2cm deep tiles are very strong, easy to install and can be removed easily, making them ideal for gardens. They are great to coordinate from indoors to outdoors.

2cm deep tiles are very strong, easy to install and can be removed easily, making them ideal for gardens. They are great to coordinate from indoors to outdoors.

Absorption is the amount of water a tile absorbs. This is shown as a percentage made up of the ratio of the weight of the dry tile to the weight of the absorbed water.

Tile adhesive is used to fix tiles to the floor or wall. Adhesives can be flexible, waterproof or specifically for porcelain tiles.

This describes ageing/distressing methods used to imitate a worn look on stone.

A tile with a bevelled edge will not be completely flat but will have an angled edge for safety, to prevent wear resistance or to simply look nice. Commonly found on metro or subway tiles for a more 3D effect.

Nothing to do with Digestives, this tile terminology is the main clay body of the tile that provides strength.

A brick bond tile pattern is the same used with house bricks, where the joins are staggered. This is only suitable for tiles under 30cm x 60cm.

Most tiles will have a slight bend due to the heating and cooling processes during production. This is called bowing or warping. It is less noticeable on smaller or square tiles but more obvious in larger rectangular tiles.

Brushed stone tiles have a smooth finish with a worn look that gives them a more natural or rustic appearance. This is achieved by sweeping a diamond-tipped wire brush across tiles such as limestone, sandstone and slate.

Bullnose tiles have characteristic rounded edges to give a softer look than sharp angles. They are used for edges or trims, to cover corners or to frame the perimeter of a tile design.

Butt jointing is where tiles are laid closely together to create a small grout joint, commonly next to a wall. The usual spacing should be more generous to allow for grout.

Calibrated tiles meet the manufacturer’s calibre range, with less dimensional variation than natural tiles without mechanically finished edges.

Ceramic tiles are usually glazed, making them usually only suitable for walls, but there are some that can be used on floors. Ceramic tiles are man-made from clay, fired at a lower temperature and have greater water-absorbency than porcelain.

Chevron tiles are cut with their short edges at an angle and should be supplied as left and right. They are used to create diagonal patterns.

Cove base tiles are often used at the base of a tiled wall instead of a tile baseboard. They have a flared edge to create a seamless and watertight transition between the floor and the wall.

Crackle glaze tiles have a glossy surface with a cracked appearance. This used to be formed by thermal shock, freezing tiles immediately after going in the kiln to shrink the glaze, but modern crackle tiles are created with a specific glaze that shrinks in the drying process. Crackle glaze tiles MUST be sealed so they have an impenetrable barrier against dust, grout and moisture. Seal before and after grouting for the best results.

Cracks that occur due to temperature change and vibration are a natural characteristic of glazed tiles.

A technique used with Travertine stone where the tile face is at right-angles to the main direction of the veining. See vein cut.

Also known as non-rectified tiles and soft edge tiles, cushion edge tiles are not cut to size after firing, and have more variation in size. These tiles are usually glazed, patterned or smaller where cutting the tile would be detrimental to their appearance. They are also not as sharp and prone to chipping as rectified tiles.

Decor or decorative tiles usually have a pattern that can be bold or subtle and can often be found alongside a neutral or plain tile in the same range.

A decoupling membrane is a type of matting made from plastic or fabric that helps prevent newly laid tile floors from cracking or lifting if the substrate beneath them cracks or moves. These are commonly found in new build properties where the foundation is settling in. You can use a decoupling membrane between tiles and underfloor heating as a precaution against cracks from the heat.

Encaustic tiles are made of ceramic, with their patterns made up of different colours of cement and dye rather than a glaze on top. They commonly feature two colours but there can be more.

Epoxy adhesives are super strong, created by polymerizing two starting compounds, the hardener and the resin. These adhesives have exceptional adhesion, chemical, heat and water resistance, and electrical and mechanical insulating properties.

Often mistaken for a crack in the tile, a fissure is a thin line of mineral veining that usually contrasts with the stone’s base colour.

Large and thick stone tiles used internally or externally.

Flemish bond is a tiling style where rectangular and square tiles are laid together in alternate patterns to achieve a modular appearance with lots of interest.