Looking for a simple way to understand tile terms? Our A to Z Tile dictionary is a quick guide to technical ceramic tile terms, designed for architects, interior designers, builders, and homeowners. Whether you are learning the basics or brushing up on professional jargon, this glossary makes complex terminology easy to follow. Brought to you by Ramirro Ceramica — a trusted global manufacturer known for innovation, durability, and stylish tile solutions — this resource helps you choose the right tiles with confidence.
A
Abrasion Resistance: Ability of a tile surface to resist wear from friction and foot traffic.
Adhesive: Material used to bond tiles to a surface during installation.
ANSI: American National Standards Institute, sets safety and quality standards for tiles.
Anti-Slip (R10-R13): Slip resistance rating showing how safe a tile is in wet or sloped conditions.
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials, provides testing methods for tile performance.
B
Batch Variation: Small differences in color or size between batches of tiles.
Beveled Edge: Tile edge slightly angled instead of sharp for smooth finishing.
Blistering: Raised bubbles on glaze surface due to trapped gases during firing.
Breaking Strength: Maximum force a tile can withstand before breaking.
Bullnose: Rounded edge tile used for finishing corners or edges.
C
Ceramic Tile: Traditional clay-based tile, usually with a glaze layer on top.
Chemical Resistance: Ability of a tile to withstand damage from chemicals like acids or cleaners.
Colour Difference (Shade Difference): Natural or production variation in tile shade that affects uniformity.
Color Body Porcelain: Porcelain tile with body color similar to the surface, so chipping of tiles are less visible.
Crazing: Fine cracks in the glaze caused by tension during firing or use.
Crawling: Defect where glaze pulls back, leaving bare spots after firing.
Cushioned Edge: Slightly rounded edge that makes joints appear smoother.
D
DCOF (Dynamic Coefficient of Friction): Measurement of slip resistance when a tile is walked on.
Deviation in Length and Width: Allowed tolerance in tile size compared to standard.
Deviation in Thickness: Slight variation in thickness of a tile body during production.
Digital Print: Modern printing technology that creates realistic patterns on tiles.
Digital Printing Lining: Visible lines when digital print patterns do not align perfectly.
Double Fire: Tiles fired twice—once for the body and again for the glaze.
Dry Pressing / Roller Pressing / Hydraulic Pressing: Methods of shaping tiles under mechanical pressure.
Dust-Pressed: Common method where powdered clay is pressed into tile form.
E
Edge & Trim Details: Finishing styles of tile edges for a clean installation.
Elevation Tiles: Tiles designed for exterior walls to enhance building facades.
Efflorescence: White salt deposits forming on the tile surface due to water evaporation.
Epoxy Grout: Durable, chemical-resistant grout ideal for harsh environments.
F
Floor Tile: Tiles designed to handle load, impact, and daily foot traffic.
Frost Resistant: Tiles that resist cracking or damage in freezing conditions.
Full Body / Through-Body Porcelain: Porcelain with full-depth color and texture; chips are less visible.
G
Glaze: Glassy surface coating on tiles that adds protection, texture, and color.
Glaze Level and Quality: Thickness and grade of glaze influence durability and appearance.
Glazed Tile: Tile coated with a glaze for durability and decorative finishes.
Glossy: Highly reflective smooth tile finish.
Grout: Material used to fill spaces between tiles.
H
High Glossy: Extremely shiny tile with maximum light reflection.
Horizontal, Vertical, and Diagonal Measurements: Checks to confirm dimensional accuracy of tiles.
I
Impact Resistance: Tile’s ability to resist breaking from heavy impacts.
Impervious: Tiles with very low water absorption (<0.5%), like porcelain.
Installation Components: Supporting materials like adhesives, grout, and trim for tile application.
ISO: International Organization for Standardization, sets worldwide testing and quality standards.
J
Joint: The gap between tiles, later filled with grout.
K
Kiln Firing: Heating process where tiles are fired at high temperatures to harden body and glaze.
L
Lappato: Semi-polished finish combining gloss with texture.
Lime Blowing: Defect where lime particles expand, causing surface cracks.
M
Matt/Matte: Smooth, non-reflective finish that gives a natural look.
Micro-Beveled: Very fine angled edge used for neat, seamless joints.
Mohs Scale: Scale ranking tile hardness against scratching (1 soft – 10 hard).
Moisture Removing: Process of drying tile bodies before firing.
Mosaic Tiles: Small-sized decorative tiles often arranged in patterns.
Movement Joint: Flexible gap in installation that absorbs expansion or contraction.
N
Nano Porcelain Tiles: Porcelain treated with nano-polishing for ultra-smooth, stain-resistant surfaces.
Non-Vitreous: Tiles with high water absorption (>7%), less suitable for wet spaces.
P
PEI Classification: Rating system measuring glaze resistance for traffic suitability.
PEI Rating: Score showing wear resistance of tile glaze for different traffic levels.
Pillowed Edge: Softly rounded edges giving a cushioned look.
Pinholing: Tiny surface holes caused by trapped air in glaze.
Polished: Smooth finish with high shine like mirror polish.
Porcelain Paver Tile: Thick durable porcelain made for outdoor heavy-duty installation.
Porcelain Tile: Dense, strong, impervious tile suited for heavy traffic.
Porosity: Percentage of pores in the tile body determining absorption level.
Proper Firing of Tile Body: Consistent firing ensures durability and structural stability.
Q
Quality Control & Testing: Procedures ensuring tile performance in strength, shade, and size accuracy.
R
Rectified: Tiles cut to precise edges for minimal grout-joint installation.
Rectified Edge: Sharp, machine-cut edge for uniform layouts.
R-Rating: Slip resistance classification mainly for floor tiles.
Rounded Edge: Edge with a smooth curve minimizing sharpness.
S
Sanded Grout: Grout mixed with sand for wide joints (≥3mm).
Satin: Finish with soft sheen between matte and glossy.
Semi-Polished: Partially reflective finish blending shine and texture.
Semi Porcelain Tiles: Tiles combining some properties of porcelain and ceramic.
Semi-Vitreous: Tiles with moderate water absorption (3–7%).
Shade Variation / V-Rating: Rating scale showing the degree of color variation across tiles.
Sharp Edge: Unrounded precise edge, often used in rectified tiles.
Single Fire: Manufacturing where body and glaze are fired in one cycle.
Sintered Stone Tiles: Tiles made from natural minerals compressed with heat and pressure.
Sintering: Fusing raw materials under high heat and pressure to form dense tile.
Slip Resistant: Tiles designed with texture or finishes to reduce slipping risks.
Spacers: Plastic tools placed between tiles to maintain uniform joints.
Spalling: Chipping or flaking off on the surface of tiles.
Standards & Classifications: International systems that define tile quality, sizing, and performance.
Storage of Slurry: Process of holding liquid clay mixture before shaping.
Straightness of Sides and Rectangularity: Standard for aligned sides and square corners.
Substrate: Base surface (floor or wall) where tiles are applied.
Subway Tiles: Rectangular tiles, often glossy, used in walls and kitchens.
Surface Flatness: Degree of smoothness and evenness of tile surface.
Surface Pinhole, Facehole, and Lumps in Glazing: Minor defects in glaze affecting finished look.
Surface Finishes: Different final textures and gloss levels on tiles.
T
Technical Properties: Physical characteristics such as absorption, strength, and resistance.
Textured / 3D Punch Tiles: Raised or grooved surfaces for aesthetics and grip.
Thermal Shock Resistance: Ability to resist breaking under sudden temperature changes.
Thin-Set: Adhesive mortar used to bond tiles to surfaces.
Tile Biscuit Formation: Stage of shaping unfired tile before glazing.
Tile Glaze Types: Different glaze coatings applied for surface protection and design.
Tile Trim: Special finishing pieces used to cap or edge tiles.
Traffic Rating: Suitability of tiles for low, medium, or heavy foot traffic.
Trim: Functional or decorative finishing tile pieces for edges.
Types of Glaze: Glossy, matte, satin, or textured coatings influencing look and performance.
U
Unglazed Tile: Tile without glaze, natural look with good slip resistance.
Unsanded Grout: Smooth grout used for narrow joints (<3mm).
V
Vašín in Surface of the Tile (Light Reflection): Glaze’s ability to reflect or scatter light on tile surfaces.
Vitrification: Process of hardening tile into a dense, compact, low-porosity body.
Vitreous: Tiles with low water absorption (0.5–3%), ideal for wet conditions.
W
Water Absorption of the Tile Body: How much water the tile body absorbs, impacting durability.
Water Absorption of the Tile Surface: Waterproofing only at the surface layer, not within the body.
Z
Zellige Tiles: Traditional handmade Moroccan clay tiles with a glossy glazed surface, known for their rich colors, slight imperfections, and artisanal charm.
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