Use and Care Guide

GLOSSARY
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Most product catalogs and specifications will provide
product-specific ASTM ratings such as abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, moisture absorption, chemical resis-
tance and breaking strength.
BACKING: Material used as a base over which a finished tile is to be installed.
BISQUE: The body of the tile.
BODY: The structural portion of a ceramic product and to the materials or mixture from which it is made.
BULLNOSE: A trim tile with a radius on one side. Used for finishing the top of a tub or shower and turning of an
outside corner.
BUTTERING: The spreading of a bond coat to the back of the ceramic tile immediately before tile is placed.
FIELD TILE: When creating a pattern with different ceramic tile, the more prominent tile that is throughout the
largest area is called the “field tile”.
GLAZED: Glazed ceramic tile are coated with glass forming minerals and ceramic stains. Typically, they have a
matte, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish. They can offer better stain and moisture resistance than unglazed tile. When
you look at a glazed tile from the side you can see 2 layers. The body of the tile, or the largest layer, is called the
bisque. The top layer is called the glaze. Glazed tiles have a hard non-porous, impermeable surface after firing.
GROUT: Grout is a type of cement that is used to fill the space and provide support.
IMPERVIOUS TILE: Tile that has less than .5% moisture absorption. These tile are frost proof and can be used in
exterior areas or on the outside of building facades.
NOMINAL SIZE: Tile is usually referred to by its nominal size, not its actual size. During the firing process, ceramic
tile shrinks, on average, about 10% in size. For example, a 12” x 12” floor tile can measure 11 7/8” square.
NON-VITREOUS TILE: Tile that absorbs 7% or more moisture. They are not suited for indoor use only.
SANDED GROUT: These are two types of grout commonly used in home installations: Portland cement based and
epoxy based. Both of these grout compounds may have sand added to provide additional strength to the tile joint.
Sanded grout is recommended for tile joints 1/8th of an inch and larger.
SANITARY COVE BASE: A ceramic floor tile trim that has a rounded finished top like a bullnose to cover up the body
of the tile.
SEMI-VITREOUS TILE: Tile that absorbs from 3% to 7% moisture. They may not be suited for frost-prone installa-
tions.
SHADE VARIATION: Shade variation is inherent to all fired ceramic products and certain tile will show greater varia-
tion within dye lots. Shade variation is usually listed on the back label of each sample with a low, moderate or high
rating.
SUBSTRATE: The process for installing a ceramic floor begins with the preparation of the tile foundation or
substrate. Common substrates in home installations are concrete, plywood and drywall.
THINSET: Today, many tile installers have opted for the industry accepted and more ecient thinset method, where
the tile is adhered directly onto a backer board that is nailed to a plywood or concrete substrate using a much
thinner layer of mortar.
TRIM: Various shapes necessary to achieve an installation of an architectural design.
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