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Cut & loop pile is a type of carpet that is constructed of a combination of cut ends and looped yarns. The mix of cut and uncut loops—in either uniform or varying heights—allows carpets to be created with a variety of surface designs, textures, and patterns,…
Half drop refers to a pattern that shifts at half the length of the pattern or motif on a fabric or wallcovering. The pattern or motif repeats on the vertical line, and then drops exactly half of the vertical repeat along the horizontal line, giving the material a staggered appearance…
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Plain sawn, also referred to as “flat sawn,” is the most common cut of lumber found and the most cost-effective way to mill a log. The technique consists of cutting parallel through the log, yielding wider planks with minimal waste. The annular rings on plain sawn…
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Quarter sawn, or quarter sawing, refers to a type of cutting technique used when rip-sawing lumber. The lumber is cut at an angle so that the annular growth rings intersect the face of the board. The angle’s exact number varies between 45 and 90 degrees. When…
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Rift sawn refers to a lumber cutting technique with the goal of producing more stable lumber that yields less distortion and figuring. Rift sawn lumber is typically narrow with a very straight grain pattern on the face of the board. The annular rings of a rift…
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Rotary sawn refers to a cutting technique in which an entire log is shaved or peeled on a rotary, resulting in a continuous ribbon of wood. This is the only process that is capable of producing full sheets of veneer. Rotary sawn lumber features a broad…
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Through body color refers to a tile with material and color that permeate throughout its entire body and are the same as what is shown on the surface. Since the color runs all the way through the tile, chips, scratches, and other damages are less noticeable.…
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Embossed refers to a fabrication process of applying a raised dimensional design to a material. The process requires both male and female dies to create an offset surface, as opposed to debossing, which involves pressing into the material and only requires one die. Embossing uses both…
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Engraving refers to a fabrication process that is used to carve a pattern or design into the surface of a hard material. It is typically used to create impressions on metal, stone, plastic, or glass and can be done by hand or with lasers depending on the…
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An epingle is a woven pile textile with a very durable surface. Both loop and cut pile are seen in this fabric, and this is what gives the end product its texture. Epingles are traditionally woven on special looms that insert a horizontal rod into the…
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Etched refers to a fabrication process that is used to carve a design or pattern onto the surface of a hard material. The process can be accomplished with acid, sand, or laser techniques and can be applied to many materials, including glass, metal, leather, stone, tile,…
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Fiddleback wood figuring is a specific variation of a curly wood figure, where the curls are very tight and uniform. Its close grains and lines appear to swerve or ripple in varying patterns. It is commonly found in maple, sycamore, and walnut trees.
Photography Courtesy of…
Figured refers to the surface effect and markings found on timber that give it a unique appearance. It can vary depending on many factors, including the wood’s grain, color, and the way it was cut. Types of figured effects include curly, fiddleback, and bird’s eye.
Photography Courtesy of Wolf-Gordon…
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Hand tufted refers to a method of constructing carpet in which yarn is inserted or tufted into the carpet’s primary backing using a handheld tufting gun. After the yarns have been hand tufted onto the primary backing, a secondary latex adhesive backing is applied to provide…
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Heartwood refers to the wood that is at the core or center of a tree. It was formerly sapwood that died as the result of a chemical transformation that occurred when the tree strengthened to resist decay. In some tree species, the heartwood darkens making it…
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Knotted refers to the process of interlacing, looping, or twining one or two cords to create a useful or decorative knob. For interior textiles, knotting is used in rug making, specifically oriental rugs. Produced by hand on a specialized loom, knotted rugs involve the weaver inserting…
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Laced refers to an ornamental, delicate fabric made by interlacing thread in an open pattern. Lace can be either knit or woven, with knit lace having more stretch than woven lace. Traditionally, lace is made by hand using linen or silk threads, but machine-made lace is…
Mottled refers to a wrinkled, blotchy wood figure that is produced when a wavy grain in the wood combines with a spiral. It is similar to a curly wood figure, but the curl lines are more broken up.…
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Perforated refers to materials that have been pierced with holes, typically with uniform profiles and spacing. Perforations can be applied to a variety of materials including metal, plastic, paper, leather, textiles, and wallcoverings. Depending on the type of material, perforating can add a host of performance…
The pith is the center of the tree that is typically recognized by a change in wood-grain color, which darkens with age. Pith is considered to be an unstable part of the wood that has a greater tendency to crack.…
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Plush refers to a type of textile that has a level, even-cut pile surface texture. This results in a soft, velvet-like look and feel. It can be made from both natural and synthetic fibers, including silk, polyester, and cotton. It is often desired for use in…
Pommele is a blister-like wood figure that resembles the look of light rain on a puddle. It is comprised of a dense pattern of irregular shaped rings that envelop one another. This figuring is found commonly in the sapele species.…
A ribbon curl is a figure that gives the appearance of a slightly twisted ribbon. It is typically found in quarter-cut veneers, which interlace with one another and reflect differently in the light, giving them a shimmering, ribbon-like figure. A ribbon curl is commonly found in mahogany or other woods…
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Sapwood is the younger, living wood of the tree that grows around the outside of the older, dead center. Sapwood can be distinguished by its lighter color in comparison to the wood that it surrounds, which will become more prominent over time as it is exposed…
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Stacked stone refers to an old-world building technique used to construct walls out of slabs of stone in various sizes. The traditional method uses the weight of the strategically stacked stones to hold the wall in place. In both traditional and modern construction, no grout or…
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A velvet is a woven pile textile with a durable, plush surface. Pile textiles feature a three-dimensional construction that uses a warp, a weft, and a pile yarn. Velvets are woven on special, double-cloth looms, which produce two pieces simultaneously. By cutting the pile yarn that…
COL refers to “customer’s own leather,” which is a leather style selected by the specifier that is not part of the standard offering of a furniture manufacturer. If a COL is chosen, the specifier either has to purchase the leather from the leather provider and ship it to the manufacturer…
COM refers to “customer own material,” which is a textile style selected by the specifier that is not part of the standard offering of a furniture manufacturer. If a COM is chosen, the specifier either has to purchase the textile from the textile provider and ship it to the manufacturer for application, or the…
Fluorescent refers to a pigment that converts wavelengths outside the visible spectrum—such as ultraviolet light—into visible light, resulting in brilliant hues, as well as glowing effects. When fluorescent pigments are no longer exposed to this stimulant, they will stop fluorescing immediately, unlike phosphorescence, which will continue to fluoresce after the…
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Glazed refers to a finishing process for tile that involves applying a coat of enamel or liquid glass. This facial finish is fused to the tile’s surface with very high temperatures and is non-porous. Glazed tiles can be either matte or glossy, and can be specified…
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GSA permitted refers products approved by the United States General Service Administration (GSA) that can be sold to the government. The GSA acts as the purchasing department for the US Government and lists contracts and schedules that vendors can bid on. It also verifies potential government…
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Laser cut refers to a fabrication process that is used for cutting or engraving materials into specified patterns, designs, or shapes. This method is commonly used on metal, textiles, plastic, and wood but can work on many materials including glass, paper, leather, ceramics, stone, and concrete. The…
LRV stands for light reflectance value, which
is a scale that determines the amount of visible and usable light a color
reflects from or absorbs into a painted surface. It is measured as a percentage
that ranges from zero for black, which absorbs all light, to 100 for white,
which…
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The shade variation index is a
rating given to determine tile variation between individual pieces in a
grouping. In particular, variation levels are given for digitally printed tiles
to help designers determine the properties of a batch of tiles. According to shade
variation index, tiles are…
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Aluminum is a silvery-white metal that is often referred to as the “miracle metal,” as it is light and non-ferrous, which is why it will not rust or corrode. It also has a variety of end applications, including decorative ceiling tiles, countertops, decorative metal sheets, partitions,…
Ashlar is a type of carpet and modular flooring layout in which tiles are installed in the same direction but are vertically staggered by half of a tile’s length between columns.…
Balance is a wood panel matching method where the veneer width is uniform, creating a more consistent and symmetrical appearance. This method can be used on different wood matches, such as random or book, as long as the veneer widths are equal throughout. This method produces veneer yield and is…
Book match is considered the most commonly used wood match. Every other consecutive veneer leaf is flipped on the vertical and butted, creating a mirrored effect similar to an opened book. It creates a symmetrical pattern that accentuates the grain and wood figuring of the log. Book match can be…
Brick ashlar refers to a type of carpet and modular flooring layout in which tiles are placed in the same direction but horizontally staggered by half of the width of a tile on the next row, creating a pattern that evokes the look of brick installations.…
Bullnose is a term most commonly used to describe ceramic tile that is distinguished by rounded edges primarily appears as decorative trim. The format is often used to frame the perimeter of a tiled wall or create a transition between the tile and the wall, so that unfinished tile sides…
Center is a wood panel matching method. Similar to balance, center match has uniform veneer widths, creating a more consistent and symmetrical appearance. Different from the balance method, center matching requires that the wood grain pattern is centered on the panel, creating a different overall pattern. This method produces veneer…
A common bond, also known as an American bond, is one of several techniques of bonding bricks in building and construction. Vertical rows, or courses, consist of headers—bricks that are laid flat with width exposed—that are inserted every five or six rows, with the headers centered on stretcher—bricks laid flat…
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Cork is a natural material sourced from the phellem layer of the cork oak, or Quercus Suber tree. Cork is considered a sustainable material since it comes from a renewable resource and its production involves minimal waste or harm to the tree. It has a closed-cell…
Debossed refers to a fabrication process used for applying a recessed dimensional design onto a material. The process requires a die to be created with the desired pattern, which is then applied with pressure—and in some cases heat—to create the sunken effect. This differs from embossing, which creates a raised…
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Distressed refers to a material that has simulated marks of age and wear or has been purposely blemished so as to give the appearance of long, steady use. It can be applied to wood, metal, textile, glass, and stone through many methods such as hammering, denting,…
Also referred to as a softened square, eased edge describes the technique of bordering countertops and other surfaces with rounded square edges, as opposed to sharp square cuts that can reveal unfinished layers of material. Stone, engineered stone, solid surfacing, and high-pressure laminate commonly employ eased edges to address both…
End match refers to a four-panel wood match sequence. The pattern starts with two wood veneers that are book matched, on the vertical, and then joined by two additional book matched veneers that are flipped, on the horizontal, creating an almost mirrored effect between the four panels. The grains are…
English bond is one of several techniques used for bonding bricks in building and construction. Vertical rows, or courses, alternate between stretchers—bricks laid flat with the narrow side exposed—and headers—bricks laid flat with the width exposed—that are configured with the headers centered above the stretchers, and the joints of the…
Flemish bond is one of several techniques used to bond bricks in building and construction. Each vertical row, or course, consists of stretchers—bricks laid flat with the narrow side exposed—alternating with headers—bricks laid flat with the width exposed—and the headers centered on stretchers above and below. If multiple stretchers are…
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Glazed color body refers to a porcelain tile with color in the body or substrate of the tile that matches the dominant color of the topical glaze finish. When the color body matches the top finish, it helps to minimize the visibility of any chips, scratches,…
Gravure print refers
to a machine printing process that provides designers with the opportunity to
achieve a complete, continuous color deposit ranging from 100-percent full tone
down to an approximately five percent tone. The printing is accomplished
through small cells or ink reservoirs that are engraved into the surface of…
Monolithic is a type of carpet and modular flooring layout in which tiles are laid down and installed in the same direction, creating a pattern that resembles the look of broadloom.…
Random match is created by deliberately adjoining wood veneers of different width sizes and grain patterns to create a randomized design. It gives the appearance of solid wood and accentuates the grain and color of each panel. Creating a random pattern yields minimal waste as it maximizes the amount of…
Reverse slip match is a wood match pattern similar to slip match. The difference is that in reverse slip every other veneer leaf is flipped 180 degrees, breaking up the consecutive grain pattern seen in a slip match. Typically, the coloring and wood figuring is consistent, and the reversed effect…
Sublimation printing,
also known as dye sublimation printing, refers to a printing process used for
transferring images onto a substrate. Unlike typical printing methods, where
the solid turns to water before a gas, sublimation skips the liquid step and evolves
from a solid on the substrate, to a gas, and…
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Unglazed through body refers to porcelain tile that has consistent color body and design but does not have a topical glaze finish, resulting in a full body porcelain tile. Unglazed through body tiles have a natural texture and are typically more slip-resistant compared to a glazed…
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Acrylic fiber is a synthetic fiber made from polyacrylonitrile that was first developed by Dupont in the 1940s and trademarked under the name Orlon. Acrylic fiber is lightweight, durable, and can be extruded in both staple and filament form through wet and dry spinning process. Acrylic…
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Nylon is a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide fiber that was first developed by Dupont in 1938. It is a performance fiber that can be manufactured in both filament and staple form. There are multiple types of Nylon based on different molecular structure. With its high tensile properties,…
Phosphorescence
refers to a pigment that converts wavelengths outside the visible spectrum—such
as UV light—into visible light, resulting in brilliant hues and glowing
effects. Phosphoresce materials do not immediately re-emit the light they
absorb, meaning that when phosphorescence pigments are no longer exposed to
this stimulant, they will continue to…
A sealant can be applied for purposes of protecting a substrate material from air, gas, dust, liquids, or abrasion. It can be designed to provide thermal and acoustical insulation or serve as a fire barrier. Sealants may have smoothing or gap filling properties, and may be weak or strong, flexible…
A substrate refers to a base surface or underlying layer upon which another material is adhered, coated, laminated, deposited, printed, or otherwise brought into contact with.…
Basketweave refers to a type of plain weave that creates a checkerboard-like weave pattern. Multiple warp threads interlace with an equal number of weft threads, going over and under, and then in reverse. Compared to flat plain weaves, basketweaves are visually more impactful, particularly when different colors in warp and…
Blister is a wood figure that appears short and straight with raised sections. A blister looks similar to a quilt and fiddleback figure, except that it does not appear as oval as quilt or as long as fiddleback. This figuring is a direct result from cutting across uneven growth rings…
Broken stripe refers to a wood figure that looks like stripes running down the veneer, but in a broken or faded pattern. The stripe lines are not consistently visible throughout, allowing for the broken line appearance. It can sometimes appear similar to a ribbon stripe or a broken ribbon.…
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Ceramic is a solid material that is composed of a mixture of
inorganic materials combined with a bonding agent. The mixture of materials
used to create ceramics can vary depending on the final result, but most include
varieties of clay mixed with water. The process starts…
Cluster refers to a wood figure that is similar to a burl wood figure but is always grouped together in smaller areas, or clusters. Surrounding the clusters are darker figurings that have a muscle-like appearance.…
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Crewel embroidery, or crewelwork, is a type of free surface embroidery that uses a crewel or two-ply wool yarn. This heftier yarn gives embroidery patterns a signature thickness and texture. Because crewel is defined by the type of material used, it may use any embroidery stitch.…
Crotch refers to a wood figure that appears when a cut is made from the joint connecting the tree’s trunk and its branch. It can have a wide range of appearances and usually the veneer leaves are smaller. The juncture connecting the trunk and branch creates an extreme form of…
Dimple figuring in wood resembles little pockets or shallow holes on the tree bark. When cut, the wood veneer will have ring like shapes that resemble the dimples on the tree bark.…
Dog-tooth moulding is an ornamental architectural element. The dog-tooth pattern consists of triangles, pyramids, or a petal-like designs connecting at the ends to form a diamond or square, that more often look like a sharp canine tooth. The dog-tooth moulding pattern stems from the Early Normal period (c.1066-1485 AD) and…
Bronze is a yellowish-brown metallic alloy that is primarily
made of copper and a small percentage of tin and other metals. It is a metal
that is ductile, durable, and has low friction with other metals. It can be easily
melted down and molded into a variety of end uses…
Flake wood figuring appears when a wood species has heavy medullary ray growth. Medullary rays are a type of cellular structure found in some species of wood, which grows in a radial pattern perpendicular to the wood’s growth rings. Flake figuring will appear if you cut the wood parallel, or…
Flame refers to a wood figuring that is caused by a distortion in the wood fiber, which creates a wavy or flame-like lines. It is similar to fiddleback and curly wood figuring, but with more straight lines instead of a curled pattern. Flame figuring is commonly found in the maple…
Ghost refers to wood figuring that is commonly found in the maple species when a tree is infested with the ambrosia beetle. A fungus grows from the remains of the beetle larva and breaks down the wood into a compound for the larva to eat. When the tree is cut,…
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Knots on a tree are formed when branches—which are often smaller in size and located lower on the trunk—either break off or are cut off, and the outer layer or bark of the tree grows around or over the broken area. When the tree is cut,…
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Nail holes are often found in reclaimed or antique wood. The nail holes are created in wood planks from previous installations and are visible in the plank when removed and restored. Nail holes can add to the character of reclaimed wood. Depending on the installation method,…
Peanut shell refers to figuring that can be found when wood has an already quilted or blistered figure and is then cut on a rotary saw. A veneer with peanut shell figuring will appear to be bumpy, wavy, or pitted, when it is in fact a flat surface. It is…
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When wood has a localized area of decay or infection on the growth rings, the veneer may show a pecky figuring. It can commonly be found when they infected wood is cut on a rotary saw. Pecky wood figuring is visible on a veneer as an…
Pin stripe refers to a wood figuring in which the grain lines are thin, appear uniform, and are placed closely together. Wood that is rift sawn will commonly have pin stripe figuring.…
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Polyethylene is a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide. It is a performance fiber that can be made as filament yarn from both petroleum or bio-based sources such as corn and sugar cane. Polyethylene is hydrophobic and lipophilic, which means it can only be solution dyed and printed with…
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Polypropylene is a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide. It is a performance fiber that can be manufactured in filament yarn with different structures and can be used as a breathable fiber or for heat retaining. Polypropylene is hydrophobic and lipophilic, which means it can only be solution dyed…
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Porcelain is a type of ceramic. Similar to other ceramic types, such as earthenware and stoneware, porcelain is clay-based and fired in a kiln at high temperatures to create its final form. Porcelain is baked at a higher temperature than most ceramic types, resulting in a…
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Acetate is a manufactured cellulose fiber made from wood pulp through a dry spinning process. It can be manufactured as a staple fiber and filament yarn. Acetate staple fiber is commonly used as cigarette filters, while acetate filament yarn is often weaved into satin fabric, which…
A bolt is a unit of measurement that counts the number of yards or meters on a single textile roll or bolt. It is an important consideration for furniture manufacturers and fabricators in determining the total material needed for a project. The bolt size most often correlates to the weight…
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Copper is a shiny, reddish metal that is ductile, malleable, and a good conductor of heat and electricity. This metal also has great anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. Copper is durable, however when it oxidizes—which occurs with exposure to the elements—the metal will patina and begin to…
Lava stone forms when molten lava is exposed to intense heat
and pressure, causing it to solidify into stone. The lava cools slowly and with
less pressure, as compared to basalt which is formed when lava cools quickly
and under high pressure. This slow cooling process gives lava stone a…
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Olefin is a category of performance fiber made from polyolefin. It is one of the most popular synthetic fiber families that includes polypropylene and polyethylene. Olefin can be manufactured in filament yarns with different structures, which can be used as a breathable fiber or for heat…
Pile refers to the surface, or face yarns that rise above the backing of pile textiles such as carpets, velvet, corduroy, and chenille. The pile can be in the form of uncut loops, cut strands, or a combination of both and comes in a variety of lengths, thicknesses, and densities.…
Pile height, also known as pile thickness or tuft height, measures the length of the yarns of a carpet from the top of the primary backing to the tips of the surface yarns. Pile height should not be confused with total thickness, which is a measurement of both the pile…
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Broadloom refers to carpets available in standard wide widths greater than six feet. Broadloom carpet is sold as a roll and is meant for wall-to-wall installation but can be cut down and edge finished by some manufacturers to create area rugs.
Photography Courtesy of Mohawk Group…
Knife edge pillow refers to a simple seam technique. The seam is made by sewing two pieces of fabric together along the ends to create a sharp knife-like edge. No decorative finish or trim is added to this seam. When using this edge for pillow shams, a hidden zipper closure…
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Onyx is a precious gemstone material that is composed of silica, or silicone dioxide. The stone is a form of quartz that is lightweight and porous. Onyx comes in organic colors such as red, orange, and brown. In order to obtain colors such as black or…
Pile weight, also known as face weight or average pile yarn weight, is a measurement of the carpet’s pile per square yard. It is calculated in ounces and only measures the weight of the pile yarns and does not include the carpet’s backing. Pile weight should not be confused with…
Zinc is a blue-gray metal that is classified as a sulfide mineral. Over time, as it oxidizes and is exposed to stains, this metal will patina and create its own unique colors and design. Zinc is ductile, malleable, a good conductor of heat and electricity, and has anti-bacterial properties. This…
Abrasive (sand) blasting
is the process of forcibly propelling a stream
of abrasive material against a surface under
high pressure to smooth or polish a rough surface, roughen
a smooth surface, shape a surface, or remove surface impurities. It
consists of pressurized fluid, typically compressed air, that is used to propel
a high-velocity stream of blasting material,…
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Basalt is a dark, fine-grained igneous rock that is composed
of minerals such as plagioclase and pyroxene. It is durable, does not react to
acids, absorbs sound, and has consistent coloring. This stone has a variety of
end uses including building veneers, floor and wall tiles,…
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Cement is a binding
substance typically used in construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to
other materials to bond them together. The material is characterized as
hydraulic or non-hydraulic, depending on the ability of the cement to set in
the presence of water. Non-hydraulic
cement needs dry…
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Concrete is a composite
material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a cement
past that hardens, or cures, over time. It is the most used man-made material
on earth. Concrete’s usage worldwide, ton for
ton, is twice that of steel, wood, plastics, and…
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Polyester is a category of synthetic petroleum-based fiber. It is one of the most popular synthetic fiber families that is often referred to as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyester can be manufactured as staple fibers, filament yarns, and mono filament yarns. Polyester is hydrophobic and can only…
