Luxury Vinyl Glossary
… | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
A
Aluminum Oxide
Chemical top layer of vinyl that increases durability against abrasion, such as scratches and scuffs.
Anti-Slip
Vinyl flooring is often called anti-slip flooring due to the resin-coated and textured surface that maintains a rubber-like feel.
Acclimation
The balance of flooring to the environment in regards to moisture, humidity, and heat.
B
Backing
The bottommost layer of your vinyl flooring. The type of backing you have on your flooring determines how you will install it in your home.
Beveled Edge
Describes the milling of sides and end of flooring products. Various edges include square, eased, painted, and micro bevel. These planks have a groove in the edge that can vary from micro-bevel to a v-groove, deeper edge. This is most common in wood-type vinyl floors.
C
Click Lock Vinyl
Vinyl planks which use a locking system similar to laminate for easy click and lock installation.
Commercial Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl that is commercially rated and durable for business needs, such as cafes, offices, and public buildings. These often come with a commercial warranty.
Ceramic Bead Finish
Incorporates additives like aluminum oxide, ceramic beads to the wear layer to give it premium scratch resistance.
D
Decorative Layer
The design layer of your vinyl that gives your flooring the look you desire. This is most often wood, tile, or stone-like appearance.
Dimensional Stability
Flooring that retains its dimension(specification) when exposed to different weather environments.
E
Embossed in Register-
Shows greater texture and visual depth. Aligns the texture with the graining of the wood plank. True to touch texture.
EVA Pad
Attached foam cushion used as the final bottom layer on LVP.
F
Fiberglass Reinforced
Fiber-reinforced plastic that aids in the strength and durability of vinyl.
Floating Floor
A floor that does not need to be nailed or glued down to a subfloor. Can be installed over most existing floors.
Full Spread Adhesive
An installation system for linoleum, felt-backed, vinyl sheet products, and LVT.
FloorScore
Third Party Certification that insures low emissions and off-gassing standards for improved indoor air quality.
Floor Protectors
Attachments for the bottom of chairs or table legs. Used to distribute weight evenly to reduce indentations. Strongly recommend using for all Vinyl flooring.
G
Glue Down Vinyl
Type of vinyl flooring installation that requires tiles or planks to be glued directly to the subfloor using adhesive. Typically uses a full spread adhesive for the entire floor.
H
Handscraped Vinyl
Textured finish to create a realistic wood-look.
I
IXPE Pad
A closed cell non-toxic and odorless cushion made from polyethylene material. Has premium sound resistance, softer underfoot, and thermal insulation.
L
Linoleum
A combination of linseed oil, cork, limestone, wood flour and tree resins. This material makes vinyl resilient against regular wear and tear. Used more in commercial settings.
Loose Lay Vinyl
A vinyl that requires no glue or locking. These tiles and planks have a textured backing that keeps the tiles in place. Easy to move and un-install.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
An attractive form of resilient vinyl tiling available in high-end designs.
Locking System
Installation system milled into flooring profiles that locks the edges and joints together without glue creating a floor which naturally floats and not adhered to the subfloor.
M
Moldings/Trim
Used to finish a flooring project. They include T-moldings, reducers, thresholds, stair nose
Milimeters(mm)
The unit of measure used for the overall thickness of the product.
Mils
The unit of measure for the thickness of the wear layer only. The thicker the better. Standard thickness of 8mil, 12mil, 20mil, and 22mil.
P
Perimeter Adhered
When the vinyl is only adhered to the outside of the room and at the seams, instead of across the entire plank, sheet or tile.
Pad
Protective layer that is adhered to the vinyl plank that provides comfort, sound deadening properties, and moisture resistant. 2 most common are EVA(foam) and IXPE (closed cell premium pad).
Planks
Boards that are greater than 3” wide.
R
Rigid Core
Simply an industry term for any type of vinyl product that has a stiff/rigid core as SPC and WPC. Most all rigid core products click together and are a floating floor. All 100% waterproof.
S
Seams
The area where each plank, sheet or tile connects.
Sheet Vinyl Flooring
Type of vinyl flooring that is sold in rolls instead of individual planks.
Subfloor
The type of flooring used underneath your vinyl floors. This is usually wood or cement.
Substrate
Another layer of subflooring. This is the layer on which your floors will be installed. It is also typically wood or cement. If it is wood, you must use underlayment.
SPC
Stone Plastic Composite- A solid core made up of up to 75% limestone with no foaming agents which makes the core more dent resistant that WPC
U
Underlayment
A protective layer between vinyl and the substrate or subfloor. This layer protects the flooring from moisture and damage.
Urethane-Based Coating
A popular type of wear layer that adds durability and provides a maintenance-free finish without the need for polishing or buffing.
V
Vinyl Wood Grain
A vinyl surface finish that mimics the look of wood flooring.
W
Wear Layer
The top layer of vinyl flooring that protects against stains, scuffing and scratching. The thicker the wear layer, the better your vinyl flooring’s performance.
WPC (Wood Plastic Composite)
The core of a WPC is a foaming agent(adds air) and then uses a vinyl wear layer and attached pad. Not as dent resistant as SPC.