Question 1

Axminster carpet

Accepted Answer

A type of carpet featuring a cut-pile construction with an intricate pattern, typically woven on a Jacquard loom.

Question 2

Broadloom

Accepted Answer

A wide continuous roll of carpet, usually 12 to 15 feet in width.

Question 3

Carpet seam

Accepted Answer

The junction where two pieces of carpet meet, usually joined by adhesive tape or heat-bonded tape.

Question 4

Cove base

Accepted Answer

A trim piece installed at the base of a wall, providing a finished edge where the floorcovering meets the wall.

Question 5

Cut-and-loop pile

Accepted Answer

A carpet construction that combines both cut and looped yarns, creating patterns and textures.

Question 6

Delamination

Accepted Answer

The separation of a floorcovering's layers, often caused by excessive moisture or improper adhesive application.

Question 7

Double-gluedown installation

Accepted Answer

A carpet installation method involving adhesive applied to both the subfloor and the carpet backing.

Question 8

Elastomeric

Accepted Answer

A flexible, rubber-like material used in floorcoverings to provide resilience and durability.

Question 9

Felt-backed vinyl

Accepted Answer

A type of vinyl flooring with a felt backing that provides cushioning and dimensional stability.

Question 10

Flatweave

Accepted Answer

A non-pile woven textile used for floorcoverings, often found in area rugs and runners.

Question 11

Gauge

Accepted Answer

The distance between the needles on a tufting machine, affecting the density of a carpet.

Question 12

Heat-welded seam

Accepted Answer

A seam created by melting the edges of two pieces of resilient flooring and then fusing them together.

Question 13

Inlaid flooring

Accepted Answer

A decorative flooring technique that incorporates multiple materials, colors, or patterns into a single surface.

Question 14

Jute

Accepted Answer

A natural fiber used as a backing material for some types of carpeting.

Question 15

Karndean

Accepted Answer

A luxury vinyl tile (LVT) brand known for its realistic wood and stone designs.

Question 16

Lippage

Accepted Answer

A condition where adjacent tiles are not level with each other, creating an uneven surface.

Question 17

Moisture vapor emission rate (MVER)

Accepted Answer

The amount of moisture vapor that travels through a concrete slab over a specified time period, measured in pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours.

Question 18

Notched trowel

Accepted Answer

A tool used to spread adhesive, featuring notches that create ridges of consistent thickness.

Question 19

Open time

Accepted Answer

The time between applying an adhesive and when it is no longer able to bond the floorcovering.

Question 20

Pile reversal

Accepted Answer

A phenomenon in which carpet fibers change direction, causing the appearance of shading or watermarking.

Question 21

Quarter round

Accepted Answer

A trim piece with a curved, quarter-circle profile, often used to cover the expansion gap between flooring and baseboards.

Question 22

Resilient flooring

Accepted Answer

A category of flooring that includes vinyl, rubber, cork, and linoleum, known for their durability and flexibility.

Question 23

Scribing

Accepted Answer

The process of marking and cutting a piece of flooring to fit precisely against an irregular surface.

Question 24

Tack strip

Accepted Answer

A narrow, wood or metal strip with protruding nails, used to secure the edges of wall-to-wall carpet.

Question 25

Underlayment

Accepted Answer

A material placed between the subfloor and the finished floor, providing cushioning, insulation, or soundproofing.

Question 26

Vapor barrier

Accepted Answer

A material used to prevent moisture from migrating through a subfloor or floorcovering.

Question 27

Weld rod

Accepted Answer

A thin rod of material used to create a heat-welded seam between two pieces of resilient flooring.

Question 28

XPS underlayment

Accepted Answer

Extruded polystyrene foam used as an underlayment for flooring, providing thermal insulation and moisture resistance.

Question 29

Yarn denier

Accepted Answer

A unit of measurement for yarn thickness, often used in carpet manufacturing.

Question 30

Z-bar

Accepted Answer

A metal transition strip used to join carpet to a different type of flooring, such as tile or wood.

Question 31

Acclimation

Accepted Answer

The process of allowing flooring materials to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the installation environment before installation.

Question 32

Buckling

Accepted Answer

A distortion in the surface of a floorcovering, caused by tension or compression.

Question 33

Cross-laminated timber (CLT)

Accepted Answer

An engineered wood product made from layers of wood, bonded together with adhesive.

Question 34

Dryback LVT

Accepted Answer

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) that requires an adhesive for installation, as opposed to click-together or loose-lay systems.

Question 35

Expansion gap

Accepted Answer

A space left around the perimeter of a room to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of flooring materials.

Question 36

Flooring grade

Accepted Answer

A classification system that indicates the quality, appearance, and intended use of a floorcovering.

Question 37

Geotextile

Accepted Answer

A synthetic, permeable fabric used beneath flooring installations to provide stabilization and separation.

Question 38

Hydronic radiant heating

Accepted Answer

A heating system that uses water or another liquid to transfer heat through tubes installed beneath the floor.

Question 39

Infrared thermography

Accepted Answer

A diagnostic tool that uses infrared imaging to detect temperature differences in flooring materials, often used to identify moisture issues.

Question 40

Janka hardness scale

Accepted Answer

A measure of a wood's resistance to denting and wear, often used to compare the durability of different wood species.

Question 41

Knot

Accepted Answer

A natural imperfection in wood flooring, caused by the former presence of a branch.

Question 42

Leveling compound

Accepted Answer

A self-leveling mixture used to correct irregularities in a subfloor before installing a floorcovering.

Question 43

Modular carpet

Accepted Answer

Carpet tiles that can be installed individually, allowing for easy replacement of damaged or worn areas.

Question 44

Nosing

Accepted Answer

The rounded, projecting edge of a stair tread, often covered by a metal or wood stair nosing.

Question 45

Offset pattern

Accepted Answer

A tile installation pattern in which each row is offset by half the length of a tile, creating a staggered appearance.

Question 46

Patching compound

Accepted Answer

A material used to fill holes or cracks in a subfloor, providing a smooth surface for floorcovering installation.

Question 47

Quarter-turn installation

Accepted Answer

A carpet tile installation method in which each tile is rotated 90 degrees from its neighbor, creating a checkerboard pattern.

Question 48

Roll crush

Accepted Answer

A temporary indentation in a carpet caused by compression during storage or transportation, typically resolved through restretching or exposure to heat and humidity.

Question 49

Seam sealer

Accepted Answer

An adhesive applied to the edges of a carpet seam to prevent fraying and unraveling.

Question 50

T-molding

Accepted Answer

A transition strip shaped like the letter "T," used to join two floorcoverings of equal height.

Question 51

Urethane adhesive

Accepted Answer

A type of adhesive used for installing various types of floorcoverings, known for its strong bond and moisture resistance.

Question 52

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

Accepted Answer

Chemical compounds that can be released into the air from some flooring materials and adhesives, potentially causing indoor air quality issues.

Question 53

Woven vinyl

Accepted Answer

A type of floorcovering made from interwoven strands of vinyl, offering a unique appearance and texture.

Question 54

Expansion joint

Accepted Answer

A gap between two sections of flooring or subflooring that allows for movement due to temperature and humidity changes.

Red Seal Exam Floorcovering Installer Flash Card Set