Word of the Day
19 May 2026
water popping
nounCarpentry
A technique used to open the grain of wood flooring by introducing clean water to its surface before staining and finishing it.
Why this one
The name is literal: the fibers crushed flat by the sanding drum swell and stand back up. Floor guys use it to get a darker, more even stain, and the risk is in the application, since any lap or dry patch shows up in the finish.
In use
We're water popping this whole floor before the stain goes down, so nobody walks on it till tomorrow morning.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.Sources
- Definition sourceWiktionary