Furniture, Finishes, Equipment, Lighting

honed finish (granite)

dull sheen, without reflections

solid end grain blocks

solid pieces of wood from 2-1/4" to 4" thick laid on end -very durable and resistant to oils, mild chemicals and indentation -often used for industrial floors, but their use has been supplanted by other material

sand rubbed finish (slate)

gives an even plane showing a slight grain

strip flooring

one of the most common and consists of thin strips from 3/8" thick of varying lengths with tongue and groove edges -most is 2-1/4" wide, but 1-1/2" wide are available

rubberized felt

rubberized coating on one side

appearance and durability of carpet are affected by what 4 things?

1-amount of yarn in a given area 2-how tightly the yarn is packed 3-the height of the yarn

name 3 ways to install carpet

1-direct glue down 2-stretched in installation

name the 5 types of stone that are commonly used in interior construction for flooring, as well as for wall:

1-granite 2-marble 3-limestone 4-slate 5-sandstone

name the 4 basic types of wood flooring

1-strip flooring 2-plank flooring 3-block flooring 4-end-grain flooring

name the 5 ways to manufacture carpet:

1-weaving 2-tufting 3-needle punching 4-fusion bonding 5-knitting and custom tufting

what is the maximum limit for moisture emission?

2.0 lbm/1000 ft2/24 hr when exposed to a 73 degrees temperature and 50% relative humidity

carpet cushion (padding)

an important part of carpet installation -not required for all carpet, but they do increase the life of the carpet, provide better resiliency and comfort, help sound absorption, and lessen impact noise -common materials include: sponge rubber, felt, urethane, and foam rubber

felt

available in 4 forms: hair, combo, fiber, and rubberized

sand cushioned floor installation method

best way to avoid cracking of terrazzo because the finish system is physically separated from the structural slab with a membrane, much the same as in one of the thick-set stone floor installation methods -underbed is reinforced, therefore the terrazzo system scan move independently of the structure -if floor movement is a problem, a monolithic or thin-set method can be used

stone flooring

can be installed in a number of ways: 2 primary methods are :: thin set or thick set installation -some can be set with joints tightly butted together or with a space between individual pieces -- if there is a gap in the joint, it must be filled with grout or a portland cement/sand mixture that can be colored to be compatible with color of stone -weight of stone and mortar will add to the floor, the extra thickness required and the finish that will be most appropriate must be considered -most thin ones (1/4-3/8"_ that are applied with thin set do not add significant weight to floor -thick set stone floors are very heavy and require an extra 1-1/2-2-1/4" above subfloors -polished finishes should not be used in areas where stone might get wet or on stairs because of potential slippage problems

titration test

can be used to determine the level of alkalinity in concrete -involves grinding portions of concrete, mixing those portions with demineralized water, and performing laboratory chemical analysis

alkalinity

cannot exist without moisture because the moisture causes the soluble alkalis in the concrete to enter into solution -can cause 2 types of problems in concrete: 1)if its high and on the surface of a slab, it can damage a tile installation by causing adhesive to re-emulsify, or return to its original liquid state and 2) cause problems with other coatings -responsible for phenomenon known as alkali-silica reaction (ASR)

direct glue down

carpet is attached to floor with adhesive -carpet may have an attached cushion or be installed without a cushion

fibers

carpet is made from several of these that include wool, nylon, acrylic, modacrylic, polyester and olefin

thermal, or flame, finish (granite)

coarse surface, with varies depending on granite's grain structure

sheet carpet

comes in long rolls, commonly 12 feet wide and is installed so no seams are visible

plank flooring

comes in same thicknesses as strip but is from 3-1/4" to 8" wide -used where a larger scale is desired or to emulate wider, historic planking

foam rubber

commonly applied as an integral backing to some carpet -natural or synthetic latex rubber with additives and it has a backing on one side

fiber felt

composed entirely of non-animal fibers

hair felt

composed of 100% animal hair

polyester

made from synthetic polymers, is highly abrasion resistant, has good crush resistance, cleans well, is mildew resistant, and is low in cost -sometimes blended with nylon

linoleum

composed of oxidized linseed oil, wood flour, pigments and fillers applied over a backing of burlap or asphalt-saturated felt -available in solid colors or with multicolored patterns that extend through the thickness to the backing -has very good abrasion and grease resistance but has limited resistance to alkalis -commonly available in .10" thickness -composed of natural materials = popular as sustainable material

terrazzo

composite material poured in place or precast that is used for floors, walls, and stairs -consists of marble, quartz, granite, and other suitable chips, in a matrix that is cementitious, chemical or a combo of both -poured, cured, ground and polished to produce a smooth surface -advantages: durability, water resistance, ease of cleaning, fire resistance and availability of wide choice of patterns and colors -unlimited number of finishes can be achieved by specifying various combos of chips and matrix colors -4 basic types: standard, venetian, palladian, and rustic -generally finished to a smooth surface with an 80-grit stone grinder, but it can be ground with a rough, 24-grit to achieve a more textured surface

engineered wood floors

include laminated block flooring and parquet flooring described -available either unfinished or pre-finished -consists of 3, 5, or 7 layers of wood veneer, each oriented at 90 degrees to the adjacent ones, like plywood -top layer is the actual finished wood species -more dimensionally stable than solid wood, they shrink and swell less with changes in moisture -some are glued directly to stable wood subfloor and others are laid loose over thin foam padding so they can move independently of the subfloor

hygrometer test (relative humidity test)

determines the moisture emission by measuring relative humidity (RH) of the atmosphere confined to adjacent to the concrete floor -pocket of air is trapped below a vapor-impermeable box, and a probe in the device measure the RH -test standards recommend that moisture-sensitive flooring not be installed unless RH is 75% or less

nylon

economical carpet material that is very strong and wear resistant -high stain resistance and excellent crush resistance, it can be dyed with a wide variety of colors, cleans easily -some have static issues and a glossy sheet, but these problems have generally be alleviated with improved fiber construction and by blending nylon with other fibers -most widely used fiber for residential and commercial carpet

fusion bonding

embeds the pile yarn in a backing of liquid vinyl -when vinyl hardens, the tufts are permanently locked in the vinyl -has no backing as other carpet types do and is used primarily for carpet tiles

bamboo flooring

environmentally sensitive alternative to traditional hardwood flooring -fast-growing grass, not a tree, and can be obtained from managed forests where other agricultural crops are difficult to grow -downside: must be transported a long distance -becoming more and more popular and is readily available -available in 1/2" and 3/4" thick strips about 3" wide or wider, depending on manufacturer -milled with tongue and groove edges, so it can be installed like standard wood flooring - by nailing or with adhesive -almost as hard and twice as stable as red oak and maple -available in a natural color or a darker, amber color and comes pre-finished with a durable polyurethane coating

slate

fine grain metamorphic rock that is easily split into thin slabs, making it ideal for flooring as well as roofing -available in ranges of gray, black, green, brown, and deep red -natural cleft finish, sand-rubbed finish, and honed finish

abrasive finish (marble)

flat, nonreflective surface suitable for stair treads and other nonslip surfaces

laminated block flooring

flooring made from three to seven plies of cross-laminated wood veneer -3/8" to 25/32" thick

resilient flooring

generic term describing several types of composition materials made from various resins, plasticizers, and fillers -formed under heat and pressure to produce a thin material, either sheets or tiles -applied with mastic to a subfloor of concrete, plywood or other smooth underlayment -some may be installed only on floors above grade, while others may be placed below, on, or above grade -common types: vinyl, rubber and cork

wood flooring

graded differently from other wood products -grading rules are set by the various trade associations, such as National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) -unfinished oak is graded as clear, no. 1 common and no. 2 common (clear is best grade with most uniform color) -plain saw is standard, but quarter-sawn is available on special order -2 sustainable products: bamboo and palm wood -must be installed over a suitable nailable base

palm wood

harvested as a by-product from plantation-grown coconut palms -available in 3/4" x 3" wide strips with tongue and groove edges like those of standard strip flooring -harder and more stable than maple, red oak, and white oak -flooring ranges from dark to medium-red mahogany in color and is pre-finished with polyurethane

rustic terrazzo

has matrix depressed to expose the chips -exposes some of the stone when the matrix is washed before it has set, but this finish is usually not appropriate for interior flooring

pile height

height of fibers from the surface of the backing to the top of the pile -shorter and more tightly packed fibers result in a more durable, but more expensive carpet

granite

igneous rock with visible grains -available in a wide variety of colors, including gray, beige, white, pink, red, blue, green, and black -interior use: 5 common finishes - polished, honed, fine-rubbed, rubbed, and thermal, or flame

vinyl flooring

includes pure vinyl, vinyl composition, vinyl tiles and sheet vinyl -good, durable resilient flooring that is resistant to indentation, abrasion, grease, water, alkalis, and some acids -comes in a variety of colors and patterns and is inexpensive and easy to install -can be used below grade, on grade or above grade -must be installed over a clean, dry, smooth surface -tiles are generally 12" square, but some are 9" square -1/16" and 1/8" thicknesses are available for commercial use and better residential floors, the 1/8" thickness is preferred -sheet vinyl comes in 6, 9, or 12 foot wide rolls and are slightly more difficult to install because it results in a floor with fewer seams

carpet tiles

individual pieces of carpet, typically 18" square, that are applied to the floor with pressure-sensitive adhesive -modular design = damaged or won pieces can be replaced without removing the entire floor covering -generally specified for commercial installations where frequent changes in room layout are expected, where maintenance may be a problem, or where flat, undercarpet electrical and telephone cabling is used

cork flooring

made from granulated pieces of bark that are bonded together under heat and pressure -a variety of colors and patterns can be produced by varying the heat or adding dyes -patterns range from standard, uniform flakes to alternating strips of dark and light material -renewable resource because after it is harvested, the tree grows a new skin in approximately 9 years, and then the bark can be harvested again - helps preserve forests -available in tile and plank forms and is used where acoustical control or a high degree of resilience is desired -tiles are commonly 12" square and 1/8-1/4" thick -planks are 12" wide and 3'-0" long and consist of cork laminated to tongue and groove, medium density fiberboard -tile is installed using adhesive, while the plank form is edge-glued without being adhered to the subfloor (entire floor then "floats" on subfloor) -available either unfinished or pre-finished (acrylic, polyurethane, and carnauba wax)

sponge rubber

made from natural or synthetic rubber, along with other chemicals and fillers, and has a facing on the top side -available in flat sheets or a waffled configuration

rubber flooring

made from synthetic rubber and offers excellent resistance to deformation under loads, providing a very comfortable, quiet, resilient floor -not very resistant to oils or grease -available with a smooth surface or with a patterned, raised surface that allows water and dirt to lie below the wearing surface, helping to prevent slipping or excessive abrasion -available in tiles or sheets in several thicknesses

parquet flooring

made of preassembled units of several small, thin slats of wood in a variety of patterns -may be finished or unfinished -usually sold in 12" squares, 5/16" thick, for mastic application -easier and less expensive to install than other types of flooring and can be installed in a wide range of designs

block flooring

made of preassembled wood flooring in 3 basic configurations: -unit -laminated -parquet

axminster carpets

made on a modified Jacquard loom that delivers different colors of yarn at different times according to pattern desired -can be produced in a range of patterns and colors, from geometric to floral -most of pile yard is placed on surface -has an even, cut-pile surface with a heavily ribbed backing

urethane

manufactured in 3 different ways to produce prime, densified, or bonded sheets, each of which has a different range of densities -thicknesses ranges from 1/4 to 3/4"

pH level

measure of acidity or alkalinity of a material rated on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral -materials less than 7 = acidic -materials more than 7 = alkaline -concrete = 12-13 pH

Methenamine Pill Test

measures the response of a carpet sample to a burning methenamine tablet

marble

metamorphic rock formed by layer of shells that, under heat and pressure, form into a composition of crystalline grains of calcite and/or dolomite -available in range of colors and patterns, from uniform, pure white to vivid greens and reds with wild streaked patterns -polished, honed, abrasive, and wet-sand finishes

polished finish (granite)

mirror gloss with sharpe reflections

combo felt

mixture of animal hair and other fibers

acrylic

moderate abrasion resistance, but has more wool-like appearance than nylon -can be dyed with a variety of colors, has good crush resistance, and is easy to maintain -modacrylic=modified version of this

standard terrazzo

most common type, using small chips no larger than 3/8"

limestone

most commonly used for exterior surfaces, but travertine is frequently used for interior flooring

wax finish (cork)

must be reapplied about once a year

polyurethane finish (cork)

must be reapplied every 3-7 years and the old finish must be completely sanded off to ensure the new application will stick

wool

natural material and overall one of the best for carpet -very durable and resilient, wears well, has superior appearance, is flame resistant, and is relatively easy to clean and maintain -one of the most expensive fibers for initial cost

travertine

network of holes in it that must be filled with an epoxy resin (which can be colored to be compatible with the stone) to make a smooth surface -light, creamy color and is usually finished with a polished surface

stitch (stich rate)

number of lengthwise tufts in 1"

carpet

one of most commonly specified flooring materials -attractive, durable, quiet and easy to install and it requires less maintenance than many other types of flooring -3 basic forms: rugs, sheet carpet and carpet tiles -the higher the pitch or gauge number and stitch numbers are, the denser this is

calcium chloride test (moisture dome test)

one of the most common and is inexpensive and easy to complete -gives results in the form that many flooring manufacturers use to determine if their product can be successfully installed -made by placing a standard mass of calcium chloride below a plastic cover and sealing it to the concrete floor - after 6-72 hours, the calcium chloride is weighted to compare it with its pre-test weight -amount of moisture the calcium chloride absorbed is converted to standard measure of pounds per 1000 ft2 per 24 hour period -one test should be conducted for every 500-1000 ft2 of slab area

tufting

process in which the pile yarn is punched through the backing with rows of needles, much like the method employed by sewing machine -as needles go through backing, the yarn is caught and held while the needle makes the next pass -loop of yarn can be left as is for loop carpet or cut for cut-pile carpet -speed and relative low cost, this process accounts for majority of carpet manufactured -gauge: spacing in fractions of an inch between needles across the width of the carpet

fine-rubbed finish (granite)

produce a smooth surface that is free from scratches, with no sheen

wilton carpet

produced on a Jacquard loom that allows complex patterns to be woven into the carpet and can create several types of surface textures, including level cut pile, level loop, cut/uncut, and multilevel loop -different colors of yarn run beneath the surface of carpet and are pulled up only when they are needed for a pattern, this method is generally heavier and more expensive than the other 2 woven types for the same total weight

latex grout

provides some flexibility when slight movement in floor is expected

carpet backing

provides support for the pile yarn and gives added strength and dimensional stability to the carpet -polypropylene is most common for woven carpet, but others include jute, cotton and polyester

mat test

qualitative method and uses a 24" x 24" sample of vapor-retardant floor finish -sample is applied with adhesive, and the edges are sealed with tape -after 72 hours, a visual inspection is made -if it's firmly bonded or removal of it is difficult, then the level of moisture present is considered to be sufficiently low for installation of flooring material

polyethylene sheet test

qualitative test conducted by sealing an 18"x18" sheet of plastic to the floor to trap excessive moisture -after a minimum of 16 hours, a visual inspection is made of the floor and the sheet -the presence of visible water indicates the concrete is insufficiently dry for the application of finishes

acrylic finish (cork)

requires frequent reapplication - every 4-6 months

thick set installation

requires that a layer of mortar from 3/4" to 1-1/4" thick be applied to a suitably prepared, structurally sound subfloor -either the stone is then set in semi-wet mortar or the mortar, is allowed to cure and the stone is set with another thin layer of dry set mortar on top of the first -generally the best and must be used when subfloor is uneven or when the stone varies in thickness -mortar bed can be bonded to subfloor or separated from it with cleavage membrane -allows finish floor to be structurally separate from subfloor, if subfloor deflects or moves slightly, the stone flooring is protected from cracking because it is not bonded to structural floor

honed finish (marble)

satin-smooth surface, with little or no gloss

sandstone

sedimentary rock made of sand and other substances -when cleaved from original rock, it is called flagstone and has naturally rough surface -can be used with irregular edges as it comes from the rock or it can be saw-cut into rectangular or square shapes

honed finish (slate)

semipolished, without a sheen

natural cleft finish (slate)

shows the surface as it is cleaved from the rock, so it is rough and the surface level varies by about 1/8"

needle punching

similar to tufting except the fiber is pulled through backing with barbed needles -produces a carpet of limited variation in texture and accounts for a very small percentage of total carpet market

vinyl composition tile

similar to vinyl tile but includes various types of fillers that decrease the percentage of polyvinylchloride -costs less than homogenous vinyl, but has less flexibility and abrasion resistance, SO through-grain types should be specified (tiles where the color and pattern extend uniformly through the tile thickness)

velvet carpet

simplest form of weaving and places all pile yarn on the face of the carpet -generally solid colors, but multicolored yarns can also be used in a variety of surface textures including plushes, loop pile, cut-pile, multilevel loop and cut-and-loop styles

finish

single material applied to another substrate -major ______ materials include: various types of flooring, paint, wallpaper, vinyl, fabric, acoustic and stone wallcovering, and window treatments

tiles

small, flat finishing units made of clay or clay mixtures -2 primary types are: ceramic and quarry -advantages: durability; water resistance; ease of installation and cleaning; a wide choice of colors, sizes, and patterns; fire resistance; fade resistance; and the ability to store eat for passive solar connection -some of common types include: glazed wall tile, unglazed tile, ceramic mosaic tile, paver tile, quarry tile, abrasive tile and antistatic tile -tile industry classifies tile based on size: under 6" squared is mosaic tile, over 6" squared is wall tile -also classified according to its resistance to water absorption

polished finish (marble)

smoothest finish that produces a glossy surface bringing out the full color and character of marble

rug

soft floor covering laid on the floor but not fastened to it -does not cover the entire floor

gauge

spacing in fractions of an inch between needles across the width of the carpet -5/64, 1/10, and 1/8 are common for contract carpet

unit block flooring

standard strip flooring assembled into a unit held together with steel or wood splines -3/8" to 25/32" thick

alkali-silica reaction (ASR)

strongly alkaline cement begins to dissolve sand and rock within the concrete -chemical reaction creates a gel-like material that causes tremendous pressure in the pores of the concrete surface -pressure can buckle or blister floor finishes -risk for this can be reduced by specifying aggregates that are not susceptible to it, using low-lime cement, proper curing, and not finishing concrete with hard trowel surface

rubbed finish (granite)

surface with occasional slight "trails" or scratches

what is critical of whatever type of resilient flooring that you select?

that the substrate be free of excess moisture and alkalinity -should be tested for pH level and alkalinity

weaving

traditional method of making carpet by interlacing warp and weft yarns -method that produces very attractive, durable carpet, but it's the most expensive method of manufacturing carpet by machine -3 primary methods: wilton carpet, velvet carpet, axminster carpet -pitch is the number of ends of surface yard in a 27" width

thin set installation

uniform thickness or stone is set on the subfloor with a special thin-set mortar (about 1/8" or less in thickness) or with adhesive -less expensive, add much less weight to floor, and are faster to install -suitable for thin stone floors cut in uniform thicknesses in either residential or commercial construction -can be placed on either concrete or wood subfloors

olefin (polypropylene)

used primarily for indoor-outdoor carpet and as an alternative to jute for carpet backing -very durable, stain resistant, cleans easily -least attractive of the artificial fibers and has a low melting point

pH test

used to test the surface of concrete that will come in contact with flooring adhesives or other critical floor coatings -simple test that uses a coated paper strip or small pH meter -once the level is known, it can be compared with maximum pH recommended by flooring manufacturer -pH of 8.5 is considered ideal

venetian terrazzo

uses chips larger than 3/8"

electrical impedance test

uses proprietary meters to determine the moisture content of the concrete by measuring conductance and capacitance -probes of meter are placed on concrete, and the percentage of moisture content in the slab is read out directly

stretched in installation

uses tackless strips attached around the perimeter of the room -strips have embedded, sharp points that face toward the walls -carpet is stretched against these strips, which hold carpet in place -carpet cushion is either stapled to wood floors or glued to concrete floors after tackless strips are in place

palladian terrazzo

uses thin, random-fractured slabs of marble with standard terrazzo between

wet-sand finish (marble)

yields a smooth surface that is also suitable for nonslip floors