Most home owners choose tile because it is beautiful, affordable, and easy to maintain. Whether you want to use it in your kitchen, bathroom or anywhere you want a decorative look with unlimited design possibilities, tile is a great choice. Before you hit the ground shopping, you should know some of the most common tile terms used by manufacturers, retailers, contractors and installers:
Adhesive- what your installer will use to bond tile to a surface.
Border- a strip of tile with design or contrasting color that creates a border or design element.
Bull nose- a trim piece of tile with a curved radius that is finished on an edge or one side.
Caulk- a pliable, water resistant material used for sealing joints.
Cove- a trim tile piece with one edge of concave radius. Cove pieces are decorative and are used to join the wall tile with the floor tile.
Cure- once tile is installed, the cure is the time it takes for the material to set.
Dry Set Mortar- the cement used to set tile into the floor.
Epoxy Grout- a two part grout system consisting of epoxy resin. Epoxy grout also prevents stains.
Field Tile- the main tile used to cover the floor or wall.
Grout- a combination of sand, cement, and chemical mixed; used to fill the joints of tile.
Glazed Tile- a tile that has a finish composed of ceramic materials that are fused to the surface
Porcelain Tile- a dense body of tile that is manufactured for a through body finish of color.
Sealer- a product that is applied to the tile to prevent stains.
Understand these terms and you will have the information you need to select the perfect product for your home, as well as manage the design and installation process. Knowledge is power!