DASH COAT: A first coat of mortar sometimes applied to a smooth surface with a whisk broom or fiber brush in such a manner as to provide a good mechanical key for subsequent mortar coats.
DECAY-The decomposition of wood by fungi.
    Advanced Decay - The older stage of decay in which destruction is readily recognized by soft, pitted, or crumbly areas. Decided discoloration or bleaching of the rotted wood is often apparent.
    Incipient Decay - The early stage of decay that has not proceeded far enough to soften or otherwise perceptibly impair the hardness of the wood. It is usually accompanied by a slight discoloration or bleaching of the wood.
DECIDUOUS-(See Hardwoods)
DECORATIVE TILE: Ceramic tile with a decoration on the surface.
DEFLECTION: A variation in the position or shape of a structure element due to the effect of loads or volume change; usually measured as a linear deviation from an established plane rather than an angular variation.
DELAMINATION -- (CARPET)-Secondary back of tufted carpet is loose and peels off easily.
                           (WOOD)- The separation of layers in a laminate, through failure within the adhesive, or at the bond between adhesive and laminate.
DELUSTERED FIBER -- Man-made fiber on which the normally high sheen has been reduced
DENIER -- System of yarn count used for man-made fibers: number of grams per 9,000 meters of yarn length. The lower the denier, the finer the yarn.
DENSITY - AVERAGE -- The average density shall be that which defines weight per unit volume in terms commonly used for carpet; namely, ounces of total pile yarn per unit volume
Dentil --Block projections of an entablature below the cornice course.
Diabase - a dark-gray to black, fine-textured igneous rock, composed of the minerals feldspar and pyroxene
DIAGONAL CONDITIONS -- Bands or lines which run diagonally to the side edge.
DIFFERENTIAL DYEING FIBERS -- (Dye-Variant Fibers) Fibers, natural or man-made, so treated or modified in composition that their affinity for dyes becomes changed; i.e., to be reserved, dye lighter or dye darker than normal fibers, dependent upon the particular dyes and methods of application employed.
DIFFUSE- POROUS WOODS- Certain Hardwoods in which the pores tend to be uniform in size and distribution throughout each annual ring or to decrease in size slightly and gradually toward the outer border of the annual growth ring. (EXAMPLE: Hard Maple)
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY -- The ability of a fabric to retain its original dimensions.
DIRTY BACK -- Excess face yarn showing on the back of woven carpet. The usual causes are poor timing insufficient tension on the face yarn, excessively bulky face yarns, and insufficient stuffers.
DISTRESSED- A heavy artificial texture in which the wood floor has been scraped, scratched, or gouged to give it a timeworn antique look. (A common method of distressing is wire brushing.)
DIY -- Abbreviation for do-it-yourself.
DOPE COAT: See Pure Coat.
DOT-MOUNTED TILE: Tile packaged in sheet format and held together by plastic or rubber dots between the joints.
DOUBLE BACK -- A woven or non-woven material adhered to the backing of some carpet as additional reinforcement, to provide greater dimensional stability and improved tuft bind. Also known as scrim back.
DOUBLE BULLNOSE: A type of trim with the same convex radius on two opposite sides.
Dowel --Round (usually ) pin used in anchoring and aligning units.
DOWN ANGLE: Trim tile with two rounded or curved edges, which serve to finish an outside comer.
Drip --Continuous grove cut or cast into the bottom of the projecting edge of a unit in order to disrupt the capillary attraction of water to the wall below.
DROP-MATCH -- When the design in a carpet must be dropped in the next combining width of carpet to maintain the pattern.
DRY KILN- A room, chamber, or tunnel in which the temperature and relative humidity of air circulated through parcels of lumber, veneer, and other wood products can be controlled to govern drying conditions.
DRY ROT -- Is identified by loss of strength, generally in the backing, causing the material to break or tear easily. Associated with growth of bacteria and fungus on the back of the rug or carpet.
DRY-SET MORTAR: A mixture of Portland cement with sand and additives imparting water retentivity, which is used as a bond coat for setting tile. Normally, when this mortar is used, neither the tile nor the walls have to be soaked during installation.
Dry Tamp --See Vibro-Tamp
DRY WALL- Interior covering material, such as gypsum board, hardboard, or plywood, which is applied in large sheets or panels.
DUSTING: The application of dry Portland cement to a wet floor or deck mortar surface.
DUTCHMAN -- (CARPET)-Colloquial name for a narrow strip of carpet side-seamed to standard-width. broadloom to compensate for unusual offsets, sloping wall, etc.
                      (CERAMIC)- A cut tile used as a filler in the run of a wall or floor area.
DYEING -- The process of coloring materials; impregnating fabric with dyestuff.
Solution dyed -- Man-made fiber which is made from a colored solution; the filament is thus impregnated with the pigment.
2. Stock dyed -- Fiber dyed before spinning
3. Yarn (or skein) dyed -- Yarn dyed before being fabricated into carpet.
4. Piece dyeing unfinished carpet -- Carpet dyes "in a piece" after tufting or weaving but before other finishing processes such as latexing or foaming.
5. Cross dyeing -- Method of dyeing fabrics with dyestuffs which have different affinities for different types of yarns.
6. Space dyeing -- Process whereby different colors are "printed" along the length of yarn before it is manufactured into carpet.
7. Continuous dyeing -- The process of dyeing carpet or yarn in a continuous production line, rather than piece dyeing separate lots. Done using special continuous dyeing equipment which flows on dyestuffs, as distinguished from submerging carpet in separate dye becks.
DYE BECK -- A large vat into which roll lengths are submerged for piece dyeing
DYESTUFF -- The substance which adds color to textiles by absorption into the fiber or by chemical attachment.