A to Z of Tile Terms
Bone up on the terminology surrounding tiles and ace your material selection in the next renovation
Janet Dunn
10 July 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
Don’t know your terracotta from your travertine, your bullnose from your bicottura? All trades have their jargon – a language professionals understand, but which can be bewildering for the consumer – and the tile trade is no exception. While buying tiles doesn’t require a degree in tile talk, it’s a big bonus to know some basic vocabulary.
Abrasion resistance: A tile’s ability to withstand foot traffic and friction. This determines how well a tile will wear.
Absorption: The amount of moisture a tile absorbs, expressed as a percentage. Vitrified porcelain rates low (less than 0.5 per cent); semi-vitrified tiles absorb 3 to 6 per cent and standard glazed wall tiles absorb between 10 and 20 per cent. This figure dictates where tiles should be used, and affects their durability with temperature fluctuations.
Absorption: The amount of moisture a tile absorbs, expressed as a percentage. Vitrified porcelain rates low (less than 0.5 per cent); semi-vitrified tiles absorb 3 to 6 per cent and standard glazed wall tiles absorb between 10 and 20 per cent. This figure dictates where tiles should be used, and affects their durability with temperature fluctuations.
Batch: A lot of identical tiles from the same production run. Colours vary from batch to batch. For a homogeneous look, use tiles with the same batch number in one area, especially with plain tiles.
Body: The primary structural part of a ceramic tile, excluding the glaze.
Bullnose: Tiles with a rounded finished edge, often used on kitchen countertops. Also known as ‘battiscopa’.
Body: The primary structural part of a ceramic tile, excluding the glaze.
Bullnose: Tiles with a rounded finished edge, often used on kitchen countertops. Also known as ‘battiscopa’.
Cement tiles: A pressed, not fired, tile. Handmade cement tiles, such as the ones in this kitchen, have hit the trend headlines because of their natural look that mellows with age. With a diverse range of classic and modern colours and patterns on offer, they are popular for indoor and outdoor floors.
Ceramic: Ceramic tiles are classified as non-porcelain and porcelain. Non-porcelain, usually with a decorative glaze, is softer and less durable than porcelain, which has a slightly different composition and has been fired at higher temperatures. For the tile shopper, ‘ceramic’ usually refers to non-porcelain ceramic. It’s suited to walls and floors and lighter wear than porcelain.
Ceramic: Ceramic tiles are classified as non-porcelain and porcelain. Non-porcelain, usually with a decorative glaze, is softer and less durable than porcelain, which has a slightly different composition and has been fired at higher temperatures. For the tile shopper, ‘ceramic’ usually refers to non-porcelain ceramic. It’s suited to walls and floors and lighter wear than porcelain.
Cotto: Italian for ‘cooked’. It refers to the firing process. ‘Monocottura’ tiles are fired once at a high temperature; the body and glaze of ‘bicottura’ tiles are fired separately, resulting in a less scratch-resistant tile that’s best suited to walls.
Cove: A concave trim tile used at the junction of a wall and floor, often in bathrooms and kitchens. It’s considered hygienic and easy to clean, but doesn’t come in all tile ranges.
Cove: A concave trim tile used at the junction of a wall and floor, often in bathrooms and kitchens. It’s considered hygienic and easy to clean, but doesn’t come in all tile ranges.
3D tiles: A three-dimensional tile with a sculpted surface, resulting from new tile technology. The effect can be subtle or dramatic.
Epoxy: A durable, stain- and chemical-proof, resin-based grout. It’s costly, has a plastic-like look and requires extensive clean-up of residue, but it sets faster than regular grout and means no more scrubbing.
Epoxy: A durable, stain- and chemical-proof, resin-based grout. It’s costly, has a plastic-like look and requires extensive clean-up of residue, but it sets faster than regular grout and means no more scrubbing.
Format: The size and shape of a tile. Formats range from tiny 15 x 15 millimetre mosaics to 400 x 400 millimetre formats and larger. Tiles come in square, rectangular and many other shapes. Format strongly affects the perceived size and shape of a space. As a rule, it’s best to use small tiles in small zones, such as backsplashes or feature areas. Large tiles are suited to spacious rooms, adding to the sense of openness and flow.
Finish: The processing of a tile to achieve surface appearance. There are many options, including matt, semi-polished, high gloss, hammered, honed and textured. Finish doesn’t just affect the feel of a space, but is an important factor for appearance, functionality and safety. It is best assessed hands-on at your tile supplier.
Glaze: A glassy opaque coating on a tile, fired for hardness. It forms a surface that is slippery when wet, but reduces porosity. Non-porcelain ceramics are often glazed and can add sparkle to backsplashes. Although porcelain doesn’t need glazing, glazed porcelain is a popular look. Glazes may be gloss, matt or satin and vary from fairly soft to diamond hard.
Granite: One of the hardest natural stones. It comes in tile or slab form and beats out other stone products for non-porosity and stain resistance, although it should be sealed in moisture-prone rooms. Great for floors.
Granite: One of the hardest natural stones. It comes in tile or slab form and beats out other stone products for non-porosity and stain resistance, although it should be sealed in moisture-prone rooms. Great for floors.
Honed: A semi-polished finish that gives a smooth but softer look than polished tiles. Honed tiles are less slippery and show dirt less readily than highly polished tiles. A good choice for high-traffic areas, it is mostly used with natural stone materials.
Inkjet printing: This has opened up a huge diversity of tile options. Stone and timber textures and images such as graffiti, fabrics and scenes can be replicated on ceramic tiles. Printing is surface-applied and may eventually wear with heavy use.
Inkjet printing: This has opened up a huge diversity of tile options. Stone and timber textures and images such as graffiti, fabrics and scenes can be replicated on ceramic tiles. Printing is surface-applied and may eventually wear with heavy use.
Lappato: A semi-polished finish on porcelain tiles.
Layout: The way tiles are arranged on a surface. The blue tiles here are laid in a simple stacked pattern, which gives a crisp, clean look to modern rooms.
Lippage: Tiles laid on an uneven or unstable substrate may subside in places with use, leaving some edges higher than others. It’s expensive to rectify so consider engaging a pro to ensure a level and stable substrate.
How to keep grout clean
Layout: The way tiles are arranged on a surface. The blue tiles here are laid in a simple stacked pattern, which gives a crisp, clean look to modern rooms.
Lippage: Tiles laid on an uneven or unstable substrate may subside in places with use, leaving some edges higher than others. It’s expensive to rectify so consider engaging a pro to ensure a level and stable substrate.
How to keep grout clean
Moroccan: Authentic cement Moroccan tiles are still handmade the traditional way, but many of the patterns and motifs have been replicated in modern ceramic and porcelain tiles for a look that taps into the ‘tribal trend’ sweeping interior design.
Mosaic: A ceramic tile around 15 millimetres square. Mosaics come in a variety of shapes and materials, glazed or unglazed, and are mounted on mesh backing for ease of laying. Companies such as Bisazza offer mosaics with a high glamour factor, using metallics and iridescent tiles for dramatic effects.
Mosaic: A ceramic tile around 15 millimetres square. Mosaics come in a variety of shapes and materials, glazed or unglazed, and are mounted on mesh backing for ease of laying. Companies such as Bisazza offer mosaics with a high glamour factor, using metallics and iridescent tiles for dramatic effects.
Pencil tiles, finger tiles: Narrow rectangular tiles, about 20 x 200 millimetres used as accents on walls.
Penny tiles: Small coin-shaped tiles laid in sheets. They can be ceramic, metal or glass and are used for borders, niches, accent strips or whole walls to add sparkle, depth and interest.
Quarry tiles: Unglazed extruded clay tiles with high density, hardness and slip resistance. Top-quality quarry tile is largely non-porous, especially when sealed or waxed. Natural colours, from rust and ochre to greys and browns, give spaces a warm mellow look.
Penny tiles: Small coin-shaped tiles laid in sheets. They can be ceramic, metal or glass and are used for borders, niches, accent strips or whole walls to add sparkle, depth and interest.
Quarry tiles: Unglazed extruded clay tiles with high density, hardness and slip resistance. Top-quality quarry tile is largely non-porous, especially when sealed or waxed. Natural colours, from rust and ochre to greys and browns, give spaces a warm mellow look.
Rectification: A process for correcting irregularities caused by firing of non-porcelain or porcelain tiles. Cutting or grinding creates near-perfect straight edges, reducing the need for wide grout to allow for slight edge differences. The result is a smooth, streamlined look with almost invisible grouting.
Sealant: A penetrating substance applied to porous tiles and grout to reduce staining from spills. Glazed tiles don’t need sealing.
Slate: A stone product characterised by natural cleaved layers and an uneven surface. Slate is enjoying a renaissance right now, with the latest versions honed to a smooth, low-sheen finish with narrow grout lines. Shades vary from charcoal and lilac to silver blue. It is hard-wearing and low-maintenance.
Slate: A stone product characterised by natural cleaved layers and an uneven surface. Slate is enjoying a renaissance right now, with the latest versions honed to a smooth, low-sheen finish with narrow grout lines. Shades vary from charcoal and lilac to silver blue. It is hard-wearing and low-maintenance.
Subway: A rectangular tile typically 75 x 150 millimetres, but available in ultra-slim formats of 70 x 240 millimetres and larger. Traditionally laid in brick pattern, or others such as chevron or herringbone.
Terracotta: A natural fired clay tile made from more refined and smoother clay than quarry tiles. Terracotta is growing in popularity, admired for its warmth and durability. It’s versatile too and can be used on floors, walls, cladding, fire surrounds, pool coping and outdoor surfaces.
Through-body, colour-body: The colour on the tile face continues through the body, so that chips and scratches aren’t obvious. Unglazed porcelain is a through-body tile. A glazed tile only has a surface coating of colour, which means it shows wear faster.
Travertine: These natural stone tiles are suitable for both indoor and outdoor flooring, but as they are highly porous, regular sealing is recommended to prevent stains and watermarks. Choose from a variety of colours, including ivory, gold and soft coral. Tumbled travertine is a popular choice for those looking for a soft, lived-in look.
Tumbled: A process applied to stone tiles to give them a soft, worn look with rounded edges and a chalky finish. Smaller tiles are tumbled in a drum, larger ones are hand- or machine-chipped to achieve the look.
Through-body, colour-body: The colour on the tile face continues through the body, so that chips and scratches aren’t obvious. Unglazed porcelain is a through-body tile. A glazed tile only has a surface coating of colour, which means it shows wear faster.
Travertine: These natural stone tiles are suitable for both indoor and outdoor flooring, but as they are highly porous, regular sealing is recommended to prevent stains and watermarks. Choose from a variety of colours, including ivory, gold and soft coral. Tumbled travertine is a popular choice for those looking for a soft, lived-in look.
Tumbled: A process applied to stone tiles to give them a soft, worn look with rounded edges and a chalky finish. Smaller tiles are tumbled in a drum, larger ones are hand- or machine-chipped to achieve the look.
Unglazed: An unglazed ceramic tile has a natural, earthy look and is slip resistant, making it suitable for outdoor areas. A clear sealant can be applied to unglazed tiles to improve water-resistance.
Vitrified: A fully vitrified tile has quartz and feldspar added before firing, creating a glass-like element in the tile body and a very low absorption rate of less than 0.5 per cent, compared to 3 to 5 per cent in a standard glazed ceramic tile. Vitrified tiles are suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Versailles: A method of laying tiles that uses four different sizes laid in a staggered formation, as shown above. Often used with stone tiles, and a job for a skilled tiler.
Vitrified: A fully vitrified tile has quartz and feldspar added before firing, creating a glass-like element in the tile body and a very low absorption rate of less than 0.5 per cent, compared to 3 to 5 per cent in a standard glazed ceramic tile. Vitrified tiles are suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Versailles: A method of laying tiles that uses four different sizes laid in a staggered formation, as shown above. Often used with stone tiles, and a job for a skilled tiler.
Wastage: The contingency allowed when ordering tiles to allow for breakage, faulty tiles, and cutting for awkward angles. Usually 10 per cent, higher if the area to be tiled is quite intricate. Allow for a small quantity to be set aside so you can replace any damaged tiles, or easily identify the batch or number reference.
Wall: It’s not rocket science, but tiles classified ‘wall’ or ‘floor’ aren’t interchangeable. Wall tiles won’t withstand traffic on the floor and floor tiles are usually too thick and heavy to put on walls.
TELL US
Have you got your eye on a particular tile for an upcoming reno? Tell us all about it the Comments below.
MORE
10 Unusual Tile Layouts Worth Considering
Wall: It’s not rocket science, but tiles classified ‘wall’ or ‘floor’ aren’t interchangeable. Wall tiles won’t withstand traffic on the floor and floor tiles are usually too thick and heavy to put on walls.
TELL US
Have you got your eye on a particular tile for an upcoming reno? Tell us all about it the Comments below.
MORE
10 Unusual Tile Layouts Worth Considering
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