Tile Glossary

Tile Industry Terminology Guide

Ceramic Tile: Ceramic tiles are made up of sand and clay, which are permanently hardened by heat and often have a decorative glaze. They are less strong than porcelain tiles, less dense, more porous, and absorb more water. Ceramic tiles are generally unsuitable for outdoor usage.

Porcelain Tile: Porcelain tiles are also made of clay but with finer particles compared to ceramic tiles, resulting in denser and less porous tiles. They are moulded and hardened using extreme heat and pressure. Porcelain tiles are long-lasting, resistant to heavy usage and extreme surroundings, making them suitable for outdoor use. They absorb very little water but can be slippery unless treated to be non-slip.

Glazed Porcelain Tile: Glazed porcelain tiles have a layer of glassware coated on top of ordinary porcelain tiles, providing an extra feature. These tiles are also known as semi-vitrified tiles.

Full-Bodied Porcelain Tile: Full-bodied porcelain tiles have the same colour throughout the entire body of the tile. This means that if the tile gets chipped or slightly damaged, the difference is hard to notice.

Vitrified Tile: Vitrified tiles are a type of ceramic tile with very low porosity. They are installed outdoors or in areas with heavy traffic due to their excellent weather-resistant qualities. Vitrified tiles are stronger than ordinary ceramic and porcelain tiles.

Encaustic Tile: Encaustic tiles have patterned or colourful surfaces that are a result of using different coloured clays during the moulding process, rather than applying glaze or paint.

Antique Finish Tile: Antique finished tiles undergo grinding down processes to create an antique-looking finish on the tile.

Crackle Glaze Finish: In crackle glazed finish, the glazed layer is intentionally cracked through various means to create an age-old effect. Modern crackle glazes are designed to crack during the drying process.

Iridescent Tile: Iridescent tiles are composed of a single main colour but appear as different colours when viewed from different angles or under different lights.

Polished Tile: Polished tiles, often porcelain tiles, are polished using abrasive wheels to create a high shine effect. They differ from glazed tiles.

Matt Finish Tile: A matt finish tile is characterised by a dull surface with no shine regardless of lighting conditions.

Semi-Polished Tile: In a semi-polished tile, only 50% of the surface area is polished with an abrasive wheel to create a shiny effect, while the other 50% remains textured and unpolished. They are also called Lappato tiles.

Double-Charged Porcelain Tile: A double-charged porcelain tile is specially designed to withstand heavy traffic. It has a thick layer of design over the top of the tile, typically 3-4mm. They are generally cheaper than full-bodied or vitrified tiles.

Beveled Edge Tile: A beveled edge tile is characterised by a slant down to a thinner edge. Beveled tiles reflect light from their beveled edges, adding more beauty to the tile.

Bullnose or Round Edge Tile: Bullnose tiles, also known as rounded edge tiles, have curved edges to create a rounded look. They can have a single-sided or double-sided rounded edge.

Inkjet Tile Printing: Inkjet printing is the process of printing designs and patterns on tiles using specialised inkjet printers. It allows for higher definition and accuracy in design details.

Shade Variation in Tiles: Shade variation refers to a slight change in the colour shade of tiles. It can be intentional to create a natural look, such as in wood-effect tiles, or it may be caused by ink running out and refilling during the printing process. Polished tiles do not have shade variations.

Tile Density: Tile density refers to the density of the composition of individual tiles, which depends on the material and production process.

Tile Water Absorption: Tile water absorption refers to the amount of moisture a type of tile absorbs.

Tile Biscuit: The biscuit of a tile refers to the main base structure of the tile.

Adhesive: An adhesive or glue is used to bond substances together, usually in liquid or semi-liquid form.

Blistering: Blistering refers to the development of closed or broken bubbles in the tile glaze or body during the firing process.

Bowing: Bowing, also known as warping, is caused during the heating and cooling process of the tiles. A certain degree of warping is acceptable within tiling standards and does not harm the surface, but it depends on the size of the tile.

British Standards: British standards refer to the tiling standards and regulations for the tiles and tiling industry in Britain.

Cove: Cove is a trim tile with one edge having a concave radius.

Cure Time: Cure time is the duration it takes for the setting material of a tile installation to reach its full strength. During this time, the tile should not be disturbed.

Cushion Edge Tiles: Cushion edge tiles have facial edges with some curvature, resulting in recessed joints.

Grout: Grout is used to fill the gaps between tiles. It is generally composed of silica sand, cement, chemical mix, etc. Grout prevents moisture or liquid from reaching the back of a tile and acts as a buffer to reduce the effects of vibration and temperature changes.

Heavy Duty Tile: Heavy-duty tiles are very strong and designed to withstand heavy traffic.

Lipping: Lipping refers to variations in the flatness of a tile. It may not be noticeable in smaller tiles but can be easily seen in larger tiles.

Micropores: Micropores are pores with a diameter less than 2 nanometers in any substance.

PEI Rating: PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating system is used worldwide to grade tiles based on their capacity to withstand wear and tear. It evaluates the finish of the tile.

Pot Life: Pot life refers to the duration for which a substance maintains its workable properties after being mixed.

Rectified Tile: A rectified tile is a tile that has clean edges on all sides. It is created by cutting the tile after the baking process.

Satin Finish: A satin-finished tile has a slight sheen and reflects light when viewed at a certain angle.

Sealant: A sealant is a film or penetrant used to prevent the absorption of liquids and other substances. 

Spacers: Spacers are plastic pieces used to maintain even distances between tiles during installation.

Splashback Tile: Splashback tiles are used to protect the wall behind a sink or cooker from water splashes and other liquids.