Ceramic  Tile Glossary:

  Glossary

Absorption-  The relationship of the weight of the water absorbed by a tile subjected to prescribed immersion procedure, to the weight of the dry tile, expressed in percent.

Backer Board- Water-resistant board used underneath a thinset installation. Also known as cementitious backer unit.

Bisque- Tile that has been fired once, but not glazed. Also known as biscuet or biscuit; also refers to a fired tile underneath a glaze.

Cementitious Board- Commercial name of glass mesh mortar underlayment unit which provides an excellent base for thinset, waterproof installations.

Clay- A Mixture of kaolin (aluminum silicate), quartz (sand), and traces of minerals such as iron and feldspar, which is plastic when wet.

Crazing- Fine hairline cracking on a glaze that can indicate age or stress. When used intentionally to create an aged effect, a crazed glaze will be indicated by the manufacturer.

Curing- Process during when a new installation sets.

Dust-Pressed- Tiles formed by compressing clay dust mixed with a small amount of moisture under great weight.

Efflorescence- Residue on surface of tile or grout joint formed by the crystallization of soluble salts.

Expansion Joint- A joint filled with flexible material, which can expand or contract slightly without cracking the surrounding tile.

Firing- The controlled heat temperature of tile in a kiln or furnace, during the process of manufacture, to develop the desired properties.

Frost Resistant- Suitable for outside installation in climates subject to extreme temperatures. Usually porcelain or glass.

Gauge- Thickness and size of tile.

Glaze- A glass compound colored with metal oxide that bonds chemically to the clay or bisque when fired.

Grout- Material used to fill in the spaces between tiles.

Impervious- Tiles that have minimal porosity (0.5 percent or less). Usually porcelain or glass.

Kiln- A oven for the controlled firing of tile.

Matte Glaze- A colorless or colored ceramic glaze having low gloss.

Mosaic- Small pieces of tile, glass, or stone laid to create a pattern. Also, the industry term for tiles with a facial area of less than 6 square inches.

Nonvitreous- Tiles that have a porosity of more than 7 percent.

Porosity- The property that determines the amount of water that the unglazed portion of the tile absorbs

Sealer- A coating that protects unglazed tile and grout from moisture and stains or adds luster.

Semi vitreous- Tiles with more than 3 percent and less than 7 percent porosity.

Terra-cotta- Traditional Italian raw material used to produce unglazed, red body tiles generally extruded and 1/2 inch thick or more. Surfaces may be rustic or smooth and waxed for luster.

Vitreous- Tiles that have a porosity of more than 0.5 percent but less than 3 percent; also known as vitrified.

 

Marble  Metamorphic rock composed wholly or in large part of calcite or dolomite crystals, the crystalline texture being the result of metamorphism of limestone by heat and pressure. The term marble is loosely applied to any limestone or dolomite that takes a good polish and is otherwise suitable as a building stone or ornament stone. Marble has a large color range and the colors, which are caused by the presence of impurities, are frequently arranged in bands or patches and add to the beauty of the stone when it is cut and polished.

Granite  Coarse-grained igneous rock of even texture and light color, composed chiefly of quartz and feldspars. It usually contains small quantities of mica or hornblende, and minor accessory minerals may be present. This material is more resistant to damage, harder, and more consistent than other stones.

Travertine A white concretionary form of calcium carbonate, usually hard and semi crystalline. It is deposited from the water of springs or streams holding lime in solution. Extensive deposits exist at Tivoli, near Rome. Travertine is generally less coarse- grained and takes a higher polish than stalactite and stalagmite, which are similar in chemical composition and origin.

Limestone A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime and is formed by the deposition and consolidation of the skeletons of marine invertebrates. Limestone is a sedimentary rock and is relatively soft. It has an extremely tight grained appearance. Among the important varieties of limestone are marl, chalk, iolite, travertine, dolomite, and marble.

Slate Fine-grained rock formed when sedimentary rocks such as shale are metamorphosed by great pressure. Slate splits into perfectly cleaved, broad thin layers; this is called slate cleavage. Slate is mined in Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Lake Superior, and the Rocky Mountains.

Onyx Variety of cryptocrystalline quartz, differing from agate only in the bands of which it is composed are parallel and regular. It's appearance is most striking when the bands are of sharply contrasting colors; black and white specimens are often used for cameos. Onyx was used in Roman times for the fabrications of vases and cups. "Onyx Marble," "Mexican Onyx," and "Oriental Alabaster" are terms applied to Travertine.