Category: Glossary of Terms -D

The ability of the wood species or finish to withstand the conditions or destructive agents with which it comes in contact in actual usage, without an appreciable change in appearance or other important properties.

A heavy artificial texture in which the floor has been scraped, scratched or gouged to give it a timeworn antique look.

Certain hardwoods in which the pores tend to be uniform in size and distribution throughout each annual ring or to decrease in size slightly and gradually toward the outer border of the annual growth ring. Hard maple is an example.

The decorative layer is the layer of laminate flooring that gives the flooring its appearance. The decorative layer can feature a photo image that imitates the look of wood grain or the swirl and textures of marble or ceramic.

Crook, conk, decay, split, sweep, or other injury that decreases the amount of usable wood that can be obtained from a log.

General term used to denote decay or rot in timber. Synonymous with ‘decay’ and are any form of decay which may be evident as either a discoloration or a softening of the wood.

Changes in the color of wood which affect only its appearance.

The decomposition of wood substance by fungi (other terms: rot, dote).

A cutting method for the real hardwood veneer that is glued on the top of engineered hardwood flooring. It involves letting the wood dry out slowly with a low humidity level to keep moisture from inside the wood cells intact, reducing the risk of cupping. It is the most expensive type of veneer for engineered…

A type of sander used to smooth the surface of hardwood before finishing, known to leave chatter marks.