Flooring Glossary Herndon VA

The following was sourced from Flooring America.

Axminster Carpet
A machine-woven carpet where an enormous variety of colors are used to produce colorful patterns.

Berber Carpet
The term Berber is applied to carpet that has the off-white, heathered look of cloaks used by the Berber tribes of North Africa. Berber carpets use flecked yarns most often in loop styles. The size of the loops varies from large nubby ones to smaller styles. Patterned Berbers are multi-level-loop as well as cut-and-loop styles. Berber styles are also available in pastels and dark tones as well as naturals.

Binding
A strip sewn over a carpet edge for protection against unraveling. Carpet is bound to form rugs.

Broadloom
A term originally used to denote carpet produced in widths wider than six feet. Today carpet comes in 6-foot, 12-foot, and 15-foot widths.

Brocade
A carpet or rug in which a raised pattern or engraved effect is formed using heavy twisted yarn tufts on a ground of straight fibers.

Carpet Backing
Fabrics or yarns forming the back of the carpet as opposed to the carpet pile or face. In tufted carpets, there are two backings: a primary backing into which the pile yarn is inserted and a secondary fabric backing laminated to the back of the carpet for reinforcement and dimensional stability.

Carpet Cushion
A variety of materials placed under carpet to provide softness and longer wear when it is walked on. In some cases, the carpet cushion is attached to the carpet when it is manufactured. Terms also used: lining, padding, or underlay.

Carpet Pile
Fibers that form the upper surface of carpet.

Carpet Squares
Loose laid or self-adhesive backed "tiles" of carpet.

Ceramic Tile
Made from clay or a mixture of organic materials, ceramic tile is finished by kiln firing. Made in many shapes and sizes, it is glazed or unglazed. For floors, tiles are set in a cement or mortar type mixture.

Cork Flooring
One of the earliest of modern resilient floor coverings, the flooring is made from the bark of cork oak trees, a replenishable material. Cork flooring is available in tiles and sheet goods in natural unfinished cork, waxed cork, resin-reinforced waxed and vinyl impregnated cork in many colors including natural shades.

Cut-and-Loop Carpet
A multi-level loop carpet, where the taller loops are sheared. The resulting uncut loops and sheared top loops create a sculptured pattern. The texture and often subtle, variegated colorings help hide soil and traffic wear.