The flooring language

Flooring is a whole world with a lingo of its own. The language can get strange and confusing and might need explaining. Since you are the ones buying the materials lets clear it up.

Hardwood

Solid (made of timber) and engineered (joining two or more layers of timber to form a single plank.)

Solid wood flooring creates a warm and natural ambiance for your home in Ottawa. Made from one piece of hardwood timber, solid wood flooring comes in a variety of widths and thicknesses and can be ordered pre-finished or unfinished (requiring varnish).

Utilizing modern fabrication technology, engineered wood flooring offers a layered construction comprised of one to three layers of hardwood bonded on top of a soft wood core.

The gloss

High gloss – 70% luster

Semi gloss – 55% luster

Satin – 40% luster

Matte – 25% luster

Carpet

Carpet pile – refers to the actual surface you walk on. There are two main kinds of carpet pile- cut pile and loop pile. Style in construction- not quality

Loop pile

Level – loops are the same height

Textured – subtle height variations

Multi level – noticeable patterns – greater different in loop size

Cut pile

Plush – smooth carpet (standard carpet)

Saxony – tightly twisted carpet that appears as an upright, smooth carpet

Frieze – high twist level on the plied yarns

Tile

Kinds of tile:

• Ceramic- a natural material- kiln-fired at high temperatures. Comes in 5 classes of hardness and durability.
• Porcelain-mosaic or paver tile composed by the dust-pressed method. Characterized by a dense body.
• Slate- a natural material that is known for its dynamic colors and “earthy” appeal. Used outside as well as inside because of its natural look and wonderful colors.
• Granite- hard igneous rock. This material can be in tile or slab form.
• Marble – a natural stone product quarried from the earth. This material can be in tile or slab form in a variety of finishes.
• Honed- used next to different types of natural stone means that the surface of the stone, has been ground to a smooth, consistent surface. Polish or shine has been removed leaving a matte surface.
• Rectified- means that each tile is identical in size – making for an absolutely straight, unvarying grout line, keeps layouts consist.
• Gauged- identical in thickness, technically gauged means that the backside of the stone has been ground down to a flat, rough finish.