Plain English
Twist, loop, gripper, tog. Sorted.
The flooring trade has its own language. Here’s what the words on the sample labels actually mean, so you can compare like for like.
29 terms, A to Z
- Axminster
- A traditional woven carpet construction that allows intricate multicoloured patterns. Often seen in hotels and period homes; hard-wearing and usually wool-rich.
- Berber
- A loop-pile carpet, traditionally in flecked natural colours. Loops can catch on pet claws, so consider a cut pile if you have cats or dogs.
- Bleach-cleanable
- A claim made for certain polypropylene carpets whose fibre will not lose colour when treated with diluted bleach, following the manufacturer’s instructions. It applies only to the specific range, never to wool.
- Cut pile
- Carpet where the loops of yarn are cut to leave upright tufts. Twist, velvet and saxony carpets are all cut piles. Softer underfoot and kinder to pets’ claws than a loop.
- Door bar / threshold strip
- A metal or wooden strip covering the join between two floors at a doorway, or between a floor and a different height. Available in a range of finishes.
- Engineered wood
- Boards with a real wood surface layer bonded to a stable plywood or softwood core. More stable than solid wood and often suitable with underfloor heating.
- Expansion gap
- A small gap left around the edge of a laminate or wood floor so it can expand and contract with humidity. Hidden under skirting or beading.
- Felt-back / action-back
- The two common carpet backings. Felt-back carpets have a soft backing and can sometimes be laid without underlay; action-back (woven) carpets are always fitted over underlay with gripper.
- Gripper
- Thin wooden strips with angled pins, fixed around the edge of a room. The carpet is stretched onto the pins to hold it taut and flat.
- Heathered
- A colour made from several shades of yarn blended together, giving a soft, flecked appearance that hides marks better than a plain colour.
- Laminate
- A floor made of a printed decorative layer over a high-density fibreboard core, sealed with a hard wear layer. Look at the AC rating (AC3 to AC5) for wear, and check the room guidance for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Loop pile
- Carpet where the yarn is left as uncut loops. Gives a textured, woven look and is very hard-wearing, but loops can snag on claws or heels.
- LVT (luxury vinyl tile)
- Vinyl flooring made as individual tiles or planks rather than a sheet. Can be glued down or click-fitted, and individual pieces can be replaced if damaged.
- Pile
- The surface of a carpet: the tufts or loops of yarn you walk on. Pile height, density and construction affect how a carpet feels and wears.
- Pile direction
- Carpet pile leans slightly one way and looks lighter or darker depending on the angle. Joins are planned so the pile runs the same way throughout.
- Polypropylene
- A synthetic carpet fibre that is inherently stain-resistant and good value. Popular for family rooms, stairs and rentals. Less resilient than wool over many years.
- Roll width
- Carpet and sheet vinyl come on rolls, most commonly 4 metres or 5 metres wide. Room shape and roll width together decide how much you need and where any join goes.
- Saxony
- A deep, soft cut-pile carpet with a luxurious feel. Best in bedrooms and quieter living rooms, as it can show footprints and flatten in busy areas.
- Sheet vinyl
- Vinyl flooring supplied on a roll and cut to the room, giving a continuous surface with few or no joins. Practical and economical for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Solid wood
- Boards cut from a single piece of timber. Beautiful and can be sanded many times, but more sensitive to moisture and movement than engineered wood.
- Stair rods
- Decorative rods fitted at the back of each stair tread over a runner or fitted carpet. Purely for looks on a modern fitted staircase.
- Subfloor
- The floor underneath your flooring: floorboards, chipboard, concrete or old tiles. Its condition affects the finish, especially under vinyl and laminate.
- Tog rating
- A measure of thermal resistance, quoted for carpet and underlay. The lower the combined tog, the more heat passes through, which is why underfloor heating systems set a limit. Check the system’s guidance before choosing.
- Twist pile
- A cut-pile carpet made from tightly twisted yarn, giving a slightly textured, hard-wearing surface that hides footprints. The most popular construction for busy homes.
- Underlay
- A cushioned layer fitted between the subfloor and the carpet or laminate. Adds comfort, warmth and sound insulation and extends the life of the floor. Firmer types suit stairs.
- Usage rating
- A manufacturer’s guide to how much wear a carpet is designed for, from light bedroom use to heavy domestic and stairs. Choose the rating before the colour.
- Velvet
- A short, dense cut pile with a smooth, formal appearance. Elegant, but shows footprints and vacuum marks more than a twist.
- Wilton
- A traditional woven construction producing dense, smooth plains and textured patterns. Long-lasting and usually wool-rich.
- Wool-rich (80/20)
- A blend of 80% wool and 20% synthetic fibre, combining wool’s natural resilience and feel with added strength. A common choice for quality twist carpets.
Prefer it explained in person?
Come and feel the difference between a twist and a loop, and see what a 4-metre roll actually looks like.
Plan a visitBring your ideas. We’ll help with the floor.
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