Acclimation - refers to allowing the flooring material to have enough time to equalize to the surrounding environment that it will be installed in. Generally it is recommended that the cartons of flooring be placed in the room 48 hours prior to installation.

DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate) - a single press construction method which fuses the finish layers and the backing directly to the core material all in one step.

Dimensional Stability - the ability of a floor to keep it's original shape and size over the lifetime of the floor and with changes in climate and humidity.

Floating Floor - a floor that is not attached directly to the sub floor. The floor lays over the sub floor, or existing flooring material. Floating floors can generally be installed over many types of existing floors, including vinyl, concrete, wood, ceramic, and even some indoor/outdoor carpeting.

Grade Levels - refers to the finish floor in respect to the level of the ground outside the home or building. Above grade means above the ground level. On grade means at ground level and below grade means below the outside ground level, such as a basement.

Inner Core - generally made from high-density fiberboard (HDF), particle board, or plastic the inner core adds impact resistance and forms the interlocking tongue and groove system. Melamine plastic resins are also impregnated in the core to improve the moisture resistance of the inner core.

Laminate Flooring - a hard surface flooring that incorporates a melamine wearlayer, a print layer, an inner core material, and a backing that are fused together to form a rectangular plank or squares with an interlocking tongue and groove system. Offered are laminate floors that are beautiful replicas of real hardwood and ceramic tile patterns.

Melamine - is a plastic-type resin used throughout the construction process to add durability, strength and stability to the laminated planks.

Subfloor - is generally referred to as the floor's structural layer. This may be either a concrete slab or a layer of some type of wood or particle board that lays directly on the floor joists.

Underlayment - refers to the material that is laid underneath the laminate floor. Generally a plastic material which allows the laminate floor to float freely. Some underlayments are designed to prevent moisture from directly contacting the backing of the flooring and some underlayments help reduce sound levels generated when walking over a laminate floor.

Wearlayer - the top layer of the flooring which is designed to protect the pattern and design of the floor. This layer is critical because this what we see when we look at an installed floor.