Category: Glossary of Terms
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Site Finished
The opposite of prefinished, unfinished hardwood is installed and then finished on site.
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Shoe Molding
A type of molding that is humidity resistant and ideal for high traffic areas in a home.
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Shellac
A resin substance secreted by female lac bugs. Used to form a cocoon, the resin comes from India and Thailand. Processed as dry flakes, it can be added to denatured alcohol to create a liquid. This liquid is then used as a food glaze or floor finish. It’s a natural option which is highly resistant…
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Screen & Recoat
The practice of adding another top coat of polyurethane to improve appearance of the floor, after abrading it slightly (using a mesh screen) so that the finish adheres better.
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Scratch resistance
Allows an insight how the laminate flooring will behave, when scratched. This is a very important quality criterion, which is derived from scratching the flooring with a diamond tipped instrument.
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Sapwood
The wood near the outside of a tree. Usually softer and lighter in color than heartwood.
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Reducer Strip
A teardrop-shaped molding accessory for hardwood flooring, normally used at doorways, but sometimes at fireplaces and as a room divider. It is grooved on one edge and tapered or feathered on the other edge.
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Refinish
Refinish means to add a new coat of finish to the top of a hardwood floor. The goal of refinishing is to minimize the appearance of scratches, scuff marks and other signs of damage.
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Reclaimed Flooring
Hardwood flooring made from the prized, reclaimed wood of old barns and wooden structures.