For definitions of other terms not listed here, please go to these sections: LVT, How it’s made, Styles, Before You Buy, Before Installation, and Maintenance.

Acclimation
The act of the laminate floor adapting to its installation environment.

Adhesive
The material that bonds the floor to the subfloor.

Dye lot
Each time there is a production run of material, there is different dye or colour lots that are created. The exact same colour lot or dye lot cannot be re-created for each manufacturing production process.

Modular patterns
Patterns utilizing different size pieces to create a unique overall pattern are called modular patterns.

Plank
boards with a width of 3" or greater.

Resilient
These floors have some "give" or elasticity when you walk across them. This includes cork, linoleum, rubber and specialty resilient.

Seam
The line or point where two planks or tiles meet together

Roller
A heavy tool that is used after installing vinyl sheet or vinyl tile. This tool is used to press the flooring into the adhesive and helps remove any air that becomes entrapped.

Subflooring
A rough floor that is placed below the area that the vinyl flooring is applied.

Substrate
The surface on which the vinyl flooring will be laid. When installing over a wood substrate, it will generally be necessary to use an underlayment. An underlayment will not be necessary when using a concrete substrate, but some floor preparation will be required.

Vinyl
Made from a mixture of plasticizer and polyvinyl chloride, this material is usually nonporous and flexible. Pigments are added for colour.

Wearlayer
A layer of material that is applied to the top surface of vinyl flooring. The thickness of the wearlayer varies with each vinyl product collection, or series, and is usually measured in mils. The thickness of a mil is almost equal to a page in a phone book. The use of a premium wearlayer offers a superior resistance to scuffs, stains, and scratches. The performance of the wearlayer will determine how long a vinyl floor will look fresh and new.