| Click | Refers to the installation method and characteristics of LVT that is installed without adhesive due to a precision tongue and groove design that locks flooring into place. More information |
| EIR | Embossed in Register - technique of matching the texture of the LVT precisely with the design. Most common in wood visuals where you want the texture to line up with the printed grain and knots for a more realistic look. More information |
| Engineered Hardwood Flooring | A construction of wood flooring made by gluing layers of wood veneer or composite wood materials into a plank with the purpose of added dimensionally stability and flexible installation. Available in a variety of widths and lengths, thicknesses and wear layers. Typically sold as factory finished, a tongue and groove. Can be stapled to plywood or glued to concrete. Tongue and Grooves milled with a precision locking system can be floated over subfloors without adhesive. More information |
| FloorScore Certification | Indoor Air Quality rating created by the RFCI (Resilient Floorcovering Institute) to certify low emitting materials. More information |
| Greenguard | A third party rating for Indoor Air Quality of low emitting materials More information |
| IIC - Impact Insulation Class | Is an acoustic rating that evaluates how well a flooring assembly absorbs vibrations (noise) resulting from impact on the floor like footfall. A tapping machine is used in one floor, and the measurement is taken in the floor below. The higher the IIC rating, the better the acoustics. Many hotel brands require a minimum of 56 for hard surface floorings in guest rooms. The flooring material is one part of this rating, but the subfloor thickness and ceiling construction have a dramatic effect on the rating, and should be fully understood when writing specifications. More information |
| Loose Lay | Refers to the installation method and characteristics of LVT that can be installed without adhesive due to the weight and dimensional stability of the product. |
LVT/LVP - Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank | General term for the category of PVC-based flooring. LVT is made from layers of vinyl and fillers, a printed design layer, and a durable clear vinyl wear layer. It comes in a range of patterns from imitation wood/stone to abstracts and in a variety of size and formats. More information |
| Plasticizer | Chemical agent in resilient flooring that makes the PVC less rigid. There are different agents in this category. |
| Print Film/Decor Layer | Layer of LVT that is responsible for the visual, created by high resolution scanning and printing. The print film is then protected by a clear vinyl wear layer and durable finish |
| Resilient Flooring | General category of floor covering including LVT/P, WPC, SPC, rubber, sheet vinyl, linoleum. More information |
| Rigid Core | Flooring that combines a printed vinyl film and wear layer with enhanced core materials to make the planks telegraph less than traditional vinyl flooring. More information |
| Solid Hardwood Flooring | Hardwood flooring made by milling a single plank out of a log and adding a tongue and groove milled into the sides. Typically ¾” thick and can be sanded and refinished multiple times. Offered in finished and unfinished. Best installation option is nail down over plywood. More information |
| SPC - Stone Plastic (or Polymer) Composite | Flooring planks are made from a layered construction of printed vinyl film, vinyl wear layers, and a rigid core material typically comprised of around 60% calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl chloride and plasticizer |
| STC - Sound Transmission Coefficient | Is an acoustic rating that evaluates how well a flooring assembly absorbs vibrations (noise) resulting from airborne noise like talking and TV. The higher the rating, the better the acoustics. This rating is less commonly required in hospitality. More information |
| Tongue and Grovve | Found on the edge of some hard surface planks that hold planks together. Patented precision tongue and groove designs facilitate adhesive-free or “floating” installation of planks. More information |
| Underlayment | Is a thin layer, typically made of foam or cork, that is used to provide noise reduction and/or to protect the flooring from subfloor moisture, mold, and mildew. Underlayments come in a wide variety of specifications and can be separate from the flooring or attached to the back of planks. |
| Wear Layer | Is a term referring to the top layer of hard surface flooring that will be subjected to foot traffic and wear. In LVT, it is the clear vinyl layer that protects the visual. In engineered hardwood, it is the wood veneer that denotes the products species (oak, hickory, etc). In Laminate it is a melamine layer that protects the décor layer. Typically all wear layers are also protected by a liquid coating of “finish” that add durability and prevent wear through. Wear layers are measured in mil which is a thousandth of an inch. 1 mil is 1/1,000, 2 mil is 2/1,000 and so forth. |
| WPC - Wood Plastic Composite | Flooring planks are made from a layered construction of printed vinyl film, vinyl wear layers, and a rigid core material made of calcium carbonate, plasticizers, a foaming agent, and wood-like or wood materials such as wood flour. More information |
