Terminology, a glossary of tile & related terms
| Term | Definition | Use |
| Adhesive | Glue used to stick tiles to wall or floor | Common brands RLA, Davco, ASA, Laticrete |
| Bicottura | Twice fired/double fired | Fire the base once, then glaze and fire again – makes the body much harder |
| Biscuit | The clay from which a tile is pressed | People often describe a glazed tile as having a red or white biscuit (or bisque.) |
| Body Tile | Main tile AKA Field tile | Either the plain tile where a decorator or feature tile is used with, or describes the bulk of the tile |
| Bullnose | Either a round edge or return edge | Usually used on steps, or to finish a top course of tiles |
| Capping Tile | Usually used to finish a top course of tiles, usually rounded or decorative profile | |
| Cove | Trim with one edge a concave; used to form a junction between the bottom wall course and the floor | Prevents dirt building up in the joint between wall and floor, also provides a harder skirting than glazed wall so prevent damage to walls when cleaning (from mop/brooms hitting) |
| Crazing | When glazed cracks | Sometimes can be decorative, or may result from age and exposure to the environment |
| Decorative tile | Anything used for aesthetics only | |
| Extruded Tiles | Raw materials are forced through a mold then cut into shape | E.g. Terracotta |
| Face | The top of the tile | |
| Field Tile | Main tile AKA Body tile | Either the plain tile where a decorator or feature tile is used with, or describes the bulk of the tile |
| Glaze | Thin glassy ceramic coating | matt, Satin, gloss etc can be wall or floor – floor glazed strength measure PEI |
| Gloss | Glazed tile with high shine finish | See Futuris Series glazed walls |
| Grout | Material used to fill in joints between tiles | Can be white or coloured, may be modified or epoxy |
| Impervious Tile | Has water absorption of less than 0.5% | AKA vitrified, or porcelain |
| Jolly | Tile edges cut at 45 degrees to make a neat external edge | See M15 Helsinki, AKA Mitred Edge |
| Listello | Pencil tile, feature strip tiles | See CRM series (200x12mm) |
| Matt Finish | Dull finish to glazed or unglazed tile | See Glennon M15 series, and FM6… |
| Mesh backed | Mosaics joint together by the factory to form a sheet | To enable easier and neater fixing, mesh can be paper, cotton, fibre, resin… |
| Mitred Tiles | See jolly | E.g. |
| Monocottura | Once fired | |
| Mosaic | Small tiles, supplied on sheets | Can be glass, glazed, unglazed marble etc (Glennon Glass Mosaic & Bauhaus series) |
| Paper faced | Mosaic tiles sheeted by the factory with paper on the front, which is removed after adhering to the surface | See Glennon glass mosaics, benefit of paper faced sheeting is that tile adhesive can cover 100% of the back of the tile, where mesh backed cannot achieve this, the paper does not go to the edge of the sheet of tiles, so fixers can still line up the joints between the sheets |
| PEI | Porcelain Enamel Institute | PEI 1-5 (5 being strongest) Measures glaze durability |
| Porosity | level of water absorption | |
| Porcelain | Tiles with water absorption levels <.5%, durable tiles may be glazed or unglazed | |
| Pressed Tiles | Clay is pressed into shape before firing | |
| Quarry Tiles | Tiles made by extrusion, natural clay tiles with water absorption level <6% | E.g. Terracotta. Other tiles are usually PRESSED |
| Ramp test | Test using a ramp and oil, inclined and measured by a person walking up the ramp to establish slip resistance | Results either R9 (least slip resistant) to R12 (most resistant) Check HB197 to see recommended rating for particular areas |
| Rectified | Edges of tile cut back after firing | cut edges, usually very straight, often allows a narrower grout joint, can be on glazed (F725) or unglazed tiles (see Pietra Series) |
| Skirting tiles | Bottom row of wall tiles | Can be coved or not, can be floor or wall tile, usually used to protect the wall |
| Spacers | Plastic pieces used to ensure even joint widths | Usually tile Crosses or wedges (standard sizes 1.5mm 3mm and 5mm |
| Slip resistant tiles | Tiles manufactured to reduce slipperiness | Can be glazed (usually have grit added to the glaze), or unglazed, unglazed may have a textured surface. In Australia slip resistance is measured by 3 tests. Ramp test, Wet pendulum test, and Wet barefoot test. Standard for measuring slip resistance is AS/NZS 4586:2004 |
| Step Treads | Trim tiles for stairs featuring ribs or abrasive strips to prevent slipping | See 2 examples Glennon ST9 with ribs and Glennon Q10RL512. On commercial projects a contrasting colour steptread needs to be used to highlight the edge and reduce chance of people tripping |
| Tactile Indicators | Studded tiles used to assist vision impaired people, can be hazard (studs) or directional (ribbed) | AS1428 – part 4 & Building Codes of Australia. General notes: Must be a contrasting colour to its surrounds, used at top and bottom of ramps and stairs. Either 300 or 600mm widths to denote top or bottom of ramp/steps etc – check standard |
| Terracotta | Unglazed porous tile (has high water absorption) | Usually different shades of Red |
| Unglazed tile | Hard Fired glazed tile that has colour that runs throughout the body of the tile | |
| Vitreous (vitrified) Tile | Tiles with water absorption levels <.5%, durable tiles may be glazed or unglazed | |
| Wall Tiles | Usually glazed as mechanical strength & abrasion & impact resistance not usually a consideration although unglazed also suitable | |
| Wet Barefoot Test | Australian test to determine slip resistance in areas were people are normally barefoot and water is present | Results from A-C (A lowest, C highest), all suitable for certain areas, normally pools, and pool surrounds or showers. Check HB197 to see recommended rating for particular areas |
| Wet Pendulum Test | Australian test using a pendulum to determine slip resistance | Results from V – Z, V highest slip resistance to Z lowest. Check HB197 to see recommended rating for particular areas |