Grout
& Tile Dictionary
- A -
Abrasion Resistance
-- A measure of the ability of a tile to withstand wear by friction.
Absorption -- The penetration of water into the particles of a tile.
- B -
Biscuit -- The clay body with no glaze applied. The side under
the glaze of the tile (i.e., the body).
Bicottura Tiles (Double-Fired)
-- Glazed tiles produced by an initial
firing of the shaped, raw materials to produce a hard tile body or bisque and
then a re-firing of the bisque once the glaze or decoration has been applied.
Brush Hammered -- An uneven surface to the tile.
Bull-Nose Tiles -- Trim tiles featuring one rounded edge used to finish
wall installations or trim outside corners.
- C -
Ceramic Tile -- A ceramic surfacing unit, usually relatively thin,
composed of a clay body or a body composed of a mixture of ceramic materials,
and having a glazed or unglazed surface. Ceramic tiles are used principally for
decorative effects and sanitary purposes.
Clay -- Earth which has been processed in the course of
millenniums resulting from the disintegration of volcanic rocks.
Cotto -- A natural red clay fired tile.
Crazing -- A fine hair-line cracking which sometimes appears on the
glazed surface of a tile caused by tensile stress between the tile body and the
glaze. May also be produced intentionally for decorative effect.
Cushioned Edges -- Rounded corners rather than square.
- D -
Dust-Pressed Tiles
-- Raw materials are dried and pressed into shape
before firing. The powder-like condition of clay that is die-stamped to the
desired shape.
- E -
Earthenware -- Non vitreous, opaque ceramic
white ware, glazed or
unglazed.
Expansion Joints -- A joint in an installation sometimes filled with an
elastic material, which will permit expansion, contraction or other movement
without the development of excessive stresses or damage to the installation and
to the tiled floor.
- F -
Frit -- The raw material used for producing the glaze.
Frost-Proof Tiles -- The qualification of a tile to withstand
temperatures of below Zero (0) centigrade.
- G -
Glazing -- Processing phase during which the support is covered with a
layer of very fine particles which form the glossy and decorated surface of the
tile.
Grout -- The material used in installations to fill the joints between
tiles.
- I -
Impervious Stoneware Tiles (Porcelain) -- Also known as China, these are
unglazed tiles composed of raw materials which produce a non-porous bisque of
high mechanical strength.
Inserts -- Small, sometimes decorative tiles, used in combination with
larger or plain tiles to create patterns.
- J -
Jolly Tiles (Mitered Tiles) -- Tiles mitered along one or two edges used
in corner and counter edge installation.
- L -
Listellos -- Glazed color trim and decorative accessories, usually for
wall tile.
Lug(s) -- Small button-like protuberances on the underside of many
Italian produced tiles to facilitate adhesion.
- M -
Matt Finish -- A glazed surface with very little shine. Sometimes called
Satin.
Monocottura Tiles (Single-Fired) -- Glazed tiles produced by the
single-fired method in which the raw tile body and glaze undergo a single pass
through the kiln. Also called Monoporosa.
Mortar -- Tile setting material.
- P -
Pencils -- Thin, glazed trim, usually 3/8" by 6" in length.
Comes in decorative colors.
Picket -- A picket shaped tile which may be used alone or as a border for
squares creating a more intricate pattern.
Pillowed Edges -- Same as cushioned edges. Softly turned rather than
square edge.
Polished -- A clay or marble tile that has a shine due to a friction type
of sanding.
- Q -
Quarry Tile -- A natural clay tile.
- R -
Red Body Clay (Bisque)
-- A natural clay that is fired for strength. The
color is
brown in its raw state, but turns red under heat.
Red Stoneware Tiles
-- Tiles composed of typically Italian raw materials
which produce a red, vitrified tile body suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
Generally unglazed.
Ribbed Finish -- A ridged or ribbed tile face which provides a slip
resistant surface.
Rustic Finish -- A rough or uneven tile surface designed for a
non-mechanical or artisan effect.
- S -
Sealer -- Clear coatings sometimes applied to unglazed tile floors to
protect the surface from grease spills or add luster to a surface.
Silk-Screening -- Glazing phase in which the glaze is enriched with
different decorative patterns.
Single-Fired -- A system called Monocottura where the glazed and clay
bisque is fired at one time.
Slip-Resistant Tiles -- Tiles treated to prevent slipping, particularly
for commercial showers or swimming pools. An abrasive grit is often added to the
surface of glazed tiles.
Spacers -- Small plastic or wood pieces used during installation to
maintain even joint wrath between tiles.
- T -
Terracotta -- Traditional Italian raw material used to produce unglazed
red body tiles generally extruded and 1/2" thick or more. Surfaces may be
rustic or smooth and waxed for lustre. Red clay.
Thick-Bed -- Method of installation using cement based mortar applied in
a minimum thickness of 3/4" to create the backing surface on which tiles
will be installed.
Thin-Set -- Alternative to thick-bed installation, using a bond-coating
less than 1/8" thick. Requires a level and sound surface for success.
Trim Tiles -- Designed to meet requirements of specific applications.
- U -
Unglazed Tiles -- Tiles left untreated after firing. Highly durable.
- V -
Veined -- A design that imitates the coloring in marble.
- W -
White Body Clay -- The clay compound that is formed by using only white
clays.
Fun Tile Facts
 | Clay bricks were dried beneath the sun |
| Chinese glaze was produced during the
Shang-Yin Dynasty (1523-1028 BC). |
| In the early days, the tiles were
hand-made |
| Ceramic tile is used almost everywhere
inside or outside - on walls, floors, ceilings, fireplaces, in murals, and
as an exterior cladding on buildings. |
| Today ceramic tile is not
"hand-made" or "hand-painted" automated manufacturing
techniques are used and the human hand does not enter into the picture until
it is time to install the tile. |
| Ceramic tiles are processed at a high
temperature at some time during their manufacture. In the ceramic industry,
this heat treatment is usually referred to as "firing" and
furnaces in which the heat treatment is performed are called
"kilns." The temperatures used in firing ceramic products range
from approximately 1100 degrees F. to 3200 degrees F. Temperatures as high
as 4200 degrees F. can be obtained in some special type kilns. |
| The majority of raw materials used by
the ceramic industry are the oxides of metals. The three metals which have
been the mainstays of the industry for many years are clay, flint, and
feldspar. |
| Ceramics are defined as products made
from inorganic materials having non-metallic properties, usually processed
at a high temperature at some time during their manufacture. |
| The word "ceramics" comes from
the Greek word "Keramos" meaning "Pottery,"
"Potter's Clay," or "a Potter." This Greek word is
related to an old Sanskrit root meaning "to burn" but was
primarily used to mean "burnt stuff." |
| Granite is volcanic (or Igneous) rock.
When molten material from the Earth's core called "magma" comes up
to just beneath the Earth's surface and cools, it becomes Granite. Granite
is very hard and extremely durable. It has a very grainy structure and can
be polished well. This type of stone comes in a variety of colors ranging
from salt and pepper to reddish brown to jet black. |
| Slate is a shale-type stone, having a
straight cleavage. It is sedimentary in its origin often formed by a
consolidation of volcanic ash. Colors range from black, grey & green to
reddish brown. |
| Ceramic Tile is a man-made product |
| Marble, Granite, Slate, Limestone and
Quartzite are natural products made by Mother Nature. |
| Marble has been used for centuries |
| Limestone is a layered (or Sedimentary)
rock. Primarily composed of calcium (from seashells), it is the original
rock from which marble is created |
| Quartzite is a stone composed of grains
of Quartz cemented together by Silica. It is a firm and compact stone
with a body harder than marble. Its color is a blend of light & dark
grays and silver with flecks of quartz lending a sparkle. Some stones have
swatches of orange-rust running throughout.. |
| Ceramic tile can make an excellent hot
plate |
| Ceramic tile increases the value of your
home |
| Slate can be used indoors and outdoors
and offers a natural non-slip surface. It can be used almost anywhere -
residential and commercial, on walls, roofs, shower enclosures, around pools |
| The proper installation of tile will
bring a lifetime of function and beauty. |
| Glazes that are on ceramic tile are a
liquid glass applied by either being sprayed or poured onto its surface. It
is then fused to the body of the tile using tremendous heat during the
firing process |
| When hygiene is a concern, the perfect
choice for any environment would be ceramic tile. Most ceramic products do
not retain liquids, absorb fumes, odor or smoke. |
| ceramic material is the most stain
resistant building product in the world |
| Porcelain Tile is suitable for exterior
floors and walls in freezing and non-freezing climates. Porcelain can
withstand the heaviest of traffic. Porcelain is the strongest of all tiles
to help ensure a long, beautiful life. Porcelain tile can be used for
commercial use and residential. |
| Ceramic Tile is made from clay and other
ceramic material. Ceramic tile can have a glazed or unglazed face, and is
fired above red heat to produce special physical properties and
characteristics. Though not as durable as porcelain, ceramic is a strong
type of tile suitable for light commercial and residential indoor uses. |
| Quarry tile is made from natural clay or
shale. Mainly used outdoors and in commercial kitchens, equipped with an
abrasive or non-abrasive surface. Quarry is slip resistant and used for
industrial applications requiring high compressive strength. |
| Marble is a natural stone that is
quarried directly from the earth. It has a variegated appearance made from
metamorphic rock that consist of calcite or dolomite. Marble can be used
mainly for indoor use, not exterior use. |
| Tumbled Marble is a natural stone that
is tumbled to distress a look of age. Tumbled stone has a weathered surface
and worn edges that lend an air of rustic elegance to any home. Tumbled
marbles are mostly used indoors and recommended to be sealed. |
| Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock
composed mainly of quartz and mica; this is as hard as a diamond. It has a
variety of striking colors. |
| The average ceramic tile contactor gets
15-20 dollars per square foot to set the tile |
| The newest thing to do with tile is to
tile all the floor in your home, including bedrooms and living room |
| Putting cement backer-board and tile on
your walls makes them more sound proof than sheetrock and paint, and easier
to clean. |
| Uses real rock in your kitchen flooring
makes it seem like your outside, and is cool to walk on. |
| Lying on a heated ceramic tile floor is
cozy and relaxing |
| If you drop a can of soup on ceramic
tile it will chip the tile and you will be able to see the brisk of the tile
(usually white or red), If you drop a can of soup on porcelain tile it will
chip the tile and you will see the same solid color all the way though the
tile. |
| Tile styles change every couple of
months, just as fashion does, make sure you always buy extra tiles and save
them. They won't be available in a couple of months, let alone years.
You'll never know when you might need one. |
