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Glossary of Tiling Terms

Absorption	The amount of water absorbed by a tile.
Backing	Any material used as a base over which a finished material is to be installed.
Border tile	Borders can complement the prominent tile in a room, adding new colour or texture.
Ceramic	Ceramic tiles are made from clay and shale and are baked in one of a variety of ways to create different levels of durability and appearance. The higher the firing temperature, the harder the tile. Porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic tile.
Ceramic Tile Wear Ratings	A ranking system developed by the Porcelain Enamel Institute to identify the durability of tile, with Class 1 being the softest and Class 5 the most durable.
Field tile	The primary tile in a space.
Glaze	A coating added to tile during the firing process to add colour and texture.
Granite	An igneous rock, denser than marble, that is extremely durable and attractive when polished and is available in a number of colours.
Grout	A material made from cement and/or chemicals used for filling tile joints.
Honed	The holes in natural stone are filled to produce a smooth, polished surface.
Igneous Rock	Volcanic rock, the result of solidified molten lava.
Limestone	A natural, sedimentary rock that is readily available and long lasting. It is an attractive, light colour stone that has been used for centuries.
Listel	An alternative name for a border tile.
Marble	A natural metamorphic rock from limestone that gets its distinctive shine from a polishing process.
Metamorphic Rock	Rock that has been altered by intense heat and/or pressure.
Mortar	A material used to adhere tile and stone to the surface on which it is laid.
Mosaics	Small tiles of differing shapes and sizes, arranged to create a design.
Paver	Tiles used in an outdoor, high traffic area such as patios, driveways and pathways.
Polished	The surface of a stone is ground to produce a shiny finish.
Porcelain Tile	Porcelain Tile is a type of ceramic tile that uses a denser clay fired at a very high temperature to produce a harder tile. Porcelain is also stain, scratch and water resistant and requires minimal maintenance.
Sealer	A product applied to a porous or unglazed tile and to grout to prevent absorption of moisture and dirt.
Sedimentary Rock	Rocks formed of sediments arranged in layers from preexisting rocks or fossils.
Slate	A natural, metamorphic stone that features an attractive mix of grey, purple and black hues.
Terracotta	A natural tile that has a red and orange colouring due to the clay from which it is made. It is very absorbent and needs sealing.
Through bodied	Unglazed porcelain tile in which the colour comes from the body of the tile rather than glazing.
Travertine	A rock found extensively in Tivoli, Italy, from where its name is derived. The natural surface is dotted with small holes, which are often honed to make a smooth, shiny surface.
Underfloor warming systems	A heating system installed under tile and wood floors to produce warmth throughout the room.
Underlayment	A protective barrier between the tile and the surface on which it is installed, protecting the tile from moisture, stress, vapour, uncoupling, and other factors that could affect it.
Unglazed tile	Tile that gets its colour from the materials from which it is made. Unglazed tiles must be sealed to protect from moisture and debris.