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hardwood glossary

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Decomposing of wood or other material.


Hardwood trees that are considered angiosperms. They produce seeds that have a covering such as apple or acorn seeds and lose their leaves in cold weather.


A term that refers to the failure in the adhesive of laminate flooring which causes separation in the layers.

Diffuse - Porous Woods

A type of hardwood with pores that are uniform and equally distributed throughout each annual ring or get gradually smaller toward the outer border of the ring.


Another term for gouges made by an edger.

Dimensional Stability

Refers to the structural integrity of flooring and its ability to maintain its original dimensions.


A term referencing the solid material in finishing products that are finely divided or colloidal in nature.


A texture applied to wood to give it a worn and antique look. It is gouged or scraped by hand or by machine.

Door Jam Saw

A tool that is used to cut a portion of the door casing off, allowing the flooring to fit underneath.


A material often made of organic salts of manganese, cobalt, lead, zinc or iron, which speeds the drying of oil or varnish.

Drum Sander

A floor sander similar to a lawn mower pushed along the floor's open areas.

Dry Tack–Free

See Dry to Touch

Dry Time

The amount of time it takes a finish or other product to become solid enough to apply another coat.

Dry to Sand

The amount of time it takes a finish or other flooring product to solidify enough to the point where it can be properly sanded.

Dry to Touch

When the film of a finishing material has dried to the point where it can be lightly touched without leaving a mark or sticking to fingers.

Dry Wall

A material generally used to cover walls and ceilings. It comes in sheets or panels and generally consists of gypsum between two heavy layers of paper.


The process of a liquid becoming a solid through evaporation, oxidation, polymerization or a combination of these.


Refers to the ability of a floor to withstand destruction.


Tiny particles of matter that settle to the floor. Also a name for a grading or size of natural resin.


When a finishing product has dried sufficiently to the point where dust that settles on the surface will not stick.