20 Flooring Flashcards
1
Q
What is the primary function of flooring in a building?
A
To provide a durable surface that can withstand foot traffic and environmental conditions.
2
Q
What components usually make up a flooring system?
A
Underlayment, subflooring, and structural members such as joists and girders.
3
Q
True or False: All flooring materials can withstand moisture equally well.
A
False
4
Q
What must be done before installing new flooring in damp locations?
A
Correct underlying moisture problems.
5
Q
What types of flooring are considered in the flooring choices?
A
- Solid wood
- Engineered wood
- Laminate
- Resilient flooring
- Bamboo
- Cork
- Tile & stone
- Concrete
6
Q
What is the durability rating for solid wood flooring?
A
Good
7
Q
Fill in the blank: Engineered wood flooring is essentially an upscale _______.
A
plywood
8
Q
What are the common thicknesses for solid-wood strip flooring?
A
3/4 in. and 1/2 in.
9
Q
What type of flooring accounts for roughly 90% of hardwood installations?
A
Red and white oak
10
Q
What is a disadvantage of wood flooring?
A
Scratches, dents, stains, and susceptibility to moisture.
11
Q
What is a characteristic of engineered wood flooring compared to solid wood?
A
More dimensionally stable and suitable for areas with fluctuating humidity.
12
Q
What is the typical wear layer thickness range for engineered wood flooring?
A
3/32 in. to 1/4 in.
13
Q
True or False: Prefinished wood flooring requires sanding after installation.
A
False
14
Q
What is a unique feature of cork flooring?
A
It is sound deadening and nonallergenic.
15
Q
What is the harvesting frequency for cork oak trees?
A
Every 10 to 12 years.
16
Q
Fill in the blank: Bamboo flooring can be sanded and refinished as often as _______.
A
hardwood floors
17
Q
What is the primary material used in laminate flooring?
A
Photographic images covered by a melamine layer.
18
Q
What is a disadvantage of laminate flooring?
A
It cannot be refinished.
19
Q
What is the maintenance requirement for resilient flooring?
A
Sweep or damp mop regularly.
20
Q
What flooring type is known for having a fine-pored texture and is sustainably harvested?
A
Coconut palm
21
Q
What is a common installation method for engineered wood flooring?
A
Stapled, glued, or floated.
22
Q
What flooring type is characterized by being soft underfoot and having 100 million air-filled cells per cu. in.?
A
Cork flooring
23
Q
What type of flooring can be replaced easily without glue?
A
Snap-together panels
24
Q
What is the most common type of laminate flooring?
A
Snap-together planks that float above a substrate.
25
What are some advantages of laminate flooring?
* Affordable
* Almost indestructible
* Colorfast
* Dimensionally stable
* Easy to clean
26
What are the disadvantages of laminate flooring?
* Dents exposing fiberboard core
* Cannot be refinished
* Not suitable for high-humidity areas or concrete basements
27
What are the two principal types of resilient flooring?
* Vinyl
* Linoleum
28
What materials make up linoleum?
* Linseed oil
* Powdered wood or cork
* Ground limestone
* Resins
* Backed with jute fiber
29
When was linoleum patented?
1863
30
What are the characteristics of linoleum that make it suitable for kitchens and baths?
* Comfortable underfoot
* Water-resistant
* Durable
31
What is vinyl flooring short for?
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
32
What determines the grade of vinyl flooring?
The thickness of its top layer, known as the wear layer.
33
What is the importance of sealing tile and stone flooring?
To resist staining and absorbing water.
34
What is the exception to sealing stone flooring?
Soapstone should be left unsealed.
35
What are the advantages of carpeting?
* Soft and warm underfoot
* Deadens sound
36
What is the relationship between carpet pile density and quality?
The denser the pile, the better the carpet quality.
37
What are some common materials used in carpeting?
* Wool
* Polyester
* Nylon
* Olefin
* Acrylic
38
What are the disadvantages of carpeting?
* Hard to keep clean
* Harbors dust mites and pet dander
* Poor choice for below-grade installations
39
What is the first step in refinishing wood floors?
Determine whether to lightly sand and apply a new coat or strip the finish completely.
40
What should you check before using sanding equipment?
Inspect electrical cords and plugs for frays.
41
What safety equipment should be used when refinishing floors?
* Organic-vapor respirator
* Long sleeves
* Gloves
42
What should be done with sparks or open flames during sanding?
Turn off pilot lights for water heaters, ranges, and furnaces.
43
What is a sign that a floor may contain lead paint?
If it was painted before 1978.
44
What are the three tests to determine a floor finish?
* Wax test
* Shellac or varnish test
* Polyurethane test
45
What does a white spot after placing water on the floor indicate?
The presence of wax on the floor.
46
What should be done if the finish is shellac or varnish?
Sand it off completely and replace with polyurethane.
47
What is the significance of the wear layer in engineered flooring?
It determines how many times the floor can be sanded.
48
What is a common thickness for engineered flooring wear layer?
5/32 in.
49
What type of sander is preferred by professional refinishers?
Large belt sanders.
50
What is a caution when using a drum sander?
Always keep the machine moving to avoid gouging the wood.
51
What should you never use to remove a floor finish?
Chemical paint stripper.
52
What should you do when the sanding drum is down?
Always keep the machine moving.
## Footnote
This prevents gouging of the wood.
53
Why should you not use chemical paint strippers on floors?
They are caustic to wood and can create adhesion problems for new finishes.
## Footnote
Even small residues can cause issues.
54
When should you empty the sander bags?
When they become about one-third full.
## Footnote
Full bags are less efficient filters.
55
What grit sizes are typically used for aggressive sanding on the first pass?
36 grit sandpaper.
## Footnote
Use this for cupped or uneven boards.
56
What grit should be used for smoothing between coats of finish?
180 to 220 grit.
## Footnote
This applies to both oil-based and water-based finishes.
57
What is the recommended tool for sanding tight areas and corners?
Edger (disk sander).
## Footnote
Edgers can gouge quickly; practice on plywood first.
58
What safety equipment is recommended while sanding?
Close-fitting respirator, eye goggles, hearing protection, and disposable gloves.
## Footnote
Nitrile gloves are recommended for durability.
59
What should you do to protect your knees when sanding?
Wear comfortable knee pads.
## Footnote
Edging and hand scraping are hard on knees.
60
What type of vacuum is recommended for sanding dust?
Heavy-duty vacuum with HEPA filter.
## Footnote
A backpack vacuum is also a good option.
61
What is the purpose of buffer screens?
They are used to fine-sand a floor that’s been stripped or to sand between finish coats.
## Footnote
They hold on with friction.
62
What is the rule of thumb for sandpaper grit numbers?
The lower the grit number, the coarser the sandpaper.
## Footnote
Higher grit numbers indicate finer sandpaper.
63
What should you do before sanding floors?
Empty rooms of all movable items and cover fixed elements with plastic sheeting.
## Footnote
Use painter's tape to seal edges.
64
How should you start sanding a floor?
With the least aggressive sandpaper.
## Footnote
Switch to more aggressive grit if necessary.
65
What should you use to seal off doorways while sanding?
3-mil polyethylene sheeting and painter's tape.
## Footnote
This prevents dust migration.
66
What tool should be used to sink nail heads before sanding?
Nail set.
## Footnote
This ensures a smooth sanding surface.
67
What technique should be used for sanding with a drum sander?
Sand with the direction of the wood grain.
## Footnote
This minimizes scratches.
68
What is a recommended method for replacing a damaged floorboard?
Drill holes across it and pry it out or use a circular saw to cut it.
## Footnote
Ensure to find a matching replacement board.
69
What is the purpose of back-beveling the lower edges of a new board?
To make the replacement fit more easily.
## Footnote
This is especially important for tongue-and-groove boards.
70
What should you do after each sanding pass?
Use an edger to sand along the perimeter of the room.
## Footnote
Use the same grit sandpaper as the drum sander.
71
What should you do to prevent gouging with an edger?
Cover the edger bumper with masking tape.
## Footnote
Alternatively, have a helper shield the woodwork.
72
What is the recommended sanding pattern for overlapping passes?
Overlap sections slightly.
## Footnote
Maintain a two-thirds length for the first pass.
73
What should you do if an edger is sanding too aggressively?
Switch to the next finer grit.
## Footnote
Adjust sanding disks more often if necessary.
74
What is the final step after using an edger?
Finish up by hand scraping and sanding in tight corners.
## Footnote
This is tedious but necessary for a clean finish.
75
What should you do if sanding is too aggressive?
Switch to the next finer grit
76
What is the purpose of hand scraping and sanding?
To take care of areas the edger can’t reach, such as corners and under cabinet toekicks
77
What should be done before switching to the next finer grit after sanding?
Vacuum the room well
78
What grit screens are recommended for screening floors between finish coats?
100-grit or 120-grit screens
79
What is the process called when you wet-sponge the floor the night before screening?
Popping the grain
80
What are the two main categories of floor finishes?
* Penetrating sealers (penetrants)
* Surface finishes
81
What do penetrating sealers typically contain?
Plant-based oils, such as tung oil or modified linseed oil
82
What is a disadvantage of surface finishes compared to penetrating sealers?
They can’t be touched up when worn, requiring full refinishing
83
What are the different sheens available for surface finishes?
* Matte
* Satin
* Semigloss
* Gloss
84
What is a characteristic of water-based polyurethanes?
Tough, nonyellowing, relatively mild smelling, and fast drying
85
What is the recommended applicator for applying penetrating-oil finishes?
Lamb’s wool applicator
86
Fill in the blank: Use a _______ to apply a water-based polyurethane finish.
Synthetic brush
87
What should you avoid doing when mixing clear floor finishes?
Shaking the can
88
What is the ideal indoor condition for installing hardwood flooring?
60ºF to 80ºF
89
What should you do to ensure a varied mix of color and grain when installing strip flooring?
Use wood from several different bundles or cartons
90
What type of subflooring is commonly used?
CDX plywood or OSB panels
91
What should be left between square-edged panels of subflooring?
1/8-in. gaps
92
What is the purpose of underlayment?
To level out irregularities and act as a cushioning layer
93
What type of underlayment is sometimes used in dry, above-grade applications?
Felt paper
94
What role does underlayment play in flooring?
Underlayment acts as a cushioning layer and can telegraph gaps or an uneven substrate.
95
What types of materials can be used as underlayment?
Underlayment materials include padding beneath carpeting, foam layers for engineered wood, and felt paper for dry, above-grade applications.
96
What is a common characteristic of underlayment intended for below-grade use?
It often combines a vapor barrier with some kind of foam cushioning.
97
What is the recommended indoor humidity range for flooring installation?
35% to 55%.
98
What moisture content (MC) is typical for wood flooring?
6% to 10%.
99
What should the moisture content of the subfloor be in relation to the flooring?
The subfloor’s MC should not vary more than 4% from that of the flooring’s.
100
What should be checked if installing floors over a basement or crawlspace?
Check the humidity of the area.
101
What is a recommended method to limit moisture and air infiltration in crawlspaces?
Cover dirt floors with plastic and seal them.
102
What is more important in older houses, solidness or flatness of floors?
Flatness.
103
What is the maximum allowable deviation for flatness in flooring?
Within 1⁄2 in. per 10 ft.
104
What is the recommended method for correcting high spots on floors?
Use a rental edging sander or a woodworker’s belt sander with coarse sandpaper.
105
What should be used to build up low spots in flooring?
Strips of building paper or wood shims.
106
Why is masonry floor-leveling compound generally unsuitable beneath wood flooring?
Because flooring nails will fragment it and board flexion will fracture it.
107
What can be done to silence squeaks in flooring?
Screw down subflooring to joists near the squeak or nail it down with ring-shank or spiral nails.
108
What should be done to the floor before installation?
Vacuum and sweep it well.
109
When should building paper be stapled to the subfloor?
If the floor is over an occasionally damp basement or crawlspace.
110
What should be done if the subfloor areas are dry or if the floor is on an upper story?
Do not bother with building paper.
111
What should be done with baseboard molding before flooring installation?
Remove it if possible, or install quarter-round shoe molding to cover the expansion gap.
112
What tool is used to undercut door casings?
An undercut saw.
113
What is the function of a pneumatic floor nailer?
It drives nails or staples at the correct depth.
114
What should be done with doorway thresholds that are nailed down?
Remove them.
115
What should be done if doorway thresholds are glued down or set in mortar?
Simply butt the flooring to them.
