statement or assertion about the environmental aspects of an entity. Environmental claims include un-verified assertions or statements (e.g. "eco-friendly"); more structured environmental declarations; and verified ecolabels.

  • Environmental Product Declaration - Quantified environmental data for a product with pre-set categories of parameters (raw material, energy use, etc) based on the ISO 14040 series. Also includes additional product and company information.

  • Environmental Sustainability -

    Responsible and proactive decision-making and innovation that minimizes negative impact and maintains balance between ecological resilience, economic prosperity, political justice and cultural vibrancy to ensure a desirable planet for all species now and in the future

  • Environmentally Preferable Products - Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. This comparison applies to raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal.

  • EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (USA)

  • EPEAT - Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool

  • EU - European Union

  • EVP - Acronym for Engineered Vinyl Plank

  • Exotic Wood Species - Wood species which are prevalent in Central and South America (e.g. brazilian cherry, santos mahogany, kempas, brazilian teak).

  • Expansion - When the atmosphere contains more moisture in the air, the minuscule water molecules will fill the pores of the hardwood boards causing the planks to expand slightly. When flooring boards are installed, there should be expansion gaps left at all fixed objects like columns and walls.

  • Expansion Gap - The space left between the hardwood flooring and fixed objects in the room during installation (walls, cabinets, kitchen islands, etc.). The expansion gap makes sure there is enough room for slight movement during expansion and contraction. This gap can be covered after installation is complete with a quarter round or wall base.

  • Expansion Joint - With floating hardwood flooring, there is a limit to how far you can span the floor boards across a large room before you need to create an expansion gap --- which is then covered with a matching T-Molding. The maximum span of floating hardwood flooring differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. It can range from 20' to 40' or greater. Check with your specific manufacturer for their requirements.

  • F
  • Face Nail - During installation, nailing directly into the face of a plank to secure it to the subfloor. The first two or three boards and the last two rows of boards against a wall (in a nail down or staple down installation) are typically face nailed because the nail/staple gun cannot be placed that close to the walls. Holes created with by face nailing can be filled with either putty (for a prefinished hardwood floor) or wood filler (for an unfinished hardwood floor).

  • Fair Trade - Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers

  • Farsi - Farsi is the native language of Iran.

  • Fiber - Area rugs are made using either natural or synthetic fibers, which determines the durability of the rug. Natural fibers such as wool provide soft, low-luster colors and long-term durability. Synthetic fibers provide brilliant colors, softness, eas

  • Field- or Site- Visit - An in-person visit made to check compliance of an entity to an ecolabel's standard either before or after the ecolabel is awarded.

  • Filler - A putty like material used to fill holes or irregularities in hardwood flooring planks.

  • Finish - The coating used on the surface of a hardwood flooring plank to protect the raw wood underneath.

  • First party attestation - When the producer of an entity claims to meet a criterion or standard without the verification or endorsement of another party.

  • First Quality - First quality workmanship means construction which is free from any defect materially affecting appearance or serviceability. It will be covered under the full scope of the manufacturer warranty.

  • First, Second and Third Party - The first party is generally the person or organization that provides the object, such as the supplier. The second party is usually a person or organization that has a user interest in the product, such as the customer or a retailer. The third party is a person or body that is recognized as being independent of the person or organization that provides the object, as well as the user or customer of the object.

  • Fittness of Use - The warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is implied unless disclaimed when a buyer relies upon the seller to select the goods to fit a specific request. For example, this warranty is violated when a buyer of a floor installs it in the basement area where the manufacturer has not recommended being installed below grade.

  • Flatwoven Rug - A flatwoven rug is made of plant or animal fibers and has no pile.

  • FLO - Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International

  • Floating Floor - When a hardwood floor is not attached to the subfloor; but, rather, planks are attached to each other and as a whole are held down by gravity and the weight of the flooring. Floating floors are typically engineered constructions and require the use of an underlayment pad.

  • Flokati - A flokati rug is a thick rug with extremely long pile. Authentic flokati rugs are made in Greece.

  • Flush Reducer - For use with a nail, staple or glue down hardwood floor, the flush reducer connects to the hardwood and gradually slopes down to transition to vinyl, the edge of tile or low pile carpet.

  • Flush Stair Nose - For use with a nail, staple or glue down hardwood floor, the flush stairnose connects to the hardwood and acts as the finished part of a step when using the hardwood flooring to build the stair.

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - An international organization promoting responsible management and use of the world's forests. Hardwood flooring manufacturers can pay yearly dues to become affiliated with the FSC.

  • Formaldehyde - Formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O or HCHO

  • Found in - The countries or regions of the world where consumers might see the ecolabel.

  • French Bleed - Edges and ends of hardwood floor planks are darkened, usually with a chemical, for a specialized antique appearance.

  • French Provencal - French Provencal is a country style of decorating from France that features bright colors, floral prints and painted wood furniture.

  • Frequency of Audit - How often the ecolabel program requires that an entity is evaluated as still being in compliance with its criteria. Audits can be scheduled or surprise (random).

  • Frequency of Criteria Review and Update - How often the ecolabel program reviews or updates their standard or set of criteria.

  • Fringe - Fringe is a border of threads that prevents the yarn from unraveling. Sometimes fringe is attached later for aesthetics, rather than as a functional feature. Fringe may or may not be factored into the total size of the rug.

  • FSC - Forest Stewardship Council

  • FTC - Federal Trade Commission (USA)

  • G
  • GEN - Global Ecolabelling Network

  • Geographic Restriction - The geographic region to which applicants for an ecolabel is constrained.

  • Geometric Pattern - A geometric pattern in a rug features straight lines and angles.

  • GHG - Greenhouse gas

  • Global Ecolabelling Network - The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance recognition, certification and labelling organizations founded in 1994 to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services.

  • Gloss - The word is synonymous wit luster which is defined as A gentle sheen or soft glow produced when a surface is observed under lighting that is indirect and reflective off that surface. Gloss has gradations or classed to characterize a products "glossyness" Read more to view the discussion of gloss levels...

  • Glue Down - Securing engineered or thinner solid hardwood planks directly to the subfloor using a wood flooring adhesive.

  • GMO - Genetically modified organism

  • GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard

  • Grade - Where home construction is concerned grade usually refers to the line where the soil stops along the foundation; i.e where the slope is graded to. Below grade is below the soil line thus below ground.

  • Grade Level - Refers to the level of the home where the flooring is going to be installed: on grade, above grade or below grade.

  • Grain Pattern - Different wood species have different visual appearances. The grain pattern refers to the cells of the particular tree which, when cut into boards, appear in specific patterns depending on the wood species.

  • Green Building Initiative - A nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings.

  • Green Product - A product that is environmentally preferable relative to comparable products.

  • Green Stickers - Eco-labels and Green Stickers are labeling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are voluntary, but green stickers are mandated by law; for example, in North America major appliances and automobiles use Energy Star. They are a form of sustainability measurement directed at consumers, intended to make it easy to take environmental concerns into account when shopping. Some labels quantify pollution or energy consumption by way of index scores or units of measurement; others simply assert compliance with a set of practices or minimum requirements for sustainability or reduction of harm to the environment.

  • Gul - The gul motif (or gol) is a squatty polygon design, which is usually arranged into rows in the field. It also is called the "elephant's foot" because of its shape.

  • H
  • Hand Carving - Hand carving is a specialized skill that entails cutting the rug pile to various lengths to create an embossed look and feel.

  • Hand Hooked - Hand-hooked rugs have the look of embroidery. Yarn is punched through the canvas using a special tool. Latex is placed on the back to keep the yarn in place.

  • Hand Knotted - To create a hand-knotted rug, a weaver individually ties thousands of knots to create the design of the rug.

  • Hand Tufted - A hand-tufted rug is made by hand with a tufting gun that is put into a pre-marked canvas. All hand-tufted rugs are held together with a backing called a scrim.

  • Handscraped - A simulated antiqued look for hardwood flooring created with scrapers and other indentation tools. Handscraping is sometimes done by hand, most of the time, though, manufacturers incorporate the use of handscraping machines.

  • Hardness Rating (Janka) - The Janka hardness rating of a wood species measures the force needed for a steel ball to imbed half its diameter into that particular wood species. The harder the wood species, the better it is at standing up to residential or commercial traffic.

  • Hardwood - Hardwoods are produced by trees that reproduce by flowers, and have broad leaves. Many species are deciduous.

  • Harmonization - A process whereby national or regional ecolabels, standards, criteria and or conformance assessment requirements are aligned. Harmonization does not mean that standards are identical in each jurisdiction, but rather that they are consistent or compatible so there is no barrier to trade.

  • Harmonized Standards - Standards on the same subject approved by different standardizing bodies that establish interchangeability of products, processes and services, or mutual understanding of test results or information provided according to these standards.

  • HDF - HDF also know as high-density fiberboard, is a type of fiberboard, which is an engineered wood product. It is made from compressing wet wood pulp at high temperatures and coating it to give it water resistance and rigidity.

  • HDPE - High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. It is sometimes called "alkathene" or "polythene" when used for pipes.[1] With a high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geomembranes, and plastic lumber. HDPE is commonly recycled, and has the number "2" as its resin identification code (formerly known as recycling symbol).

  • Hectare - The hectare is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides, or 10,000 m², and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometer. An acre is about 0.405 hectare and one hectare contains about 2.47 acres

  • Height - The distance from the bottom to the top of something standing upright

  • Herati - Herati means "fish." This motif consists of a flower inside of a diamond shape, with curving leaves or flowers around the outside of the diamond.

  • Heriz - Heriz is located in Iran, and is one of the cities most famous for rug production.

  • Herringbone - a pattern of columns of short parallel lines with all the lines in one column sloping one way and lines in adjacent columns sloping the other way.

  • High Density Fiberboard - Strong and more durable than regular particleboard, HDF is featured in the construction of many laminate floors as well as some engineered flooring. HDF is created with compressed wood fibers.

  • Home Decor - things that go the inside of a building and how it is decorated

  • Home Improvement - While "home improvement" often refers to building projects that alter the structure of an existing home, it can also include improvements to lawns, gardens, and outdoor structures, such as gazebos and garages. It also encompasses maintenance, repair and general servicing tasks. Home improvement projects generally have one or more of the following goals

  • Hybrid / Social Venture - A type of organisation that combines for and non-profit activities

  • I
  • IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

  • IFOAM - International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

  • Impact / Impacts - The effect or output of an activity, product or substance on the environment or society, whether adverse or beneficial.

  • India - India is one of the world's largest exporters of handmade and machine-made rugs.

  • Indigo - An indigo plant produces a natural dye.

  • Indoor/outdoor rugs - These types of rugs stand up to the elements of the outdoors, but are best used in covered areas.

  • Industry Category - The category in which entities with an ecolabel are typically categorized as belonging to. For example, an organic label certifies food from farms, and thus is categorized as part of the food and/or agriculture industry.

  • Inlay - To decorate (an object) with shaped pieces of contrasting material set in a pattern on its surface.

  • Inside Delivery - If the driver is required to go inside (beyond the front door or loading dock), to pick up or deliver your shipment, instead of remaining at the dock or truck, additional fees will be charged. When obtaining quotes through our system, check off inside pick up and or inside delivery and the carrier's fee will be included in your quotes.

  • Installation Level - Refers to the grade levels of the installation site. There are three levels of consideration, below grade, at grade and above grade.

  • Iran - Known as Persia until 1930, Iran is famous for the many rug designs that have originated from this region of the world.

  • Iron - Iron produces blacks and browns in naturally dyed wool.

  • ISEAL - International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance

  • Isfahan - Formerly the capital of Persia, Isfahan was at center stage during the golden age of rug making in the 16th and 17th centuries.

  • ISO - International Organization for Standardization

  • J
  • Janka Scale - The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28mm (.444 in) steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. This method leaves an indentation. A common use of Janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.

  • Jufti - A jufti knot is a simplified knotting technique. The weaver ties a jufti knot over four warps, rather than two.

  • Jute - The jute plant is used to make natural fiber rugs.

  • K
  • Kilim - A kilim is a flatwoven rug that is typically made of wool.

  • Knife or Hooked Knife - A weaver uses this tool after securing the weft to the warp threads so that it shows on the face of the rug.

  • Knot Hole - The section of a tree where the trunk intersected with one of the tree's branches. Knot holes are predominately featured in Rustic Grade hardwood flooring, but may appear sparingly in other grades.

  • Knot per Square Inch (KPSI) or Knot Density - Knowing the knot density is a way to measure rug quality. KPSI is how many knots are in a square inch. KPSI ranges from approximately 40 knots to more than 2,000. A KPSI of 100 to 160 is considered to be excel

  • L
  • Lacey Act - The Lacey Act is a conservation law in the United States. It protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. It prohibits trade in wildlife, fish and plants that have been illegally taken, transported or sold.

  • Larkspur - Larkspur produces the color yellow in naturally dyed wool.

  • LCA - Life cycle assessment

  • LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

  • Length - The longer or longest dimension of an object.

  • License fees - The fees paid, often yearly, by an entity to the ecolabel program for ongoing use of the label on their products or services.

  • Life Cycle - Consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation of natural resources to the final disposal.

  • Life Cycle Cost - The amortized annual cost of a product, including capital costs, installation costs, operating costs, maintenance costs and disposal costs discounted over the lifetime of the product However, this definition does not include external costs (i.e., those not borne directly by the entity that owns and operates a product/service, such as environmental costs to society at large).

  • Life Cycle Stage or Phase - Specific steps in a product's life cycle that are grouped into "phases", for example, raw material extraction, manufacturing or product use. An ecolabel may focus on improving environmental and/or social performance of a product in a single phase (e.g. just raw material extraction) or address environmental and/or social performance improvements across the full life cycle of the product (every phase).

  • Life-Cycle Assessment - Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology used to assess the environmental impact associated with all stages of a product’s life cycle from cradle-to-grave (see above). In contrast to a carbon footprint assessment, LCA is based on several environmental indicators which, besides the Global Warming Potential (carbon footprint), also include acidification, eutrophication, smog, dust, toxicity, depletion, land-use and waste.

  • Lifetime Structural Warranty - The guarantee a manufacturer makes on the structural integrity of their hardwood flooring. Usually this guarantees against the ply layers separating. This structural warranty is typically void if there is a presence of excessive moisture coming up from the subfloor.

  • Liftgate - When the shipping or receiving address does not have a loading dock, manual loading or unloading is necessary. A liftgate is a platform at the back of certain trucks that can raise and lower a shipment from the ground to the truck. Additional fees apply for this service.

  • Longstrip - A type of click locking engineered flooring which features either 1-strip, 2-strips or 3-strips per plank.

  • Loom - Either vertical or horizontal in nature, the loom is the first tool a weaver needs to make a rug. The warp threads are initially pulled taut to a loom to ensure that the rug is straight when finished.

  • LTL - LTL stands for Less Than Truckload, which means the shipment does not completely fill an entire truck. A LTL shipment typically ranges anywhere from 150 lbs to10,000 lbs. Large Shipments over 10,000 lbs are usually moved by Full truckload (FTL).

  • Luxury Vinyl - A type of resilient flooring that offers style, durability, and ease of maintenance. Can be associated with the acronyms LVP (luxury vinyl plank), LVT (luxury vinyl tile, or LVS (luxury vinyl sheet).

  • M
  • Machine Made - A machine known as a Wilton loom and power loom, produces a machine-made rug.

  • Madder - A madder plant produces red or orange natural dye.

  • Market Share - The

  • Mastik - An aromatic gum or resin that exudes from the bark of a Mediterranean tree, used in making varnish and chewing gum and as a flavoring.

  • Mat - A mat rug measures 2x3 feet.

  • Medallion - A medallion is a round, oval or multi-sided motif used in the center of the rug. The medallion should not be covered by furniture.

  • Merchantability Warranty - The warranty of merchantability is implied unless expressly disclaimed by name, or the sale is identified with the phrase "as is" or "with all faults." To be "merchantable," the goods must reasonably conform to an ordinary buyer's expectations. For example, a fruit that looks and smells good but has hidden defects may violate the warranty if its quality does not meet the standards for such fruit " as passes ordinarily in the trade". In Massachusetts consumer protection law, it is illegal to disclaim this warranty on household goods sold to consumers

  • mil - A thousandth of an inch is a derived unit of length in an inch-based system of units. Equal to 0.001 inches,

  • Modern - No matter what the year, the modern style of decorating always has a "futuristic" feel to it. Clean lines and simple use of color identify it.

  • Moisture - Tiny water molecules which, in excess, can damage hardwood flooring beyond repair. Most manufacturers require a specific moisture content range in which your subfloor and hardwood flooring must fall for installation of their hardwood flooring.

  • Moldings - Finishing pieces for your hardwood floor. Most brands offer moldings and transition pieces to match the flooring they make, while some homeowners prefer to stain or pain their own pieces to match the rest of the trim in their homes.

  • Moso Bamboo - Temperate species of giant timber bamboo native to China and Taiwan. Most common species used in the bamboo textile industry of China.

  • Motif - A motif is a symbol or design that is used once or many times in a rug design. A motif generally has tribal or cultural meanings.

  • Multi-Attribute Ecolabel - A type of ecolabel that captures several environmental and or social attributes or impacts of a product, service or company

  • Mutual recognition - Where ecolabel programs or standard-setting organizations formally recognize the criteria and requirements of each-others' standards or sets of criteria. If such an agreement exists, entities that have been awarded the label in one program may therefore be able to register in another without undertaking certification and verification procedures again.

  • N
  • Nail Down - One of the most common installation methods for solid hardwood and engineered flooring. Requires a plywood subfloor.

  • NALFA - North American Laminate Flooring Association

  • Nap - The cut pile of a rug makes up the nap. Depending which direction you view the rug, the nap can cause the rug to look darker or lighter.

  • National Wood Flooring Association - A national organization in which its members strive to maintain professionalism and follow-up training in all things related to hardwood flooring.

  • Natural Fiber Rugs - Made of sisal, jute, seagrass, coir or bamboo, natural fiber rugs are often used in casual settings such as a porch or family room.

  • Nepal - Nepal is a country that produces a large number of rugs for the European market.

  • New Zealand - New Zealand is the world's largest wool exporter.

  • NGO - Non-Governmental Organization

  • NMFC - In the United States, each commodity or type of product is assigned a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) and corresponding class for less than truckload (LTL) freight shipments. The (NMFC) system is a standardized method designed to give consumers a uniform pricing structure when transporting freight. There are 18 classes that a shipped package may fall under with class 50 being the least expensive, to class 500 as the most expensive. The number assigned to an item is important to freight carriers in determining the tariffs, which in turn determine the price charged to the customer.

  • No. 1 Common Grade - A flooring product characterized by prominent color variation that also contains prominent characters (with size limits) such as knots, open checks, worm holes, along with machining and drying variations. No. 1 Common is a tasteful floor where prominent variation is expected.

  • No. 2 Common Grade - Contains sound natural and manufacturing variations including knot holes, open worm holes, and other open characters along with prominent color variations. Manufacturing variations include drying characters and machining irregularities. No. 2 Common is most desirable for applications where numerous notable character marks and prominent color contrast is desired.

  • Nomadic Rugs - Rugs that are woven by sheepherders and are generally smaller than city rugs.

  • Norm - A formal rule or standard laid-down by an authority (government, international standards organizations) that guides or mandates behaviour towards conformity.

  • Number of Certificates or Registrations - The total number of entities (products, services or companies) that have been awarded or registered an ecolabel, and that are currently in use.

  • NWFA -

    The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing all segments of the hardwood flooring industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, installers, inspectors, and consultants.

  • Nylon - Nylon is a man-made material and is extremely strong. It does not absorb moisture, resists abrasion and has an elastic quality.

  • O
  • Oak - Oak produces the color brown naturally in dyes.

  • Objection - A formal

  • Oil Finish - A finish used instead of the standard urethane or aluminum oxide finish. Requires a bit more maintenance than standard prefinished hardwood flooring but provides a more hand rubbed appearance and easier reparability.

  • Olefin - Olefin is also known as Polypropylene. It is highly resistant to moisture, mildew and abrasion. It is a strong fiber, colorfast and quick drying. Olefin area rugs are lightweight and inexpensive, but do not hold up well in high-traffic areas.

  • On Grade - The ground floor of the home. Most hardwood flooring is approved for installation on grade.

  • Open Cell - In a closed-cell foam, the gas forms discrete pockets, each completely surrounded by the solid material. In an open-cell foam, the gas pockets connect with each other.

  • Organization Name - The name of the organization responsible for managing and promoting an ecolabel program.

  • Organization Type - The legal structure of the organization responsible for managing and promoting the ecolabel program.

  • Oriental Rug - Strictly defined, an Oriental rug is one that is hand knotted in Asia. This category includes Persian rugs.

  • Oriental Rugs - By the strictest definition, Oriental rugs are carpets hand knotted only in Asia. Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Tibet and Nepal are some of the biggest rug exporters.

  • Oriented Strand Board -

    Oriented strand board (OSB), also known as sterling board, sterling OSB, aspenite, and smartply in British English, is an engineered wood particle board formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in specific orientations. OSB may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips of around 2.5 × 15 cm (1" × 6"), lying unevenly across each other and comes in a variety of types and thicknesses.

  • OSB - Oriented strand board (OSB), also known as sterling board, sterling OSB, aspenite, and smartply in British English, is an engineered wood particle board formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in specific orientations. OSB may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips of around 2.5 × 15 cm (1" × 6"), lying unevenly across each other and comes in a variety of types and thicknesses.

  • Overlap Reducer Strip - A transition piece to be used in conjunction with a floating floor. The overlap reducer will overlap the hardwood flooring and gradually slope down to meet vinyl, tile or carpet. The part that overlaps the hardwood covers up the necessary expansion gap. The overlap reducer should be attached to the subfloor and never to the actual hardwood flooring.

  • Overlap Stair Nose - For use with a floating hardwood floor, the overlap stair nose acts as the finished rounded part of a step. The overlap stair nose will overlap the hardwood floor, covering the necessary expansion gap. The overlap stair nose should be attached to the subfloor and never to the actual hardwood flooring.

  • Overlay - a layer of decorative material applied over a surface

  • P
  • Pakistan - Pakistan is the fourth largest exporter of handmade rugs in the world.

  • Parquet - a floor composed of short strips or blocks of wood forming a pattern, sometimes with the inlays of other woods or other materials.

  • Parquet - Tiles of hardwood flooring featuring wood blocks arranged into a geometric and/or angular pattern.

  • Particle Board - A type of subfloor typically found under old carpet consisting of tiny wood particles that are glued together and pressed into 4' x 8' sheets. Particle board is not a suitable subfloor type for hardwood flooring and it's always recommended to remove it prior to installation. Engineered flooring and laminate flooring can be floated over particle board if absolutely necessary.

  • PAS - Publicly Available Specification

  • Patina - Patina is an aged or faded look.

  • Pazyryk - The Pazyryk rug is thought to be the oldest known rug, created in approximately 1000 BC.

  • PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes

  • Performance Warranty - Time limited warranties are often confused with performance warranties. A 90-day performance warranty would promise that the television would work for 90 days, which is fundamentally different from promising that it was delivered free of defects and limiting the time the buyer has to prove otherwise. But because the usual evidence that a product was delivered defective is that it later breaks, the effect is very similar

  • Performance-based Ecolabel or Standard - Those ecolabels or standards that require specific and measurable performance outcomes to be achieved by the entity. They are typically contrasted to process-based ecolabels or standards.

  • Persian Knot - A Persian knot is also referred to as a Senneth knot. This knot is asymmetrical, and is used in Iran, India, Turkey, Egypt and China. Yarn is wrapped around one warp thread, then passed under an adjacent warp thread.

  • Persian Rug - A Persian rug is one that is made within the borders of Iran.

  • Photosensitivity - The degree of color change a wood species will experience when exposed to light.

  • Pile - A velvety surface produced by an extra set of filling yarns that form raised loops which are cut and sheared. Measured in Height as mm, cm or inches.

  • Pile or Nap - The individual strands of fibers that stand upright form a rug is called pile.

  • Plain Sawn - Milling of a tree trunk involving parallel cuts all the way through. Plain sawn flooring offers the traditional grain patterns with an oak wood species and is the simplest form of milling, creating the least amount of waste.

  • Plank - A hardwood board which is 3 IN. or wider.

  • Ply - The number of layers of a cross-ply engineered hardwood floor.

  • Plywood - A common type of subfloor made of multiple layers of wood.

  • Polyester - Polyester is a synthetic fiber.

  • Polypropylene - Polypropylene is also known as olefin. It is highly resistant to moisture, mildew and abrasion. It is a strong fiber, colorfast and quick drying. Polypropylene area rugs are lightweight and inexpensive, but do not hold up well in high-traf

  • Prayer Rug - A prayer rug is a small rug that often has a temple-like motif that Muslims face to Mecca when praying.

  • Prefinished - When a hardwood floor is finished at the factory rather than on-site. There are many benefits to using a prefinished hardwood floor instead of a site-finished floor.

  • Process-based ecolabel or standard - A type of ecolabel where the standard or set of criteria assess an entity's having undertaken activities or processes, for example, creating an environmental management system or reporting.

  • Procurement - The acquisition of products and services by contract through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated. Acquisition begins at the point when needs are established and includes the description of requirements to meet those needs, solicitation and selection of sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract performance, contract administration, and those technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling purchaser needs by contract.

  • Product Category - A category in which products are typically classified, for example, by purchasers. Various standards exist for the classification of products designed to enable comparability and measurability.

  • PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride, PVC is manufactured when electricity is applied to large plates that are submerged in salt brine. The resulting reaction produces chlorine and caustic soda, which is pumped with other additives into a reactor with ethylene. Heat is applied and oxygen removed, leaving vinyl chloride monomer as the result.

  • Q
  • QMS - Quality Management System

  • Quality - Quality is conformance to requirements. Requirements can be established by the buyers specification or through a implied value calibrated as market price for a product.

  • Quarter Round - Quarter Molding is the name for floor molding applied where the floor meets the wall. It s typically 3/4 x 3/4 inch and are used to cover the necessary expansion gap between a hard surface floor and a wall. Along the same line as Quarter Rounds, some manufacturers offer a molding

  • Quartersawn - The milling of a tree trunk involving cuts on a diagonal from the core of the tree. This type of milling basically follows the grains of the tree straight on and creates a beautiful and more stable plank with long, linear lines and grain flecks. Quartersawn milling does produce a lot more waste during the manufacturing process . Quartersawn planks can be installed over radiant heating systems.

  • R
  • Radiant Floor Heating System - A heating system located within the subfloor which heats a room from the surface of the floor up.

  • Random Lengths - Many hardwood flooring manufacturers will package their flooring in cartons with random lengths. Range varies from product to product but are usually 12" to 96" lengths.

  • Random Widths - For a more country or casual appearance, a brand may package a variety of widths of the same wood floor into one carton.

  • Rayon - Rayon is a man-made material that resembles silk. Rayon will melt if exposed to an open flame.

  • Reclaimed Wood - Often taken from old mills, barns or farmhouses that are being dismantled, reclaimed wood is re-milled and refinished into new flooring planks and offer an old, used, lived-in appearance.

  • Reclamation - Reclamation is the act of returning something to a former, better state. Land reclamation might involve razing a strip mall and planting crops. Reclamation is the noun form of the verb to reclaim

  • Recycle - Convert (waste product) into reusable material

  • Refinish - Taking the current finish off of a hardwood floor, sanding and re-applying a new finish for an updated look.

  • Refresher - A gloss used to recoat the original shine of a hardwood floor after years of use have dulled it.

  • Registration - In order to begin the certification process entities need to be registered with the ecolabel program. In some ecolabel programs, once registration is complete, entities can start using the ecolabel because no up-front certification is required.

  • Residential Delivery - Carriers defines a business zone as a location that opens and closes to the public at set times every day. If you are a business located in a residential zone, (among personal homes or dwellings) or are shipping to or from a residence, the carrier may charge an additional residential fee. When obtaining quotes through our system, select "residence" for location type and the carrier's residential fee will be included in your quotes.

  • Residential Finish Warranty - The number of years the finish on a prefinished hardwood floor can be used in a normal residential setting without the finish wearing off the floor. Does not cover dents, scratches, stains, water damage or small sections of finish loss.

  • Resilient Floor - Resilient is defined as capable of returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched. Resilient flooring is made of material that has some elasticity, giving the flooring a degree of flexibility called resilience.

  • Riser - The wood board part of a staircase positioned vertically behind the stair tread.

  • Rugophile - A rugophile is a person that collects hand-knotted rugs. The collectors typically are concerned with the investment value of the rug, and are particularly interested in a rug's origin and design, that the wool was dyed naturally and that it have

  • Runner - A runner is a long rug that measures two to three feet wide and seven to 14 feet long.

  • S
  • S4S E4E - S4S means surfaced on all four sides and E4E means eased four edges. Put them together and you get a board with all four corners, eased and surfaced. These are commonly used for tie downs and side slats in trailer or truck decking applications.

  • Sarouk - Sarouk is a city in Iran and is known for its distinctive floral design.

  • Scatter - A scatter rug measures 3x5 or 4x6 feet.

  • Scrim - A scrim is the backing of a hand-tufted rug, which holds the yarn in place.

  • Seagrass - Seagrass rugs are very durable and have a latex backing.  Seagrass rugs cannot be exposed to the elements.

  • Second Party Certified or Verified - When an entity is assessed against a standard by an organization that has an interest in the entity but is not the producer of it.

  • Select-Grade - Contains all the variations in coloration produced by the contrasting differences of heartwood and sapwood. Also included are minimal character marks, such as small knots, worm holes, and mineral streaks, as well as slightly open characters. The combination creates a floor where the light sapwood and dark heartwood are combined with small characters and other small color interruptions.

  • Selvedge - The finished edges of a rug is called selvedge and prevents unraveling.

  • Semi - ntique - A semi-antique rug is 50 to 60 years old.

  • Senneth knot - See "Persian knot."

  • Service Category - A category in which services are typically classified, for example, by purchasers. Various standards exist for the classification of services designed to enable comparability and measurability.

  • SFI - Sustainable Forestry Initiative

  • Sheen - Sheen is the reflective surface atop of the rug that adds beauty.

  • Sheen - The gloss level of the finish on a hardwood floor. Varies from brand to brand. Popular options include high gloss, semi-gloss and satin.

  • Shoe Molding - Shoe Molding is another name for floor molding applied where the floor meets the wall. It s typically 3/4 x 3/4 inch and are used to cover the necessary expansion gap between a hard surface floor and a wall. Along the same line as Quarter Rounds, some manufacturers offer a molding called a Shoe Base. Shoe Bases are typically a little thinner or a little shorter, but work in the same manner as a Quarter Round. Manufacturers offer Quarter Round to match (as close as possible) the color of their specific floor, however it is common to see Quarter Rounds painted or stained the same color as the rest of the trim in the room.

  • Silk - Real silk is made from silkworm cocoons. China is most noted for its silk production.

  • Single Attribute Label - A type of ecolabel that captures one aspect or quality of an entity's environmental or social performance.

  • Sisal - Sisal is a fiber made from the Sisalana plant. It is the strongest material for natural fiber rugs.

  • Site - Inished - when an unfinished hardwood floor is installed, sanded and finished on location.

  • Solid - Usually 3/4 IN. in thickness (although it can be thinner), solid wood is just that --- a solid piece of wood milled into a flooring board.

  • South Korea - South Korea is a country known for its high-grade wool production.

  • Spalted - Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought by woodworkers.

  • Spandrels - The spandrels are found in the four corners of a rug; typically they are used with a medallion rug design.

  • Specifications - Tolerances, limiting values and other defining characteristics for materials, products, services, processes, systems or persons, contained within the provisions of a standard.

  • Splines - Splines also come into play when reversing the direction of the installation. In some cases you may have most of your installation going forward (tongue facing out) through the house.

  • Square Edge - The edge of wood floor boards that have no beveled edges when the boards are put together. Square edges and ends are hard to find in prefinished wood flooring, as the standard in the industry right now is a bevel variation.

  • Square Nose Reducer - A transition piece that overlaps the wood flooring and comes to a finished square edge at carpet or vertical objects (like a fireplace hearth).

  • SSAE16 - The SSAE16 standard is a recent evolvement of SAS70, which intends to align US companies with ISAE 3402 the international standard. This process is designed to help in guaranteeing a higher level of security and reliability in hosting the type of sensitive eCommerce operations

  • Stakeholders - Individual, or group of individuals with interests that may affect, or be affected by, an organization or in this case, ecolabel program. Stakeholders are typically described in groups or categories (such as customers, producers, suppliers, environmental non-governmental organizations, etc)

  • Standard - A standard is a set of criteria that an entity is evaluated against and that has been developed by national, regional, or international program, or a private standard developer. Standards are sometimes named differently from the ecolabel that is awarded and used for marketing purposes.

  • Standard-Setting Organization - The organization responsible for creating and maintaining the set of criteria that makes up a standard; and which stipulates the requirements or conditions of the ecolabel's use.

  • Staple Down - One of the most common installation methods for solid hardwood and engineered flooring. Requires a plywood subfloor.

  • Strip - A hardwood board which is 2-1/2 IN. or narrower.

  • Structural Adhesive - Structural adhesives refer to relatively strong adhesives that are normally used well below their glass transition temperature, an important property for polymeric materials, above which polymers are rubbery and below which they are glassy and solid. Common examples of structural adhesives include epoxies, cyanoacrylates, and certain urethanes and acrylic adhesives. Such adhesives can carry significant stresses, and lend themselves to structural applications.

  • Subfloor - The floor layer below the floor covering is called the subfloor. This provides the support for the flooring. Special purpose subfloors like floating floors, raised floors or sprung floors may be laid upon another underlying subfloor which provides the structural strength Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. Both terms are used interchangeably but floor covering refers more to loose-laid materials

  • Symbols - Symbols or motifs in rugs depict plants; animals and humans have special meaning and represent the weaver's culture or heritage.

  • Synthetic - Synthetic fibers are not made from natural sources. Synthetic fibers may include: Derclon, nylon, olefin (also known as polypropylene), polyester, rayon, acrylic or a blend.

  • T
  • T-Molding - T-Molding - a wood piece shaped like a T to smoothly transition from one hard surface to another that is of equal height.

  • Target Audience - The intended recipients of information supplied by an ecolabel program, for example, purchasers who might be expected to take into account the ecolabel in their purchasing decision or individual consumers shopping in retail stores.

  • Tavern-grade - Tavern-grade flooring, which sometimes is called cabin grade, is the least expensive grade of hardwood flooring available.

  • Tertiary - Tertiary colors are those created by combining primary and secondary colors.

  • Tesellated - To form of small squares or blocks, as floors or pavements; form or arrange in a checkered or mosaic pattern.

  • test - test

  • Thickness - The distance between the top and bottom or front and back surfaces of something : a measurement of how thick something is. It refers to the smallest of three dimensions, the smallest of three dimensions (length, width, and thickness).

  • Third Party Certified or Verified - When an entity is assessed against a standard by an independent (third party) organization that is different to the entity being certified (first party), and the ecolabel program that set the standard (second party).

  • Threshold Molding - A transition piece which overlaps the hardwood flooring and then reduces down to the floor to give the flooring a finished edge. Used against sliding glass doors, tile, high pile carpet, etc. The overlap portion covers the necessary expansion gap. The threshold should always be attached to the subfloor and never to the hardwood flooring.

  • Tibet - Now part of China, Tibet has a rug making tradition that dates back thousands of years. Rugs from this area often resemble Nepalese rugs.

  • Time Series Data - Quantities that represent or trace the values taken by a variable over a period (such as a month, quarter, or year). Time series data occurs wherever the same measurements are recorded on a regular basis.

  • Titanium Finish - An exclusive hardwood flooring finish created with no solvents or VOCs. Titanium finishes offer an extremely clear and durable coating, allowing the full beauty of the wood species to shine through.

  • Tongue and Groove - Often referred to as male or female ends, the tongue and grooves are found at the edges and ends of hardwood flooring boards and fit snuggly into one another to connect the boards.

  • Transitional - Transitional is a broad category to define the style between traditional and modern.

  • Transparency - Open, comprehensive and understandable presentation of information.

  • Tread - The horizontal part of a stair, which you step on. Prefinished hardwood flooring stair treads are available and are easier to install than piecing a stair together with pieces of flooring. Most hardwood flooring brands do not offer their own stair treads to match their products, but there are independent stair part companies which will match the tread to your flooring.

  • Tribal Rugs - A nomadic group makes tribal rugs. These rugs tend to be small.

  • Tufting Gun - A tufting gun is a tool used to push the yarn back and forth through the backing of a hand-tufted rug.

  • Turkey - Turkey is a country that exports many hand-knotted rugs and is known for its geometric designs. Rug motifs often resemble those made in the Caucasus region.

  • Turkish knot - In a Turkish knot, the yarn is tied around two adjacent warp threads. Also known as symmetrical knot and ghiordes knot.

  • Twist - Twist is the amount of yarn spirals: the tighter the twist, the tighter that yarn and durability.

  • Type 1 Ecolabel - A category of ecolabel described by the ISO 14024 standard on ecolabels that cover multiple attributes that are life-cycle based (though not requiring a life cycle assessment) and that are verified by a third party

  • Type 2 Ecolabel - A category of ecolabel described by the ISO 14024 standard pertaining to self-declared environmental claims by manufacturers with no requirements or verification by an independent party.

  • Type 3 Ecolabel - A category of ecolabel described by the ISO 14024 standard pertaining to Environmental Product Declarations based on product category rules and requiring a product life cycle assessment with the EPD verified by a 3rd party expert.

  • U
  • UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service

  • Underlayment - A hard or soft barrier between the subfloor and the new hardwood flooring.

  • Unfinished - Hardwood flooring planks which are milled, but not finished at the factory. Used when site finishing is desired.

  • USDA - United States Department of Agriculture

  • USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council

  • UV Cured - The drying stage of the production of prefinished hardwood flooring where the boards are placed under ultraviolet lights to harden the finish. This creates a much more durable finish than what you can get with site finished flooring.

  • V
  • Välinge - Välinge Innovation, founded in 1993, pioneered the concept of glueless click together floorings and changed the way people install and use floorings. The company’s worldwide-patented technology introduced a speedy and easy way of installing floorboards mechanically, without using glue.

  • Vapor Barrier (Moisture Barrier) - A plastic sheet, usually 4 to 6 mil thick, layed directly over a concrete slab to retard any moisture coming up through the subfloor. Many underlayments already have a vapor barrier attached, so you don't need to use a separate one. Vapor barriers are absolutely necessary for floating installation over concrete and below grade.

  • Vegetable Dyes - Vegetable dyes are natural and are derived from insects, madder root, indigo, milkweed, pomegranate, osage, cutch and cochineal.

  • Verification - The process by which an entity is evaluated or assessed against a standard or set of criteria to ensure conformance or ongoing compliance.

  • Verified By - The name of the organization or individual who performed the verification.

  • Visqueen - Visqueen is a brand of polyethylene plastic sheeting (typically Low-density polyethylene). Visqueen is used as a ground cover in the crawl space of home foundations as a vapor barrier. Its use underneath a basement is to prevent water infiltration from water present in the ground that would pass through the concrete or dirt floor and bring in unwanted dampness.

  • VOC - Volatile Organic Compound

  • VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) - Carbon based chemicals, which when inhaled in large quantities may increase the risk of health problems. Some people are more sensitive to VOCs than others. "Off gas" VOCs can come from a number of household sources, including carpet, furniture, paint, plastics, electronics and more.

  • W
  • Wall Base (baseboard) - Molding that is used to cover up the necessary expansion gap around the edge of a room. Attached to the wall, not the flooring.

  • Wall-to-wall - Wall-to-wall carpeting is usually professional installed and is a permanent flooring. It is always machine made.

  • Warp - The threads that are stretched lengthwise on the loom is called the warp.

  • Warranty - A written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary within a specified period of time.

  • Waste Factor - The amount of extra wood that should be ordered to make up for square footage lost to cutting, fitting or discarding of boards that do not fit the grade ordered. Typically, a 5% waste factor is recommend. Increase that to 10% for rooms with unusual angles or if you want to be more choosey with which boards you install.

  • Wear Layer - The top layer of an engineered hardwood floor. Typically, the thicker the wear layer the longer life a flooring will exhibit. A wear layer can also refer to the thin clear coat layer on top of the image layer of vinly and laminate floors.

  • Weft - A weft is the threads that are horizontally woven through the warp threads.

  • Wilton Woven - Wilton Woven rugs are produced on a special machine-operated loom.

  • Wirebrushed - The process of creating texture on the surface of a hardwood floor which usually accentuates the grain patterns of a wood species.

  • Wood Grade - The grade category that a hardwood floor is culled out from a batch of wood boards during the manufacturing process to determine the clarity, color variation and character marks.

  • Wood Species - The specific tree that the hardwood flooring is made of. Different wood species feature different coloring, grain patterns and hardness.

  • Wool - Wool comes from a sheep's coat and is made into yarn.

  • WPC - Wood Plastic Composite

  • WTO - World Trade Organization

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