Choosing new flooring involves more than picking a color or material. It’s about understanding the details that define performance, comfort, and style. Each part of your flooring, from the inner layers to the top finish, plays a role in its performance, style, and longevity. Knowing what those terms mean helps you make decisions that fit your home, lifestyle, and long-term goals.
To help you speak the same language as flooring experts, this glossary of flooring terms from Landmark Interiors explains the key words and concepts you’ll hear when exploring different products, installation methods, and maintenance recommendations.
A
Acclimation
Allowing flooring materials to adjust to a room’s temperature and humidity before installation. This process is essential for hardwood and engineered hardwood, and can prevent warping or gaps.
Adhesive
A specialized bonding material used to secure certain flooring types—such as vinyl, engineered hardwood, or tile—to the subfloor.
Ambient Humidity
The level of moisture in the air. It directly affects wood flooring performance, especially in coastal or humid climates.
B
Backing Layer
The supportive base of multi-layer flooring, such as luxury vinyl. It provides structure, sound absorption, and moisture protection.
Baseboard
A decorative trim placed at the bottom of walls to hide expansion gaps and create a clean, finished edge.
Beveled Edge
A subtle, angled edge on planks that defines each board and adds depth to the overall design.
C
Click-Lock System
A tool-free installation method where planks snap together. It’s quick, secure, and commonly used in floating floors.
Cupping
A moisture-related issue where wood planks bow upward at the edges. Proper acclimation and humidity control help prevent it.
Cushion or Underlayment
A thin material placed under the flooring to improve comfort, reduce noise, and add protection against moisture. A quality underlayment can also prolong the overall lifespan of the floor.
D
Durability Rating
A measure of how resistant a flooring surface is to scratches, dents, and general wear. Ratings vary by material type and are key to choosing the right floor for high-traffic areas.
Dimensional Stability
Describes how well flooring maintains its shape despite temperature or humiditychanges. Engineered hardwood and rigid-core vinyl excel here.
E
Engineered Hardwood
Constructed from layers of real wood veneer, engineered hardwood combines the beauty of natural wood with enhanced moisture resistance and structural strength.
Embossed Finish
A textured surface that replicates the authentic look and feel of natural materials like wood or stone.
Expansion Gap
A small space left between flooring and the wall or fixed objects to allow natural expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity.
F
Floating Floor
A flooring installation where planks connect to each other rather than being nailed or glued to the subfloor, allowing natural expansion and contraction.
Floor Leveling Compound
A substance used to smooth uneven subfloors, ensuring a solid, professional-grade installation.
G–L
Grain Pattern
The natural texture or design found in wood flooring. It contributes to the aesthetic and can range from subtle to highly pronounced.
Interlocking Tile
A format of flooring composed of modular panels or tiles that lock together without glue, enabling quick installation and removal, particularly useful in multi-purpose athletic spaces.
LVT/LVP (Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank)
A multi-layer vinyl flooring that offers water resistance, durability, and realistic visuals. Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and rental properties.
M–P
Moisture Barrier
A layer that prevents moisture from rising into flooring from below. Crucial in basements or high-humidity regions.
Plank Width
The measurement across each flooring board. Wider planks create an airy, modern look, while narrow planks offer a traditional feel.
Prefinished Flooring
Flooring that comes factory-finished, meaning that installers don’t need to sand, stain, or varnish the planks. Being pre-finished allows for faster installation and more consistent results.
Q–R
Quarter Round
A curved trim used to cover small gaps between the flooring and walls or cabinets.
Refinishing
The process of sanding and resealing hardwood to restore its original beauty after wear.
Rigid Core
A dense, durable middle layer in luxury vinyl flooring that provides strength, water resistance, and dimensional stability.
Roll Format
Flooring, like rubber flooring, that’s supplied in long continuous sheets rather than individual planks or tiles.
S-T
Shock Absorption
The ability of the flooring to reduce impact forces by cushioning each footstep or dropped weight, protecting joints and equipment in athletic spaces or gyms.
Stair Treads
The horizontal part of a staircase that you step on. Matching stair treads with your flooring material creates a cohesive, continuous look from room to stairway.
Subfloor
The structural base beneath your flooring that supports the layers above it.
Transition
A molding or trim piece used to create a smooth connection between different types of flooring or between rooms. Transitions also allow for natural expansion and contraction.
Trim
Decorative molding used to frame or finish the edges of flooring, walls, or transitions. Trim provides a polished appearance and helps conceal small gaps or seams.
U-Z
Underlayment
A thin layer of material installed between the subfloor and the finished flooring. Underlayment provides cushioning, reduces noise, and can add moisture protection or thermal insulation.
Variance
Natural variation in color, tone, and grain pattern between planks or tiles that enhances visual depth and gives each floor a distinct, authentic character.
Warping
Warping occurs when flooring boards bend, twist, or distort out of shape due to changes in moisture or temperature.
Wear Layer
The transparent protective surface on vinyl or laminate flooring that shields it from scratches, stains, and everyday wear.
FAQs*
What flooring terms should I know before beginning a project?
Understanding basic terms like acclimation, subfloor, wear layer, and floating floor helps you communicate clearly with installers and retailers. These concepts affect installation timing, moisture protection, and long-term durability—key details for any successful flooring project.
What terms should I know when picking out my floors?
Familiarize yourself with durability rating, grain pattern, plank width, and wear layer. These terms help you compare materials, understand texture and appearance, and choose flooring that fits your lifestyle and the traffic levels in each room.
What terms should I know during the installation phase?
During installation, key terms include subfloor, underlayment, transition, and expansion gap. These affect how smoothly your floor is installed, how it adjusts to humidity, and how well it performs long-term.
Start Your Next Flooring Project Today
Understanding flooring terminology makes it easier to choose products that fit your needs, lifestyle, and design goals. Now that you know the lingo, start your next flooring project by finding your nearest Landmark Interiors retailer.
* The details in these FAQs are intended for general education and should not be viewed as professional flooring guidance. Every space is different, and factors like the products you select, installation methods, subfloor conditions, and the environment inside your home can all influence performance.
For recommendations that fit your project, we encourage you to speak with a qualified flooring professional. Always review the manufacturer’s installation guidelines and warranty information before purchasing or installing any product.
This information is provided as is, without any express or implied warranty regarding accuracy, completeness, or suitability for a particular use. Landmark Interiors is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or decisions made based on this content.