Greatmats Glossary Guide to Specialty Flooring Terminology

A

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act

Acclimation - the process where flooring is adjusting to the environment (temperature and humidity) it is in

Anti-fatigue - prevention of weariness from bodily exertion

Anti-microbial - destructive to or inhibits the growth of microorganisms

Anti-Static - preventing buildup or reducing effects of static electricity: a classification of ESD (electrostatic discharge matting) that accepts static electricity the slowest

Artificial Grass Turf - synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass

Ashlar - carpet tile installation pattern where each column is off-set by half a tile for a vertical brick-like pattern

B

Backing - bottom-most layer of the floor or mat

Basketweave - an installation pattern of carpet planks where planks are installed in groups of four to resemble a woven pattern

Berber carpet - yarns of carpet are in loops that connect directly to the backing. Named after a woolen, textured carpet made by the Berber tribes in Morocco and North Africa.

Beveled edge - edges feature an angle (often 45 degrees) to create a sloped transition

Border (male and female) - some types of interlocking tiles have specific borders that fit certain edges of the tiles that enable them to fit together securely

Brick (carpet tile pattern) - rows of carpet tiles are off-set by half a tile's width for a brick-like pattern

C

Carpet tiles - modular or temporary sections of carpet that can be used in conjunction with each other

Cheer mats - mats intended for use in cheerleading training and competition

Chemical resistance - the degree to which matting or flooring products can withstand chemicals

Closed cell foam - foam with individual pores that do not connect

Coefficient of friction - measurement of the slip resistance of flooring surfaces

Color fleck - small pieces of color mixed into an otherwise black material

Conductive or Electrically conductive - allowing electricity to pass through it, accepts static electricity the quickest

Cork flooring - flooring made from the outer bark of the cork oak tree

Corner tile - an interlocking tile that features two straight edges and two interlocking edges to create a corner

Critical fall height - maximum height from which a fall would not be expected to cause a life threatening head injury

Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) - flexible, fine-celled closed cell foam

Crumb rubber - recycled rubber material produced from automotive scrap tires, often used in rubber flooring

Cut pile carpet - carpet with fibers that are cut and not looped, usually includes plush and shag style carpets

D

Denier - thickness of the yarn strand in reference to carpet

Density (carpet) - refers to how close together the fibers of the carpet are, higher numbers are more dense and will withstand foot traffic better

Density (artificial turf) - refers to how close together the fibers or tufts of the artificial turf are, higher numbers are more dense and will withstand foot traffic better

Density (flooring) - refers to the amount of material present in a given area of flooring

Dissipative (static) - slows electrical charge flow to ground

E

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Energy restitution - the amount of useful energy that a flooring surface returns

Engineered hardwood - a type of flooring that is made from multiple layers of wood that are pressed together. Typically less expensive than solid hardwood.

Ergonomic - providing comfort while limiting stress or injuries

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) - sudden flow of electricity between two charged objects

Electrically conductive - a classification of ESD (electrostatic discharge matting) that accepts static electricity the quickest

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) - a type of durable synthetic rubber

Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) - closed-cell soft and flexible foam

Expansion gap - refers to a gap left around the edge of the installation when installing wall-to-wall. This gap allows the flooring to expand from humidity and temperature changes.

F

Face weight - used to describe artificial turf or carpet, refers to the weight of the material per unit area, usually in ounces per square yard, also known as pile weight or turf weight

Fall-height rating - maximum height for which the product passed testing for critical fall height, and life threatening head injury would not be expected

Fatigue mat - floor mats designed to encourage subtle movements and reduce weariness due to standing for long periods of time

Fiberglass - a type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber

Floating floor - tiles or planks are connected together but not secured to the underlayment or subfloor underneath

Floor covers - material designed to cover and protect existing floors

Floor mats - a piece of fabric, rubber, foam or plastic placed on the floor and designed for foot traffic

Foam - material containing small bubbles or pores which provides cushion

Force reduction - the amount of energy that a flooring surface absorbs

Freight delivery - delivery occurs via large box truck or semi-truck usually with the product on shipping pallets

G

Gaga Pit - octagon shaped arena for dodgeball type game called Ga-Ga or GaGa Ball

Garage flooring - flooring designed to resist heavy weight, moisture and/or chemicals associated with automobiles

Green flooring - environmentally friendly flooring, typically made of recycled or renewable resources

Ground delivery - Delivery arrives by UPS or FedEx in small box trucks

Ground protection mats - a mat designed to prevent damage to turf, generally used as temporary road or walk ways

Gym mat - padding used on the floor for athletic training and competition

Gym flooring - Flooring used in areas where sports or athletic activities will take place

H

HDPE (high density polyethylene) - a polyethylene thermoplastic material that is used in ground protection mats, composite, wood or plastic lumber

Hand scraped - An antique, rustic look of hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring that is created with scrapers and tools

Hardness - the ability of a floor to resist scratches, dents, and deformation

Horse stall mats - mats intended for horse barns to ease fatigue on horses

Herringbone - carpet planks or other plank-type flooring can be installed in a V-shaped weave pattern

I

Impact resistant - the material's ability to absorb and distribute force

Incline wedge mat - triangular shaped cushion for gymnastics training, also known as wedge mat, cheese mat or wedge cheese mat

Industrial flooring - Flooring in areas of manufacturing, storage, workshops and similar spaces

Infill - the material added to artificial turf after installation to help prevent matting, usually made from sand, crumb rubber, or other materials

Interlock loss - how much length and/or width is sacrificed during the process of interlocking two pieces of flooring together. This happens most often with any type of flooring with jigsaw puzzle style edges.

Interlocking - connecting together by overlapping or fitting together of projections and recesses

Island installation - refers to an installation of flooring that won't be installed wall-to-wall. Common in trade shows, event flooring, portable dance floors, etc.

J

K

Kids flooring - Flooring designed to stimulate the mind and/or protect the body of developing children

L

Laminate - multi-layer synthetic flooring fused together through a lamination process

Landing Mat or Landing Pad - Cushion used in gymnastics or martial arts for training and safety from falls and throws

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) - a worldwide green building certification program

LF - abbreviation for linear foot. Some flooring is sold per linear foot.

Liftgate - a hydraulic platform at the rear of a freight truck to lower and raise freight from the ground to the truck

Linoleum - type of flooring made from linseed oil, ground-up wood, and stone. Often confused with vinyl flooring.

Loop pile carpet - the fibers are shaped into loops and attached to the backing of the carpet such as Berber carpet

Luxury Carpet Tile (LCT) - a high quality carpet tile, usually with a cushioned backing and plush surface

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) - vinyl-based flooring that mimics the look of natural material through realistic images and textures in a square tile shape

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) - vinyl-based flooring that mimics the look of natural material typically wood through realistic images and textures in a plank (rectangular) shape

M

Marley - sheet vinyl dance floor

Martial Arts - combat and self defense sports

Mat - piece of protective material placed on a floor that can be used independently

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) - extreme combat sport using multiple fighting techniques

Modular - standardized units of flooring that fit together for easy construction and flexible arrangement to form a larger floor

Moisture barrier - underlayment that protects flooring from moisture coming from the subfloor

Monolithic - carpet tile squares are installed in the same orientation

N

Needle punch - a manufacturing process for carpet, offering better crush resistance

Nitrile rubber - a synthetic rubber designed for harsh industrial environments

Non-directional - carpet tiles that are installed without regard to direction and orientation. Can also be called random pattern.

Nylon - a fiber used in artificial turf blades or carpet fibers, made from a synthetic polymer

O

Octagon mats - Octagon-shaped pads used for gymnastics and cheerleading training

P

Paver - brick-like or stone-like tile used for exterior flooring

Perforated - pierced with holes

Permeable - a material's ability to allow liquids to pass through it

Pile height - refers to the height of the fibers on the top layer of carpet or artificial turf

Plastic - synthetic material made of organic polymers that can be molded into shape while soft then set into rigid or elastic form

Polyethylene (PE) - common thermoplastic polymer consisting of long hydrocarbon chains

Polyolefin - polymer produced from a simple olefin as a monomer

Polypropylene (PP) - thermoplastic polymer with intermediate level of crystallinity

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - synthetic plastic polymer used in a variety of products, known for it's durability and resistance to moisture

Portable flooring - flooring that can be installed, taken up, transported and re-installed easily

Protective floor coverings - temporary flooring materials designed to reduce wear and tear on existing finished floors or turf

PET - Polyethylene terephthalate (recycled plastic bottles)

Q

Quarter-turn - carpet tiles are installed in a grid-like pattern, but each tile is rotated 90 degrees (or 1/4 turn) compared to the tile before it

R

Raised flooring - flooring that leaves an open space between the building's original concrete slab and the finished surface

Random - carpet tiles that are installed without regard to direction and orientation. Also be called non-directional.

Reducer - an edging for flooring that provides a transition between floors of different heights

Regrind - a type of rubber flooring that is made with second-run scrap material, often has a random mix of colors in the rubber

Resilient flooring - any type of flooring that is not textile, wood, or stone

Retail flooring - flooring designed for use in commercial and office areas

Roof tiles - outdoor modular flooring intended for use on flat roofs used as patios or other forms of outdoor living spaces

Rosco - an entertainment product manufacturer since 1910 which also offers high quality dance floors

Rubber - tough elastic polymeric substance made from latex or synthetic materials

Rubber buffings - particulate rubber pieces that are from grinding the outer layer of used tires to remove the tread

Rubber roll - large sheets of rubber rubber flooring that can comes in the form of a roll prior to installation

Rug - floor covering made of woven material, typically covering small areas

S

SF - abbreviation for square foot, also abbreviated as sqft or sq. ft.

Slip-resistant - flooring that offers more traction for increased safety

Sprung floor - floor that absorbs shock, giving a soft feel

Square footage - length by width of a flooring space

Stage floor - flooring on a raised platform intended for performances

Stain resistant - flooring that is more resistant to stains

Static conductive - allowing electricity to pass through it

Static dissipative - a classification of ESD (electrostatic discharge matting) that is the middle range

Stone plastic composite (SPC) - a flooring material with a core composition of calcium carbonate (limestone), PVC, and plasticizers

Subfloor - foundation for a floor or bottom layer of flooring

Substrate - used to describe the material that is beneath the top layer of flooring, also called subfloor or underlayment.

Sustainable flooring - flooring produced from sustainable or recycled material that reduces demands on the ecosystem

T

TARR - (Texture Appearance Retention Ratings), tests a carpet's ability to remain tufted, in its original shape, after being properly installed and maintained in a commercial setting

Tatami - martial arts flooring texture designed to represent traditional rush-covered straw Japanese floor coverings

Thatch - a textured yarn that is used in artificial turf that is below the 'face' yarn, provides more volume to the turf

Tile - a single element of modular flooring in which multiple flooring pieces are used in conjunction with each other to create a larger flooring surface

Tongue-and-groove - refers to the way laminate, vinyl, or hardwood planks have one edge that protrudes and the other edge has an opening or groove to receive the tongue from another plank

Tufted - a process for manufacturing carpet where the fibers are sewn into a backing using a finer yarn

U

Underlayment - layer between a subfloor and finished floor, for leveling, adhesion, sound reduction, or insulative purposes

Universal interlock - tile connection mechanism that does not require all tiles to be laid in a certain direction

UV cured - a process that uses ultraviolet lights to cure a finish on the flooring

UV-resistant - formulated to withstand ultraviolet rays better

V

V2 (2V) - a gymnastic mat featuring hook and loop connectors on the two short ends of the mat, used to create long tumbling runs

V4 (4V) - a gymnastic mat featuring hook and loop connectors on all sides of the mat for greater versatility when installing

Veneer flooring - flooring that is made by bonding many layers of plywood together forming a stable core board that is usually topped with a veneer layer

Vinyl - synthetic resin or plastic made of PVC or a related polymer

Virgin rubber - a natural rubber flooring that is not made with recycled material

Vulcanized rubber - a rubber material that has been treated with heat and sulfur to strengthen the rubber, making it more durable and elastic

W

Walk off - a type of commercial mat, flooring or carpet tile that is used in the entry way of a business designed to scrape dirt and moisture off shoes

Waterproof - surface that is impenetrable to water, but may not be necessarily watertight at the seams of the flooring

Water-resistant - surface that is resistant to water but may not be completely waterproof

WBLipTB - abbreviation for wood-back, lip on top and bottom, for some gym wall pads. This type of wall pad is screwed into the wall for a permanent installation.

Wear layer - the top layer of the flooring. Often a clear layer in vinyl flooring.

Wood plastic composite (WPC) - a flooring material with a core composition of wood-like materials, PVC, plasticizers and other materials

X

Y

Z

Z-Clip - clips that are on the backs of gym wall pads for a semi-permanent installation type