Lamett USA - Glossary

Below is a list of terms and definitions used on this site.

Anything missing or unclear? Email us your question and we will update the FAQ as soon as possible!

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Above-grade

Pertaining to the location of a finished floor where the floor is not in contact with the ground and which provides at least 18 inches of well ventilated space.

Air Dried 48

The strongest protection your floor can get, AD48 keeps the original look and feel of the wood and boosts the detail of the wood grain by fully penetrating the wood’s surface layer. Download Lamett's AirDried 48 informational brochure here.

Acrylic Impregnation

Liquid acrylic (and stain) injected throughout the surface layer of wood to fortify the fibers for added durability.

Adhesive

a substance that bonds the floor to the subfloor.

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Below-grade

Pertaining to the location of a finished floor that is in direct contact with the ground or with less than 18 inches of well-ventilated space.

Black Micro Bevel

A small micro 45 degree bevel painted black, adding style by accenting the different planks in a modern way.

Brushed Surface

A brushed surface which brings out the detail of the grain in each plank.

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Contoured Bevel

A bevel made by pressing the plank edge, adding style by accenting the different planks in a traditional way.

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Distressed Bevel

A bevel made by distressing the edges of the plank, accenting the different planks in a very unique way.

Distressed Surface

A surface made by distressing parts of the plank, adding style by accenting the different planks in a very unique way.

DIY (Do it Yourself)

DIY is an acronym for “do it yourself”,” referring to projects that can be installed without a professional. DIY levels are typically described as easy, to difficult, requiring varying ranges of tools and experience.

Drop Loc

Patented under Valinge as 3G, Drop Loc is an install system that doesn’t require glue by allowing the planks to fall in place.

5G Drop Loc

Patented under Valinge as 5G, 5G Drop Loc is an install system that doesn’t require glue by allowing the planks to fall in place. A plastic holder fortifies the installation.

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Edge Detail

A term that describes the way hardwood and laminate board edges and ends are cut. Edges and ends are usually square, contoured or micro-beveled.

Engineered

A term describing hardwood construction. Engineered hardwood boards are manufactured from multiple layers, or plies, of solid wood assembled in a cross-ply construction. The top layer is the species and color you see when the boards are installed.

Even Surface

Between brushed and smooth an even surface brings out the natural aspect of the wood.

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Finish

The surface coating on pre-finished flooring. Usually either urethane or wax finish.

Floating

Installation method in which individual boards are glued only at edges and end joints, without direct attachment to the subfloor.

Floating Floor

A floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor and can be installed over most existing floors, including concrete, ceramic, vinyl, wood and even some indoor/outdoor carpet, except high pile carpet.

Floor Protectors

Screw-on attachments for the bottom of chair and table legs to distribute the weight of furniture evenly to reduce indentations in resilient floors. Abrasions can be prevented with unique, replaceable felt pads on the floor protectors.

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Gloss Level

Different sheens or levels of Gloss- Satin, Semi Gloss or Gloss.

Grade Level

Grade refers to the construction level relative to the ground around it. Below grade is below ground level, on grade is at ground level, and above grade is above ground level.

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Hand Scraped

Also called hand sculpted. Hardwood planks are individually hand scraped to create distinctive, one-of-a-kind floors.

Handsculpted Bevel

A bevel made by handsculpting the plank edges, accenting the different planks in a very traditional way.

Handscraped Surface

A handscraped surface accents the traditional feeling of a wood floor.

High Density Fiberboard

Board utilized in the core of Lamett laminate designed to resist moisture, resist indentations, and provide dimensional stability.

High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) Core

Board utilized in the core of Lamett laminate flooring to provide the ultimate peace of mind against moisture resistance and indentations, as well as providing dimensional stability.

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Laminate Backing

A thermo-fused backing that provides additional strength and protection and ensures the floor stays flat, even when exposed to bottom-up moisture, which is particularly common with installations over concrete.

Laminate Flooring

Hard surface flooring utilizing a fiberboard core and Melamine wear layer that is available in blocks, planks, and squares and can be installed as individual units.

Laminate Flooring Glue

Adhesive used to bond the tongue and groove edges of laminate flooring. Also available in a "peelable" formulation for easy cleanup.

Laminate Image Layer

The look of your laminate floor, in choices as varied as the entire North American woodland.

Laminate Surface

A clear wear layer for super protection, even against the harsh punishment of sunlight, stains and burns.

Locking Installation System

Method of installing laminate flooring with a unique tongue-and-groove profile that allows for easy installation of boards by just locking edges into place and requiring no glue. Allows for installation up to 50% faster than standard installation

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Micro Bevel

A small micro 45 degrees bevel adding style by accenting the different planks.

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Oil

Oil enhances the wood’s natural beauty and provides standard protection against moisture damage.

On-Grade

Pertaining to the location of a finished floor with no portion below ground, and with the floor and the ground in contact or separated by less than 18 inches of well-ventilated space.

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Parquet

Inlaid woodwork in geometric forms, sometimes of contrasting woods, used in flooring. A common example is individual pickets of wood flooring, adhered together in groups of six pickets - then four picketed squares are alternately adhered to form a tile pattern.

Plank

Boards widths that are 3" in width or greater.

Ply (Plies)

Another word for a layer of wood, typically used to described engineered hardwood construction layers.

Plywood

A structural material consisting of sheets of wood glued or cemented together and used as underlayment for vinyl flooring. Lamett recommends the use of APA Underlayment Grade plywood with the installation of Lamett resilient floors.

Prefinished

Hardwood floors that are stained with color and sealed with a protective finish by the manufacturer prior to installation.

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Quarter-Round Molding

Detail piece that finishes the space where wood or laminate flooring meets the wall.

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Reducer Strip

Molding that finishes the space between wood or laminate flooring and other flooring surfaces, like vinyl or carpet.

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Skirting

A finishing piece for wood or laminate floors applied to the wall, creating a quality finish.

Solid

Manufactured from a solid piece of wood.

Smooth Surface

A smooth plank surface creates a contemporary and modern impression.

Species

The type of tree, such as oak, cherry or walnut. Different wood species have different hardness’s that affect durability; graining, which affects the board’s look; and indigenous color, which can be kept natural or stained.

Square Nose / Edge Cap

A finishing piece applied to the forward edge of stairs, step-downs and landings, creating a rounded quality finish.

Standard Installation System

Method of installing laminate flooring by precisely placing continuous beads of laminate flooring glue on the top of the tongue and the bottom of the groove of adjoining laminate flooring planks.

Straight-Edge

Any strong, straight piece of metal that can be used for cutting straight lines for installing vinyl sheet and tile.

Strip

Board widths that are less than 3" in width.

Subfloor

The structural layer intended to provide the home's floor support, which may receive floor coverings directly if the surface is appropriate, or indirectly via an underlayment if its surface is not suitable.

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T-Molding

Molding piece that finishes the space between two areas of wood or laminate flooring. For laminate, it also fills the gap at doorways.

Tapping Block

Block of wood used directly against the edge of laminate boards during installation when tightening the joints with a hammer.

Texture

The term used to describe the surface look and feel of flooring. Textures can range from silky smooth to hand scraped and distressed.

Tongue and Groove (T&G)

The most basic installation system for wood, tongue and bevel requires glue for installing.

Trowel

Tool used to place the correct amount of adhesive on the floor prior to installing vinyl sheet or (dry-back)

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Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet (UV) light is part of the light spectrum. UV light wavelengths cannot be seen by the human eye.

UV Oil

UV Oil enhances the wood’s natural beauty and provides standard protection against moisture damage.

Underlayment

Layer of material usually installed on or over a subfloor that provides a surface suitable to receive a new floor covering.

Urethane

A urethane surface that keeps its like new look far longer than vinyl no-wax surfaces, without waxing, buffing, or polishing. Resists household stains like mustard, shoe polish and lipstick. Resists foot traffic stains like tracked in asphalt driveway sealer.

Utility Knife

Tool containing a blade and used to cut vinyl sheet and vinyl tile during installation.

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Wear Layer

The portion of a floor covering that contains or protects the pattern effect.

Wear Resistance

Measures the quality of the laminate board

AC 1 = Light Residential Applications / Light Traffic
AC 2 = Heavy Residential Applications / Light-Medium Traffic
AC 3 = Light Commercial Applications / Medium-Heavy Traffic
AC 4 = Medium Commercial Applications / Heavy Traffic
AC 5 = Heavy Commercial Applications / Extra Heavy Traffic

Width

The width of the individual wood boards that make up the floor. “Strips” are narrow boards measuring less than 3 inches wide. “Planks” are wider boards measuring more than 3 inches wide.

Wood Species

The primary species from which the wood floor is made.

Wood Stain

A type of paint that is very "thin," or low in viscosity, and formulated so that the pigment penetrates the surface rather than remaining in a film on top of the surface. Stain is predominantly pigment or dye and solvent with little binder.