Tile Glossary
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ADHESIVE, CERAMIC – Used when bonding
tile to a surface. Rubber solvents and rubber and resin-based
emulsions can both be used as adhesives.
BACKING - Material used as a base over which
a finished tile is to be installed.
BALANCED CUTS - Cuts of tile at the perimeter
of an area which will not take full tiles. Also refers to
the same sized cuts on each side of a miter.
BASE – The base is one or more rows
of tile which are installed above the floor.
BEATING BLOCK – This is a wooden block
used to embed tiles in a flat plane. The term used to describe
this is “beating in.”
BODY – Refers to the structural section
(and the material used) of a ceramic tile.
BUTTERING – This refers to the spreading
of a bond coat to the backside of the ceramic tile body.
CEMENT BODY TILE - Tiles with a structure
made from a mixture of sand and cement rather than clay.
CONDUCTIVE TILE - Made from a special body
composition or by methods resulting in specific properties
of electrical conductivity while retaining other normal physical
properties of tile.
COVE - A trim tile with one edge a concave
radius. Used to form a junction between the bottom wall course
and the floor or to form an inside corner.
CRAZING - The cracking which sometimes occurs
in fired, glazed, or other critical tensile stresses.
DECORATIVE TILE – A tile with a ceramic
decoration on the surface.
EMBOSSED - A decoration in relief or excised
on the wear surface.
EPOXY ADHESIVE - A two-part adhesive employing
epoxy resin and hardener. Used when bonding ceramic tile to
back-up material.
EPOXY GROUT - A two-part grout system consisting
of epoxy resin and hardener. Epoxy grout is resistant to stains.
FACIAL DEFECT – A section of the tile
surface with appears to have a flaw. That is, its aesthetic
appearance detracts from the overall beauty of the tile.
FEATURE STRIP - A narrow strip of tile with
contrasting color, texture, or design.
FIELD TILE - An area of tile which covers
a wall or floor.
FIRE, BISQUE - The process of kiln-firing
ceramic ware prior to glazing.
FIRE, DECORATING - The process of firing
ceramic or metallic decorations on the surface of glazed ceramic
tile.
FIRE, SINGLE - The process of maturing an
unfired ceramic body and its glaze in one firing process.
FIRING – One of the last steps in
the production of ceramic tiles using a kiln to produce desired
properties through controlled heat treatment.
FLOATING - A method of aligning the mortar
with the float strips or screeds using a straightedge. Also
sometimes referred to as dragging, pulling, or rodding.
FROST PROOF TILE - Product manufactured
for use where freezing and thawing occur. Tiles are designed
to resist the extreme cold.
GLASS MOSAIC TILES - Made of glass usually
in sizes not over 2" square and 1/4" thick mounted
on sheets of paper.
GLAZE - A liquid, glass coating applied
to the body surface of ceramic products. Also refers to the
material or mixture from which the coating is made. Bright
Glaze - A high-glass coating with or without color. Clear
Glaze Transparent with or without color. Crystalline Glaze
- Contains microscopic crystals. Frittat Glaze - Uses all
or part of prefused fluxing constituents. Matte Glaze - A
low-gloss glaze with or without color. Opaque Glaze - Nontransparent
coating with or without color. Raw Glaze - Compounded primarily
of raw constituents and contains no prefused materials. Semimatte
Glaze - A medium-gloss finish with or without color. Speckled
Glaze - Granules of oxides or ceramic stains of contrasting
colors.
GLAZED TILE - A fused, impervious facial
finish composed of ceramic materials fused to the body of
the tile which may be non-vitreous, semi-vitreous, vitreous,
or impervious.
GROUT - A cement used to fill tile joints.
HEAVY DUTY TILE - Tile suitable for areas
where heavy pedestrian traffic is prevalent.
IMPERVIOUS TILE – Absorbs less than
0.5% or less water.
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