A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.P.Q.R.S.T.U.V.W-Z

SAG: A term used when a wall surface has developed a slide.
SALTILLO TILE: Adobe type tile made of clay and other natural raw materials, molded and allowed to dry. Not a fired clay product.
Sample --The specimen submitted to represent the color and texture of materials. This specimen dictates the general range of the color and texture of production pieces.
SAMPLING: Method of obtaining tile for testing from an agreed upon lot.
SANDBLASTING: A method of scarifying the surface of concrete or masonry to provide a bondable surface. Compressed air is used to propel a stream of wet or dry sand onto the surface.
SAND-PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT: An on-the-job mixture of Portland cement, fine graded sand, lime and water.
Sandstone - a sedimentary rock composed chiefly of quartz grains
SAP wood -- the wood near the outside of the tree. Usually lighter in color than heartwood.
SAWN -- ( see plain sawn, quarter sawn, Bastard sawn)
SAXONY FINISH -- A term used to describe a dense cut pile carpet, usually made of yarns that have been plied and heat set, so that each tuft end has a distinguishable appearance.
SCALE DRAWING -- A drawing in which the measurements represented are drawn to a predetermined scale, such as 1/4 inch equals one foot, so that all elements and dimensions in the drawing are proportional in length and width to the actual room, floor, or building depicted
SCARIFY: A mechanical means of roughing a surface to obtain a better bond.
SCRATCH COAT: A mixture of Portland cement, sand and water applied as the first coat of mortar on a wall or ceiling. Its surface usually is scratched or roughened so that it will bond properly with subsequent coats of mortar.
SCRATCHER: Any serrated or sharply tined object that is used to roughen the surface of one coat of mortar to provide a mechanical key for the next coat.
SCREED or SCREED STRIP: Strips of wood, metal, mortar or other material used as guides on which a straightedge is worked to obtain a true mortar surface.
SCREEDS -- usually 2 inch by 4 inch pieces of wood laid flat side down and attached to a concrete subfloor to provide a nailing surface for tongue and grooved strip flooring or a wood subfloor.
SCRIBING--Transferring the exact irregularities of a wall or other surface onto apiece of carpet, wood, or paper, which is then cut to fit those irregularities.
SCRIM BACK -- A lightweight, coarse, secondary back.
SCULPTURED -- In carpet, this refers to a type of pattern formed when certain tufts are eliminated or pile yarns drawn tightly to the back to form a specific design in the face of the carpet.
SCULPTURED TILE: Tile with a decorative design of high and low areas molded into its face.
SEALANT: An elastomeric material used to fill and seal expansion and control joints. This material prevents the passage of moisture and allows the horizontal and lateral movement at the expansion and control joints.
SEAMS -- See BACK SEAMS: FACE SEAMS: CROSS SEAMS: SIDE SEAMS
SEAMLESS--Without seams.
SECONDARY BACKING -- The layer of material laminated to the underside of the carpet for additional dimensional stability and body.
SECONDS--(See IMPERFECTS).
Sedimentary - formed from particles that were transported by water or wind and deposited in layers
SELF-SPACING TILE: Tile with lugs, spacers or protuberances on the sides which automatically space the tile for the grout joint.
SELF-TONE -- A pattern of two or more shades of the same color.
SELVAGE -- The edge of a carpet so finished that it will not ravel or require binding or hemming.
SEMI-VITREOUS TILE: Tile with water absorption of more than 3.0 percent, but not more than 7.0 percent.
SERGING -- Also known as "oversewing." This is a method of finishing the edge of carpet where it has been cut. It is customary to serge the side and bind the end.
SET OR DROP-MATCH --In a set-match carpet pattern, the figure matches straight across on each side of the narrow carpet width; in a drop-match, the figure matches midway of the design; in a quarter drop-match, the figure matches one-quarter of the length of the repeat on the opposite side.
Setting --The mason's process of installing and anchoring units.
SET-UP TIME: The time adhesive or mortar, spread on a surface takes to cure or harden.
SETTING BED: The layer of mortar on which the tile is set. The final coat of mortar on a wall or ceiling may also be called a setting bed.
Setting Drawing --Drawing which the manufacturer submits for approval detailing all aspects of the installation with piece markings and final locations of units.
SEWING POLE -- Any piece of wood or other material, more or less rounded, over which carpet may be laid prior to opening up the fabric in order to facilitate sewing and other related operations. Most carpet layers prefer a wooden pole about 4 inches in diameter that has been slightly flattened on one side.
SHADING -- Crushing or bending of pile fibers so that reflected light from the side (rather than from the top) gives the illusion of a light spot on the rug; viewed from the opposite side of the rug or carpet, the spot will appear dark. Shading is characteristic of all cut pile fabrics, including upholstery materials and clothing or apparel fabrics.
SHAG -- Shag carpet is defined as a low density type of carpet of cut and/or loop pile- construction wherein the pile surface texture has a random, tumbled appearance. This effect is created in use by the random lay over of the pile yarn in all directions, as distinguished from the normal upright position of the pile. Shags are distinguished from twist or frieze carpet in that shags have a longer tuft length. They are distinguished from plush in that they have more twist and the tufts are further apart.
Shake -- a separation along the grain, the greater part of which occurs between the annual growth rings.
SHEARING --A manufacturing process in which the fabric is drawn under revolving cutting blades, as in a lawn mover, in order to produce a smooth face on the fabric, remove fuzz, or shear tips or tufts.
SHEATHING -- the structural covering, usually board or plywood, placed over exterior studding or rafters of a structure.
SHELF LIFE: The maximum period of time that an item can be stored before it is used.
SHOOTING or SPROUTING -- Individual strands of yarn protruding above the surface of the pile. This condition is not a defect and the sprouting can simply be eliminated by clipping off the yarn. Never attempt to pull the yarn out.
Shop Drawing --The drawing which the manufacturer submits for approval showing size and shape of pieces, exposed faces, jointing, anchoring, reinforcing and unit cross section.
SHORT ROLL -- An unbound cut of carpet, generally described in the carpet industry as being over 21 feet in length, but under 30 feet.
SHOT -- The number of weft yarns in relation to each row of pile tufts or loops crosswise of the loom. A 2-shot fabric is one having two weft yarns for each row of pile tufts, a 3-shot fabric is one having three weft yarns for each row of pile tufts, etc.
SHOWER PAN: A waterproof shower floor membrane made from metal, layers of built-up roofing or single or multiple elastomeric membranes.
SHRINKAGE--The contraction of fabrics after wetting and drying
SHUTTLE --A boats h aped wooden instrument which holds the bobbin from which the weft yarns unwind as the shuttle passes through the warp shed.
SIDEMATCH -- Poor sidematch exists when colors apparently do not match at seam.
SIDE SEAMS -- Seams running the length of the carpet. Also called length seams
SILICONE GROUT: An engineered elastomeric grout system for interior use.
SINK ANGLE: Trim shape used on a drainboard at the comers of the kitchen sink. This trim shape, which is AU 106, is also called a "Butterfly".
SIZING -- Operation consisting of applying starch, gelatin, oil, wax, or any other ingredient onto yarn to aid the process of fabrication or to control fabric characteristics. Warp sizing is usually referred to as slashing.
SKEIN DYED YARN -- Yarn which is dyed in kettles or vats while the yarn is loosely wound in a collapsed coil.
SLAKE: Allowing the mixtures of mortar, thinset mortar or grout to stand for a brief period of time after the ingredients have been thoroughly combined and before the final mixing has occurs. Slaking enables the moisture in the mix to penetrate Iumps in the dry components, making it easier to complete the mixing procedure.
SLATS -- the small solid hardwood pieces which form mosaic parquet squares.
Sleeper -- another name for screeds.
SLIDE: A fresh tile wall that has sagged. This condition may be caused by excessive mortar, insufficient lime in the mortar or excessive moisture in the mortar. A slide may also result if the surface is slick or if the mortar is too soft.
SLIP-RESISTANT TILE: Tile having slip-resistant characteristics due to an abrasive admixture, abrasive particles in the surface or grooves or patterns in the surface.
Slip Sill --A Cast Stone window sill that fits within the masonry opening.
Slip-tongue -- a spline or small strip of wood or metal used to reverse or change direction in installing standard, tongue and groove strip flooring. Sometimes used in laying three quarter inch solid tongue and groove parquet.
SLOT CUT: Description of a tile that has been cut to fit around pipes or switch boxes. This tile is usually in the shape of the letter "H" or the letter "L".
SLURRY COAT: A pure coat of a very soft consistency.
Smokey Quartz - a brown transparent stone. Ranges in color from slightly brown to very dark - similar in color to root beer.
Snow Quartz - see White Quartz.
Sodalite - an opaque blue stone, similar to Lapis but with a more denim-like blue. Has varying degrees of white veining (calcite) and occasionally a flecks of pyrite.
Soffit --The exposed underside portion of a unit.
Softwood -- General term used to describe lumber produced from needle and/or cone bearing trees (conifers).
SOIL RETARDANT -- Agent applied to carpet pile yarns to resist soiling
SOLDIER COURSE: Oblong tile laid with the long side vertical and all joints in alignment.
SOLUTION DYED YARNS --Man-made fiber which is made from a colored solution; dyed in liquid form before becoming solid threads, In this method, the dye becomes part of the fiber. (See DYEING.)
SPACE DYEING -- Alternating bands of color applied to yarn by rollers at predetermined intervals prior to tufting. (See DYEING.)
SPACERS: Plastic, rubber, wood or rope used in wall or floor installations to separate tiles. Manufactured spacers are available in thicknesses I/16 inch to 1/2 inch.
SPACES -- Running lengthwise in carpet, there may be one or more spaces where rows of yarn do not appear to be properly spaced.
SPACING : A dry or dampened mixture of one part Portland cement and one part extra fine sand. This mix is used as a filter in the joints of mounted tile.
SPANDREL: That part of a wall between the head of a window and the sill of the window above it. A unit spanning an opening with bearing beyond the opening. It is not normally load bearing, but self supporting.
SPECIAL PURPOSE TILE: Tile, either glazed or unglazed, made to meet or have special physical design or appearance characteristics such as size, thickness, shape, color or decoration; keys or lugs on back or sides; pre-grouted assemblies or sheets; special resistance to staining, frost, alkalis, acids, thermal shock, physical impact or high coefficient of friction.
SPINNING -- 1. Chemical Spinning: The process of producing man-made fibers, including the extrusion of the spinning liquid through a spinneret into a coagulating medium and the winding of the filaments onto bobbins or in cake form. 2. Mechanical Spinning: Twisting together and drawing out short fibers into continuous strands of yarn.
SPLASH WALLS: The walls of a tile drainboard or bathtub.
SPLICED YARN -- The joining of two yarn ends together with latex. Latex may attract and hold soil.
Split -- separations of wood fiber running parallel to the grain.
SPLIT L CUT: An improper "L" cut that is made by splitting a tile instead of cutting it.
SPLUSH -- A construction in which the carpet is about half-way in appearance between a shag and a plush.
SPONGE CUSHION -- A carpet cushion made of chemically blown sponge, including both waffle or flat surfaces.
SPOTS: Small pieces of tile placed on a wall or floor surface to align the screeds or setting bed. Spots of casting plaster also may be used.
Springer --A unit that is located at the spring line of an arch.
SPROUTING --A condition in new carpet caused by long ends of pile protruding above the surface of the rug, which were unclipped during the factory shearing process. They should never be pulled out, but may be clipped off with scissors level with the pile surface.
SPUN DYED -- (See SOLUTION DYED.)
Square edge -- a flooring that is not tongue and grooved. Square edge strip flooring is a face nailed when installed ( also see jointed flooring.)
Square joint -- tongue and groove strip or plank flooring with edges that are not eased or beveled.
Squares -- parquet usually composed of an equal number of slats.
STABILIZING -- Treating a fabric so that it will not shrink or stretch more than a certain percentage.
STAIN -- (CARPET)-The result of a foreign substance being deposited on a carpet with no success in removal
             (WOOD)-A discoloration occurring in or on flooring of any color other than the natural color of the species. For instance, blue stain, brown stain.
STANDARD GRADE CERAMIC TILE: Highest grade of all types of ceramic tile.
STAPLE -- Relatively short, natural or man-made fibers, ranging from approximately 1-1/2 inches to 7 inches in length, which are spun into yarn.
STATIC COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION (C.O.F.): Slip resistance. The degree of slip resistance presented in a quantitative number that expresses the degree of slip resistance. Slip resistance is evaluated by the horizontal pull method (ASTM C1028). There is no current ANSI requirement. A coefficient of friction of 0.5 and above is the recognized industry standard for a slip resistant floor.
STATIC SHOCK --The discomfort experienced by a person touching a conductive object and grounding to earth a static charge accumulated in the body by external friction.
STAY TACKING -- Temporary tacking of the carpet in stages during a long stretch with the power stretcher or knee kicker to "hold the stretch" until the end of the carpet can be kicked over the pins or permanently fastened in place.
STEP RETURN -- A bottom step, the nosing of which extends out considerably over the riser. It is frequently wider than the rest of the stairs, and is usually curved at the ends. Known also as a bullnose.
Sticker stain -- indentation or compression of the lumber or other wood product by the stick when the superimposed load is too great for the stick bearing area.
STIFFNESS -- Ability of a fiber or fabric to resist bending.
STITCH LENGTH -- The length of yarn from which a stitch is made.
STITCH RATE -- The number of lengthwise yarn tufts in one inch of tufted carpet.
STOCK DYED -- Fiber dyed before being carded or spun. (See DYEING.
STOCK DYED YARN--Surface yarn spun from fiber that has already been dyed in staple form, usually in large quantities. Compare SKEIN DYED YARN.
STONED: Use of a carborundum stone to smooth rough edges caused by cutting.
STOP MARKS -- A mark across the width of tufted carpet caused by off-standard feed relationship of either yarn or cloth feed or both on the start-up of the machine.
STORY POLE: A measuring stick created for a particular tile installation whose unit of measure is the width of a single tile and grout joint rather than inches. This tool gives tile setters a quick, efficient means of determining how many tiles will fit in a given area and where to position layout lines.
STRAIGHT JOINT: The usual style of laying tile where all the joints are in alignment
STRAIGHTEDGE: A straight piece of wood or metal which is used to rod mortar and to align tile.
STREAK --(CARPET) A discoloration or irregularity extended as a stripe in the carpet,
               (WOOD)-( see mineral streaks)
STRETCHER: Trim shapes of tile between trim angles.
STRETCHING -- The applying of tension to carpet during installation.
STRIA or STRIPED -- A striped effect obtained by loosely twisting two strands of one shade of yarn with one strand of a lighter or darker shade. The single yarn appears like irregular stripes.
STRIKING JOINTS: A process of removing excess grout from the joints by wiping them with a sponge or cloth, or by scraping them with a curved instrument.
Strip flooring -- solid boards to be installed in parallel rows now produced in these thicknesses: 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, 33/32 seconds inch, and these widths:1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 2 1/4 inch, and occasionally 3 1/4 inch. The strips are tongue and grooved and end matched. They are for nail down insulation directly to wood or plywood subfloors; or over wood screeds on concrete slab construction.
STRUCTURAL DEFECTS: Cracks or laminations in the tile body which detract from the aesthetic appearances and/or structural soundness of the installation.
STUD -- one of a series of slender wood structural members used as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
STUFFERS -- Extra yarns, usually jute, running lengthwise through the back of woven carpet, to increase bulk, weight, and thickness of the fabric.
SUBFLOOR: A rough floor - plywood or boards - laid over joists and on which an underlayment or substrate is installed.
SUBSTRATE: 'The underlying support for ceramic tile installations.
Surround --An encasement of an opening.
SWATCH -- Small piece of fabric used as a representative sample of the goods.